John S. (Jay) Darden is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. A former federal prosecutor, Mr. Darden defends individuals and companies in white collar criminal matters and government investigations. He focuses his practice on actions and investigations under the FCPA; alleged health care fraud and abuse, including matters under the False Claims Act (FCA); and other white collar matters.
Before joining Paul Hastings, Mr. Darden was a partner in the Government Investigations and White Collar Defense practice of another international law firm. He represented Alstom SA in its recently resolved FCPA investigation, which was the largest criminal FCPA resolution in history. Mr. Darden’s FCPA practice is extensive and includes clients in diverse industries including medical devices, oil field services, professional services, the food and beverage industry, overseas government contractors, and U.S.-based institutions of higher education.
Mr. Darden’s non-FCPA representations include U.S. government contractors and health care providers accused of submitting false claims, a news reporter subpoenaed in one of the recent DOJ investigations into the identities of reporters’ confidential sources, and a congressional campaign committee who was defrauded by its former treasurer.
He also routinely represents high-level executives and high-net-worth individuals under investigation by the government in FPCA, health care, export controls, false statement, and other white collar matters.
Mr. Darden previously served in the Justice Department as Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. As Assistant Chief of the Fraud Section, Mr. Darden supervised the investigation and prosecution of health care fraud and anti-kickback violations nationwide. He played a pivotal leadership role in the initial implementation and success of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is now part of the Administration’s Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative. For his work combating health care fraud, Mr. Darden received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, the second-highest award given by the Justice Department.
While at the Justice Department, Mr. Darden also personally investigated and prosecuted violations of the FCPA. He was the lead prosecutor in one of the largest FCPA dispositions in the history of the statute, which resulted in corporate deferred prosecution agreements, corporate guilty pleas, and combined criminal and civil penalties of $185 million. As a prosecutor, he also investigated companies and individuals in insurance fraud, securities fraud, criminal false claims, money laundering, and false statement matters.
Mr. Darden has significant experience handling all aspects of federal criminal trial work. During his time at the Justice Department, he became one of only a handful of federal prosecutors to have tried multiple health care fraud cases to verdict in multiple districts, including Miami, Houston, and Los Angeles. In addition, he trained prosecutors and agents in health care fraud and abuse matters at the Justice Department’s National Advocacy Center.
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Darden worked on Capitol Hill as an aide to former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia.
