North America: Criminal Law

The U.S. Department of Justice has unveiled a major expansion of its fraud-enforcement capabilities through the newly established National Fraud Enforcement Division, which is rapidly scaling to approximately 500 attorneys and staff. This restructured division will leverage advanced data analytics and cross-agency coordination to pursue five key priority areas: public trust and financial integrity, health care fraud, tax enforcement, global trade violations, and corporate misconduct.

When a serious or fatal workplace accident occurs, investigations extend beyond regulatory violations to examine whether organizational failures constitute criminal negligence. This analysis explores how accumulated safety deficiencies, knowledge of significant dangers, and tolerance of manifestly dangerous practices can transform an occupational health and safety matter into a criminal investigation with profound consequences for both organizations and individuals.

The U.S. Department of Justice has established a permanent Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section and released a comprehensive resource guide outlining federal authorities to combat customs and trade fraud. With $1 billion already recovered in enforcement actions, the DOJ emphasizes corporate compliance obligations, supply chain auditing, and the strategic use of the False Claims Act to pursue tariff evasion and duty underpayment.

Ankura's latest insights explore critical developments across digital asset regulation, cybersecurity threats, clinical trial compliance, cryptocurrency enforcement, sanctions relief complexities, and healthcare workforce challenges. From California's Digital Financial Assets Law requirements to emerging AI-powered malware and the evolving landscape of financial crime controls, these analyses examine how organizations navigate regulatory frameworks while managing operational and compliance risks.

The revisions to the Justice Manual signal a more aggressive government posture toward dismissing qui tam actions that lack merit or do not advance the government’s interests.

A Tel Aviv District Court sentence handed down against a veteran Israeli actor and entrepreneur is a useful lens for Canadian taxpayers who want to understand how much more exposure they face if the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) refers their file for criminal tax evasion prosecution.

New York's outdated evidence rules make it nearly impossible for child sexual abuse survivors to prove their cases in court. By requiring prior consistent statements to predate a "motive to lie" and limiting their use only when explicit accusations of dishonesty arise, the state's legal framework contradicts modern understanding of trauma disclosure. Could adopting federal evidence standards finally give survivors a fair chance at justice?

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that will establish how courts determine whether fines and forfeitures violate the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause. At stake is whether courts must consider a defendant's actual conduct and culpability, or whether they can rely on the general seriousness of the statutory offense when assessing proportionality.

As students return to classrooms across New Jersey, drivers face increased traffic congestion and heightened accident risks around schools and bus stops. Understanding state traffic laws regarding school bus stops, school zone speed limits, and pedestrian safety becomes critical during this busy season. This comprehensive guide explains the legal requirements and safety measures every motorist should follow to protect children and navigate back-to-school traffic responsibly.

On June 15, 2026, the Supreme Court denied certiorari in National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. v. Letitia James, leaving in place the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s decision upholding New York’s...

The Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) has ruled that Cabinet lacked reasonable grounds to believe that a national emergency existed when it invoked...

Dozens of college and university campuses experienced protests in April and May of 2024 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Many were peaceful, but some turned violent...