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WVLT Reports Knoxville Man Arrested In International FBI Investigation

By Peg Broadcasting News Apr 1, 2022 | 11:17 AM

A Knoxville man has been arrested as part of an international FBI investigation involving a scheme to bribe Egyptian government officials, according to court documents obtained by WVLT News.  Hunter Hobson, 46, is accused of paying bribes to Egyptian officials for $143 million in coal contracts with Al Nasr Company, a state owned and state-controlled Egyptian coal company.  Hobson was reportedly charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, with two counts of violating the FCPA, one count of conspiracy to launder money, two counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  According to the United Stated Department of Justice, Hobson faces up to 5 years in prison for each of the bribery conspiracy and bribery charges, and up to 20 years in prison for each of the money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and wire fraud charges.  According to WVLT< Hobson is the CEO of INMET Mining which owns the D-29 Darby Fork Mine in Harlan County, Kentucky where a coal miner named James Brown died in March.