Kansas City U.S. Attorney Wood creates position to fight corporate

Daily Record and the Kansas City Daily News-Press, Oct 10, 2008

Kansas City U.S. Attorney John Wood on Thursday announced the creation of a position to help his office fight corporate fraud and other white-collar crimes.

Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Nelson will serve as Securities Fraud Coordinator.

Nelson will be the principal securities fraud contact for federal law enforcement agencies, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Kansas City Board of Trade, and other organizations. He will also serve as the district's representative on the Justice Department's Securities & Commodities Fraud Working Group.

The Securities Fraud Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney's Office reflects an increased emphasis on the integrity of financial markets during a time of volatility, Wood said in a release.

"This new position will further enhance our ability to focus specifically on the integrity of financial markets," Wood said. "The recent upheavals in financial markets are an important reminder of the critical role that the Department of Justice plays in ensuring the integrity of those markets."

Wood emphasized that the Department of Justice has been active in prosecuting corporate and securities fraud.

"Our office plays an important role as well," Wood said, citing the recent convictions of executives from American-Italian Pasta Co. for accounting fraud. "Our efforts are particularly important because our district is home to several financial institutions and a Board of Trade."