Prior to joining the firm, Jim served continuously as the longest serving United States Attorney in the nation at the time of his retirement, with almost 12 years of continuous service – and 30 years with the Department of Justice. Jim focuses his practice on Corporate Compliance and Defense; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Money Laundering/Bank Secrecy Act, Internal Investigations, Corporate Immigration and Trial Advocacy, Government Regulatory Liaison and Anti-Corruption Warranties in Mergers and Acquisitions.
Overview
Prior to joining the firm, Jim served continuously as the longest serving United States Attorney in the nation at the time of his retirement, with almost 12 years of continuous service – and 30 years with the Department of Justice. Jim focuses his practice on Corporate Compliance and Defense; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Money Laundering/Bank Secrecy Act, Internal Investigations, Corporate Immigration and Trial Advocacy, Government Regulatory Liaison and Anti-Corruption Warranties in Mergers and Acquisitions.
Practice Areas
Industry
About
A member of the Commercial Litigation Group, Jim Letten—a 1979 Tulane University law graduate and member of the Louisiana Bar—consults and provides representation on criminal and regulatory investigations by government agencies, as well as civil fraud cases and international trade and regulatory issues, including the establishment of corporate compliance and integrity programs. He previously served 36 years as a prosecutor (31 years with the United States Department of Justice). Before his retirement at the end of 2012, Jim was the longest-serving United States Attorney in the nation and one of only three U.S. Attorneys appointed to the position by successive presidents from different parties. In all, he spent nearly 12 continuous years as the United States Attorney in New Orleans/Southeast Louisiana. Prior to serving as the ranking federal law enforcement official in the District, Jim had distinguished himself as Organized Crime Strike Force Chief and later First Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Jim spent over 30 years prosecuting virtually every type of complex state and federal White Collar, Narcotics and Corruption offense (including extensive experience with RICO prosecutions). He investigated, charged, and tried a broad spectrum of money laundering offenses, including violations of Title 18 US Code Sections 1956 (Laundering) and 1957 (Investment of Illegal Proceeds), as well as Title 31 US Code Section 5324 (Structuring to Evade CTR Reporting Requirements)—all of which contribute to his Anti-Money-Laundering and Bank Secrecy Act compliance skills. Additionally, he was lead prosecutor in a case in which before Congressional enactment of the sting provision of 31 USC 5324 prohibiting structuring, in order to bring federal charges against launderers in an undercover operation, he successfully charged individual violators as “financial institutions” under Title 31.
Over the years Jim has also taught and lectured extensively on the investigation and prosecution of a broad range of Public Corruption offenses, including the RICO, Extortion, Laundering and other federal violations on which former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards and co-defendants were convicted in 2000 when Jim led the lengthy and complex investigation and four-month trial. As United States Attorney, Jim served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) and co-chaired the AG’s Special Policy Review Working Group on Capital Punishment. He also served on the AGAC Subcommittees on Terrorism and National Security, as well as Environmental Issues.
A military veteran of 20 years in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Jim is a retired Navy Commander, having focused much of his career on foreign counterintelligence (having been variously tasked to Defense Intelligence Agency and Office of Naval Intelligence); and some 13 years as a fully-credentialled NCIS Agent.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Jim helped to establish and eventually served as the Director of the National Center for Disaster Fraud. He also received recognition for his leadership from the Attorney General of the United States and due to his anti-corruption expertise, has lectured and has been published in China on the U.S. FCPA and global anti-corruption trends and legislation, on behalf of Tulane, Yale and Zhejiang Province Law Schools. Jim has also provided representation to major American Universities on sensitive issues involving grant compliance and protection of sensitive personal privacy data involving the EU.
Experience
- Jim consults and provides representation on criminal and regulatory investigations by government agencies, as well as government audits, civil fraud cases and international trade and regulatory issues, including establishment of FCPA/UK Bribery Act corporate compliance and integrity programs; Anti-Money Laundering/Bank Secrecy Act/Counter- Terrorist Financing (AML/BSA/CTF) compliance programs; building and reviewing Anti-Corruption warranties in corporate mergers and acquisitions; and training and monitoring state and local police departments on constitutional policing, as well as complex litigation.
- Deputy Monitor, Court-Appointed: City of Memphis/Memphis Police Department Federal Consent Decree (with Monitor and Special Master, Ed Stanton – Butler Snow) (2018-Present)
- Assistant Dean, Experiential Learning, Tulane University School of Law (2013-2016): Responsible for oversight, development and expansion of all skills-based educational components of the law school, including moot court, law clinics, student externships, Intersession intensive training “boot camp”, trial advocacy program, capstone and skills-based legal courses and other related programs.
- United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana (2001-2012): Served continuously as the longest serving United States Attorney in the nation with almost 12 years of continuous service.
- First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana (1994-2001): Supervised the daily operations of the United States Attorney's office. Additionally, served as the lead prosecutor in the investigation and four-month jury trial resulting in the conviction of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards.
- Trial Attorney and Chief, US Department of Justice Organized Crime and Racketeering Strike Force, New Orleans, Louisiana (1982-1989): Strike Force cases involved complex criminal (RICO) offenses and investigations over 5 states, principally traditional organized crime (La Cosa Nostra/ Mafia), as well as labor racketeering, drug cartels, violent interstate/international gangs, and emerging/non-traditional/international organized crime.
- Assistant District Attorney, New Orleans District Attorney’s Office (1980-1982, 1985-1986): Senior Assistant DA in 1981; Special Prosecutions (primarily corruption) in 1985 – 1986; Prosecuted all types of criminal cases, from misdemeanors to capital and complex white-collar and corruption offenses, including both political and law enforcement corruption.
- Military Experience
- Retired Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve, 1984-2004
- Served as a fully-credentialed NCIS Agent and Foreign Counter-Intelligence Officer (both Cold War and post-Cold War)
- Assignments over 20 years included:
- Squadron Intelligence Officer
- Foreign Counter-Intelligence Officer assigned to both the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Office of Naval Intelligence
- Fully-Credentialled NCIS Agent, with street counter-drug operations, numerous Presidential and Vice-Presidential Protective Service Details, and Counter neo-Nazi force protection in Europe
- At U.S. European Command in Germany, drafted initial framework for permanent International War Crimes Tribunal
Distinctions
- Martindale-Hubbell®
- AV® – Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, Current
- AV® – Preeminent™ Attorney – Judicial, Current
- AV® – Preeminent™ Attorney – Top 1%, Current
- Commander (O-5), U.S. Navy Reserve, 1985-2005 (NCIS Officer-Agent)
- Boy Scouts of America, Annual 2020 Pillars of Scouting Award
- Torch of Liberty Award, Anti-Defamation League, 2010
- Superintendent’s Special Achievement Award, New Orleans Police Department, 2012, 2015
- Special Appreciation Award, Sheriff Newell Normand, 2015
- Champion Award, New Orleans Family Justice Center, 2013
- Criminal Justice Lifetime Achievement Award, Crimestoppers 2013
- Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award, Victims and Citizens Against Crime, 2013
- Commandant’s Meritorious Public Service Award/Medal, United States Coast Guard, 2013
- Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Special Award, Louisiana Rescue Mission Fellowship, 2012
- Annual Citizen of the Year Honoree, American Heart Association, 2012
- CityBusiness Leader in Law, 2010, 2016
- Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Southeast Louisiana Boy Scouts of America,2010
- Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, University of New Orleans, 2008
- Medallion for Distinguished Service, United States Attorney General, 2006
- Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, University of New Orleans College of Liberal Arts, 2006
- Law Enforcement Professional of the Year Award, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), 2005
- Top Attorney in New Orleans, New Orleans Magazine, 2007
- Most Admired New Orleanian, New Orleans Magazine, 2008, 2009
- New Orleanian of the Year, Gambit Magazine, 2009
- Distinguished Service Award for Trial of Litigation, United States Attorney General, 2001
- Director’s Award, United States Department of Justice Executive Office for United States Attorneys, 1996
- Task Force Award for "Crushing Defeat of the Mafia in Louisiana," FBI Organized Crime/State Police, 1995
- Special Commendation for Outstanding Service to the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, from the Deputy Attorney General for the Criminal Division, March 1989
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1979
Education
- Tulane University, J.D., 1979
- University of New Orleans, B.A., Communications, 1976
Associations
- American Bar Association
- Co-Chair, Criminal Justice Section
- Computer Crime, Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets Subcommittee
- Co-Chair, Criminal Justice Section
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (Appointed by Louisiana Supreme Court, December 2022)
- Board Member
- Louisiana State Bar Association Disciplinary Section
- Committee Chair, 2017-2022
- Center for Law and Civic Education
- Board Member, 2002-2005
- Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board (Appointed by Louisiana Supreme Court, December 2022)
- Federal Bar Association
- National Association of Former United States Attorneys (NAFUSA)
- Board of Directors (2023-Present)
- Military Order of Foreign Wars (Navy Veteran)
- Navy League
- Executive Vice President/President-Elect - Greater New Orleans Chapter
- New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission
- Executive Board Vice Chair
- New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation
- Executive Board Member/Secretary-Treasurer
- New Orleans Citizens' Diplomacy Council
- Advisory Board Member
- New Orleans Crimestoppers
- Executive Board Co-Chairman (2019-2022)
- Naval Reserve Association
- Old Salts and Assorted Spies - Retired Naval Intelligence Association
- World Trade Center - New Orleans
- GNO Inc. - Regional Economic Development Corporation
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Moderator, "A View from the Top: Insights on Law Enforcement in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes," Breakfast Briefing Series, Bureau of Governmental Research, May 12, 2022.
- Author, "Companies as Victims of Internal Crimes: Internal Investigations Can Make A Critical Difference," ACC South Carolina, 1st Quarter 2022 Newsletter, April 6, 2022.
- Panelist, 11th Annual Conference of Yale and Law School’s New Haven School of Jurisprudence and International Law, Hangzhou, China, October 2021.
- Author, “DOJ’s Yates Memorandum 5 Years Down the Road: Alive but is it Kicking? FCPA Enforcement of Individuals Post-‘Yates’,” ACC TN Q2 Newsletter, June 2020.
- Speaker, “Recent Developments and Trends in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Global Anti-Corruption Efforts,” 10th Annual Conference of Yale Law School’s New Haven School of Jurisprudence and International Law, Hangzhou, China, June 2019.
- Panelist, “Current Trade Dispute Between the U.S. and China and Its Implications for Other Countries and Global Trade,” 10th Annual Conference of Yale Law School’s New Haven School of Jurisprudence and International Law, Hangzhou, China, June 2019.
- Speaker, “Crisis Response and Continuity of Operations,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Planning, November 19, 2018.
- Co-Author, “Customs System and the Law, Foreign Trade System and Law and Foreign Direct Investment System and Law,” Essentials of the Laws of the Belt and Road Countries – Australia, U.K., U.S., 2017.
- Author, “The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Importance of Anti-corruption Efforts in Trade Globalization,” International Law Perspective of the Belt and Road Initiative, 2015.
- Regular presenter and planner at the University of Texas Law School’s Government Enforcement Institute (GEI), speaks and moderates on relevant topics related to issues on corporate compliance and fraud.
- Co-Author, “U.S. Laws Affecting International Trade,” for an international publication in Chinese, English and other languages, as part of the “One Belt One Road Initiative,” 2016.
- Author, “The Yates Memo: What New Challenges to Expect,” Law 360, 2016.
- Author, “The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Importance of International Anti-Corruption Efforts in Trade Globalization,” published in Chinese, English, and numerous languages in the publication entitled International Law Perspective of the One Belt One Road Initiative, Hong Kong, 2015.
- Keynote speaker, “Combating Corruption,” National Conference of the National Association of Inspectors General, Detroit, October 2015.
- Speaker, “Topic,” JPSO Graduation, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2015.
- Speaker, “The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA),” One Belt, One Road International Trade Conference, Hong Kong City Law School, Hong Kong, July 2015.
- Author, "Crisis Response and Continuity of Operations: A Personal Account of My Experiences During and After Hurricane Katrina," Tulane Law Review, Vol. 87, No. 5 & 6, 2013.
- Co-Author, "USAO Crisis Management and Continuity of Operations During and After Disasters: A case study based on the Hurricane Katrina experience in the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana," Crisis Response and Related Litigation 119, 143, 2009.
- Commencement Speaker, University of New Orleans, 2009.
- Keynote Speaker and Panel Conductor, "Conference on Transparency and Ethics: Towards an Accountable Society," (First Conference on Corruption in Eastern Europe following the Collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact), Czech Republic, September 19, 2007.
- Commencement Speaker, University of New Orleans, College of Liberal Arts, 2006.
Civic Involvement
- Jefferson Parish Quality Assurance Review Committee of the Inspector General’s Office
- Committee Member, 2017-Present
- Tulane University's Emergency and Security Studies Industry Advisory Board
- Tulane University Law School Alumni Association
- University of New Orleans Alumni Association, Selection Committee
- Boy Scouts of America Southeast Louisiana Council
- President, 2016-2020
- Executive Board Member
- De La Salle High School Alumni Association
- National World War II Museum, PT-305 Advisory Board
- Higgins Boat Society, Volunteer/Member, PT-305 Restoration Team, 2007-Present
- Crescent Leadership Academy Charter School, Board Member, 2013-2018
- Louisiana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Board Member, 2002-2012