A new case this week proves that the FCPA doesn’t just cover the back offices of large, powerful businesses. Even individuals and small businesses can and will be prosecuted for violations. Gerald Green, a Hollywood producer, and his wife Patricia were arrested for allegedly bribing a Thai official as much as $1.7 million in order to win the $10 million contract to manage the Bangkok International Film Festival. The money went to Juthamas Siriwan who served as governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand from 2003 to 2006 and was responsible for overseeing the event. The Greens earned the bid through their company, Film Festival Management which had control over the festival until 2007, at which point a military coup ousted the government (and Juthamas with it).

Juthamas was running for a seat in parliament before all this was discovered, but withdrew from the race yesterday. She denies knowing anything about the bribes and says she only stepped down to save her political party from any associated fallout. She says if the U.S. Department of Justice finds her guilty of accepting the bribes, she will counter-sue, as she calls it “a case of mudslinging and a groundless accusation.”

Mr. Green, who produced “Rescue Dawn,” was arrested in the Los Angeles International Airport after arriving home on a flight from Thailand. He posted $500,000 bond and was released. His wife was arrested in Los Angeles as well, though it’s not immediately clear if she was arrested with her husband at the airport as well. She posted a $200,000 bond.