Nicholas B. Johnson
Former Prosecutor
Lynette Byrd
Former Assistant
U.S. Attorney
John Sellers
Former DOJ
U.S. Attorney
Linda Julin McNamara
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
Attorney & Founder
The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Intellectual Property Theft Statutes
While intellectual property theft and misappropriation can lead to claims for injunctive relief and damages, they can also lead to federal criminal charges in some cases. Many people are surprised to learn that this is the case. But, multiple federal statutes impose criminal penalties for intellectual property theft, and prosecution...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Bank Fraud Statute
The federal bank fraud statute, 18 U.S.C. Section 1344, is one of the shortest statutes in the U.S. Code. It is also one of the most dangerous. The federal bank fraud statute is extremely broad in scope, and it imposes penalties of up to a $1 million fine and 30...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Bribery Statute
Bribery is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. Section 201. A bribery conviction can lead to fines and prison time; and, while there are several potential defenses to a bribery charge under Section 201, the statute also provides several ways for federal prosecutors to secure a conviction. In this Ultimate...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Computer and Internet Fraud Statutes
Federal prosecutions for computer and internet fraud have increased significantly over the past decade. As new technologies present new opportunities for exploitation at breakneck pace, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other federal agencies are doing everything they can to uncover, prosecute, and deter...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
We recently published our Ultimate Guide to the Federal Computer and Internet Fraud Statutes; and, in that guide, we included an overview of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). However, as the CFAA is a complex and lengthy statute—and one of federal prosecutors' primary tools for prosecuting computer-related crimes—it...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Counterfeiting Statutes
The federal crime of counterfeiting involves "cop[ying] or imitate[ing] an item without having been authorized to do so and pass[ing] the copy off for the genuine or original item." While most people are aware that selling counterfeit goods can lead to a cease-and-desist demand and possibly a civil lawsuit, far...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Embezzlement Statutes
Embezzlement is a crime at the state and federal levels. While the majority of embezzlement prosecutions take place in state courts, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutes company executives, accountants, lawyers, bank officers, government employees, and various other individuals suspected of embezzling funds from their companies or employers. At...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Government Fraud Statute
Defrauding the United States government is a serious criminal offense. Individuals and businesses accused of federal government fraud can potentially face millions of dollars in fines, and individuals who get convicted of government fraud can face a decade or more behind bars. The federal government fraud statute, 18 U.S.C. Section...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Healthcare Fraud Statute
Healthcare fraud is big business. Individuals and businesses that intentionally submit fraudulent reimbursements to Medicare and Medicaid rake in tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds each year. But, with the federal government's focus on combating healthcare fraud, legitimate providers can face scrutiny as well—and all types of individuals...
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The Ultimate Guide to the Federal Insider Trading Statute
Insider trading is a federal criminal offense. While there are no federal statutes that specifically address insider trading, insider trading falls under Section 10b of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78j), as a type of prohibited "manipulative and deceptive device." Thus, Section 10b is commonly...
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