U.S. Justice Department News

Justice Department to Offer More Rewards to Corporate Whistleblowers

The U.S. Justice Department is expanding its whistleblower program to coax more tipsters to disclose corporate misconduct by offering monetary rewards, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said. The Justice Department is already authorized to dole out awards for information that …

U.S. Justice Department Backs Extending Ban on Fentanyl Copycats

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department has signaled support for legislation to extend by seven months a ban on illegal copycat versions of fentanyl, the powerful synthetic painkiller that has helped fuel the nation’s opioid epidemic. Without action from Congress, …

States Oppose Settlement Being Negotiated by Oxycontin Maker Purdue and Justice Dept.

A group of 25 state attorneys general oppose a settlement of U.S. opioid probes being negotiated with Purdue Pharma LP and members of the wealthy Sackler family who own it, arguing the deal would improperly entangle state and local officials …

Pilgrim’s Pride Reaches Plea Deal on Chicken Price-Fixing

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has reached a plea agreement with the U.S. government over charges of price-fixing in the chicken industry. Under the agreement, Pilgrim’s Pride would pay a fine of $110.5 million as a penalty for restraining competition in three …

U.S. Charges Seven In Wide-Ranging Chinese Hacking Effort

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday it has charged five Chinese residents and two Malaysian businessmen in a wide-ranging hacking effort that encompassed targets from videogames to pro-democracy activists. Federal prosecutors said the Chinese nationals had been …

Push by Feds to Investigate Violent Demonstrators Nets 300 Arrests So Far

WASHINGTON — In a private call with federal prosecutors across the country, Attorney General William Barr’s message was clear: aggressively go after demonstrators who cause violence. Barr pushed his U.S. attorneys to bring federal charges whenever they could, keeping a …

West Virginia Hospital Settles Whistleblower Suit For $50M

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A financially strapped West Virginia hospital has agreed to pay the federal government $50 million to resolve claims that it improperly issued payments and kickbacks to physicians under the direction of management, the U.S. Justice Department announced …

7th Circuit Lays Obstacle For Litigation Funders With False Claims Act Suits

A federal appellate court dealt a blow against litigation funding companies by ruling that the U.S. Justice Department can dismiss any False Claims Act lawsuits that it deems meritless without first proving that dismissal is justified. The 7th Circuit Court …

U.S. Accuses Chinese Nationals of Hacking Spree Targeting COVID Data, Defense Secrets

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department indicted two Chinese nationals for hacking defense contractors, COVID researchers, and other companies worldwide, according to a court filing published on Tuesday. U.S. authorities said the Chinese nationals, Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi, participated …

Novartis Settles U.S. Fraud Lawsuit Over Sham Speaker Programs

NEW YORK — Novartis AG agreed to pay $678 million to settle a civil fraud lawsuit brought by the U.S. government accusing the Swiss drugmaker of paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to doctors to induce them to prescribe its …