Overview
(August 22, 2024) – Steptoe LLP has secured the full dismissal with prejudice of an indictment brought against our client, Jordan Willing. Steptoe has also convinced the Department of Justice to dismiss the civil forfeiture case it had brought against Mr. Willing, and to refund a $1M payment Mr. Willing made in settlement of that civil matter.
As DOJ acknowledged, “[t]he reason for dismissal is the culmination of errors in this case. Misidentification of confidential informants, misrepresentations, and erroneous inferences and conclusions derived therefrom are contained in the initial search warrant affidavit signed in December 2022. These errors and misidentifications were repeated in subsequent search warrant affidavits and in conversations with defense counsel. The errors were also unknowingly included in the United States’ Response to Motion. The United States became aware of these problems through information provided by defense counsel and the United States’ resulting conversations with the investigating agent. After thoroughly reviewing the case, the United States believes it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the Indictment with prejudice.” USA v. Jordan Willing et al., 4:23-cr-00077-DN-DAO (Aug. 19, 2024), ECF No. 194.
The charges in this case never should have been brought against Jordan Willing. He is grateful to have been fully vindicated and to be able to move on with his life.
The Steptoe team included partners Rachel Cannon, Andrew Adams, and Katie Dubyak, along with counsel Meghan Newcomer and associates Brendan Hammond, Dan Podair, Vito Arethusa, Emma Staats, and Emily Tifft.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
