Sparks served as the chief of the white collar crime division in the Eastern District of Kentucky for fifteen years, where he was responsible for all matters involving health care fraud, financial fraud, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, tax fraud, public corruption, cybercrime, environmental crime and civil False Claims Act cases.

As an Assistant United States Attorney, Sparks successfully prosecuted a broad range of criminal cases, from the early investigative stages through grand jury, trial and appeal. Sparks has tried nearly two dozen civil and criminal cases, including matters involving health care fraud, bank and mortgage fraud, tax fraud, and investment fraud. He served as lead prosecutor on several multi- month criminal trials and has argued over forty cases in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Sparks also served a detail at the Department of Justice’s Federal Programs Branch in Washington, D.C.

Sparks has been an adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he taught classes in litigation skills and legal writing. Sparks has received commendations from numerous federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the United States Postal Service, the United States Bureau of Prisons, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Professional Involvement

• Kentucky Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• Fayette County Bar Association
• American Health Lawyers Association

Community Involvement

• The Nest Center for Women, Children & Families, Board of Directors
• Eastern Little League, Lexington, Kentucky
• Arlington Elementary Family Resource Center
• Crestwood Christian Church, Trustee, Past Moderator of Administrative Board

Publications/Presentations

• “Preventing Overpayments from Becoming False Claims” June 2017
• “Ethical Issues in Parallel Proceedings,” EDKY/WDKY Health Care Fraud Conference, Frankfort, KY, July 29, 2015
• “Enforcement Activities by Investigative Authorities” University of Kentucky College of Law, Continuing Legal Education Program, Lexington, KY, November 7, 2013
• “Climbing the Corporate Ladder: Looking up the Chain of Command in Fraud and Abuse Investigations,” HCCA Compliance Institute Program, Orlando, FL, April 11, 2011
• “Why False Claims Matter” Indiana Office of Attorney General, May 4, 2010
• “Federal Criminal Discovery” Chapter 5, United States Department of Justice Office of Legal Education, published March 2011

Experience

• Clerkship, Hon. Henry R. Wilhoit, Jr. United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
• Clerkship, Hon. Roger L. Crittenden, Franklin Circuit Court, Commonwealth of Kentucky