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Paul E. Pelletier

Member
202.434.7490
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Washington, DC


Education

  • New England School of Law (JD, cum laude)
  • Providence College (BS, Economics)

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Massachusetts

Paul specializes in representing public and private companies of all sizes and high-profile individuals in state and federal investigations. He represents clients across various industries, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and financial services. He enjoys a reputation as one of the top white-collar lawyers in the country, recognized for investigating complex international corporate fraud schemes. Paul defends and resolves large, multi-faceted federal and state investigations arising under criminal and civil statutes barring, among other things, the submission of false claims and the provision of remuneration to induce referrals. Many of these cases have arisen as a result of qui tam cases filed by whistleblowers, under federal and state False Claims Acts. 

Prior to joining the firm, Paul served in the Department of Justice (DOJ) as a federal prosecutor for more than 25 years, where he was lead counsel in more than 20 jury trials targeting money laundering; sophisticated financial, corporate, and securities fraud; and health care fraud. As principal deputy chief of the DOJ Criminal Division's Fraud Section, he directed and supervised some of the DOJ's most important initiatives and investigations. Paul's corporate fraud prosecutions have included criminal resolutions with PNC, AIG, General Reinsurance, and BP.

At the DOJ, Paul was instrumental in developing and implementing the Fraud Section's robust health care fraud enforcement program, including placing strike force enforcement teams across the country to combat regional health care fraud schemes. Paul also supervised its FCPA Unit, which, during his tenure, saw a dramatic increase in the number of corporate and individual prosecutions as well as a more than ten-fold increase in the assessment of FCPA fines and penalties. 

Paul also previously served as chief of the Economic Crime Section at the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, where he supervised and prosecuted a number of significant securities, health care, and bankruptcy fraud cases. As chief, Paul assisted with establishing a first-in-the-nation Health Care Fraud Investigation and Storage Facility in Miramar, Florida, which has been instrumental in efficiently attacking the large volume of health care fraud cases in that district. In addition, as a prosecutor and deputy chief in the Narcotics Section, Paul prosecuted many sophisticated drug and money-laundering enterprises, including the seizure of more than a quarter of a billion dollars in traffickers' foreign bank accounts. 

Paul has twice been recognized by the attorney general with the DOJ's highest honor. He has been recognized for his work on the prosecution and dismantling of a Colombian-based cartel, resulting in the seizure and subsequent forfeiture of approximately $200 million in cash. He has also been recognized for his work in the conviction of 28 individuals, including trial convictions of five doctors and pharmacists, involved in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme.

From 1984 through 1989, Paul joined the DOJ's Tax Division as a trial attorney.

During law school, he served as managing editor of the New England Law Review. He then served as judicial law clerk to Chief Judge Steven Andrews of the Oakland County Circuit Court in Michigan and to Judge Howard Kirshbaum of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Representative Matters

  • Co-led the trial team in the case of United States v. Ronald Ferguson, et al., resulting in the conviction of seven corporate executives from AIG and General Reinsurance for their role in a $500 million reinsurance accounting fraud scheme.
  • Led the investigation into a $7 billion Ponzi scheme conducted through a foreign international bank, resulting in multiple fraud, money laundering, and obstruction charges being filed against the principals of that scheme.
  • Investigated and supervised the prosecution of the CEO of Qwest Communications, which, in the case of United States v. Joseph P. Nacchio, resulted in his conviction for insider trading of in excess of $50 million in Qwest stock for which he received a sentence of approximately six years.

Recognitions & Awards

  • Washington DC Super Lawyers: Criminal Defense: White Collar (2012 – 2013)
  • Ethisphere Institute Attorneys Who Matter (2011)
  • Attorney General's Award for Fraud Prevention (2006)
  • Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (1996)
  • Director's Award for Superior Performance (2003)
  • Tax Division's Outstanding Attorney Award (1987)