R. Stephen Stigall

Stephen Stigall is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on white collar criminal defense and assisting clients in conducting internal corporate investigations, particularly involving alleged violations of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). He also counsels clients on developing effective and robust corporate compliance programs. In addition, Stephen's practice involves defending clients from civil liability in cases involving alleged violations of the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute.

Stephen served more than 15 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Camden, N.J., and was the Attorney-in-Charge of that office for more than five years as well as Deputy Attorney-in-Charge for three years. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stephen led multi-agency government investigations and tried a range of high-profile white collar cases. His experience ranges from handling nine-figure securities fraud matters to prosecuting cases involving bank, health care, and mortgage fraud as well as corporate embezzlement, bribery, and export violations.

Stephen has worked closely with federal agencies, including the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Stephen handled the District of New Jersey's first criminal prosecution based on evidence obtained under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the District's first criminal prosecution based on amendments to the USA PATRIOT Act, and he prosecuted the first federal criminal fraud case in the District involving self-proclaimed "sovereign citizens," who attempted to cause $17 million in losses. For his work on the case, Stephen received the Department of Justice's Director's Award for Outstanding Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Stephen's trial experience is extensive, both in private practice and as a former federal prosecutor. Prior to joining the firm, Stephen was a partner at a global law firm, where he handled white collar civil and criminal matters with a focus on internal corporate investigations and alleged violations of FDA laws and the FCPA.

Representative Matters

• Representation of Fortune 100 technology company in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation brought by DOJ and SEC
• Representation of Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company in health care fraud investigation brought by DOJ
• Representation of the CEO of a pharmaceutical startup in cases brought by DOJ and SEC
• Representation of individuals in health care fraud investigation brought by DOJ
• Representation of Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in civil tax investigation brought by IRS
• Representation of health care conglomerate in False Claims Act litigation brought by qui tam relator
• Representation of freight forwarders in cases brought by Transportation Security Administration
• Representation of financial institution in threatened litigation involving alleged Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering violations
• Representation of company in political corruption investigation by DOJ
• Representation of retail pharmacy in opioid litigation brought by municipalities
• Representation of asylum-seeker before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Representation of technology companies in consumer fraud investigations brought by New Jersey Attorney General's Office
• Representation of victim businesses and individuals for referrals to DOJ for investigation

Representative Experience at the U.S. Attorney's Office

• Supervised investigation of more than 30 individuals in $50 million health care fraud scheme
• In United States v. Robert Gordon, investigated and convicted at trial CEO of company in $100 million securities fraud/market manipulation scheme
• Investigated and prosecuted over 75 individuals in securities fraud/market manipulation schemes
• In United States v. Louis V. Catarro, investigated and convicted at trial real estate agent in $16 million mortgage fraud scheme
• Investigated and prosecuted numerous professionals in mortgage fraud schemes
• In United States v. William Oscar Harris, et al. investigated and convicted at trial 5 individuals in a $17 million fraud scheme perpetrated against the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Treasury Department
• In United States v. Charlene DeMarco and Elizabeth Lerner, investigated and convicted at trial a doctor and accomplice who defrauded individuals based on a false New Drug Application submitted to the FDA
• In United States v. Mahmoud Abuarqoub, investigated and convicted at trial an individual who attempted to defraud a hospital by selling to it illegal influenza vaccine not approved by the FDA
• In United States v. Gary Lloyd, investigated and convicted at trial an individual who defrauded a financial institution
• Investigated and brought criminal charges against the "Fort Dix Six" terrorism investigation

Publications

"Strengthening Compliance to Avoid Management's Liability for Opioid Diversion," Chapter AA, Vol. 2, PBI 25th Annual Health Law Institute, March 2019

"Federal and State Enforcement and Regulatory Activity Impacting Real Estate Transactions (with A. Stutzman)," Chapter 21, Vol. 2, PBI 22nd Annual Real Estate Institute, December 2018 

"Strengthen Compliance to Avoid Management's Liability for Opioid Diversion," Compliance Today, April 2018

"'Are You Going to Arraign His Whole Life?' How Sexual Propensity Evidence Violates the Due Process Clause," 28 LOY.U. CHI. L.J. 1 (with L. Natali), 1996

"Preventing Absurd Application of RICO: A Proposed Amendment To Congress’s Definition of 'Racketeering Activity' in the Wake of National Organization for Women, Inc., v. Scheidler," 68 TEMPLE L. REV. 223 (1995).

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, "Strengthening Compliance to Avoid Management's Liability for Opioid Diversion," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 13, 2019

Panelist, "Fraud in the Health Care Industry," Mayo Clinic Continuing Education Program, Rochester, MN, December 18, 2018

Panelist, "Federal and State Enforcement and Regulatory Activity Impacting Real Estate Transactions," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 7, 2018

Panelist, "The Shifting Political and Regulatory Climate of the Residential Mortgage Industry: Federal and State Insights," American Conference Institute, Dallas, October 22, 2018

"2018 Hot Topics in Health Care: Potential Legal Implications of the Opioid Crisis," Ballard Spahr webinar, April 12, 2018

Lecturer for the American Conference Institute, 2013-present

Lecturer for the Department of Justice, 2009-2017

Lecturer for Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2006-2007

Board Memberships

Association of the Federal Bar of the District of New Jersey, Trustee, 2018-present

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey Alumni Association, Trustee, 2018-present

Upper Main Line YMCA Board of Directors, past member, past Secretary, past Chair of Board Development Committee

Temple University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1996)
Law Review, Moot Court

Connecticut College (B.A., magna cum laude, History and Psychology, 1991)
Brown-Brooks Award for Scholarship, Leadership, and Sportsmanship
Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey