DOJ eyeing more FCPA cases with whistleblower program
The Department of Justice anticipates its upcoming whistleblower reward program will help the agency increase its pipeline of cases involving apparent violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri.
DOJ on sprint toward pilot whistleblower reward program
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the Department of Justice will look to fill gaps in its whistleblower procedures with the launch of a 90-day sprint toward a DOJ-led pilot whistleblower reward program.
CW National 2024 preview: Former Albemarle CCO on FCPA case lessons
Andrew McBride, former chief risk and compliance officer at chemical company Albemarle Corp., joins the Compliance Week podcast with Aaron Nicodemus to preview his session at CW’s National Conference in Washington, D.C.
Gunvor to pay $661M to settle FCPA violations in Ecuador
Swiss-based oil trader Gunvor will pay more than $661 million as part of a plea agreement with the Department of Justice to resolve violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act involving a long-running scheme to bribe officials in Ecuador to secure oil contracts.
Ten things I’m excited for at CW National 2024
A new month and a new venue but a lot of the same you love about Compliance Week’s National Conference. CW Editor in Chief Kyle Brasseur shares what he’s looking forward to most at the 2024 edition of the annual event.
The path to DOJ cooperation credit: Analyzing recent FCPA cases
Recent enforcement actions offer guidance on what the Department of Justice considers to be an “imminent threat” of disclosure or government action, what it means by “prompt” disclosure, and how a company can earn credit for revealing all relevant facts.
LRN survey: Compliance programs shifting focus from bribery, corruption
Many ethics and compliance programs have refocused their efforts away from bribery and corruption and onto data security and privacy, complex government regulations, artificial intelligence security, and other contemporary challenges, a survey from LRN found.
New SFO director vows quicker cases, stumps for whistleblower payouts
“Under my leadership, the SFO will be bolder, more pragmatic, more proactive,” said Nick Ephgrave in his first public speech as head of the U.K. Serious Fraud Office.
Insurance broker Gallagher off hook in DOJ FCPA probe
Arthur J. Gallagher disclosed the Department of Justice ended an investigation into the insurance broker’s business in Ecuador for potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Raytheon parent discloses indications of improper payments in Middle East
RTX Corp., parent company of aerospace and defense giant Raytheon, disclosed an internal investigation launched into potential improper payments in connection with contracts in the Middle East found indications of misconduct.
Calavo Growers discloses potential FCPA issues
Multinational produce and agriculture company Calavo Growers disclosed in an annual filing an investigation into its Mexico operations found potential issues under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
FCPA violations in China: Lessons learned from 2023 cases
Enforcement actions regarding alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act at 3M, Albemarle, Clear Channel Outdoor, and Royal Philips each had China touchpoints. Experts assess third-party risk management lessons learned from each case.
Lessons from Albemarle, ABB: How data-driven compliance can help your firm
Andrew McBride, chief risk officer of Albemarle Corp., and Tapan Debnath, head of integrity, regulatory affairs and data privacy at ABB, discussed how and why their respective organizations use data analytics to conduct business as part of a recent webcast.
RDx Bioscience, CEO settle kickback case for $13M
New Jersey-based clinical laboratory RDx Bioscience and its chief executive officer agreed to pay more than $13 million to the Department of Justice to settle illegal kickback allegations.
SDNY launches whistleblower pilot program
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York took its efforts to encourage voluntary self-disclosure a step further with the launch of a whistleblower pilot program for individuals involved in nonviolent offenses.
SAP to pay $220M in FCPA settlements
German-based software company SAP agreed to pay more than $220 million as part of resolutions with authorities in the United States and South Africa regarding alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Ten things I’d like to see happen in 2024
Election years in the United States, United Kingdom, and at European Parliament, along with ongoing geopolitical tensions, make 2024 difficult to predict—aside from the expectation compliance officers will be busy.
Atlantic Home Health Care to pay $10M over energy program false claims
Atlantic Home Health Care LLC agreed to pay nearly $10 million as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice addressing the alleged submission of false claims to the Department of Labor’s Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.
U.S. rule package seeks to expand DOJ anti-corruption powers
A package of seven legislative proposals put forward by the Biden administration would enhance the capabilities of the Department of Justice to bring money laundering and racketeering charges related to corruption, according to a senior agency official.
Freepoint Commodities to pay $99M in Brazil bribery FCPA case
Freepoint Commodities agreed to pay nearly $99 million to settle allegations by the Department of Justice that it paid bribes to Brazilian government officials in return for business from state-owned oil company Petrobras.
Five compliance triumphs from 2023
A financial services giant’s compliance mea culpa that could serve to benefit the rest of the profession, a chemical company’s praised FCPA settlement, and an example of the value of whistleblowers highlight CW’s annual list of laudable ethics and compliance moments.
Trafigura to reserve $127M for DOJ settlement over Brazil bribes
Singapore-based commodity trading company Trafigura said it will disclose a $127 million provision related to the resolution of a Department of Justice investigation into alleged improper payments made in Brazil by former employees.
DOJ cooperation credit breakdowns: Albemarle, Tysers, H.W. Wood
Nicole Argentieri, acting head of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, breaks down where Albemarle, Tysers Insurance Brokers, and H.W. Wood went right—and wrong—on the cooperation credit and remediation fronts as part of their FCPA settlements with the agency.
DOJ announces international anti-bribery initiative
The Department of Justice will increase its efforts to build relationships and foster collaboration with its global counterparts to thwart bribery and corruption under a new strategy.
One company’s voluntary self-disclosure, two companies’ FCPA settlements
Nicole Argentieri, acting head of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, explained how the actions of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Holdings coming forward helped bring about the agency’s recent FCPA enforcements against Tysers Insurance Brokers and H.W. Wood.
British reinsurers Tysers, H.W. Wood settle with DOJ over Ecuador bribes
Two U.K.-based reinsurance brokers, Tysers Insurance Brokers and H.W. Wood, reached separate settlements with the U.S. Department of Justice addressing their participation in a wide-ranging scheme to pay bribes to Ecuadorian government officials.
Lifecore Biomedical earns FCPA declination for voluntary self-disclosure
Pharmaceuticals company Lifecore Biomedical won’t face prosecution for apparent violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act after satisfying multiple factors of the Department of Justice’s recently updated voluntary self-disclosure policy.
Nursing home chain, owner to pay $45.6M in kickbacks case
Prema Thekkek and the six skilled nursing homes she owned through her company, Paksn, agreed to pay $45.6 million in entering a consent judgment with the Department of Justice to resolve allegations employees paid kickbacks to doctors who brought patients to them.
FCPA opinion tackles government-authorized payments
A new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act review by the Department of Justice offers an example of when stipends paid to foreign government personnel would not be considered a violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the law.
DOJ official: People ‘drawing the right conclusions’ on national security focus
Christian Nauvel, deputy chief counsel for corporate enforcement in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, said the agency’s focus on national security is “top of mind at the highest levels” and that enforcement numbers are set to increase.
GE HealthCare discloses FCPA reviews into China activities
GE HealthCare said it is cooperating with reviews by the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in China.
DOJ removes ‘acting’ from FCPA Unit chief’s title
The Department of Justice is sticking with David Fuhr as permanent head of its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit.
OECD group questions Brazil’s momentum on anti-bribery
Brazil has made strides in its anti-bribery enforcement efforts, but a working group at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is concerned the country doesn’t have the controls in place to sustain its progress.
Incentive policies suggest calm before storm at DOJ
All the carrots being offered by the Department of Justice in the past year—greater penalty reduction thresholds, relief related to compensation clawbacks, voluntary self-disclosure incentives—are part of a strategy to strengthen the enforcement stick when companies don’t cooperate.
Cardiac Imaging, CEO to pay $85M in DOJ false claims case
Cardiac Imaging and its chief executive agreed to pay a total of more than $85 million to settle charges levied by the Department of Justice addressing alleged violations of the False Claims Act regarding unlawful kickbacks.
DOJ floats declinations as incentive under M&A self-disclosure safe harbor
The Department of Justice’s push to incentivize companies to voluntarily self-disclose potential misconduct reached its next stage in the form of a safe harbor policy regarding mergers and acquisitions.
CPE Webcast: Global compliance trends: Discussing anti-bribery and corruption survey findings
This webcast will break down the key findings of an anti-bribery and corruption survey report and offer additional insights into what global compliance professionals had to say about their ongoing and emerging concerns.
Exelon, ComEd fined $46M by SEC over bribery scandal
Exelon and its subsidiary Commonwealth Edison agreed to pay $46.2 million as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to their Illinois bribery and lobbying scandal that previously earned ComEd a deferred prosecution agreement.
Albemarle to pay $218M in FCPA settlements with DOJ, SEC
Chemical company Albemarle was assessed penalties totaling more than $218 million as part of settlements with the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission addressing alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act across a handful of foreign countries.
Clear Channel Outdoor to pay $26M in FCPA case over China bribes
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings agreed to pay more than $26 million as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging its former China-based subsidiary bribed government officials to obtain outdoor advertising contracts.
DOJ official: Compliance must have ‘prominent seat’ at M&A decision table
The Department of Justice is gearing up to provide more guidance on voluntary self-disclosures in the mergers and acquisitions space and the role compliance should play.
Survey: Tech gaps, third parties pose biggest ABAC threats
A recent survey conducted by Compliance Week and Morgan Lewis determined areas of insufficient resource support to combat bribery and corruption, along with trends in third-party due diligence.
Survey Report: Tech gaps, third parties pose biggest ABAC threats
Compliance professionals asked to assess their anti-bribery and corruption efforts indicated resource support deficiencies in areas including staffing and technology, according to a survey conducted by Compliance Week and Morgan Lewis.
Dermatology manager to pay $8.9M in self-reported false claims case
Oliver Street Dermatology Management, doing business as U.S. Dermatology Partners, agreed to pay nearly $8.9 million to settle allegations by the Department of Justice regarding apparent violations of the False Claims Act.
FCPA opinion shines light on reasonable expenses for foreign officials
A Foreign Corrupt Practices Act review published by the Department of Justice offers further clarity around when the agency would determine expenses paid on behalf of a foreign official to be deemed “reasonable and bona fide.”
SEC orders 3M to pay $6.6M over FCPA violations in China
The Securities and Exchange Commission ordered 3M to pay nearly $6.6 million for alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act regarding hidden travel perks its foreign subsidiary made to government officials in China.
Lawsuit: Pfizer fired, retaliated against whistleblower who raised FCPA concerns
An ex-Pfizer compliance officer is suing his former employer claiming wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation after discovering the company allegedly paid $168 million to potentially influential government officials in China.
Inotiv discloses FCPA probe into primate importation practices
Inotiv disclosed the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by the pharmaceutical testing company regarding its importation of nonhuman primates from Asia.
Grupo Aval to pay $81M in landmark FCPA case
Colombian conglomerate Grupo Aval agreed to pay nearly $81 million as part of settlements addressing alleged bribes paid by its bank subsidiary Corficolombiana to win a highway construction contract.
ABA resolution latest effort to separate lawyers from clients’ crimes
Under increasing pressure from federal lawmakers and regulators, the American Bar Association agreed to strengthen the obligations lawyers must meet when weighing whether to stop representing clients who might be using their services to commit financial crimes.