Adam Goldman, AP, USA Today, Unique Investigative Agency Tackles NYC Corruption

DOJ Press Release, Three Defendants Plead Guilty for Online Commercial Distribution of Pirated Software

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Scott Horton, Harper’s Magazine, More Prosecutorial Mischief in Mississippi

Joshua R. Hochberg, Legal Times, Who Guards the Guardian? The Justice Department Can Monitor Corporate Monitors Just Fine (subscription required)

MaryClaire Dale, Washington Post (AP), Fired Philly TV anchor admits e-mail hacking

Thomas E. Dwyer Jr., ABA White Collar Crime Newsletter, Informed by U.S. Experience, U.K. Embarks on Marjor Anti-Fraud Law Initiatives

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The announcement of Senator Biden as Senator Obama’s running mate for the Presidency will clearly cause some to start investigating every nuance of his record.  There will likely be the references to his receipt of funds from a Mississippi lawyer (see WSJ Blog here) and hopefully these references will also note his return of these funds to Dickie Scruggs. (see folo here; Paul Quinn’s Weblog here; LA Times  Blog here)

But it is also important to note that Senator Biden has a long history of fighting corporate criminality and trying to reduce white collar crime. When it comes to eradicating white collar crime, he is clearly a person who made this a top priority. His "US Senator for Delaware" website says:

Senator Biden has also been a leader in cracking down on white collar crime and corporate scandals. He authored legislation requiring corporate CEOs to certify the accuracy of their companies’ financial statements, or face stiff criminal penalties. He also led the fight to close the "penalty gap" between white collar and violent crimes, requiring corporate crooks to do more time when they defraud the public.

Thinking back over the last few years, the one hearing that stands out the most to me, was a hearing he chaired back in 2002 titled, "Penalties For White Collar Offenses: Are We Really Getting Tough On Crime?" In this hearing we heard from individuals who had been victims of white collar offenses. It was followed by experts commenting on how best to tackle the problems. Senator Biden actively participated in leading this discussion and spoke about white collar crime problems and how best to resolve them.

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Addendum – Dan Slater, WSJ Blog, The Mess in Mississippi, Redux: The Joe Biden Connection?

Tom Fowler, Houston Chronicle, Former natural gas traders draw prison time for fraud (discussion of the jury rejecting a following orders argument by the defense)

Anita Lee, Sun Herald.com, Minor denied release pending appeal

DOJ Press Release, Tennessee Technology Company Pleads Guilty to Arms Export Control Act Violations

Rob Olmstead, Chicago’s Daily Herald,  Judge wants Des Plaines firm’s president in person (prior to accepting deferred prosecution agreement)

Julie Kay, National Law Journal, Rising Miami Legal Star Agrees to Plea Bargain Involving Mail Fraud, Laundering Charges

Neil Lewis, NYTimes, Senator Fails in Effort to Move His Corruption Trial to Alaska

DOJ Press Release, Puerto Rico Governor, Senior Aide and Former Campaign Director Indicted on Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

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Some mayors across the United States seem to be tangling with local, state, or federal prosecutors. Check these out –

Knox County Mayor – Who should be handling an investigation of the Knox County Mayor? Local white collar crime unit recuses itself because they receive county funds. Editorial, KnoxNews.com, Probe of county mayor where it needs to be

Detroit – Looks like Jim Parkman, from Scrushy’s first trial (see here) is no longer on Mayor Kilpatrick’s team.  See Ben Schmitt, Detroit Free Press, Parkman no longer on Kilpatrick’s legal team.   Also see Ben Schmitt and Joe Swickard, Detroit Free Press, Judge: Council can’t proceed with hearing to oust Kilpatrick

Jackson, Mississippi – WAPT.com, Mayor’s Trial Set for November – Melton, Bodyguards Charged in Civil Rights Case

Newark, New Jersey – John Martin & Jeff Whelan, New Jersey Star Ledger, Ex-Newark Mayor Sharpe James sentenced to 27 months

But it really is nothing new (see former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell here; Missouri here) (see also here Robert Hanley’s discussion in the New York Times of several N.J. mayors being indicted).

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ClarionLedger.com (AP), Former state agency worker faces embezzlement charge

Julie Triedman, The AmLaw Daily, UBS Banker Held by U.S. Government Returns to Switzerland

DOJ Press Release, U.S. Army Major Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme Related to Department of Defense Contracts in Kuwait

Aaron Wilmot, American Chronicle, Seattle Contractor Charged With Defrauding Investors

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DOJ Press Release, Oregon Corporation Sentenced for Ocean Pollution Violation – Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals Incorporated (KMBT) was sentenced to pay a total penalty of $240,000.

Law.com (AP), Two North Texas Men Accused of Securities Fraud

Mike Robinson, Chicago Tribune (AP), Lawson to Pay $30 Million in Kickback Case

John Council, Texas Lawyer, Controversy Over the Police Search of a Collin County Law Practice

Douglas R. Jensen, Law.com, Parallel Investigations Continue to Pose Challenges

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Chronicle of Higher Education, Another Diploma-Mill Operator Is Going to Jail

DOJ Press Release, Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey Announces Brian A. Benczkowski to Serve as Chief of Staff for the Department of Justice

Atlanta Jrl Constitution, Facility Group CEO pleads guilty to conspiracy to corrupt a public official

Amanda Bronstad, National L.J., Lawyer in Milberg case draws two-month prison term 

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Larry Ribstein, Ideoblog, Olis and Hamden; see also Tom Kirkendall, Houston ClearThinkers, Criminal Justice?

John Farmer Jr., N.J..com (Star Ledger), The spat over the mayor’s sentence  (discussing the sentencing of the former Newark Mayor)

DOJ Press Release, Former National Century Financial Enterprises CEO Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison on Conspiracy, Witness Tampering and Obstruction of Justice Charges

DOJ Press Release, Nevada Landfill Operator Agrees to $36 Million Plan to Close Landfill Site 

Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Jrl Law News Now, How Monica Goodling and Kyle Sampson Worked the System

Amanda Bronstad, National L.J., Indictment of Katrina Lawyer is Challenged

Marisa Taylor, McClatchy Washington Bureau, Enron setbacks could hurt other white-collar prosecutions

John Pacenti, Daily Business Review, Law.com, Prosecutors Change Course on Money Laundering Charges Against Prominent Attorney

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Amanda Bronstad, National Law Journal, Law.com, Prosecutors recommend One Year of Probation for Milberg Kickback Defendant

Liz Rappaport, WSJ, Treasury Ex-Official Is at Center of UBS Probe

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