Whistleblower Insider Blog

Harman International Pays $11.8M for Evading Customs Duties -- DOJ's Latest False Claims Act Customs Fraud Settlement

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Last Wednesday (November 26), the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Harman International Industries, Inc. -- a leading audio electronics company for automakers -- agreed to pay roughly $11.8 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act by evading antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum goods from China.[1]  It is just the latest in a...

Whistleblower Question of the Week: How Are Whistleblowers Protected After Deciding to Speak Out?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Whistleblowers often take risks when they step forward. That is why Congress and federal agencies have built protections through a combination of laws, regulations, and policies designed to prevent retaliation, preserve confidentiality, and make it possible for individuals to report wrongdoing safely. While our firm does not typically handle standalone whistleblower...

Honoring Jimi Hendrix on His Birthday: Top 10 Songs That Sing To the Whistleblower Spirit

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Jimi Hendrix was a revolutionary guitarist, singer, songwriter, and artistic pioneer whose short yet ground-breaking career reshaped the sound and meaning of rock music. Emerging in the 1960s, he fused blues, R&B, psychedelia, raw rock, and improvisational power to virtually set a new standard for songwriting and the breadth of guitar playing with his extraordinary...

First-Place Winner of Constantine Cannon’s Fifth Whistleblower Essay Contest: Kem Chatfield, Jr.

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team The Constantine Cannon whistleblower team is happy to announce the First-Place Winner of our Fifth Law School Scholarship Essay Contest. The award (and $1,000 prize) goes to Kem Chatfield, Jr.

About Kem Chatfield, Jr.

Kem was born and raised in Miami. After graduating from high school, Kem attended the University of Florida, where Kem graduated with honors in 2012...

DOJ Settles Flurry of False Claims Act Cases Following Government Reopening -- But Where Are the Whistleblowers?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team The Department of Justice (DOJ) wasted no time in getting back to business in fraud enforcement following the end of the longest Government Shutdown in history.  In the two weeks following the Grand Reopening on November 12, DOJ settled close to 20 False Claims Act cases involving a wide array of defendants.

What Has DOJ's Recent Burst of False Claims Act Settlements...

From Succession to The Dropout: Top 10 TV Shows with Whistleblower Themes

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team It’s no surprise that our team enjoys TV shows that spotlight whistleblowers and the complex moral and personal choices they face. We’ve rounded up ten of our favorites that explore fraud, secrecy, and power through dramatized true stories, investigative documentaries, and fictional plots. Some feature traditional whistleblowers, while others highlight characters...

Second-Place Winner of Constantine Cannon’s Fifth Whistleblower Essay Contest: James Huddleston

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team The Constantine Cannon whistleblower team is delighted to announce the second-place winner of the firm’s Fifth Law School Scholarship Essay Contest. The award (and $500 prize) goes to James Huddleston.

About James Huddleston

James is a litigation consultant and independent fraud investigator with over a decade of experience uncovering complex financial...

Horizon Healthcare Pays Record $100M to Settle NJ False Claims Act Charges Brought By Whistleblowers

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Last Friday (November 14), New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced that Horizon Healthcare Services (known as Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey) agreed to pay $100 million to settle charges of violating the New Jersey False Claims Act.¹  The settlement centers around allegations that Horizon systematically overcharged the State on its contract...

Former CEO and Chairman Bradley Heppner Accused of Fraud Scheme Targeting Public Company

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On November 4, federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging the founder and former CEO of the financial services startup Beneficient, Bradley Heppner, with securities fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, false statements to auditors, and falsification of records.[1]

The Alleged Scheme

Prosecutors allege Heppner orchestrated a...

Investment Fund Executive and Co-Conspirators Charged in $294 Million Securities Fraud Conspiracy

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team On September 29, the DOJ announced that federal prosecutors arraigned Jeffrey Spotts, the former Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager of Prophecy Asset Management LP, on criminal charges arising from an alleged multi-year scheme to defraud investors of approximately $294 million.

The Alleged Scheme

The charges stem from what authorities describe as a...