White Collar Roundup - March 2012
Out of (and Back Into) Africa
The Department of Justice (DOJ) finally cried "uncle" in its long-sought, but repeatedly unsuccessful, prosecutions of military-equipment manufacturers for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by bribing officials in Gabon. After two unsuccessful trials, the DOJ moved for a dismissal of all indictments with prejudice. In granting the motion, the district judge noted, "This appears to be the end of a long and sad chapter in the annals of white collar criminal history." Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a subpoena to Halliburton regarding alleged FCPA violations in Angola. For a copy of Halliburton's Form 10-K disclosing the subpoena, click here.
SEC to Congress: Show Me the Money
The SEC wants more money to fight fraud and regulate securities. The White House proposed an 18.55% increase to the SEC's $1.321 billion FY 2013 budget. For the SEC's justification for its raise, click here.
Serious Money in Stopping Healthcare Fraud
The DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported recoveries of $4.1 billion from investigations and qui tam actions involving federal healthcare fraud. The report indicates the DOJ began 1,110 new criminal healthcare fraud investigations of 2,561 potential defendants in FY 2011. HHS's Office of Inspector General also excluded 2,262 individuals from continuing to participate in federal healthcare programs.
Obstructing the Wheels of Justice Before They Start Rolling
The obstruction-of-justice provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 18 U.S.C. 1519, has a pretty far reach, according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In the case, the defendant had hacked then-governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's e-mail account to engage in chicanery. After posting her password online, the defendant deleted his computer's files to hide his crime. After being convicted for obstruction of justice, he appealed, claiming 1519 is unconstitutionally vague. The Sixth Circuit held the statute is constitutional and applies to the destruction of documents when a federal investigation is foreseeable, even if it has not yet commenced.
Unnecessarily Stopping the Clock Stops It Nonetheless
The government can toll the five-year statute of limitations for prosecuting federal offenses if it properly seeks evidence from foreign governments (even if it does not have to), according to the Second Circuit. That court's opinion addressed the defendant's contention that the government had abused the tolling provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3292, which tolls the statute while the government seeks assistance from a foreign government. The defendant claimed the statute should not have been tolled while the government sought evidence from Hungary that it could have obtained in the United States. The court rejected that argument, holding that as long as the strictures of 3292 are met, the statute of limitations is tolled, even if the evidence could be obtained without seeking a foreign government's help.
Blown Coverage
According, at least, to the First Circuit, the broad language of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act's nonretaliation language in 18 U.S.C. 1514A does not apply to contractors of private firms that advise or manage publicly held mutual funds. Section 1514A prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers of fraud in publicly held companies. In this case, two former employees of a private firm that advised and managed a mutual fund were allegedly fired after reporting fraud. In a split decision, the First Circuit held 1514A did not apply, but invited Congress to amend the statute if it intended the statute to cover such contractors.
Recommended
Day Pitney White Collar Attorney Stan Twardy was featured in the Law360 article, "Sparring with Adams, Feds Shadowbox The Supreme Court."
Day Pitney Press Release
Day Pitney White Collar Attorney Stan Twardy was quoted in the Law360 article, "Trump Prosecutor Restarts Precarious Road To DC Trial."
Day Pitney Litigation Partner Naju Lathia was featured in the article, "NJ, Attys Brace For Tech 'Evolution' in Litigation."
Day Pitney is proud to announce that two of our Connecticut-based attorneys and our Litigation department have been recognized by the Connecticut Law Tribune as part of their second annual New England Legal Awards. According to the publication, the awards recognize exceptional attorneys and firms from Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island across various legal domains.
Day Pitney Litigation department vice chair Mark Salah Morgan was featured in the National Law Journal article "What Does the Path Forward for Stalled 3rd Circuit Nominee Adeel Mangi Look Like?"
Day Pitney White Collar Attorney Stan Twardy was featured in the CT Insider article "How Federal Probe Into CT State Police Ticket Scandal Began."
Day Pitney Tax Partner Ryan Leichsenring authored an article for the Hartford Business Journal titled, "Here's How to Avoid Common Pitfalls When Managing Charitable Assets."
The news of Ryan Leichsenring joining Day Pitney as a partner in the firm's Tax practice was featured in Thomson Reuters' The Daily Docket Industry Moves column.
Day Pitney Government Enforcement and White Collar Criminal Defense Partner Stephen Reynolds was featured in the Connecticut Law Tribune article "Stephen Reynolds: A Full-Circle Career Back to Day Pitney."