New Clarity Emerges on DOJ’s Fraud Enforcement Reorganization
In remarks delivered on June 3, 2026, at the American Conference Institute’s Global Anti-Corruption, Ethics & Compliance Conference in New York City, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) Criminal Division, provided the clearest public indication to date of how DOJ intends to divide fraud enforcement responsibilities between the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the newly created National Fraud Enforcement Division (“NFED”).
Under the emerging structure, NFED will focus on government program fraud, i.e., criminal offenses involving public payers and public systems, including taxpayer-funded programs, while the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section will remain focused on private-sector market, consumer, and corporate fraud matters—a traditional strength of the Unit previously known as Market Integrity & Major Frauds, which will remain part of the Criminal Division. Duva further emphasized that the Fraud Section will be focusing on securities and major financial fraud schemes, global fraud, and prediction markets, and is actively looking to further build capacity by hiring talented lawyers.
The remarks largely confirm earlier expectations that DOJ would eventually provide greater clarity regarding the respective roles of the Criminal Division and NFED following NFED’s creation. We examine what Duva’s comments reveal about DOJ’s enforcement priorities, staffing changes, and the implications for future enforcement activity.
U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Announces Reforms For Grand Jury Proceedings
On May 27, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced that it had implemented internal reforms concerning the Office’s practices and disclosures related to grand juries. The announcement followed the recent discovery of extensive prosecutorial misconduct before a grand jury resulting in dismissal with prejudice of the high-profile “Broadview Six” prosecutions. While the details of the reforms remain unclear, the announcement reflects a recognition that change was needed to address past practices and may provide an opportunity for criminal defendants to seek grand jury disclosures and relief if misconduct is uncovered.
“Don’t Wait”: DOJ Criminal Division Chief Signals Faster Disclosure Expectations and Uptick in Corporate Enforcement
On May 7, 2026, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva used his first major speech to the compliance community since DOJ’s March 2026 rollout of its department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy (CEP) to deliver a clear message: corporate enforcement activity is expected to increase, companies should self-disclose misconduct early—even before completing internal investigations—and robust compliance programs remain central to DOJ’s expectations.
Million-Dollar U.S. DOJ Antitrust Reward Underlines Broader and Growing Commitment to Incentivize Corporate Whistleblowers
Within seven months of announcing its groundbreaking monetary whistleblower awards program for individuals who report potential violations, on January 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division and the U.S. Postal Service announced the first whistleblower award under the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, paying $1 million to an individual whose information led to criminal enforcement action. (more…)
