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I'm grateful to have my friend Amy Nelson back for another interview to update us on her ongoing battle with Amazon and the Department of Justice.
If you're unfamiliar with her story, watch our first video and follow her on social media: amy_k_nelson.
• Amazon’s Campaign To C...
It all started when the DOJ and Amazon suddenly targeted her husband, Carl, who had worked at Amazon Web Services for eight years. After leaving the company in 2019, the FBI knocked on their door ten months later, right at the start of the pandemic, and told him he was the target of a federal investigation. Just like that, their lives were turned upside down.
The investigation centered around an "honest services fraud" charge, claiming that Carl somehow defrauded Amazon by not giving his "honest services" as an employee. Four years of intense scrutiny from the DOJ followed, even though Carl was never charged with a crime. That didn't stop the government from seizing all their assets through civil forfeiture-a process letting the government take your property without charging you. Imagine not being charged with anything but still losing everything you have and not being able to fight it. They lived like that for 22 months.
When Carl didn't give in to the DOJ's pressure, Amazon took another route-they sued him in federal court, accusing him of racketeering, fraud, and more. They threw everything at him. Amy and Carl fought back, and after years in court, a judge finally ruled in 2023 that Carl hadn't breached his employment contract at all. What Amazon had claimed was criminal was allowed in Carl's contract. You'd think that would be the end of it, but it wasn't. Even after that ruling, the DOJ kept going, considering indicting Carl on a federal crime, which makes no sense-if Amazon's own contract says it was okay, how could it be a crime?
It gets crazier. The DOJ had already secured guilty pleas from four men they said were involved in this situation. These men didn't even work for Amazon, but somehow their plea deals included details about Carl's job duties that were completely wrong. When a federal judge called out the DOJ on this, they did something almost unheard of-vacated two guilty pleas. You don't see that often.
For Amy and Carl, this fight has been brutal. It's not just the legal challenges; it's the financial and emotional strain. They've racked up over $3.7 million in legal fees. To keep fighting, they sold their home, emptied their retirement accounts, borrowed from family, and even moved their four kids between family members' houses to keep going. It's hard to wrap your head around the amount of sacrifice involved. Most people wouldn't have the resources or the will to endure what they've been through.
Amy's story is a stark reminder of the injustices that can occur. She speaks openly about the hypocrisy of Amazon's actions, highlighting the stark contrast between their public image of integrity and ethics and their relentless pursuit of baseless accusations against her family. It's a sickending, awful situation, but instead of letting that anger consume her, she's turned it into a public fight, inspiring others to stand up against similar injustices.
Amy's public fight has not gone unnoticed. She has received an outpouring of support from people online. Her decision to speak out on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter has resonated with many, and her videos have gone viral. Despite the inevitable haters, the support she's received has been overwhelming. S
Amy's resilience in the face of such adversity is truly inspiring. Instead of succumbing to the overwhelming odds, she takes action and brings attention to a difficult, sensitive issue. Her ability to lead through this crisis, showing her husband and their young family what it means to stand strong, is truly impressive. She handles everything with strength and grace. I'm proud to call her a friend.
Justin Paperny
jp@whitecollaradvice.com - 818-424-2220
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