White Collar Crime Report: Index-Summary

OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

– Drug firm manager convicted of destroying evidence of off-label marketing (D. Mass.), 211; sentencing, 524
– Expansion of obstruction law, Analysis and Perspective, 228
– Grand jury subpoenas

– – Alteration of records subject to subpoena is obstruction of federal probe (11th Cir.), 391
– – False records, submission is obstruction despite irrelevance of documents (10th Cir.), 288

– Hindering official investigation, conviction upheld despite probe not yet begun when conduct committed (6th Cir.), 289
– Internal company investigations by in-house counsel, Analysis and Perspective, 191
– Medicare billing fraud probes

– – Dermatologist sentenced (D. Mass.), 68
– – Home health care business owner sentenced (W.D. La.), 453
– – Podiatrist sentenced for blocking audit (E.D. Mo.), 454

– Pipe firm sentenced for blocking OSHA probe (D.N.J.), 323
– Ponzi scheme, Stanford Financial Group executive charged with blocking SEC investigation (S.D. Tex.), 169; indictment, 350; Robert Stanford, 3 executives and Antiguan bank regulatory official indicted for scheme, 443; Stanford denied bail (5th Cir.), 586; chief financial officer pleads guilty (S.D. Tex.), 630; director of security charged with obstruction and destruction of records (S.D. Fla.), 660; failure to pursue whistleblower complaints cited in FINRA internal audit report, 716
– Sentencing, meritless filings by pro se defendant not obstruction so no upward departure (6th Cir.), 460

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

– Coal company pleads guilty in fatal mine fire (S.D.W. Va.), 66
– Enforcement, OSHA official says new program will oversee worst-offending employers, 332
– Farm labor contractor charged in death of worker from heat illness (Cal. Super. Ct.), 315
– Hydroelectric plant operator indicted in deaths of workers in fire (D. Colo.), 627
– Irrigation firm sentenced for fatal trench collapse (D. Neb.), 252
– OSH Act, expanded coverage and increased penalties

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2067

– Pipe firm sentenced for covering up worker accidents (D.N.J.), 323
– Roofing firm owner sentenced for workers' falls through unprotected skylights (Cal. Super. Ct.), 324
– Safety monitors on construction sites, head of consulting firm pleads guilty to falsifying credentials of (S.D.N.Y.), 449
– Tyson Foods pleads guilty in death of worker exposed to toxic gas (W.D. Ark.), 33; sentencing, 416
– Workers' compensation, asbestos removal contractor sentenced for fraudulently concealing number of workers to avoid paying premiums (N.D.N.Y.), 555

OIL AND GAS

– Corporate restructuring to evade cleanup costs and penalties, U.S. moves to intervene in civil suit against Kerr-McGee and successor firm (S.D.N.Y.), 394
– Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

– – Halliburton agrees to settle charges involving KBR subsidiary's payments to Nigerian officials (S.D. Tex.), 74; sentencing, 137; 2 British citizens indicted for participating in scheme, 170
– – Privatization of state oil company in rigged auction, defendant convicted of bribing Azerbaijan officials to ensure (S.D.N.Y.), 484
– – Willbros president indicted for paying bribes to Nigerian and Ecuadorian officials (S.D. Tex.), 8

– Migratory Bird Treaty Act, ExxonMobil sentenced for deaths of waterfowl (D. Colo.), 595
– Oil-for-Food program, kickbacks to Iraqi officials

See INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

– Pollution

– – Asbestos removal, San Diego Gas & Electric retrial for violating work practice standards, prosecution evidence inadmissible (S.D. Cal.), 629; charges dismissed, 741
– – Cargo ship fuel spill in San Francisco Bay, pilot pleads guilty (N.D. Cal.), 177; ship operator pleads guilty, 357; pilot sentenced, 525; ship operator to pay fine after pleading guilty, 594
– – Emissions reports falsified, bulk fuel terminal sentenced for Clean Air Act violations (N.D. Cal.), 489
– – Explosion at refinery, Clean Air Act violations, BP plea agreement accepted (S.D. Tex.), 211
– – ExxonMobil subsidiary pleads guilty for fuel spill in Mystic River (D. Mass.), 11; sentencing, 322
– – Hazardous waste, natural gas distributor that generated small quantities of waste may face federal prosecution for violating state permit requirement (D.R.I.), 551; sentencing, 705
– – Oil waste discharges

– – – Chemical tanker ship's chief engineer pleads guilty to covering up illegal discharges (D. Mass.), 177; ship operating firm pleads guilty, 248; engineer sentenced, 360; firm sentenced, 523
– – – Japanese cargo ship operator sentenced for falsifying records (M.D. Fla.), 181
– – – Ocean dumping, South Korean firm sentenced for falsifying compliance records (M.D. Fla.), 417
– – – Oil-record book required by federal act, ship has duty to maintain accuracy of (2d Cir.), 143
– – – Pipe firm sentenced for discharge into Delaware River (D.N.J.), 323
– – – Portuguese shipping firm fined for falsifying records (S.D. Tex.), 216
– – – River terminal operator pleads guilty to discharge into Mississippi River (E.D. Mo.), 248; terminal manager and maintenance supervisor sentenced, 454
– – – Ship captain from South Korea sentenced for dumping oil-tainted grain (W.D. Wash.), 36
– – – Swedish shipping firm sentenced for concealing discharges (D.N.J.), 180

– Ponzi scheme, energy firm sentenced for selling fraudulent investments in oil and gas well projects (S.D. Ill.), 360
– Public corruption

– – Bribery of lawmakers considering tax legislation

See ALASKA

– – EPA employee charged with false statements and financial conflicts in fuel additive work, prosecution dismissed for lack of speedy trial (D.D.C.), 385

– Taxation, motor fuel excise taxes, fugitive returns to U.S. and pleads guilty to evasion (D.N.J.), 175