Legal Blog: Burnham & Gorokhov, PLLC

PPP Fraud in the United States

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was created by the U.S. government in response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides small businesses with forgivable loans to help them keep their employees on payroll and pay other essential expenses. The PPP was a critical part of the federal response to the pandemic, but it has also been

Read More »

Basics of Freedom Access to Clinic Entrances Act – FACE Act

What Everyone Needs to Know About the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act  While the Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court in June 2022 has reverted the issue of abortion to the states, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act remains in force as a federal protection for people seeking reproductive health services, which includes both abortion

Read More »

Penalties of Mishandling Classified Documents in the United States

Mishandling classified document offenses is a serious crime that can carry severe penalties. These offenses are defined by a variety of statutes, including 18 USC § 783(b), 18 USC § 793(e), 18 USC § 952, and 18 USC § 1924. 18 USC § 783(b) deals with the receipt of classified information by foreigners and their agents. Under this statute, it

Read More »

Search Warrant Authority of Offices of Inspector General (OIG)

Does an Office of Inspector General Have Search Warrant Authority?  If you are a Federal employee who has become aware that you or your workplace are under investigation by an Office of Inspector General (OIG), you probably have many questions. What authority do they have? Can they issue search warrants? The short answer to these questions is: their powers are

Read More »

What Should You Do If You Are Being Investigated for Cryptocurrency Fraud?

The issue of criminal charges relating to cryptocurrency has been brought to the forefront by the recent arrest of Samuel Bankman-Fried, founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, in the Bahamas on charges including multiple forms of fraud and the conspiracy to commit fraud, campaign finance charges, and money laundering. If you are being investigated for cryptocurrency fraud, you may wonder what

Read More »

Under Investigation for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud?

Aggressive Investigations Require Proactive Defense At the end of September 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched “Strike Force Teams” to investigate and prosecute Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud. Of the $800 billion distributed through the PPP, some estimate that $100 billion could have been fraudulently spent or obtained. Nearly a quarter of loan recipients, according to these same

Read More »

How Can Healthcare Professionals Defend Themselves from Controlled Substances Act Charges?

In recent years, there has been increasing news coverage regarding the “opioid epidemic,” alleged “pill mills” and unscrupulous providers. This has increased the risk that well-meaning providers to be charged under the Controlled Substances Act for prescribing more than guidelines would recommend to, say, a patient suffering from intense pain who has developed a tolerance to lower doses. Such charges

Read More »

Fraud Abroad? The Fourth Circuit Clarifies When Defendants May Be Prosecuted In The United States for International Fraud.

This month, the Fourth Circuit issued its decision in United States v. Elbaz, 52 F.4th 593 (4th Cir. 2022) on rehearing. The Fourth Circuit clarified that the federal wire fraud statute does not apply extraterritorially, but that the use of United States wires to conduct foreign fraud can justify U.S. prosecution. This has ramifications for digital fraud and for venue

Read More »

Third Circuit Strikes Blow For Sensible White-Collar Money Laundering Decisions

Last month the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (overseeing district courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the U.S. Virgin Island), took the extraordinary step of overturning a federal white-collar money laundering conviction. In doing so, the court limited the government’s ability to simply tack on § 1956 money laundering to major fraud cases. The case, United

Read More »
Categories
Tags

Defending Your Rights
In Federal Court

Contact us Now

What Our Clients Have To say...

Top