6th Circuit finds whistleblower law shields ex-employees from retaliation

REUTERS

The federal False Claims Act protects former, not just current, employees from retaliation, a divided 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled Wednesday, reviving a retaliation claim by a neurologist who said his former employer “blacklisted” him after he filed a whistleblower lawsuit against it. read more »

SEC opens investigation into Bill Hwang after Archegos meltdown

REUTERS

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has started a preliminary investigation into Bill Hwang following the collapse of New York-based Archegos Capital Management, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. read more »

DeepDotWeb Administrator Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy

DOJ

An Israeli national pleaded guilty today for his role in operating DeepDotWeb (DDW), a website that connected internet users with Darknet marketplaces, where they purchased illegal firearms, malware and hacking tools, stolen financial data, heroin and fentanyl, and other contraband. read more »

CFTC Charges Washington State Rancher and Feedyard with $233 Million Phantom Cattle Fraud Scheme

CFTC

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today filed a civil enforcement action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington charging Easterday Ranches, Inc., a Pasco, Washington based cattle feedyard, and Cody Easterday, co-owner and formerly president of Easterday Ranches, for engaging in fraud in connection with the sale of more than 200,000 non-existent head of cattle to a beef processor, making false statements to an exchange, and violating exchange-set position limits. read more »