Justice Dept. toughens on corporate crime, will pursue more individuals

FILE PHOTO: Lisa Monaco, Deputy Attorney General of the United States delivers remarks during and announcement of an indictment against nine individuals for various offenses related to firearms trafficking in New York City
FILE PHOTO: Lisa Monaco, deputy attorney general of the United States, delivers remarks during an announcement of an indictment against nine individuals for various offenses related to firearms trafficking from Georgia to New York City, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., August 4, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

By Chris Prentice

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday outlined policy changes aimed at rooting out repeated corporate misconduct and prioritizing prosecutions of individuals, signaling a shift to a tougher stance by the government toward white collar crime.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the department’s top priority regarding corporate crime is to prosecute the people who commit and benefit from misconduct.

“Accountability starts with the individuals responsible for criminal conduct,” Monaco, the Justice Department’s No. 2 official, told an industry conference.

When assessing penalties and resolutions, Monaco said the department will take a broader view of a company’s misconduct, be ready to install third-party monitors and have new demands for cooperation.