Still relatively new, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program is intended to incentivize whistleblowers to report unlawful activity that may not fit within the scope of other whistleblower programs. Typical violations reported through this program include foreign corruption and bribery, bribes and kickbacks to public officials, fraud against patients and non-governmental entities in healthcare, tariff and customs fraud, and material support to terrorism and transnational criminal organizations.
Whistleblowers may be eligible for an award pursuant to the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program when they provide original, truthful information about criminal misconduct relating to one or more designated program areas that leads to civil or criminal forfeiture exceeding $1,000,000 in net proceeds. Whistleblowers may also submit information anonymously through an attorney and still be eligible for an award. If DOJ finalizes a successful forfeiture, the whistleblower may be eligible for an award of up to 30% of the first $100 million in net proceeds forfeited (up to $30 million), as well as an award of up to 5% of any net proceeds forfeited between $100 million and $500 million (up to $20 million).
However, an individual would not be eligible for an award if they reported the same scheme through another whistleblower program. An individual is also disqualified from an award if they meaningfully participated in the scheme.
How do I know if I have a case?
Contact our firm for a free, confidential consultation to evaluate your case. To make the most of your call, have the following information ready, if known:
- What legal violations occurred?
- Who or what legal entities were negatively impacted by this conduct?
- What information or evidence do you have to show that this conduct was not mere mistake?
- How much was the financial loss or risk that resulted from this conduct?
