As a prosecutor, he investigated, tried, and supervised cases resulting in convictions of some of the most recognized names in local government. He also obtained and oversaw record-breaking criminal fines and penalties against global manufacturers and officials engaged in consumer fraud, corruption, and kickback schemes.
Chutkow’s practice extends from fraud, RICO, and corruption matters to environmental enforcement actions. His experience spans routine compliance audits, high-stakes, high-profile investigations, and courtroom litigation.
He began his legal career at Sidley Austin in Chicago, practicing in its environmental law group.
Litigated Matters
Detroit Metropolitan Airport Corruption, 2019-2020
• Trial counsel in three-week trial of Detroit Metropolitan Airport official convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison for taking $6 million in kickbacks—one of largest bribes in District history—in exchange for $43 million in airport contracts
Volkswagen Diesel Emissions, 2015-2018
• Assisted in oversight of investigation and prosecution of VW for decade-long scheme to sell diesel vehicles containing software designed to cheat U.S. emissions tests, resulting in $2.8 billion penalty, largest criminal fine in history of automotive industry and largest corporate fine in history of District
• Led investigation and prosecution of VW engineer who designed and tested defeat device, resulting in conviction and 40-month sentence
City of Detroit Corruption, 2010-2014
• Led prosecution of wide-ranging pay-to-play network of corruption in City of Detroit government, convicting 35 city officials and businesspeople, including former mayor of Detroit and three associates after landmark six-month trial
Matters Closely Supervised as Criminal Division Chief
FCA and UAW Labor Management Relations Fraud, 2018-2021
• Supervised Assistant U.S. Attorneys in one of most significant Taft-Hartley Act prosecutions in history, including convictions of FCA, the United Auto Workers, and senior officials for labor management relations violations
• FCA agreed to $30 million fine and three-year corporate compliance monitorship of UAW entered consent decree requiring six-year independent monitorship
• Fourteen officials convicted of felony offenses, including three senior FCA officials, two UAW presidents, and two UAW vice presidents
Takata Airbags, 2016 to 2017
• Supervised Assistant U.S. Attorneys who obtained conviction of Takata, one of world’s largest suppliers of automotive safety-related equipment, for wire fraud arising from manufacture and sales of defective airbag inflators
• Takata agreed to pay $1 billion in penalties and three-year corporate monitor
Professional Recognition
• Leonard R. Gilman Award, Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan, given annually to the top criminal law practitioner, 2018
• Director’s Awards for Superior Performance, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, 2018 and 2015
• IRS Criminal Investigation Chief’s Excellence Award, 2013
• U.S. Department of Justice Certificate of Commendation, 2009
• United States President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency, Award for Excellence, 2006
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Award, 2004
• University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 1991, Associate Editor, University of Chicago Legal Forum
• Yale University, B.A., cum laude, 1987
• American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), Fellow, 2015-present
• Federal Bar Association, Executive Board, Eastern District of Michigan, 2021-present
• International Association of Independent Compliance Monitors, Member, 2022-present