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WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE KNOCKS. DOJ Enforcement Trends: What to Expect and How to Respond Jacqueline Arango Shareholder Akerman Senterfitt. What types of crimes and entities are being targeted?. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
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WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE KNOCKS DOJ Enforcement Trends: What to Expect and How to Respond Jacqueline Arango Shareholder AkermanSenterfitt
What types of crimes and entities are being targeted? • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act • Health Care Industry – Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences • Emerging Markets – China and India • More Individuals – more than 50 in past 3 years
What types of crimes and entities are being targeted? (cont.) • Health Care Fraud • Creation of Health Care Fraud Task Forces • Criminal Enterprises • Major providers – such as corporations, hospitals
What types of crimes and entities are being targeted? (cont.) • Mortgage and Lender Fraud • Money Laundering • Structuring • Currency Reporting Violations • Financial Institutions who play a role financial crimes
What types of crimes and entities are being targeted? (cont.) • Insider Trading • Professionals/Gatekeepers • Accountants and Auditors • Attorneys and In-House counsel
How is a Criminal Matter Likely to Come Up? • Agency referral from a complaining victim • Civil lawsuit alleging RICO or other fraud allegations • False Claims Act complaint • Questioning of Witnesses/UC Investigation
How is a Criminal Matter Likely to Come Up? (cont.) • Authorized Investigative Demand • Issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office • In Federal Health Care Investigations • For the production of records (not testimony) • OIG or other Agency Subpoenas • May be used in Criminal and Civil proceedings • Limited to the Statutory Authority of the OIG or Agency
How is a Criminal Matter Likely to Come Up? (cont.) • Grand Jury Subpoenas • May only be used in Criminal investigation • For Records and/or Testimony • Generally issued to Non-Target Third Parties “What wine goes good with grand jury subpoenas?”
How is a Criminal Matter Likely to Come Up? (cont.) • Search Warrants • Issued by a Magistrate Judge Upon Probable Cause • That Evidence of a Crime will be Found • Particularity/Scope/Nexus with Crime • Generally used to Obtain Evidence from Targets of the Criminal Investigation
How to Respond • Grand Jury Subpoenas • FRCrimP 17(c)(2) – Quash or Modify only if “Unreasonable or Oppressive.” • Ascertain from the Prosecutor whether the Witness is a Target or Subject -- U.S. Attorney’s Manual §9-11.151 states: . . . it is the policy of the Department that an "Advice of Rights" form be appended to all grand jury subpoenas to be served on any "target" or "subject" of an investigation. • Corporations have no 5th Amendment Privilege • Attorney-Client Privilege applies (unless Crime Fraud Exception is established)
Search Warrants (cont.) • Talk to Agent in Charge • Whether Company is Target or Subject • Nature of Investigation • Location of Privileged Materials/Note Objection • Documents/Equipment Necessary for Business Operations • Permission to copy documents/obtain a back up disc • Obtain Inventory of Items Seized
How to Respond • Search Warrants • Be Courteous and Calm • Call Defense Counsel ASAP • Read the Search Warrant/Ask for Affidavit • Crime Investigated • Scope of Warrant ie., Location, Documents, Files, Equipment • Date of Warrant • Get names and contact info for Agent and Prosecutor
Search Warrants (cont.) • Speak to Employees • Advise of Rights regarding Interviews by Agents • Right to Refuse • Right to Counsel • Instruct not to Destroy, Remove or Conceal Materials • Instruct to be Cooperative • Assign an Employee to take Notes • Send Non-Essential Employees home
Search Warrants (cont.) • Notify Board of Directors/Management • D & O Insurance Issues • Notify Employees • Suspend Document Destruction Policies • Indemnification Issues • Subject or Target of Investigation • Conduct within Scope of Employment • Hiring of Separate Counsel • Best Practice • Joint Defense Agreement
Other Considerations • DOJ Policy on Prosecution of Business Orgs. • Protections • Atty/Client Privilege • Advancement of Attys Fees • Joint Defense Agreements • 9 Factors for Consideration • Review Compliance Procedures • Are systems appropriate given nature of business? • Parallel Proceedings • 5th Amendment Issues • Stay of Civil Proceedings?
Other Considerations • Internal Investigation • DOJ Policy - Prompt and Thorough Investigation • Factor in Federal Sentencing Guidelines • Benefits/Risks of Voluntary Disclosure • Call Prosecutor • Establish Rapport/Credibility • Gather Available Information • Discuss Cooperation