By Jacob Rosen
Justice Department Reporter
Updated: December 13, 2025 / 7:47 PM EST
Federal prosecutors in New York asked a judge Tuesday to dismiss charges against Hernan Lopez, a former Fox executive convicted in a scheme to bribe FIFA officials for broadcast rights, and against Full Play Group, the Argentine sports media rights company tied to the case.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella said the charges should be dismissed ‘in the interests of justice.’ The move would bring to an end a yearslong effort by prior Justice Departments to preserve convictions that have been caught up in appeals.
The Solicitor General’s Office also filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, saying dismissal is warranted and asking the high court to take up Lopez’s appeal. The filing asks the justices to overturn a lower appeals court decision that had reinstated Lopez’s conviction and to return the matter to the New York federal judge so she can dismiss it.
Lopez was convicted in 2023 by a Brooklyn jury on money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges. Full Play was convicted on additional counts of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering related to World Cup and Copa America broadcast rights.
Last year, Judge Chen granted a motion for acquittal, and earlier this year a federal appeals court ordered the convictions reinstated; the Biden-era Justice Department appealed that ruling. The current Justice Department now seeks dismissal, effectively asking courts to end continued litigation over convictions tied to the international soccer bribery scheme.
CBS News sought comment from Lopez’s representatives; lawyers for Full Play Group declined to comment.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misstated details about the charges against Lopez and the year of his conviction.