Mark J. Cipolletti, White-Collar Investigations, lawyer

Focus Areas

Mark supervised or directly handled a variety of white-collar cases, including:

A significant corporate case involving a German engineering firm for their role in defrauding the Environmental Protection Agency and a large auto manufacturer’s U.S. customers. The guilty plea resulted in the appointment of an independent corporate compliance monitor.
A significant prosecution of three traders for their participation in a $60 million commodities fraud and spoofing conspiracy.
The prosecution of a former associate general counsel of a publicly traded company for insider trading.
Investigation of the CEO of a cryptocurrency mining and investment platform, who was charged in alleged $62 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme.
Case involving founder and promotor of a foreign cryptocurrency company charged in multimillion dollar securities fraud scheme.
A $2 billion Ponzi scheme involving cryptocurrency; one of the largest cryptocurrency seizures to date.
A case against the founder of a purported cryptocurrency and virtual payment services company, who was convicted of defrauding investors by marketing and selling fraudulent virtual currency.
High-profile fraud and money laundering case where co-conspirators sought over $20 million in pandemic relief funds (over $18 million obtained). All eight defendants were convicted by trial or guilty plea.
28-defendant military fraud case in which all individuals were convicted either by guilty plea or trial for their roles in a wide-ranging bribery and fraud scheme.
Prosecution of an elected county commissioner who was convicted of bribery for accepting things of value in exchange for political favors.
Prosecution of a federal contracting officer and a government contractor convicted of steering contacts to deliver the U.S. Mail.
Prosecution of an elected sheriff and others who were convicted of fraud, corruption, and obstruction charges.
Case against three government officials, including a supervisor, who were convicted by a jury of bribery for their roles in a scheme to distribute illegal narcotics through the U.S. Mail in Washington, DC.
High-profile investigation of the former commanding officer of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for obstructing justice and making false statements in connection with the death of a civilian at the naval base.
Landmark investigation and prosecution of clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including the first prosecution of church official in the U.S. for his role in handling allegations of abuse.

Instructor, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, South Carolina, Multiple Dates
Served as an instructor at NAC’s trial advocacy courses, trained prosecutors on various subjects, including the development and delivery of effective closing arguments and rebuttals, evidentiary issues, and pretrial litigation.
ESG Enforcement: A Discussion with the DOJ on Its Revised Corporate Crime Enforcement Policy, June 2023
Presented at the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics ESG and Compliance Conference; Helped attendees understand revisions to DOJ’s Corporate Crime Enforcement Policy and practices, the effects of corporate cooperation, and the importance of preventive compliance measures.
Using Data to Detect Market Manipulation and Other Fraud, Sofia, Bulgaria, and Bucharest, Romania, June 2022
Presented at a training hosted by the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training in Bulgaria and Romania on how to effectively use data in complex white-collar investigations.
Fraud and Anti-Corruption Workshop, Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2022
Lead presenter at training hosted by the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training on topics including public corruption, financial fraud, asset forfeiture and money laundering, whistleblower laws, conflicts of interest, and proactive investigative techniques.
Pandemic Fraud Roundtable, Washington, D.C., January 2022
Participated in a panel co-hosted by the American Bar Association and the American Bankers Association about various fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the enforcement actions that followed.
Virtual Assets: Emerging Trends and the Law, Washington, D.C., May 2021
Discussed emerging trends and case law in financial crime involving cryptocurrency and virtual asset service providers. Focused on the use of cryptocurrency and other virtual assets for fraud and money laundering, as well as the applications of the Bank Secrecy Act and Securities and Exchange Act to virtual asset activities for the FDIC’s Financial Crimes Conference.
Grand Jury Practice, Washington, D.C., April 2021
Conducted training involving grand jury practice, including the use of the grand jury’s subpoena power, the presentation of witnesses and evidence, privileges, and parallel proceedings.
Major Litigation Developments in Cryptocurrency, Washington, D.C., September 2019
Moderated a panel hosted by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on recent developments in the regulation of cryptocurrency, as well as the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases involving exchanges, fraudulent initial coin offerings, and other illegal schemes.
Prosecuting and Investigating Fraud and Corruption Cases, Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 2018
Presented a three-day course to prosecutors, investigators, and public officials detailing common investigative techniques and statutes used in the U.S. to prosecute fraud and corruption offenses.
Investigative Techniques in Fraud and Public Corruption Cases, Kansas City, MO, October 2017
Trained agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on how identify and develop evidence in federal, state, and local public corruption investigations, including the use of informants, cooperating witnesses, documentary evidence, pen registers and wire taps, and search warrants.
The Prosecution of Public Corruption, Multiple Locations, June 2017
Presented a two-day course to federal agents and prosecutors detailing the development and management of complex cases and providing updates on changes in the relevant case law.
Public Corruption and Election Crimes Seminar, Houston, Texas, April 2017
Co-led seminar on investigating and prosecuting corruption and election crimes in the United States, including trial strategy and proper jury instructions.
Use of Cooperators in Domestic and Foreign Corruption Cases, Bogota, Columbia, March 2017
Guest lecturer for local law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges on various aspects of bribery laws in the United States. Discussed investigative techniques, case management, legal theories, and the development of new laws both in the U.S. and abroad.
Whistleblowers in Corruption Cases, Florianopolis, Brazil, September 2016
Guest lecturer at international seminar regarding the use of whistleblowers and informants in public corruption cases, including violations of the FCPA.
Complex Fraud Investigations, Fort Belvoir, VA, May 2015
Presented to federal agents from the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command involving issues arising in complex fraud investigations, charging theories, and investigative techniques.
Other Presentations
Conducted a variety of trainings and lectures on topics such as the use and presentation of DNA evidence, the investigation of drug-facilitated sexual assaults, character evidence, and case studies on complex white-collar crimes.

Mark J.Cipolletti

Mark J.Cipolletti

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