DOJ Antitrust Division Announces First-Ever Whistleblower Reward Just Six Months After Launching Rewards Program

Key Takeaways

• DOJ's Antitrust Division announced that it has awarded the first-ever payment to a whistleblower for reporting an antitrust crime.
• The whistleblower reported an illegal bid-rigging conspiracy during online used car auctions that ultimately resulted in the corporate entity entering into a deferred prosecution agreement and agreeing to pay $3.28 million in criminal fines.
• With the award coming just six months after the creation of the whistleblower rewards program, the first payout signals that the Antitrust Division's rewards program is building momentum and this payout will likely encourage other whistleblowers to come forward and assist the government in bringing cases.