UPDATE 1-Panasonic unit settles U.S. criminal, civil charges of bribery

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) - A unit of Panasonic Corp reached a deal with the U.S. government on Monday to settle criminal and civil charges that the company falsified its financial books and records in order to conceal payments to sales agents in China and other parts of Asia. The criminal charges were filed against Panasonic Avionics Corp, a subsidiary that designs in-flight entertainment systems, by the U.S. Justice Department in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.