"My Life Is Over": Ex-DOJ Lawyer Busted Trying To Sell Whistlelower Cases | Zero Hedge
Description: "The crime was breathtaking in its scope and is the most serious and egregious example of public corruption by a DOJ attorney in recent memory."

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# "My Life Is Over": Ex-DOJ Lawyer Busted Trying To Sell Whistlelower Cases

A former corporate-fraud lawyer for the Department of Justice has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for stealing over 40 whistleblower fraud cases in 2016 and trying to sell the information to companies under federal investigation, according to prosecutors.

Wertkin and his attorney Cris Arguedas enter San Francisco courthouse (photo: Jason Doiy)

Jeffrey Wertkin, 40, was arrested in an undercover sting after an attorney for a Sunnyvale, CA tech company contacted the FBI in January following Wertkin's offer to sell them a sealed federal lawsuit for $310,000, according to court documents. As he was taken into custody wearing a wig and fake mustache at a Cupertino, CA hotel by FBI Special Agent William Scanlon, Wertkin reportedly said "My life is over."

Following his arrest, Wertkin engaged in an "obstruction binge" at his private law firm to destroy additional evidence of the scheme he had formulated for over a year, while also trying to frame a former colleague at the DOJ for the theft of the records.

A far more extensive and calculated crime was revealed at Wertkin's sentencing hearing - as the former DOJ prosecutor stole and copied dozens of files - some of which he swiped right off of his boss's desk, copied, and then re-stapled before returning them.

Wertkin "took grotesque advantage" of his position within the DOJ by "shaking down companies" and disclosing confidential information which "jeopardized the integrity of the civil justice system and unfairly cast a shadow over the work of the civil fraud section," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin L. Harris, who added that Wertkin's crime was "was breathtaking in its scope and is the most serious and egregious example of public corruption by a DOJ attorney in recent memory."

> Wertkin worked from December 2010 to April 2016 in the department section responsible for recovering $4.7 billion in misspent tax dollars in 2016 alone. Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers can receive part of recovered funds for tipping off fraud in government services and contracts by filing what are known as qui tam lawsuits under seal to protect their identities while the United States investigates. -MSN

Imploring the court for leniency, Wertkin said he committed the crimes while on "a terrible path" of substance abuse involving alcohol and marijuana during "a period of heightened anxiety and depression, a sense of impending failure at work and a deteriorating marriage."

“I believe I somehow viewed selling the complaints as a way to escape my problems,’’ reads a statement from Wertkin included in a court filing.

Path to destruction

Wertkin - who specialized in healthcare fraud, planned his brazen scheme as he was leaving his job of nearly six years as a DOJ fraud prosecutor in April 2016 to join the law firm Akin Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld as a $450,000 / year partner in Washington. He began copying files for over a month before leaving the agency - including dozens of federal cases that weren't assigned to him, according to court records.

From his position at Akin Gump, Wertkin attempted to net potential clients by dangling the stolen information. When that tactic bore no fruit, he stepped up his efforts - reaching out to a targeted Alabama company for $50,000, a New York company for an undetermined price, and an Oregon company to which he mailed a redacted copy of the cover sheet in their federal case as bait.

“I thought if I could quickly earn a substantial sum of money, I could provide the material benefits I promised my family upon moving to Akin Gump — a new house in a better neighborhood and private school’’ for his two children, wrote Wertkin, who lived near Dupont Circle.

Prosecutors said Wertkin's crime was nothing more than "narcissism and greed," before his 2 1/2 year sentence on two counts of obstructing justice and one count of interstate transport of stolen property was handed down in a Wednesday hearing in San Francisco. Wertkin's counsel had requested a sentence of a year and a day.

“Mr. Wertkin’s secret criminal life was not known to anyone at the firm. We were shocked when he was arrested and outraged when his bizarre, treacherous crimes were revealed,” said Akin Gump spokesman Benjamin J. Harris on Thursday.

> In a letter to the court before Wertkin’s sentencing, the firm said it was a victim of his crime and defended its corporate culture.

> The theft and misuse of government documents was a “reprehensible betrayal of Mr. Wertkin’s duties as a government lawyer” and of his ethical duties at Akin Gump, and were “harmful to the firm,” partner and general counsel Douglass B. Maynard wrote.

> “Whatever drove Mr. Wertkin to his hidden criminal activity, it was not the culture of [sic] firm where he worked for nine months,” Maynard said. “The people he worked with at the firm saw him as a talented, well-liked young partner who appeared well on his way to a bright future.” -MSN

After Wertkin - a graduate of Georgetown Law, lost a $200 million case, he says he was left "devastated" and "a shell of a man," according to his wife Erin Erlenborn.

His defense attorney, Cristina C. "Cris" Arguedas said that Wertkin grew "increasingly irrational" and "truly believed he was at the end of his rope," as he called the general counsel of a California firm to try and sell a lawsuit.

> Wertkin’s attorney called his actions truly aberrant in an otherwise “careful, diligent and unblemished life” and said it was “a testament to his previous standing in the legal community that so many attorneys and former government officials, including former DOJ attorneys” wrote letters to the sentencing judge on his behalf. -MSN

Wertkin has resigned from the bar.

“I hope someday I will be able to understand how I could have abandoned my principles and my honor,” said Wertkin in a pre-sentencing statement. “I often lay awake at night and think about these actions, and I weep at the tragedy that I have brought on myself.”

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## Comments

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Dilluminati Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:22 Permalink

another gutless cocksucker immoral cunt and loser

taxpayer dollars at work

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BennyBoy Dilluminati Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:25 Permalink

Another enterprising businessman wrongly prosecuted.

In reply to another gutless cocksucker… by Dilluminati

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Dilluminati BennyBoy Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:29 Permalink

After Wertkin - a graduate of Georgetown Law, lost a $200 million case, he says he was left "devastated" and "a shell of a man," according to his wife Erin Erlenborn.

Nope a cunt.. a ridiculous cunt even by his own wife's account..

I don't judge I just believe a credible testimony when I hear one

In reply to … by BennyBoy

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evoila Dilluminati Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:40 Permalink

He has one hell of a lawyer. She's a beast.

In reply to After Wertkin - a graduate… by Dilluminati

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IH8OBAMA evoila Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:45 Permalink

This guy was at the DOJ during the Obama years. Probably hired by Holder or one of his subordinates. I wonder if they may have passed along their lack of ethics to this guy.

In reply to He has one hell of a lawyer… by evoila

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SWRichmond IH8OBAMA Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:50 Permalink

Canary in the coal mine.

In reply to This guy was at the DOJ… by IH8OBAMA

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Mr. Universe SWRichmond Fri, 03/09/2018 - 20:11 Permalink

So this guy couldn't get by on his $450,000 salary? Gee I feel so sorry for him. Only 2 1/2 years, guess he should have given Martin some pointers.

In reply to Canary in the coal mine. by SWRichmond

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PhilofOz Mr. Universe Fri, 03/09/2018 - 22:26 Permalink

Way more often than not, it's the wife pushing for bigger and better of everything and a pathetic husband finding any means he can to do her bidding!

In reply to So this guy couldn't get by… by Mr. Universe

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ZIRPdiggler PhilofOz Sat, 03/10/2018 - 01:18 Permalink

Only if you're man who is not in control of his life. No self respecting man would be moved the whims, wants, and desires of a woman. If she leaves, then good; find another one. The world is abound with them, plentiful supply.

In reply to Way more often than not, it… by PhilofOz

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house biscuit ZIRPdiggler Sat, 03/10/2018 - 06:16 Permalink

No self respecting man would be moved the whims, wants, and desires of a woman

So long as we define 'self-respecting' as 'cocksucking', then we can agree

In reply to Only if you're man who is… by ZIRPdiggler

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StackShinyStuff house biscuit Sat, 03/10/2018 - 07:07 Permalink

I really hope this guy finds a large black dick in his ass soon. Repeatedly. For like 30 months.

In reply to No self respecting man would… by house biscuit

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Sanity Bear StackShinyStuff Sat, 03/10/2018 - 10:16 Permalink

It's time to stop pretending that prison rape provides justice in any way, shape or form. Even as a joke it's not funny.

In reply to I really hope this guy finds… by StackShinyStuff

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Offthebeach Mr. Universe Sat, 03/10/2018 - 07:12 Permalink

$450k/yr, after taxes, isn t much for a Master of The Universe Bimbo. Kind of lower middle. Yes, you can squeeze private skools for spawn, but for them sailing camp on the Cape, not summers in Europe on the yacht, or by the family Gulfstream . Such depredations can traumatize the snowflakes for life.

In reply to So this guy couldn't get by… by Mr. Universe

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peterpam Mr. Universe Sat, 03/10/2018 - 09:34 Permalink

Don't worry, he'll be out in half that time.

In reply to So this guy couldn't get by… by Mr. Universe

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BJPershing SWRichmond Fri, 03/09/2018 - 23:34 Permalink

This is just the start at DOJ, and is mirrored in state courts.

The justice system has turned into what the unions used to be: Shakedown artists.

In reply to Canary in the coal mine. by SWRichmond

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BlackChicken IH8OBAMA Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:51 Permalink

Surprised? Ethics and obama are textbook oxymoron.

"My life is over." gosh I hope so..

In reply to This guy was at the DOJ… by IH8OBAMA

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pedro-the-cat BlackChicken Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:56 Permalink

His life isn't over, but he could correct that problem.

Let him have his ties while in the pokey.

In reply to Surprised?… by BlackChicken

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pc_babe pedro-the-cat Fri, 03/09/2018 - 21:59 Permalink

I can't believe your CA courts actually locked him up.

This guy is every bit the principled wet-dream each Judge fantasize's about every night before wacking-off and going to bed.

The 9th circuit will fix their misguided ways

In reply to His life isn't over, but he… by pedro-the-cat

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Squilliam Fancyson pc_babe Sat, 03/10/2018 - 04:13 Permalink

9th Circle

In reply to I can't believe your CA… by pc_babe

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blindfaith pc_babe Sat, 03/10/2018 - 07:39 Permalink

Exactly what I thought.

San Francisco....well imagine my surprise that no ethics would be in the bay area. If he had been in San Jose, he would still be a free man.

In reply to I can't believe your CA… by pc_babe

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deimos178 BlackChicken Fri, 03/09/2018 - 23:01 Permalink

"My life is over." Nah, you'll learn to like big black cock in less than 30 months.

In reply to Surprised?… by BlackChicken

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ZIRPdiggler deimos178 Sat, 03/10/2018 - 01:30 Permalink

Karma is delicious. Especially in a 5 x 9 prison cell.

In reply to "My life is over." Nah, you… by deimos178

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SoDamnMad IH8OBAMA Sat, 03/10/2018 - 02:18 Permalink

"Your honor, I am horribly ashamed I got caught." (Please release me so I can continue undermining the beliefs of the American sheep who think cleaning up government corruption is a good thing.)

In reply to This guy was at the DOJ… by IH8OBAMA

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Dilluminati evoila Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:49 Permalink

with horns and hoof?

In reply to He has one hell of a lawyer… by evoila

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house biscuit Dilluminati Sat, 03/10/2018 - 06:19 Permalink

Really? Why bother even typing

In reply to with horns and hoof? by Dilluminati

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Katos evoila Fri, 03/09/2018 - 22:51 Permalink

AND WOW?? A whopping 2 years for these egrarious crimes?? You OR I would have gotten LIFE without chance of parole??

In reply to He has one hell of a lawyer… by evoila

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Versengetorix evoila Sat, 03/10/2018 - 04:45 Permalink

In SF if you don't hire a Hispanic, you don't even get a trial.

In reply to He has one hell of a lawyer… by evoila

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hootowl evoila Sat, 03/10/2018 - 08:17 Permalink

...... She's a beast. ......Aren't they all......Any man who marries a woman lawyer would be better-off castrating himself with a dull, rusty, butter knife......without a painkiller at hand.

In reply to He has one hell of a lawyer… by evoila

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itstippy Dilluminati Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:49 Permalink

Have you no human compassion at all? You are heartless.

The man is devastated - a shell of a man. His wife won't sleep with him. His former colleagues won't speak to him. His kids may not get into exclusive schools. He no longer feels welcome at the club. There's a very real chance they'll have to downsize the house. Even the cleaning woman and the gardener are less respectful than before.

How much must he suffer before you say, "enough"?

In reply to After Wertkin - a graduate… by Dilluminati

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New_Meat itstippy Fri, 03/09/2018 - 20:03 Permalink

one can have compassion for him after his blood oozes through his skin

In reply to Have you no human compassion… by itstippy

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Mr. Universe New_Meat Fri, 03/09/2018 - 22:34 Permalink

It was reported that he was seen in a local pawn shop trying hock his Rouchefoucauld for 50 bucks.

In reply to one can have compassion for… by New_Meat

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house biscuit New_Meat Sat, 03/10/2018 - 06:23 Permalink

I can live with the hollow bravado & faux-badassery

But shouldn't you at least try to be coherent?

Or as you might say: 'one might appreciate that post if meaning oozed from your words'

In reply to one can have compassion for… by New_Meat

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Oliver Klozoff itstippy Fri, 03/09/2018 - 20:08 Permalink

Hmmm, I'm confused. Sounds to me he was just passing his initiation into the "Big Club".

In reply to Have you no human compassion… by itstippy

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BowLogosWow Oliver Klozoff Fri, 03/09/2018 - 20:56 Permalink

Sure. The rule rather than the exception, as most of us who have had dealings with attorneys have learned the hard way.

In reply to Hmmm, I'm confused. Sounds… by Oliver Klozoff

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hootowl BowLogosWow Sat, 03/10/2018 - 08:23 Permalink

Being an attorney in the U.S. is nothing but having a license to legally commit crimes and destroy lives with impunity.

An over-population of lawyers is a bane on the moral conscience of the nation.

In reply to Sure. The rule rather than… by BowLogosWow

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ChanceIs itstippy Fri, 03/09/2018 - 21:52 Permalink

Cleaning woman and gardener!?!?!?!

You mean this guy used illegal immigrant labor as well??? And didn't pay social security for them!!!!! OMG.

In reply to Have you no human compassion… by itstippy

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Dilluminati itstippy Sat, 03/10/2018 - 07:53 Permalink

great characterization.. the guy in the suit suffers, especially an "attorney."

In reply to Have you no human compassion… by itstippy

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MarsInScorpio Dilluminati Fri, 03/09/2018 - 20:46 Permalink

I couldn't help but notice that the wife uses a different last name than he does. What is it about Washington DC that these women always take some name other than their husbands?

It's a really sick culture isn't it? Why are they ashamed to have their husband's name?

On a subliminal, but significant, level, they're all pretending to be something that they are not. They constantly lie about their own reality.

The only thing I can come up with is that they are all protecting themselves in case their spouse they have pledged to love for the rest of their lives does something like this. It's like they're all hiding behind something else, never willing to come out into the light.

These people are psychotic sociopaths. They have no guilt, no shame, no conscience.

These are truly, truly sick people.

In reply to After Wertkin - a graduate… by Dilluminati

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BJPershing MarsInScorpio Fri, 03/09/2018 - 23:39 Permalink

"sick" implies an illness that is out of their control.

I would suggest evil: Deceitful, selfish, intentional wrongdoing for profit

or praise.

In reply to I couldn't help but notice… by MarsInScorpio

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Versengetorix MarsInScorpio Sat, 03/10/2018 - 04:48 Permalink

Jewish.

In reply to I couldn't help but notice… by MarsInScorpio

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pedro-the-cat Versengetorix Sat, 03/10/2018 - 06:57 Permalink

> A scumbag lawyer's life is never over in the U.S.A. Look at Hillary, Bill, Gloria Allred, Rosenstein, et al, the list is long and disgusting.

In reply to Jewish. by Versengetorix

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hootowl pedro-the-cat Sat, 03/10/2018 - 08:27 Permalink

......and heavily populated with demonic faux-Hebrew/Khazarian/Babylonian/Joos..

In reply to A scumbag lawyer's life is… by pedro-the-cat

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NumberNone MarsInScorpio Sat, 03/10/2018 - 10:01 Permalink

In an odd twist his wife works for Oxfam...an organization that's had it's own share of recent scandals.

"When he and Erlenborn married, he was as an associate at Patton Boggs. She was the director of policy and government affairs at the One Campaign, a nonprofit that fights AIDS and poverty worldwide. She went on to work for Oxfam, another anti-poverty nonprofit"

http://link.law.com/public/11422909

In reply to I couldn't help but notice… by MarsInScorpio

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thetruthhurts Dilluminati Fri, 03/09/2018 - 21:59 Permalink

"..lost a $200 million case."

Must have been devastating since the DOJ only loses, what, 3%?

What a dumb fuk....

In reply to After Wertkin - a graduate… by Dilluminati

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Donnie Duvanie thetruthhurts Fri, 03/09/2018 - 23:23 Permalink

"...lost a $200 million dollar case." Does that mean the taxpayers had to cough up the money? Oh, he must have been really depressed.

In reply to "..lost a $200 million case… by thetruthhurts

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Max Cynical Dilluminati Fri, 03/09/2018 - 23:40 Permalink

There are lots of Wertkin's inside the DOJ, FBI, etc. He just happened to get caught.

In reply to After Wertkin - a graduate… by Dilluminati

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alexcojones BennyBoy Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:31 Permalink

Hope this becomes the theme for a New John Grisham novel. Title?

"The Traitor"

In reply to … by BennyBoy

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Theta_Burn alexcojones Fri, 03/09/2018 - 19:42 Permalink

On top of the world..fun and games, smiling at the little people...till the pinch comes down..

Putz..

In reply to Hope this becomes the theme… by alexcojones

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Ted19731950 Theta_Burn Sat, 03/10/2018 - 10:01 Permalink

Back to the Ten Commandments with this guy and all the rest of us.

In reply to On top of the world..fun and… by Theta_Burn

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spieslikeus alexcojones Sat, 03/10/2018 - 08:25 Permalink

More like ‘The Limp Dick’

In reply to Hope this becomes the theme… by alexcojones

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