August 8, 2024
DOJ Launches Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program
John noted back in March that the Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco had announced a new pilot whistleblower program that provides corporate whistleblowers with financial awards. The pilot program has now been launched by the DOJ’s Criminal Division. The announcement of the launch of the pilot program notes:
The Department of Justice’s Criminal Division has launched a Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program to uncover and prosecute corporate crime. Under this pilot program, a whistleblower who provides the Criminal Division with original and truthful information about corporate misconduct that results in a successful forfeiture may be eligible for an award.
As described in more detail in the program guidance, the information must relate to one of the following areas: (1) certain crimes involving financial institutions, from traditional banks to cryptocurrency businesses; (2) foreign corruption involving misconduct by companies; (3) domestic corruption involving misconduct by companies; or (4) health care fraud schemes involving private insurance plans.
If the information a whistleblower submits results in a successful prosecution that includes criminal or civil forfeiture, the whistleblower may be eligible to receive an award of a percentage of the forfeited assets, depending on considerations set out in the program guidance. If you have information to report, please fill out the intake form below and submit your information via CorporateWhistleblower@usdoj.gov. Submissions are confidential to the fullest extent of the law.
Companies that voluntarily self-report within 120 days of receiving an internal whistleblower report may be eligible for a presumption of a declination under the Criminal Division’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy if the company reports to the Department before the Department contacts the company.
The DOJ provides detailed guidance about the program, a fact sheet and an intake form. The announcement notes that a claim form will be available soon.
– Dave Lynn