A Recent Post-Trial Rule 29 Acquittal in an FCPA Case Reveals a Curious Split in the Circuits on the Use of Translated Evidence in Criminal Cases

On April 14, 2026, Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt of the Southern District of Texas issued an order acquitting a defendant pursuant to F. R. Crim. P. 29 after a jury had convicted him of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  A Rule 29 acquittal after a jury verdict generally involves the court’s scrutiny of the evidence presented to the jury to determine whether it had been “insufficient to sustain a conviction.”