Former Meinl Bank CEO Peter Weinzierl has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States and is currently in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. The 59-year-old Austrian banker faces charges related to his alleged involvement in laundering over $170 million in bribes connected to the Odebrecht corruption scandal.
Extradition and Arrest
Weinzierl arrived in New York on May 8, 2025, following a protracted legal battle against extradition. His defense argued that U.S. prison conditions would violate his human rights under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. However, the UK High Court dismissed these claims, citing sufficient assurances from U.S. authorities regarding detention conditions and due process.
Upon arrival, Weinzierl was immediately taken into custody. U.S. prosecutors have denied his request for bail, labeling him a significant flight risk due to his previous efforts to avoid extradition. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Siegel emphasized that Weinzierl had “fought every step of the way” to prevent his transfer to the U.S.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
In the U.S. Weinzierl faces multiple charges, including
- Conspiracy to commit money laundering
- International promotional money laundering
- Spending criminally derived funds
These charges stem from allegations that Weinzierl, during his tenure at Meinl Bank and its Caribbean subsidiary, Meinl Bank Antigua, facilitated the laundering of bribe payments for Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht. The U.S. Department of Justice asserts that these operations involved complex financial transactions designed to conceal the origins of illicit funds.
If convicted on all counts, Weinzierl could face up to 60 years in prison.
Background: Meinl Bank and Odebrecht
Meinl Bank, once a prominent European private financial institution, came under scrutiny for its role in international money laundering activities. In 2010, Meinl Bank Antigua, a subsidiary of the Austrian bank, was sold to entities associated with Odebrecht. U.S. prosecutors allege that Weinzierl and his associates continued to facilitate illicit transactions even after the sale, leveraging Meinl Bank‘s infrastructure to process bribe payments across multiple countries.
Read more about the Meinl bank Affair around Odebrecht here.
The Odebrecht scandal has been described as one of the largest corruption cases in history, implicating numerous officials and business leaders across Latin America and beyond.
Upcoming Court Appearance
Weinzierl’s next court hearing is scheduled for May 20, 2025, in the Eastern District of New York. Legal experts anticipate that the proceedings will shed further light on the extent of Meinl Bank‘s involvement in the Odebrecht scheme and may have broader implications for international banking regulations.
