On August 1, 2024, the US Department of Justice Criminal Division launched a Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program (“Program“). The announcement was previewed in remarks by DOJ officials in March, and follows the rollout of the DOJ’s Individual Voluntary Self-Disclosure Program in April 2024 and similar programs implemented in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and the Northern District of California (NDCA), in February and March. Under the Program certain individuals who provide original and truthful information about corporate misconduct may be eligible to receive an award if the information results in successful criminal prosecution and criminal or civil asset forfeiture. The Program targets corporate misconduct not covered by existing whistleblower incentive programs and focuses on crimes involving financial institutions and cryptocurrency businesses, companies involved in corruption schemes, and health care fraud schemes involving private insurance plans.
Topline Alexander Smirnov, the former FBI informant who was accused earlier this year of making false statements about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, was indicted Tuesday on unrelate...