Category Archives: Plea Agreement

What is a Reverse Proffer?

Posted on May 13, 2016 by

I teach a continuing legal education class on defending white-collar criminal cases. When I developed the curriculum, I quickly realized that one of the class’s main goals was to teach everyone the lingo of being a white-collar defense lawyer. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Plea Agreement, Proffers | 1 Comment

Where Are They Now? An Update on Past Posts

Posted on February 6, 2015 by

Several of the cases I’ve featured in my posts over the last year have had significant developments or come to a close. It’s always interesting—and moderately depressing—to see how things turned out.

Posted in Bribery, FCPA, Insider Trading, Plea Agreement, Sentencing, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Public Service Announcement: NACDL Needs Examples of “Trial Penalty” Cases

Posted on February 4, 2015 by

I promise a real post later this week (isn’t the anticipation killing you?), but, meanwhile, NACDL is looking for examples of cases involving a “trial penalty.” For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, a “trial penalty” is … Continue reading →

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When an FBI Agent is the Bad Guy

Posted on October 16, 2014 by

On September 30, 2014, Robert Lustyik entered a guilty plea in connection with alleged grand jury tampering and obstruction of justice. Mr. Lustyik has been charged with interfering with the investigation of his alleged business partner, Michael Taylor. In return … Continue reading →

Posted in Obstruction, Plea Agreement | 1 Comment

The Secret Life of the Director of Financial Reporting: Guilty Plea by Celgene Corp. Executive for Insider Trading Scheme

Posted on May 15, 2014 by

For over five years years, the former Director of Financial Reporting at Celgene Corp. engaged in an insider trading scheme. The government contended that John Lazorchak passed along inside information through middlemen, distributed and received profits from the insider trading … Continue reading →

Posted in Insider Trading, Plea Agreement, Securities fraud, Sentencing, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Is This The First Domino to Fall in FCPA Case? French Citizen Pleads Guilty to Obstruction in Foreign Bribery Case

Posted on March 24, 2014 by

A French citizen appeared in a Manhattan federal court on March 10, pleading guilty to obstructing a government investigation into bribes paid to secure mining rights in Guinea. Mr. Frédéric Cilins, a 51-year-old businessman, had been arrested during an FBI … Continue reading →

Posted in FCPA, Plea Agreement | Tagged | 1 Comment

Here’s One Way to Afford the D.C. Real Estate Market: Seven Year Sentence for Defendant in Bribery Scheme Involving Public Official

Posted on March 17, 2014 by

By Sara Kropf For years now, the calling card of a big-firm white-collar lawyer has been, “I do FCPA work.” But all the focus on foreign bribery work overlooks the domestic bribery schemes that are regularly pursued by the federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Bank fraud, Bribery, Conspiracy, Plea Agreement, Public Corruption, Sentencing | Leave a comment

Expected 151 Months; Got 276 Months. Is Cooperation Worth It?

Posted on March 9, 2014 by

Frank Castaldi’s story serves as a cautionary tale for anyone trying to cooperate with the government to get a better deal. In 2008, Mr. Castaldi turned himself in to government investigators, revealing his $77 million Ponzi scheme. Mr. Castaldi fully … Continue reading →

Posted in Appeal, Investor fraud, Plea Agreement, Sentencing | Tagged | Leave a comment

Never Too Old For Bribery? Florida Couple Sentenced for Offering $1.24 Million in Bribes to Obtain Federal Contracts for Foreign Military Goods

Posted on February 5, 2014 by

Sorry it’s been so long since I last posted. I took a few weeks off for the holidays and then tried and won a defamation trial in Virginia last month, sort of.  It’s back to the grindstone now, though. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Bribery, Conspiracy, Government contracting fraud, Plea Agreement | Tagged | 1 Comment

Special Victims Unit: Sports Stars?

Posted on November 21, 2013 by

In certain fraud cases, defendants allegedly target groups of victims, such as the elderly or members of an ethnic or religious group (commonly known as “affinity” fraud). But, today, I bring you two cases that involve a very specialized group: … Continue reading →

Posted in Conspiracy, Indictment, Investor fraud, Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, Plea Agreement, Wire Fraud | Tagged | 1 Comment