back to article Tech CEO admits role in tricking Qualcomm into $150M takeover

The former chief executive of a company that was sold to Qualcomm for more than $150 million has pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering relating to a $1.5 million transaction involving proceeds from the deal. Sanjiv Taneja was CEO at startup Abreezio, for which Qualcomm agreed to pay roughly $180 million, $150 million …

  1. Marty McFly Silver badge
    Holmes

    This long??

    Crime occurred in 2015. Indictment in 2022.

    Are the feds really that far behind in their fraud analysis of big-ticket corporate transactions? Or did someone tip them off several years after the crime?

    If this all started from a tip, it it makes me wonder how many other similar crimes are going unnoticed.

    1. JacobZ

      Re: This long??

      It's possible somebody came across the patent while doing due dilligence, maybe on a related filing, and recognized the name. Just a guess.

  2. Justthefacts Silver badge
    Mushroom

    The details are important: *Qualcomm* committed fraud

    So let’s look at what the original Qualcomm lawsuit claimed, compared to what the courts eventually decided….

    Q claimed that because the actual inventor (Sheida Alan) was *related to* a Q employee, but not herself employed by Q, that the Q contract with their employee somehow gave them direct IP rights over her invention. This is indeed a central part of Q’s employment contract, written explicitly (I’ve been employed there and had to sign), and it is blatantly illegal. They have repeatedly threatened dozens of separate people in various situations in many countries, and it is really good to know that US courts have finally ruled that *Qualcomm’s claim is a lie*. And that Q have knowingly misrepresented the law, in writing, and continue to do so, to their employees. It’s fraud. They’ve “persuaded” many people to sign over rights that they held perfectly legally….sometimes to the extent of calling in bailiffs.

    Q claimed that the technology was invented by Arabi, not Alan, and their initial sworn affidavit claimed they had documentary evidence of this. This turned out to be another lie. There was no evidence, and when required to produce such evidence they withdrew the claim. Another instance of blatant corporate fraud.

    Q claimed “wire fraud”, and that they had much documentary evidence of this. Again, when it came to court, poof,nothing at all other than empty allegation. Trump would be so proud.

    Literally the only thing Q said which turned out not to be a lie, was that Taneja hid where the other investment came from (Arabi). But all the other points, Q affirmed *under oath*, and the court found they were pure baseless allegation. It’s Q execs who should really be doing jail time for this.

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