Eric focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations and compliance matters, and complex business litigation. Leveraging his proven track record of supervising and litigating high-profile matters as a federal prosecutor, he provides experienced counsel to clients seeking to mitigate the risks inherent in the modern business world. Among the litigation matters in which Eric can provide the most value are those involving securities fraud, corporate malfeasance, domestic and foreign corruption, tax crimes, defense procurement fraud, government contracting offenses, campaign finance fraud, Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering violations, financial institution crimes, and healthcare fraud.
Over the course of his career with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Eric fostered collaborative relationships with law enforcement officials, fellow prosecutors, and senior officials in the United States and abroad, which allowed him to navigate difficult challenges and devise effective solutions. Through his extensive network, Eric has gathered distinct insights into the personnel and strategies employed by agencies tasked with investigating fraud, corruption and other white collar crimes.
Eric developed a breadth of litigation experience at the DOJ’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. He prosecuted over a dozen senior executives at publicly traded companies and secured numerous insider trading convictions, giving him a behind-the-scenes look into the investigation of securities fraud by the DOJ and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He investigated and prosecuted violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), including allegations of corporations and individuals making corrupt payments in Africa, China and Europe. In addition, he secured healthcare fraud convictions in Virginia, tried bank fraud defendants in Alabama, and prosecuted racketeering cases in Washington, D.C., and San Diego, California. Beyond honing his trial skills, this work provided Eric with invaluable insight into DOJ’s practices, policies, and decision-making in some of its most significant white-collar prosecutions.
As a supervisor in one of the busiest federal districts in the country, Eric oversaw hundreds of cases, many involving nationally significant prosecutions. Among them were the district’s largest securities fraud case, a groundbreaking healthcare fraud kickback prosecution, the U.S. Navy’s most significant public corruption cases, the largest foreign national campaign finance fraud case, and a pioneering Bank Secrecy Act prosecution that resulted in the largest forfeiture in the district’s history. He was also selected to supervise high-profile matters in other districts, including the most significant public corruption investigation in the State of Hawaii. Supervising such high-profile matters required extensive collaboration with senior officials at the DOJ and their law enforcement partners, including the FBI, IRS, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and various Inspectors General. While serving in the Southern District of California, Eric was responsible for devising strategies to combat financial frauds and ensure coordination among various federal agencies.
More Legal and Business Bylines From Eric J. Beste
- The Antitrust Investigator Will See You Now: What Healthcare And Pharma Should Expect In A World Of Enhanced Antitrust Scrutiny - (Posted On Friday, March 08, 2024)
- DOJ Secures Largest Settlement Payment Yet For U.S. Sanctions Violations Involving North Korea - (Posted On Wednesday, May 03, 2023)
- Monaco Says DOJ Will Enhance Focus On Effective Compliance Programs In Criminal Investigations - (Posted On Friday, September 16, 2022)
- New Tools in the Fight Against Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals - (Posted On Thursday, January 27, 2022)
- The Enforcement Climate is Changing for ESG Disclosures - (Posted On Thursday, January 27, 2022)
- SEC Announces FY2021 Results With 7 Percent Increase in New Enforcement Actions - (Posted On Wednesday, December 01, 2021)
- Department Of Justice Cracks Down On Corporate Crime - (Posted On Monday, November 01, 2021)
- Companies Scrutinized As Law Enforcement And Private Sector Team Up To Prevent COVID-19 Fraud - (Posted On Friday, April 24, 2020)
- Limits On DOJ’s Ability To Reach Foreign Bribery Highlighted By Recent Decision - (Posted On Tuesday, March 03, 2020)
- DOJ Launches Strike Force to Prosecute Criminal Antitrust Offenses in Government Procurement Process - (Posted On Friday, November 08, 2019)