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The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Corrupt payments to foreign officials to obtain or keep business are prohibited by the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. There are five elements of a violation of the provisions of the Act prohibiting bribery of foreign government officials.

Monopolization Under the Sherman Act

Section 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 2, prohibits monopolies and attempts or conspiracies to monopolize. The statute provides for prison terms and fines in actions brought by the U.S. Department Justice and for injunctions and damages in civil actions brought by the Department of Justice, states, and private parties.

Registration of a Public Offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission

A company that decides to sell its stock to the public must file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The registration statement is made public as it is filed. However, the company may not sell its securities described in the registration statement until staff of the Commission has declared that the registration statement is effective.

Criminal Liability of Corporate Officers

Under Section 807 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Act),1 any person who knowingly commits securities fraud is subject to a hefty fine, a prison term of up to 25 years, or both. Section 807 does not criminalize securities laws violations for the first time; however, it does combine several existing laws so as to facilitate and streamline federal prosecutions. Section 807 does impose significantly harsher criminal penalties than the penalties prescribed under prior laws.