News and commentary about white-collar crime, enforcement, and compliance
Harry Cassin
Publisher and Editor
Andy Spalding
Senior Editor
Jessica Tillipman
Senior Editor
Bill Steinman
Senior Editor
Richard L. Cassin
Editor at Large
Elizabeth K. Spahn
Editor Emeritus
Cody Worthington
Contributing Editor
Julie DiMauro
Contributing Editor
Thomas Fox
Contributing Editor
Marc Alain Bohn
Contributing Editor
Bill Waite
Contributing Editor
Russell A. Stamets
Contributing Editor
Richard Bistrong
Contributing Editor
Eric Carlson
Contributing Editor
Kim Kardashian agreed Monday to pay the SEC $1.26 million to settle charges of promoting cryptocurrency to her Instagram followers without disclosing that she was paid for the promotion.… Continue Reading
German car maker Volkswagen AG and related companies agreed Tuesday to spend up to $14.7 billion to resolve federal and state civil allegations of cheating on emissions tests and lying to customers.… Continue Reading
In January, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider an appeal by three companies — Nestle SA, Cargill Inc., and Archer Daniels Midland Co. — that sought to dismiss a lawsuit alleging they aided and abetted child slave labor on coca plantations in Africa.… Continue Reading
Effective ethics laws, in Virginia and elsewhere, depend on enforcement through prosecution, independent ethics review boards, ethics training, and transparency and openness in government. In other words, Virginia will have to do more than change a few gift laws currently under review.… Continue Reading
The State Integrity Project found that Virginia’s ethics laws are among the least effective of the states for deterring corruption. The analysis cited Virginia’s weak conflict of interest laws, and found that those laws essentially have no bite.… Continue Reading
Bank of America is paying $16.65 billion to settle fraud claims by federal and state enforcement agencies and regulators that relate back to the financial crisis of 2008. It’s “the largest civil settlement with a single entity in American history,” the DOJ said Thursday.… Continue Reading
One of California state Sen. Ron Calderon’s own aides helped the FBI run the sting that led to the politician’s arrest in February.
Documents unsealed Friday and obtained by the AP revealed new details about the FBI’s six-year investigation of Calderon and his brother, Tom, a former assemblyman.… Continue Reading
A civil complaint filed last month in Indiana state court alleges that Allison Transmission executives paid bribes in China to win work there.
Stephen Lowe, an American working for Allison in Shanghai, said he witnessed cash payments, gifts of jewelry, and lavish parties for customers.… Continue Reading
Hold on. When did the United States criminalize commercial overseas bribery? We’re not talking about bribes to foreign officials under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.* But bribes overseas to private parties.… Continue Reading
We’ve said before (here and here) that there’s no private right of action under the FCPA. Which means offenses can be prosecuted only by the U.S. Department of Justice or the Securities and Exchange Commission.… Continue Reading