Cortes Talks DOJ's New VSD Program

White Collar Defense & Investigations partner Lee Cortes was recently quoted in the Anti-Corruption Report article, "DOJ's New VSD Program Offers NPAs to Individuals Who Can Help Catch Bigger Fish." The article discusses the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Criminal Division's new "Pilot Program," which aims to encourage wrongdoers involved in corporate crime to turn themselves and their co-conspirators in through voluntary self-disclosure (VSD). Individuals who report the misconduct to the DOJ, cooperate fully, and meet the government's specific criteria will be eligible to receive a non-prosecution agreement (NPA).

Cortes told Anti-Corruption Report that an NPA is a "substantial incentive" for a potential wrongdoer to cooperate with the government because they could avoid pleading guilty. Cortes, who previously served as Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, noted the program's groundbreaking nature, explaining that "these new