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Gratuities and Honest Services Fraud
As noted in Part One of this article, in Skilling v. United States, 130 S.Ct. 2896 (2010), the U.S. Supreme Court limited the scope of the honest services fraud statute (18 U.S.C. ' 1346) to “bribery and kickback” schemes, yet did not define what a “bribery” or “kickback” scheme must entail. So the question becomes this: Must a “bribe or kickback” involve a quid pro quo ' a specific intent to give or receive something in exchange for favorable official action? Or will payment of a gratuity as a reward for official action suffice to support a prosecution for honest services fraud? The debate continues.
Post-Skilling Uncertainty
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough
There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.
Second Circuit Reinforces Bankruptcy Code Settlement Payment Safe Harbor
The Second Circuit affirmed the lower courts' judgment that a "transfer made … in connection with a securities contract … by a qualifying financial institution" was entitled "to the protection of ... §546 (e)'s safe harbor ...."