Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas officially leaves office on Sunday, the day before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. In a wide-ranging discussion with The Texas Lawbook, Leigha Simonton reflects on her two years as chief federal prosecutor in a district that sprawls across 100 counties, and her long years of public service that led her to the job.
In a recent CLE event hosted by The Texas Lawbook and the Houston chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, lawyers from Bracewell, Talen Energy and Vopak gathered to discuss various topics related to the different areas they are keeping a keen eye on as the change of presidential administrations inches closer to the Jan. 20 inauguration date.
The year’s biggest fraud prosecutions confirmed what federal authorities have long known: If there’s a way to steal from Medicare, other government healthcare programs, and private insurers, someone will find it.
In a CLE event hosted by The Texas Lawbook, lawyers from Akin, Baker McKenzie and Capital One discussed various topics related to how they are preparing themselves and their clients for the transition between administrations in January when Donald Trump assumes office in his second term as president.
Sherman Roberts, president and CEO of City Wide Community Development Corporation, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiring to commit bribery. Roberts is accused of bribing two former Dallas City Council members in exchange for their support of his real estate projects.
Tracking themes apparent in other recent guidance issued by DOJ, companies now have more reason to focus on AI and the effective use of emerging technologies and data analytics, even when engaging in M&A deals, to enhance corporate compliance programs. Perhaps most significantly, the DOJ now asks companies to demonstrate how they are utilizing newly available technology such as AI and whether the companies have adequately prepared for the risks associated with using such technologies.
Courts have historically wrestled with who qualifies as an “Officer of the United States”— a term that is used five times in the Constitution and its amendments. Considering that the federal government employs nearly 3 million people, some of the confusion is warranted. But not all. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court faced the question of whether the president qualified as an officer of the United States. The Court ultimately decided the case on different grounds without clarification on this point.
A federal district court in Florida ruled three weeks ago that any individual who files a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act is an officer of the U.S. and that the FCA's qui tam provisions are unconstitutional because whistleblowers are not appointed by the executive branch.
Mohamed Mokbel was convicted on 15 charges for his role in what prosecutors said was a multipart scheme to defraud the government that involved deceiving doctors and patients, too. Mokbel, former CEO of 4M Pharmacies, argued all he was guilty of was trying to compete with the powerful pharmacy benefit managers, entities that manage prescription drug programs for health plans and control 80 percent of the market. The panel of 12 deliberated for about five hours Tuesday before returning the unanimous verdict.
The CEO of 4M Pharmaceuticals, Mohamed Mokbel, is facing 15 charges related to his alleged role in a Medicare fraud scheme that prosecutors said involved call centers in Egypt and the Philippines, targeted elderly individuals and resulted in a $160 million fraud on the government. Mokbel’s attorneys told jurors Tuesday their client was operating within the bounds of the law with his business plan, which involved payments to a third-party lead generator.
In 2022, the SEC brought its first enforcement action centered on the alleged failure of a broker-dealer and its associated persons to comply with the Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) “care obligation.” The SEC sought to use the case to impose a new standard of knowledge and education about investments upon investment professionals. A close read of the case has important lessons for both financial professionals and attorneys who represent them.
© Copyright 2026 The Texas Lawbook
The content on this website is protected under federal Copyright laws. Any use without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.
