Follow on Twitter
Seizure of MSC GAYANE Raises Forfeiture Issues for the Maritime Industry
A drug bust does not ordinarily fit as a subject of a White Collar Alert, but when law enforcement seizes 16 tons of cocaine from a container ship, the enforcement action raises some critical issues for the maritime industry. Yesterday, our partner Nicole Phillips, who… Read More
D.C. Circuit Reins In District Court for Second-Guessing Government’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement
This guest post was authored by our colleague Jeremy A. Gunn, an associate in the firm’s Litigation Department. In an unusual win for both the U.S. Department of Justice and corporate defendants, the D.C. Circuit last week reversed a district court’s refusal to pause the… Read More
Former Speaker Hastert Pleads Guilty in Hush-Money Case
This morning, former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert appeared in district court in Chicago and pled guilty to one count of violating bank reporting laws. Hastert’s defense counsel had “indicated two weeks ago that he was planning to plead guilty, though the details of the… Read More
Elonis v. United States: The Supreme Court Weighs In On Rap Lyrics, True Threats, and Criminal Intent
Shortly after his wife decided to leave him, 28-year-old Anthony Elonis, under the pseudonym “Tone Dougie,” began posting “self-styled ‘rap’ lyrics” on Facebook that contained “graphically violent language and imagery” concerning, among others, his estranged wife, a kindergarten class, and state and federal law enforcement.… Read More
Former Speaker Hastert Indicted: Structuring a Costly Cover-Up
Yesterday, the Department of Justice charged former House Speaker Dennis Hastert in an indictment stemming from his alleged agreement to pay an unknown individual $3.5 million “to compensate for and conceal his prior misconduct” against that unknown person. According to the indictment, Mr. Hastert, a… Read More
General Petraeus Avoids Jail for Leaking Classified Information to Girlfriend
Yesterday, former CIA head and retired General David H. Petraeus was sentenced for leaking classified information about the war in Afghanistan to his biographer/mistress, Paula Broadwell. Broadwell published a biography about him in 2012, “All In: The Education of David Petraeus,” before the affair was… Read More
What To Do At Your Federal Sentencing: Lessons Learned from Ex-Virginia Governor McDonnell
Yesterday, former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell was sentenced to two years in prison following his public corruption conviction for using the governor’s office to help a dietary supplement executive in exchange for loans, gifts, and, as we’ve noted before, a Rolex and a joy ride… Read More
“World Tour” FCPA Compliance Lesson: Review Employee’s Expense Reports
On Monday, the SEC sanctioned two former defense contractors, Stephen Timms and Yasser Ramahi, for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Timms and Ramahi worked in sales for FLIR Systems Inc., a company headquartered in Oregon that produces thermal imaging, night vision, and infrared cameras… Read More
Eric Holder to Resign: Who Will Be the Next Attorney General?
After serving 5 ½ years as Attorney General, Eric Holder will formally announce his resignation later today at the White House. In addition to being the first African American Attorney General in U.S. history, he ranks as the fourth-longest tenured AG in history and also one… Read More