Onward, a Fundrise Production 51: Inside Justice: How the System Really Works, with Hallie Hoffman
Dec 2, 2025
Hallie Hoffman, a former federal prosecutor and General Counsel of the DEA, shares her insights into the justice system. She reveals why justice moves slowly, emphasizing the role of dedicated agents in high-stakes cases. Hallie also discusses her leap into biotech, the significance of rebuilding trust in public service, and the impact of social media narratives. With a blend of optimism and realism, she highlights future threats like technology-driven crime and advocates for reforms to speed up justice without compromising rights.
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From Prosecutor To Biotech Founder
- Hallie Hoffman co-founded a biotech company that developed a non-invasive prenatal diagnostic by separating fetal DNA fragments from maternal DNA.
- She raised venture funding, scaled in the Bay Area, and sold the company to Roche within a short timeframe.
Why Justice Feels So Slow
- Justice moves slowly because the system must individualize cases, defendants, and victims, which inherently takes time.
- Publicizing prosecutions serves a deterrent effect even when high-volume enforcement is impossible.
Prosecuting A Foreign Prime Minister
- Early in her career Hoffman helped prosecute a former Prime Minister of Ukraine who laundered money through San Francisco banks.
- The operation required coordinating depositions across 48 countries and resulted in a U.S. conviction and a 10-year sentence.