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thinks that if we put in a little effort, before getting the public involved, the Prosecutor will yield,<br />

and will re-open that investigation into the fraud of, of the contract between Texaco and the<br />

Ecuadorian Government." By seeking assistance from Ecuadorian government representatives,<br />

this is precisely the "strategic development" the RICO Defendants ultimately achieved.<br />

209. The plan to procure the criminal prosecution of Chevron's attorneys included<br />

more than obtaining President Correa's support. The RICO Defendants and their co-conspirators<br />

also aimed, as called by one of their associates, their "troops [and] artillery" against Chevron's<br />

attorneys through a series of demonstrations, and they publicly pressured Ecuadorian officials.<br />

As Defendant Yanza proclaimed during a July 31, 2008 press conference, in order to ensure<br />

prosecution, the RICO Defendants and their co-conspirators would "have to take legal actions<br />

against these officials ... make public denunciations ... put pressure through the people, all<br />

these mechanisms .... " Yanza warned that "nothing is ruled out." According to Donziger, this<br />

was part of the conspirators' strategy of conducting a "guerrilla campaign" against Veiga and<br />

Pallares.<br />

210. And this campaign was successful. As Donziger boasted, "[W]e are kicking<br />

some ass, and it feels awfully good." Donziger was elated not only because criminal charges<br />

would be useful to the RICO Defendants' and their co-conspirators' extortionate scheme, but<br />

also because it would satisfy a personal vendetta. As Donziger described his feelings toward Mr.<br />

Veiga, "Some days, I fantasize about putting my strong hands around Reis Veiga's neck and<br />

squeezing until he begs for mercy. I want him to know how it feels to suffer .... "<br />

211. The RICO Defendants' and their co-conspirators' objective was fInally achieved<br />

on August 26, 2008 when the Ecuadorian government announced criminal charges for fraud<br />

against Ricardo Reis Veiga and Rodrigo Perez Pallares, the two Chevron attorneys who signed<br />

the 1995 Settlement Agreement and the 1998 Final Release. The charges were issued after two<br />

previous Prosecutors General had determined that there was no evidence of fraud and had<br />

requested that the case be closed. But that was before the RICO Defendants manufactured the<br />

83

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