Banking: BoA fined for consumer accounts practices
Bank of America is the latest target of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) and The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) enforcement actions regarding banking practices involving...
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SCOTUS To Review Jarkesy, Federal Regulatory Power to Bring Enforcement Actions
On June 30, 2023, the United States Supreme Court granted the petition for certiorari of the Securities and Exchange Commission to review Securities and Exchange Comm’n v. Jarkesy, et al.,...
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Fines Against U.S. Bank for $37.5 Million for Allegedly Unauthorized Accounts Demonstrate Vast Power of CFPB, As Bureau’s Future Uncertain
The future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an independent bureau within the Federal Reserve that implements and enforces consumer financial laws, is uncertain as the U.S. Supreme Court...
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Preparing for your civil litigation case
Most civil litigation cases follow the same basic process. That said, they are still complex cases. If you do not know the litigation process, you might feel overwhelmed. To better...
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Elements of wire fraud and common defenses
The United States Congress first outlawed mail fraud nearly a century after national independence. The technological era opened the door to advanced methods of deception through modern communication. In 1952,...
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Doug Kelley Helps Secure Largest Jury Verdict in Minnesota History: BMO to pay $563.7m in Petters’ Ponzi scheme
In his capacity as the court-appointed bankruptcy trustee for matters arising out of the Tom Petters Ponzi scheme, Douglas Kelley of Kelley Wolter & Scott, P.A. was instrumental in helping secure the...
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Why you should never lie to federal law enforcement professionals
If law enforcement has ever confronted or questioned you, whether the encounter was confrontational or friendly, your first response was probably anxiety. When the questions start coming, your first instinct...
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Medicaid fraud comes in many varieties
Medicaid provides medical coverage to low-income citizens. This vital program assists approximately 20% of the population. Without it, many would lack treatment. Every year, billions of taxpayer dollars go toward...
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Is there a difference between tax evasion and tax fraud?
Every year, you must file your taxes. There are few things more confusing than the American revenue system. Thousands of regulations exist, and it is unrealistic to think no one...
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What qualifies as obstruction of justice?
Obstruction of justice is a complex and broad concept regarding interfering with the process of justice. Anyone that interferes with a legal act or legal proceeding has committed obstruction of justice....
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What to expect when the IRS audits you
Finding out you are going to be the subject of an IRS audit may have you feeling anxious, but not every audit plays out the way you might envision. Only...
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How an internal investigation can protect your company
When your company faces allegations of fraud, misconduct or any number of damaging public allegations, what you do next can make all the difference. Many companies attempt to ignore the...
More>> What’s the difference between a Ponzi, pyramid or multi-level marketing scheme?
If you have used a multi-level marketing (MLM) business scheme in the past, you may not have done anything wrong. However, some of these programs quickly begin looking like pyramid...
More>> What is the role of a grand jury in federal criminal cases
The federal criminal process has its own rules that differ from the requirements in individual states. Anyone accused of a felony at the federal level will first have the case...
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Misclassification could lead to charges for business owners
Businesses have a legal obligation to their shareholders to maximize the profits that they generate. Unfortunately, the focus on making as much money as possible can sometimes put management at...
More>> Charged with a white-collar crime? You may end up in federal court
White-collar crimes are often committed by the prospect of financial gain, usually at the expense of another’s ignorance or through the offender’s position in a workplace or another role. These...
More>> Explainer: how Minnesota’s grand jury system works
Though the grand jury is an important piece of the criminal justice system, it doesn’t determine guilt or impose penalties. Instead, a prosecutor convenes a grand jury to determine whether...
More>> Why you should never lie to a federal law enforcement officer
Anyone, whether they are a small business owner, a corporate executive or an average employee, could find themselves questioned by a federal law enforcement officer. There are many federal agencies...
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U.S. Supreme Court overturns “Bridgegate” convictions
As the nation is gripped by the novel coronavirus pandemic and accompanying economic woes, some important news stories get less attention in the news media than they deserve. Though the...
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What is Medicaid fraud?
As a physician, you signed an oath to do no harm. Therefore, you probably can’t imagine committing a crime—any crime. But can you commit something like fraud through ignorance? Possibly....
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