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On May 20, 2020, panelists from the DOJ, SEC, and FBI participated in a virtual town hall to discuss the state of play of FCPA and healthcare fraud enforcement as the United States and the rest of the world navigate the wide-ranging challenges wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Government panelists included:

  • Robert Zink (Chief of the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, DOJ);
  • Daniel Kahn (current Senior Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section, and former FCPA Unit Chief, DOJ);
  • Joe Beemsterboer (current Senior Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section, and former Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit, DOJ);
  • Charles Cain (Chief of the FCPA Unit of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement); and
  • Leslie Bakschies (Unit Chief at the FBI).

Key takeaways from the town hall discussion include:

  • Government investigations and multi-lateral cooperation continue, supported by remote investigative tools. All of the panelists confirmed that both ongoing and new investigations continue.  The U.S. Government, like private companies, has been affected by Covid-19-related travel restrictions, shutdowns (including of courts in some districts, delaying trials and grand juries), and other remote-work constraints.  But panelists emphasized that they are able to continue much of their investigative work.  This includes, for example, issuing subpoenas and other document requests, reviewing document submissions, and communicating with counsel.  Ms. Bakschies noted that the FBI is also obtaining search and arrest warrants through remote conferences with judges, and finding other “creative ways” around impediments.  The agencies also continue to collaborate with their counterparts outside the United States to move forward, de-conflict, and resolve cases.


Continue Reading Key Investigation and Compliance Take-Aways from May 20, 2020 DOJ, SEC, and FBI Joint Town Hall Discussing FCPA and Healthcare Fraud Enforcement Efforts During Covid-19 Emergency

On September 25, 2018, OFAC added six individuals, three entities, and an aircraft to the SDN list (link to press release here).  These designations appear to be motivated by a continued effort to pressure the Maduro government to change its policies.  The press release notes that, “By the end of 2018, hyperinflation in Venezuela is projected to reach over one million percent.  Three million Venezuelans will have departed Venezuela for neighboring nations to escape widespread poverty and its attendant hardships.  The Maduro regime, meanwhile, continues to pursue failed policies and financing schemes to mask the regime’s corruption and gross mismanagement. The United States has imposed sanctions on many who have profited during Venezuela’s decline[.]”  These new designations do not specifically target PDVSA or the oil and gas sector.
Continue Reading OFAC Adds Additional Names to SDN List under Venezuela Program

On February 13, 2018, the US Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), pursuant to Section 311 of the PATRIOT Act, seeking to prohibit the opening or maintaining of a correspondent account in the United States for, or on behalf of, ABLV Bank, located in