
Michael F. Easley, Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, recently announced the launch of the EDNC Whistleblower Pilot Program to combat white-collar crime. The program is designed to encourage individuals to report illegal activities within corporations by offering potential immunity from prosecution, as per the U.S Attorney's Office release.
The initiative focuses on addressing corporate misconduct such as fraud, corruption, and other financial crimes. Easley emphasized the importance of enhancing the identification and prosecution of white-collar crime. Individuals with relevant information can submit a form via the U.S. Attorney's Office website. However, the program does not apply to violent crimes.
The program offers incentives for early and voluntary disclosure of criminal conduct. Participants who meet the program’s conditions may enter into deferred or non-prosecution agreements, aiming to resolve cases more efficiently.
Easley hopes that by outlining the requirements and benefits, more people will be encouraged to share information with authorities. The goal is to uncover and address more instances of misconduct to better protect local communities.