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Panama · Odebrecht case (United States, Eastern District of New York, and Panama)

Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares: what happened in the Odebrecht case (United States, Eastern District of New York, and Panama) case

Son of former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli. The US Justice Department said the Martinelli Linares brothers helped move more than US$28 million in Odebrecht bribe proceeds for a close relative who was a high-ranking Panamanian official, with about US$19 million passing through US banks.

Outcome todayEFE reported in January 2026 that he had already served prison time in the United States. He faced a second Odebrecht trial in Panama, which La Prensa reported to be at the evidence-admission stage in 2026.

Every court stage

  1. Arrested in Guatemala on a US complaint filed on 27 June 20201
  2. Extradited to the United States1
  3. Plea agreement. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.1US federal court, Eastern District of New York
  4. Sentenced to 36 months in prison, two years of supervised release and a US$250,000 fine, with more than US$18.8 million forfeited1,2US federal court, Eastern District of New York
  5. A second Panamanian Odebrecht trial that joins the cases against the brothers, former president Juan Carlos Varela and Jaime Ford was at the evidence-admission stage3Corte Suprema de Justicia de Panamá

Response

His defence said the bribe payments were made on his father's orders, according to EFE.

Sources

  1. US Department of Justice, Panama Intermediaries Each Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme (20 May 2022)
  2. Metro Puerto Rico / EFE, Histórico juicio por Odebrecht en Panamá: 23 imputados al banquillo, incluido Martinelli (EFE) (12 January 2026)
  3. La Prensa (Panama), Tema: Odebrecht (topic page) (27 October 2026)