On March 7, 2024, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (“DAG Monaco”) gave the keynote address at the American Bar Association’s 39th National Institute on White Collar Crime.1 She addressed the success she views in the Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) efforts to combat white collar crime. Specifically, DAG Monaco highlighted recent convictions of executives at
White Collar Crime
CARES Act $2.2-Trillion Emergency Relief Fund Potential ‘Hotbed’ for Government Fraud, Abuse Investigations
With enactment of the CARES Act on March 27, Congress appropriated $2.2 trillion, the largest economic stimulus package in history, to combat COVID-19 and the serious economic damage it has wrought to all facets of the economy. Along with this mammoth government subsidy, however, comes the prospect of unprecedented fraud and abuse in sectors of…
FBI Issues Warnings Regarding COVID-19 Fraud Schemes
The Special Agent in Charge of the Boston office of the FBI, Joseph Bonavolonta, has issued an advisory aimed at alerting and keeping individuals and companies safe in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. His memo reported on emerging schemes and frauds being perpetrated by criminals looking to capitalize on the current crisis.
The FBI…
AG Barr: Prosecutors, BOP Should Consider COVID-19 Crisis in Determining Bail, Early Release
Several current and former federal officials recently sent letters to the President and the Attorney General urging action to protect persons in custody or facing arrest and detention during the COVID-19 crisis. In response, Attorney General Barr has issued separate directives to all U.S. Attorneys and DOJ Department Heads and to the Director of the…
Beware! Internet Scammers Out to Capitalize on COVID-19 Scare
Law enforcement is alerting businesses and the public that during the ongoing COVID-19 federal and state emergencies and stay-at-home orders to be extremely vigilant about email and internet scams being perpetrated by wrongdoers trying to capitalize on the scare.
According to the FBI:
“Scammers are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic to steal your money, your personal…
FBI Warns of Teleconferencing and Online Classroom Hijacking During COVID-19 Pandemic
As large numbers of people turn to video-teleconferencing (VTC) platforms to stay connected in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, reports of VTC hijacking (also called “zoom-bombing”) are emerging nationwide. The FBI has received multiple reports of conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language.
For example, two schools in Massachusetts reported…
Judges, Senators, DOJ Officials: Action Required by President, AG to Protect Inmate Population during COVID-19 Crisis
In a letter to the President dated tomorrow (March 27, 2020), several hundred federal judges, former U.S. Attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and Department of Justice (DOJ) officials are asking the government to implement a plan to dramatically reduce the number of incarcerated individuals in the federal prison system and to address “the threat of disastrous…
Maritime Technician Exonerated in Theft of Trade Secret Case
Following a month-long trial in Hartford, Connecticut, before Chief U.S. District Judge Alvin Thompson, a jury returned a split verdict in a case charging two defendants with conspiracy and theft of trade secrets. The jury completely exonerated one of two defendants, Jay Williams, represented by Jackson Lewis, while returning guilty verdicts on certain counts…
New DOJ Policy Likely to Result in Increase in Forfeitures
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced a new Department of Justice policy regarding the federal adoption of assets seized by state or local law enforcement under state law. The new policy, issued on July 19, 2017, is intended to strengthen and streamline the civil asset forfeiture program allowing a more aggressive pursuit of asset forfeiture…
Department of Justice Renews Commitment to Enforcement of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
During his campaign, President Donald Trump raised uncertainty with statements that he disapproved of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Since then, however, the Department of Justice has emphasized its continued enforcement efforts for FCPA violations.
On April 18, 2017, at the Anti-Corruption, Export Controls & Sanctions Compliance Summit, DOJ’s Acting Principal Assistant Attorney General Trevor…