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Government Appeals D.C. Circuit Decision on Search of Rep. Jefferson’s Office
The Department of Justice has requested rehearing en banc of the decision of a panel of the D.C. Circuit that found the government violated the Speech or Debate Clause in its search of Representative William Jefferson’s office in the Rayburn House Office Building. That decision, available below, determined that "the compelled disclosure of privileged material…
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Prosecutors File Preliminary Sentencing Memo for Reyes Backdating Convictions
Federal prosecutors in San Francisco filed a "preliminary" sentencing calculation at the request of U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer to get some initial information on the application of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for the sentencing of Gregory Reyes, the former CEO of Brocade convicted for backdating options. The loss calculation under USSG Sec. 2B1.1 will…
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Are Just a Few “Bad Apples” to Blame for Military Contracting Fraud?
The issue of fraud related to the billions being spent in Iraq and Afghanistan has been the subject of a wide range of government inquiries. At a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee on September 20 on Accountability during Contigency Operations: Preventing and Fighting Corruption in Contracting and Establishing and Maintaining Appropriate Controls on…
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What Did Hsu Do to Violate the Campaign Contribution Laws?
Of the three charges filed against erstwhile fundraiser Norman Hsu, one alleges that he "willfully violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by making contributions to various candidates for President of the United States, the United States Senate, and the United States House of Representatives in the names of others in excess of $25,000 or more…
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Weiss Indicted and Government Seeks Forfeiture of $251 Million
As expected, Milberg Weiss founder Melvyn Weiss and the firm were charged in a second superseding indictment (available below) with conspiracy, RICO conspiracy, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice, and Weiss was accused of making a false statement (Sec. 1001) to agents investigating the firm. While the basic allegation of paying representative plaintiffs in class…
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Hsu to Be Charged with Fraud and Campaign Finance Violations
Norman Hsu, previously known for his fundraising on behalf of Democratic party candidates and a bizarre train trip to Colorado, will be indicted on fraud and campaign finance charges, according to the Wall Street Journal (here). The case involves millions of dollars of investments that are missing, and campaign contributions to a number of candidates,…
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Lerach’s Deal
With the impending superseding indictment of Melvyn Weiss and his firm, Milberg Weiss, the prosecution of the firm and its members for paying secret kickbacks to plaintiffs is nearing its denouement. The plea agreement (available below) of William Lerach, the symbol — for good or evil, depending on your point of view — of aggressive…
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What’s Next for the Corporate Attorney-Client Privilege Bill
Senator Arlen Specter’s bill, the Attorney Client Privilege Protection Act of 2007 (S.186 here), was the subject of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on September 18. The five witnesses (statements available here) included two who strongly support the bill, former Attorney General Dick Thornburgh and Andrew Weissman, who headed the Enron Task Force before entering…
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OC Lawyer Charged with Fraud and Money Laundering
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced the indictment of an Orange County lawyer and another man on charges of defrauding clients of his firm of more than $1 million for purported investments in bank instruments that would return up to 40% a week. According to a press release (here), the…
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Media Reports Weiss to Be Indicted and Schulman Will Plead
Fortune is reporting (here) that Melvyn Weiss, a name partner at Milberg Weiss, will be indicted shortly on charges related to secret payments to representative plaintiffs in class actions filed by the firm. Former partner William Lerach just entered a guilty plea to a conspiracy charge that will call for a one- to two-year sentence,…
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