For over 50 years, federal prosecutors have used the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, commonly known as RICO, to go after people who they believed committed some form of interstate fraud. Per the U.S. Department of Justice, Congress passed this law...
Poor bank oversight may lead to loan application fraud charges
Federal officials may file fraud charges against individuals who receive business loans that a bank should not have approved. Financial institutions, however, have the responsibility of conducting due diligence regarding the information submitted with loan...
Do employers have to protect private information in an internal investigation?
An internal investigation requires care on the part of the employer. You have rights during the process, including expecting to maintain some privacy. Understanding your privacy rights is essential. You have the right to maintain your innocence, which includes...
SEC Whistleblower Awards Already Surpasses Amounts Awarded Last Year
In fiscal year 2021, the SEC has already paid roughly $188 million to whistleblowers, which surpasses last year’s total dollar of payments of $175 million. Recent payouts include awards of $9.2 million and $3 million. Jane Norberg, Chief of the SEC’s Office of the...
Opinion: Make the independent police oversight board actually independent
Houston Chronicle Opinion Houston will benefit by embracing an effective, strong and visible Independent Police Oversight Board that keeps its police department accountable to the people. Accountability and transparency are necessary to maintain a responsive police...
School Investigations: New Title IX (9) Rules Issued
Education Secretary Betsy Devos issued final rules, which will take effect on August 14, 2020, for how colleges and K-12 schools must address allegations of sexual misconduct. The new regulation bolsters due process procedural protections of the accused, narrows the...
Texas Man Charged with COVID-19 Loan Fraud
The Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a Texas man by federal criminal complaint with bank fraud, wire fraud, false statements to financial institution and false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA). According to the...
Advocating for the Accused with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects millions of Americans and is often undiagnosed, treated, and misunderstood. The Center for Disease Control calculated that one out of nearly every sixth child is found on the spectrum. ASD is a lifelong condition. However, ASD is...
Texas COVID-19 Relief Fraud Charged
On May 13, 2020, the Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney change an individual with allegedly attempting to receive over $ 10 million dollars of Small Business Administration loans under the CARES Act. The allegations are that the defendant sought the SBA funds...
Former DOJ Employees Weigh in on Flynn Case
Nearly 2,000 DOJ Alumni issues an open letter calling in question U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s Independence and Integrity in movie to dismiss the criminal cases against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI...
