Profil
Benjamin J. Katz is a litigator with experience prosecuting major criminal cases. He focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, including matters related to money laundering, asset forfeiture, and anti-money laundering (AML) and Bank Secrecy Act compliance, as well as defense against False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, and qui tam claims. In addition, Ben uses his trial experience in representing businesses and individuals in complex commercial and business litigation matters in state and federal courts.
As an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the Major Frauds and Public Corruption Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, Benjamin represented the United States in all stages of criminal prosecutions, including 11 trials. He handled matters arising from issues related to money laundering, health care fraud and kickbacks, mail and wire fraud, mortgage fraud, computer hacking, public corruption, RICO conspiracies, white collar crime, drug importation and distribution, and firearms.
In his role as AUSA, Benjamin oversaw investigations conducted by federal law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security, the Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. He also participated in cross-border joint investigations with foreign agencies, including the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the New South Wales Police Force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the National Crime Agency (UK), and the Garda Crime and Security Branch (Ireland).
Concentrations
- White collar criminal defense
- Federal investigations
- Public corruption
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
- Money laundering and asset forfeiture
- Anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act compliance
- False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark law, and qui tam defense
- Internal investigations
Expertise
Erfahrung
- Representation of individuals who are targets of federal grand jury investigations regarding alleged health care fraud.°
- Conducted risk assessment for financial institutions to determine potential money laundering risks posed by nature of potential customers’ business.°
- Representation of a pathology laboratory in a civil False Claims Act matter related to allegations of improper kickbacks and violations of Stark Law.°
- Advised client on money laundering risks associated with proposed cryptocurrency business models.°
- Represented financial institution client in case relating to criminal and civil forfeiture judgments issued against depositors.°
- United States v. CFK, Inc., et al.: Investigated and indicted corporate defendant and doctors, marketers, and health clinic owners for health care fraud and payment and receipt of illegal kickbacks relating to $90 million pharmacy benefit scheme.°
- Operation Trojan Shield: Served as co-lead counsel on a three-year FBI-run operation targeting organized crime. The operation was described by Europol as “the most sophisticated effort to date in disrupting the activities of criminal operation from all four corners of the world.” Benjamin worked with senior members of the U.S. Department of Justice, including at the Office of the Deputy Attorney General (DAG), the General Counsel’s Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO), the Computer Crime, Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), and the Office of International Affairs (OIA). He also worked with prosecutors and agents from multiple countries to coordinate global efforts targeting criminal enterprises that provided encryption services to criminals.°
- United States v. Vincent Ramos, et al.: Led international team of federal prosecutors and agents from the FBI, DEA, the Australian Federal Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in first-of-its-kind prosecution of CEO of telecommunications company for supplying encryption services to transnational criminal organizations.°
- United States v. Owen Hanson, et al.: Secured convictions of 22 defendants of RICO conspiracy in connection with the operation of a transnational gambling, drug trafficking, and money laundering operation.°
- United States v. Austin Thompson: Secured conviction of computer hacker behind “Derptrolling” distributed denial of service attacks after multi-year investigation.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Katz prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
- Assistant United States Attorney – Major Frauds and Public Corruption, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, 2014-2019
- Research Assistant, Commodity Futures Training Commission – Division of Enforcement, 2008-2009
- Legal Intern, Office of Legal Policy, U.S. Department of Justice, 2010
- Judicial Intern, Hon. Craig Iscoe, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, 2009
Anerkennung durch den Markt
- Member, Federal Bar Association, 2016-Present
Ausbildung
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J.D., with highest honors, The George Washington University Law School
- Order of the Coif
- Member, The George Washington Law Review
- B.S.M. Tulane University, A.B. Freeman School of Business
- Florida
- California