Dangers of Being a Corporate Whistleblower 2

Being a whistleblower always starts the same way - an employee or worker notices that the company for which he is working is doing something wrong, illegal or unethical and says something about it. 

      Sounds simple, right?  We have all been told (or at least we should have been told) to do the right thing.  We don't want to participate in illegal or unethical activity.  Not only is it immoral, in today's world it is also illegal.  If we see that the company we are working for is taking some action that is wrong, we should not involve ourselves in it.

    By "not involving ourselves in it" there are several courses of action a person could take.  For example:

1.  Alert the supervisor that something is wrong
2.  Go to a higher authority and report that something is wrong
3.  Refuse to "sign off" on something because it is wrong or incorrect

4.  Go to the police or Federal police (FBI, etc.) to alert them that something is going on

5.  Speak to an attorney

6.  Go to the media

7.  Talk to co-workers

 

      The above are just a few examples.  However, all of the above can be considered a form of whistleblowing.  In fact, all of the above examples have been done by whistleblowers at one time or another.  All of the results are the same: the person is stating that something is going on at a company that is wrong, illegal, immoral or all three.

 

     So, once this happens, the person may be considered a whistleblower already.

 

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

 

Dangers of being a Corporate Whistelblower

We will spend the next series of posts discussing the dangers of being a corporate whistleblower.  We have talked about whistleblowing before, but we are going to revisit the topic to discuss some of the issues that occur when a person chooses such actions, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. 

      The most prominent whistleblower that I can think of is Sherron Watkins.  She was the Enron whistleblower that brought down Enron, at the time the largest fraud in U.S. history.  It should tell you something that although it was only about 12 years ago, Enron is more of a footnote now to fraud in the United States than front-page news (which is why T.V. shows like "American Greed" never run out of subjects). 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherron_Watkins

     But, being a whistleblower is not all fun and games nor is it likely that whistleblowers will reap fame and fortune from their actions.  Actually, it can be very dangerous.  This is why, if a person is going to be a whistleblower, finding a competent attorney for representation is critical. 

    Strange as it may seem, whistleblowers have been prosecuted.  And, once again strange as it may seem, once a person sets down the path of being a whistleblower, his life will not get back to normal for a long, long time.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Fraud Night at the Movies: The Sting

A friend of mine who is a movie buff reminded me that I had not said anything about The Sting.  Shame on me.

     The Sting, with Robert Redford and Paul Newman, is the classic "con game" movie.  It is somewhat contrived, but it sports a great cast, wonderful music and a great script.  Once again, highly recommended.  If you have not seen it yet, get on Netflix or get the DVD - you will have a great time watching it.

    BUT - avoid The Sting II, with Jackie Gleason.  Horrible, horrible movie and an unworthy sequel to the original.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Fraud Night at the Movies: American Hustle

Every so often this blog recommends films which have fraud or con artists as a theme.  Last year's Academy Award nominee and winner, American Hustle, is highly recommended.

       Loosely based on the ABSCAM scheme of the FBI which ensnared several Congressmen accepting bribes from a so-called Arab Sheikh in the late 70's, the film is more about the incredible self-confidence con men have in pursuit of their schemes.

     Check it out if you have the chance.

 

Massive tax fraud scheme in the Western District

One of the largest frauds in the Western District of Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txw/news/2014/Kimes_Pircher_SA_sentencings.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Fraud involving schools in the Eastern District

Fraud always affects people and it is sad to hear when savings accounts are drained and people left without savings.  But fraud on schoolkids is even worse.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txe/News/2014/edtx-bisd-mccraney-041414.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Multimillion investment scam in the Eastern District

Normally this sort of thing seems to occur in the Southern and Northern Districts of Texas (at least, ones of this scale)

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txe/News/2014/edtx-ffetf-mcduff-041614.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

NOTE: ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT PLED GUILTY TO A CRIME OR WHO HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY A JUDGE OR JURY IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AS PER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk