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Swiss-Based Commodities Trading Company Pays $661 Million for FCPA Violations

Posted  03/4/24
Type Writer Typed Out the Word "Corruption"
Last Friday (March 1), the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Swiss-based international commodities trading company Gunvor S.A. pleaded guilty and agreed to pay roughly $661 million to settle charges of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).  The DOJ's action stemmed from Gunvor's scheme to bribe Ecuadorean officials to secure business with Ecuador’s state-owned oil company Petroecuador. The...

Tagged in: Bribery and Bid-Rigging, FCPA, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets, Government Procurement Fraud,

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DOJ Releases False Claims Act Results for 2023

Posted  03/1/24
Department of Justice Seal Logo
The Department of Justice (DOJ) just released its False Claims Act results for 2023.  By all accounts, it was another big year for the government's primary fraud-fighting tool.  The top-line numbers are roughly $2.7 billion in total recoveries from 543 settlements and judgments, the highest number of settlements and judgments in a single year.  This brings the total tally of False Claims Act recoveries to more than...

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Government Procurement Fraud, Healthcare Fraud, Importance of Whistleblowers,

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A Staggering Number of NYC Housing Authority Employees Charged with Bribery, Extortion

Posted  02/7/24
businessmen shaking hands and other placing money in others pocket
In a massive takedown called the “largest single-day bribery takedown in the history of the Justice Department,” the DOJ recently unsealed “bribery and extortion charges against 70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (‘NYCHA’).” According to the DOJ, the NYCHA provides housing “to 1 in 17 New Yorkers” and receives “over $1.5 billion in federal funding.”  When...

Tagged in: Bribery and Bid-Rigging,

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Top Ten Non-Healthcare False Claims Act Recoveries for 2023

Posted  01/30/24
People Pointing to Contracts Making Decision
It was another big year for DOJ enforcement under the False Claims Act, the government's primary fraud-fighting tool.  As usual, most of the recoveries were in the healthcare space with seven of the Top Ten recoveries involving various schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid.  See our Top Ten FCA and Top Ten Healthcare FCA listings. While healthcare recoveries dominated the Top Ten, two of the top five...

Tagged in: Customs Fraud, Education Fraud, FCA Federal, Government Procurement Fraud, Government Programs Fraud, Housing and Mortgage Fraud, Top 10,

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FTC Sends Warning Letters to Many Funeral Homes

Posted  01/26/24
Whist Coffin in Hearse with White Flowers
We often see whistleblowers come forward to stop fraud and other misconduct that takes advantage of people at their most vulnerable times.  It’s hard to imagine a more vulnerable time than when family and friends are grieving the loss of a loved one and trying to arrange their funeral.  It’s good to see the FTC is on the case to protect consumers in this context. On January 25, the FTC announced it is...

Tagged in: Falsifying Invoices,

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Top Ten SEC and CFTC Recoveries of 2023

Posted  01/24/24
Foreign Exchange Graph
It was an active year for fraud enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).  Though by no means was it a record year for either regulator in terms of big-ticket wins.  Aside from the CFTC's $1.7 billion recovery from South African crypto company Mirror Trading for foul play with foreign currency transactions, the balance of the Top-10 recoveries was...

Tagged in: Bribery and Bid-Rigging, Cryptocurrency, FCPA, Financial and Investment Fraud, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets, Misrepresentations, Securities Fraud, Top 10,

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Top FCPA Recoveries of 2023

Posted  01/19/24
Mix of Foreign Currency Scattered Around
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) bars payments to foreign officials for any kind of business advantage, such as securing government contracts or other kinds of favorable business treatment.  The statute covers any form of consideration including gifts, meals, travel, and entertainment.  It also imposes strict record-keeping and internal control requirements to prevent falsifying company books and records...

Tagged in: Ballsy Bribes, Bribery and Bid-Rigging, Falsifying Invoices, FCPA, SEC Whistleblower Reward Program, Securities Fraud, Top 10,

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Catch of the Week: SAP SE

Posted  01/16/24
Briefcase Full of Money
This week's Department of Justice (DOJ) Catch of the Week goes to SAP SE (SAP).  On Wednesday (January 10), the German-based software company agreed to pay roughly $220 million to settle DOJ and SEC charges of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) through bribes to government officials in South Africa and Indonesia. The FCPA bars payments to foreign officials for any kind of business advantage, such...

Tagged in: Bribery and Bid-Rigging, Catch of the Week, FCPA, Securities Fraud,

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Catch of the Week: Freepoint Commodities

Posted  12/18/23
Government contract fraud whistleblower
This week's Department of Justice (DOJ) Catch of the Week goes to Freepoint Commodities.  Last Thursday (December 14), the Connecticut-based commodities trading company agreed to pay roughly $98 million to settle government charges it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by paying bribes to Brazilian government officials.  The company also agreed to disgorge roughly $7.6 million to the Commodity Futures...

Tagged in: Ballsy Bribes, Bribery and Bid-Rigging, Catch of the Week, FCPA, Fraud in CFTC-Regulated Markets,

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Tactical Gear Company Settles $2.1 Million False Claims Act Allegations

Posted  11/22/23
Soldier Gear Piled Together

The U.S Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Ohio has announced that London Bridge Trading Company, Ltd. (LBT), a Virginia headquartered manufacturer of tactical gear for military, law enforcement, and other organizations, has agreed to pay nearly $2.1 million to settle False Claims Act allegations.  The case, initiated by qui tam relator Ann Keating, involves accusations that LBT failed to comply with the...

Tagged in: FCA Federal, Government Procurement Fraud, Trade Agreements, Whistleblower Case,

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