United States: Criminal Law

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a groundbreaking whistleblower rewards program that pays upfront awards when criminal charges are filed, rather than waiting years for case resolution. This new initiative targets healthcare fraud and government program fraud, with particular focus on hospice, home health, daycare and special services sectors. Companies should understand how this accelerated timeline affects their compliance strategies and internal reporting systems.

The Eleventh Circuit has adopted a notably low evidentiary threshold for proving knowledge under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, holding that Medicare participation alone may suffice to establish that a defendant knew patients could be federally insured. This decision in United States v. Chun has significant compliance implications for healthcare providers and life sciences companies serving populations that may include any federally insured individuals.

The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Office of Foreign Assets Control have launched coordinated enforcement actions targeting the A7 Network, a sophisticated global financial infrastructure allegedly designed to help sanctioned entities from Russia, Iran, and North Korea move funds through the international banking system.

The Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division has issued new guidance outlining aggressive enforcement priorities targeting corporate fraud schemes. The directive emphasizes heightened scrutiny of healthcare fraud, government contract violations, revenue evasion, and tariff-related misconduct, while establishing specific criteria that will trigger more severe charging decisions.

The U.S. Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division has issued a new directive establishing a more centralized and aggressive approach to corporate fraud prosecutions. The directive outlines specific enforcement priorities, including healthcare fraud, government contract fraud, and tariff evasion, while introducing concrete markers that will guide investigation severity and resolution terms.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has launched the office's first Corporate Crime and Antitrust Task Force, marking a significant shift toward state-level criminal antitrust enforcement in New York. This development raises questions about coordination with the Attorney General's Office and creates new enforcement risks for businesses operating in the state. The initiative comes amid heightened scrutiny of algorithmic pricing and other corporate practices, though recent court decisions have complicated

On October 14, 2026, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced the office’s new Corporate Crime and Antitrust Task Force (“Task Force”). This development marks yet another instance...

A Texas appellate court upheld terrorism charges against a woman whose only alleged contribution was sewing a Faraday bag used to block cell phone signals. This case illustrates how federal and state material support statutes can impose life sentences for seemingly trivial assistance, with no requirement to prove intent to further terrorist activity or any de minimis exception for minor contributions.

The Trump administration is deploying US military forces directly into Latin American counternarcotics operations, marking a significant shift from historical intelligence-sharing roles to boots-on-the-ground combat involvement. Recent joint operations in Ecuador, featuring 50 US troops working alongside local forces to dismantle cartel networks, are establishing a new model that Washington seeks to replicate across the Western Hemisphere.

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...

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...

Ben Cohen charged with "unlawful entry" whilst protesting against the prosecution of Julian Assange.