The largest U.S. attorney's office in the U.S. is focusing on corruption by public officials and leaders of companies, a difference from the Department of Justice's nationwide voluntary self-disclosure program announced last year that encourages the companies to come forward
A pilot program to encourage people who know of fraud or other corruption by their company heads or bosses at public institutions "to do the right thing and receive a significant benefit" such as non-prosecution, was announced Friday by Martin Estrada, U.S. attorney in the Central District of California, the largest district in the country.
The Department of Justice announced a nationwide voluntary disclosure program last year encouraging companies to report their agents or employees.
But Estrada is aiming at the folks in charge.
"Note that this covers individuals who may themselves be involved in this conduct," Estrada said in a phone interview. "And there is an important carve-out for CEOs and equivalent."
The difference between this Voluntary Self-Disclosure Pilot Program and already existing avenues such as becoming a state's witness, is the offered benefit - stated in writing and accessible - to not be prosecuted at all.
"The presumption is actually a non-prosecution agreement or a deferred prosecution," Estrada explained, "assuming they disclose something voluntarily, and not in response to a government inquiry," provide substantial help in an investigation, are "reporting someone equally or more...
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