1.   Ortiz said he was present on three occasions when bribes were made to a top commander in the Mexican Federal Police.

2.   She said she did not know if Wilson used one of the lawyers or law offices accused of making bribes.

3.   The charges essentially involve payments that prosecutors say were bribes made to doctors by hospital executives in return for referrals of Medicare patients.

4.   Bribes are usually made in U.S. dollars.

5.   Making a bribe to government officials to facilitate business in a foreign country is a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in the United States.

6.   Making a bribe to government officials to facilitate business in a foreign country is a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in the United States, Alavi said.

7.   Prosecutors said the bribes were made in exchange for government contracts for nuclear power plants, dams, highways and military weapons procurements.

8.   All five have been charged with corruption, as has the fish supplier at the Rungis wholesale market who made the bribes to keep contracts.