2020 was a unique year in the world of white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions. In this two-session presentation, Thompson Hine’s compliance and white-collar team will review the enforcement risks created by the global pandemic and discuss what we expect to
Does Crime Pay?
Tales from the White-Collar Criminal Defense Trenches
The "Does Crime Pay?" blog, published by Thompson Hine LLP, focuses on legal developments and enforcement trends related to fraud, trade secrets, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. It covers topics such as Department of Justice fraud recoveries, the Defend Trade Secrets Act and its enforcement, shifts in SEC enforcement policies, and interpretations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The blog addresses issues relevant to government contractors, corporate compliance programs, intellectual property protection, and securities regulation enforcement strategies. It provides insights into federal enforcement priorities and legal standards affecting corporate and individual liability in areas of fraud, trade secret theft, cybersecurity breaches, and securities law violations.
Latest from Does Crime Pay? - Page 3
Guided by Garland: Predicting the Path of the Biden DOJ
Earlier this year, various news outlets reported that then-President-Elect Joe Biden intended to nominate D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Merrick Garland as Attorney General. Judge Garland obviously authored numerous opinions during his years on the D.C. Circuit, but before Judge Garland…
DOJ Obtains First FCA Settlement Against PPP Borrower
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its first civil settlement under the False Claims Act (FCA) against a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) borrower. This likely marks the beginning of a new trend of civil enforcement cases under the FCA,…
“Fellas, I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break.” – President Trump’s efforts to influence Georgia election raise specter of criminal consequences.
Amid the seemingly endless stream of news that underlies America’s currently tumultuous political climate, you would be forgiven for missing (or simply forgetting) the fact that President Trump may have a serious Georgia problem. No, we are not merely referring…
No-Poach Antitrust Enforcement: What’s the Buzz? Tell Me What’s A-Happening!
Although the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division has recently been in the news for the civil complaints that it has filed against several large technology companies, during 2020 it has quietly continued to ramp up civil and criminal antitrust enforcement…
Defense Authorization Bill Gives the SEC More Disgorgement Authority
The recently passed defense authorization act, known as the NDAA, included amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)—having nothing to do with national defense. Section 6501 of the NDAA enhances the SEC’s ability to obtain disgorgement…
Antitrust Law Gets a “Like” From Federal Regulators in 2020
If it seems like 2020 was the year when everyone was talking about antitrust on their socially distant Zoom calls, that is because government antitrust lawyers have been busy. Just before the year began, the Department of Justice announced the…
What DOJ’s Walmart Civil Enforcement Action Signals for Pharmacy Investigations and Prosecutions in 2021
On December 22, 2020, the Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) Civil Division, Consumer Protection Branch, and five U.S. Attorneys’ Offices announced a groundbreaking civil enforcement action against Walmart Inc. (“Walmart”). The 160-page complaint alleges that the world’s largest company (by revenue)…
SHOCK and AWEsomeness: President Trump Unleashes His Executive Clemency Power
Lock-up the Formula and Throw Away the Key: Recent Trade Secret Guilty Plea Highlights Continued Focus on China-related Trade Secret Prosecutions
Trade secrets are often a company’s most valuable asset, whether those secrets involve cutting-edge medical research or the formula for Coca-Cola. Businesses must take significant steps to protect these valuable “crown jewels” at all costs, whether by securing them on…