Article
Source: Law360
Article
02.16.26
In an article published in Law360, Pillsbury litigation partner Mark Krotoski and attorney Vinny Sidhu describe how the U.S. Department of Justice's first whistleblower reward payment under the Antitrust Division's Rewards Program is changing the race to report potential criminal antitrust conduct.
The award, announced on Jan. 29, paid $1 million to an individual whose tip led to criminal charges and a deferred prosecution agreement with EBlock Corp., an online used-vehicle auction company, under which the company agreed to pay a $3.28 million criminal penalty.
The payout is the first award under the Antitrust Division's new program to encourage insiders and others to come forward with information about suspected antitrust crimes that may otherwise go undetected. The authors note that, for companies, the announcement underscores a practical reality: External reporting can outpace internal reporting and investigations, raising the stakes on speed, documentation and escalation.
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