On February 22, 2023 the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a new policy governing self-disclosure of corporate criminal wrongdoing to United States Attorney’s Offices (USAOs). The policy entitled “United States Attorney’s Office Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy” (the “VSD Policy”) is the latest guidance from the department designed to encourage businesses to report and remediate
Jonathan H. Ferry
Jon Ferry brings his substantial experience as a federal prosecutor to assisting clients in False Claims Act litigation, government investigations and other enforcement actions, internal risk analysis and internal investigations.
Jon served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina for over seven years. As the head of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) program and the Healthcare Fraud Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jon led and supervised numerous investigations in the areas of healthcare, financial services and other complex frauds. He has significant experience with the False Claims Act and other whistleblower actions, healthcare regulations (including the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law), the Food Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA).
The False Claims Act in 2022: A Year in Review
In 2022, the government continued to utilize the False Claims Act as its primary tool to combat fraud. Though the government’s recoveries at $2.2 billion were down compared to recent years, the government and whistleblowers were party to more than 350 settlements and judgments – the second-highest number of FCA settlements and judgments in a…
Cash Is King: DOJ Weighs New Guidance on Employee Compensation Packages
The U.S. Department of Justice is eyeing new guidance for how prosecutors should assess employee compensation packages when determining whether a company’s compliance efforts warrant favorable treatment in the resolution of criminal investigations.
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri said Thursday that the Criminal Division is considering new guidance that would help companies…
Medicare Advantage Programs’ Increasing Popularity Invites Heightened FCA and Regulatory Scrutiny
As Medicare Advantage attracts more eligible beneficiaries, it is also drawing attention from False Claims Act (FCA) prosecutors. In 2022, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans reached 28.7 million Medicare beneficiaries, or 49% of eligible beneficiaries. Recently, the United States intervened in a qui tam case against Cigna filed in the Southern District of New York and…
PPP Loan Fraud Enforcement: DOJ’s Complex Criminal Conspiracies and Civil Enforcement Actions
With some estimates as high as $80 billion, fraud within the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been described as the worst in a generation. The government has taken note with aggressive enforcement strategies across the country. Starting with what can be described as low-hanging fruit, the government’s enforcement efforts have expanded and…
Following Doctors’ Orders: SCOTUS Prescribes Subjective Scienter to Controlled Substances Act “As Authorized” Exception
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Ruan v. United States ups the ante for prosecutors who bring charges against doctors for unlawfully dispensing and distributing drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the Supreme Court’s guidance, to secure a conviction, the government must now prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that doctors knowingly and intentionally exceeded…