The Justice Department continues to attack and dismantle global ransomware extortion organizations.  Business surveys often confirm that executives are hyper-focused on the risk of ransomware attacks against businesses. Interestingly, government regulators have focused on ransomware scenarios to ensure that regulatory restrictions on sanctions and other restrictions are not violated.  The message behind DOJ and regulatory interests is clear – if attacked, notify law enforcement right...

Little problems can become big ones.  A failure to respond to a risk – whether it is a conflict of interest violation or a weakness in internal controls – can become even more significant depending on the size and scope of the problem. A recent criminal prosecution of two Rockwell Automation executives underscored the nature of this phenomena.  Last month, federal prosecutors arrested and charged...

Sorry to repeat myself (sorry, but inevitable in my maintaining this blog for 9 years), but the Justice Department, like other enforcement agencies, will tell everyone what they plan to do and then do it.  Not on individual investigations, but in enforcement priorities, strategies and resources.  Lisa Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General (No. 2 in DOJ), delivered an important speech at the National Institute of...

Mark Forkner, a former Chief Technical Pilot, was indicted  on two counts of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce and four counts of wire fraud.  If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison on each count of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce. Boeing began to develop the...