ffi Former Chicago Massage Parlor Operator Sentenced to Life in Prison for Human Trafficking of Four Women By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:12:25 EST Alex Campbell, 45, of Glenview, Ill., a former northwest suburban massage parlor owner was sentenced today to life in federal prison for various crimes including sex-trafficking, forced labor, harboring illegal aliens, confiscating passports to further forced labor and extortion involving four foreign women whom he mentally and physically abused while forcing them to work for him, the Justice Department announced today. The defendant, who operated the Day and Night Spa on Northwest Highway in Mt. Prospect, Ill., used violence and threats of violence to force three women from the Ukraine and one from Belarus to work for him without pay and, at times, little to no subsistence between July 2008 and January 2010. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Puerto Rico Police Officers Charged with Extorting a Commonwealth Defendant for $50,000 By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:38:24 EST Abimael Arroyo-Cruz, 30, of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, and Josue Becerril-Ramos, 36, of Carolina, Puerto Rico, were both charged in an indictment returned today in the District of Puerto Rico with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal programs bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and one count of attempted extortion. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Attorney General Eric Holder and High-Level Officials Launch Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 09:09:06 EST Attorney General Eric Holder and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström will launch the Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online at a ministerial conference tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2012, in Brussels. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi New Mexico Probation Officer Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 18:26:42 EST Gordon Chavez, 35, a probation officer with the New Mexico Corrections Department of Probation and Parole, was arrested today in Albuquerque, N.M., on charges related to the sexual assault of a probationer whom he supervised. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Notorious Sex Trafficker Terrence “T-Rex” Yarbrough Faces up to Life in Prison Following Sex Trafficking Conviction in Tennessee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 17:04:33 EST Terrence Yarbrough, a/k/a, “T-Rex,” 37, of Memphis, Tenn., was convicted today in federal court on 10 counts of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary Speaks at the National Indian Nations Conference By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Dec 2012 12:07:12 EST "We recognize that crime rates are high in Indian country and help is not easy to come by, given tribes’ geographical remoteness and scarcity of resources. But tribal victim service providers have shown time and again that their efforts to meet these challenges are unflagging," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Leary. Full Article Speech
ffi Former California Police Officer Indicted and Arrested on Civil Rights Charges for Sexually Assaulting Woman While Transporting Her to Jail By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:24:38 EST Bryan Benson, a former Anderson, Calif., police officer, was arrested today on charges of deprivation of civil rights for sexually assaulting a woman while transporting her to jail and of trying to conceal his criminal conduct, announced the Justice Department. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer, His Girlfriend and Two of Their Associates Plead Guilty to Participating in Multi-year Bribery and Alien Smuggling Activities Along U.S./Mexico Border By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:57:43 EST A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, his girlfriend and two of their associates pleaded guilty today in federal court for their participation in multi-year bribery and alien smuggling activities along the U.S./Mexico border. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Louisiana Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to FBI, Falsifying Records By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:28:20 EST Kevin L. Groom Sr, 45, a correctional officer with the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge James J. Brady for the Middle District of Louisiana for his role in covering up an incident in which correctional officers used excessive force against an inmate. Groom admitted filing a false report and subsequently providing false information to the FBI about the incident. Investigation of the incident is ongoing. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Lincoln County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office Detective Sentenced on Sexual Abuse Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:46:33 EST Scott Edwards, a former Lincoln County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department detective, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by three years supervised release for violating the constitutional rights of five women through acts of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual contact while serving as their “drug court tracker,” when the women were participants in the Lincoln County Drug Court program. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Japanese-Based Toyo Ink and Affiliates in New Jersey and Illinois Settle False Claims Allegation for $45 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:53:32 EST Japan-based Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co. Ltd. and various affiliated entities (collectively, Toyo Ink) have agreed to pay $45 million, plus interest, to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly failing to pay antidumping and countervailing duties, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Five Foreign Nationals Sentenced to Prison for Role in Trafficking Identities of Puerto Rican U.S. Citizens By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:06:25 EST Five foreign nationals were sentenced to prison for their respective roles in trafficking the identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and corresponding identity documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi New Mexico Probation Officer Indicted on Sexual Assault Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:19:02 EST A federal grand jury in Albuquerque, N.M., has indicted Gordon Chavez, 35, a probation officer with the New Mexico Corrections Department on charges related to the sexual assault of a probationer whom he supervised. The New Mexico Corrections Department placed Chavez on administrative leave following his arrest on Dec. 4, 2012. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Justice Department Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against the Alamance County, N.C., Sheriff’s Office By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:52:54 EST The Justice Department today filed a civil rights lawsuit against Terry S. Johnson, in his official capacity as head of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) in North Carolina. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Against New Mexico-Based Producer of Peanut Butter Products and Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:57:34 EST U.S. District Court Judge William P. Johnson entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Sunland Inc., a Portales, N.M.-based producer of peanut butter, and Jimmie D. Shearer, president and chief executive officer of Sunland, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Prince George’s County, Maryland, Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 17:59:11 EST Anthony McIntosh, a former correctional officer at the Prince George’s County Detention Center, in Upper Marlboro, Md., today pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for providing false information about the circumstances surrounding the in-custody death of Ronnie White on June 29, 2008. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Police Officer in New Town, North Dakota, Arrested on Federal Civil Rights Violation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 18:43:50 EST The Justice Department announced today that Lindrith Tsoodle, 57, a former officer with the Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department, was apprehended and arrested on the Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana yesterday in relation to his indictment on civil rights and obstruction violations. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Justice Department Files Lawsuit in Idaho Against Jerome County Sheriff’s Office to Enforce the Employment Rights of Army National Guard Member By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 19:07:50 EST The United States Justice Department and U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today the filing of a complaint alleging that the Jerome County Sheriff’s Office willfully violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 by failing to reemploy and terminating Idaho Army National Guard Member Mervin Jones while he was recuperating from a knee injury that he sustained while performing military service. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Corrections Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 14:18:31 EST Demetrio Juan Gonzales, 40, a former corrections officer at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised released for violating the civil rights of an individual in his custody when he struck and choked the victim in the shower room/dress out area of MDC. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Georgia Men Plead Guilty to Bribing Official to Secure Government Contracts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:03:50 EST Two men employed by a machine products vendor in Albany, Ga., have pleaded guilty to bribing a public official working for a military organization at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany (MCLB-Albany) to secure contracts for machine products Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Virginia Man Sentenced for Trafficking in Counterfeit Gm Diagnostic Equipment By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:07:39 EST A Virginia man was sentenced today in federal court to serve one year and one day in prison for selling counterfeit General Motors (GM) automotive diagnostic devices used by mechanics to identify problems with and assure the safety of motor vehicles. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary Speaks at the Science Advisory Board Meeting By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:16:52 EST "Over the last four years, we've generated tremendous momentum in our work to integrate evidence into our programs and activities. Our leadership – not only at BJS and NIJ, but across OJP – has demonstrated a strong scientific ethic," said Assistant Attorney General Leary. Full Article Speech
ffi Los Angeles Check Cashing Store, Its Head Manager and Compliance Officer Sentenced for Violating Anti-money Laundering Laws By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:39:29 EST A Los Angeles check cashing store, its head manager and its designated anti-money laundering compliance officer were sentenced today in the Central District of California for failing to follow reporting and anti-money laundering requirements for over $8 million in transactions in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Alabama Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violations and Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:34:25 EST Today, Matthew E. Davidson, a former corrections officer of the Alabama Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Montgomery, Ala., to two counts of violating the civil rights of a former inmate at Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton, Ala., and to one count of conspiring with other corrections officers to obstruct justice by covering up the incident. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General Agent Admits Role in Records Falsification Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:00:34 EST A former special agent of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) pleaded guilty today in a Southern District of Texas federal court to participating in a scheme to falsify records and to obstruct an internal field office inspection. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Chief Financial Officer of Stanford Financial Group Entities Sentenced to Prison for Role in Fraud Scheme and Obstruction By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:43:29 EST James M. Davis, 64, formerly of Baldwyn, Miss., the former chief financial officer of Stanford International Bank (SIB) and Houston-based Stanford Financial Group, was sentenced today to five years in prison for his role in helping Robert Allen Stanford perpetrate a fraud scheme involving SIB, and for conspiring to obstruct a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation into SIB. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Second Fort Deposit, Ala., Officer Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Federal Civil Rights Violations in Connection with Thefts on Highway By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:10:56 EST Former Fort Deposit, Ala., police officer Carlos Tyson Bennett, 37, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller to 37 months in prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $500 in restitution. Bennett was sentenced for stealing money from motorists during traffic stops, with another former Fort Deposit police officer, Jessie Alan Fuller, on Interstate 65 in 2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Texas State Parole Officer Admits Taking Bribes from Assigned Parolee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:57:09 EST A former Texas state parole officer pleaded guilty today in Dallas for taking bribes from one of her assigned parolees in exchange for not reporting his parole violations. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Washington Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Sex Trafficking By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:57:37 EST Joseph McDaniels, 43, of Shoreline, Wash., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for interstate transportation of a 22 year old woman for purposes of prostitution. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi New Jersey Woman Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Trafficking the Identities of Puerto Rican U.S. Citizens By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:08:10 EST Martina Montero-de-Ortiz, 52, formerly of Elizabeth, N.J., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí in the District of Puerto Rico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary at the Workshop of the Forum on Global Violence Prevention Sponsored by the Institute of Medicine By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:54:30 EST "One of our top priorities is addressing youth violence. As I’m sure many of you would agree, this is one of the most complex and intractable problems in criminal justice. And because it is so complex, we’ve learned over time that tackling it involves many people – stakeholders from all sectors and from all levels of government," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Leary. Full Article Speech
ffi Individual Pleads Guilty to Id Fraud and Impersonating an OSHA Official in Wake of Gulf Oil Spill By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:19:13 EST Connie M. Knight, 46, previously of Belle Chasse, La., pleaded guilty in federal court in New Orleans today to three felony criminal charges and one misdemeanor criminal charge for creating false identification documents an impersonating a federal official. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Office on Violence Against Women Acting Director Bea Hanson Speaks at the D.C. Office of Victim Services’ National Stalking Awareness Month Event By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:55:50 EST "These realities indicate that stalking is a serious issue for every community across the United States that requires a multidisciplinary approach – Fortunately, many of the agencies that are needed to appropriately address and respond to the crime of stalking are represented on this panel today," said Acting Director Hanson. Full Article Speech
ffi Former Alabama Officer Indicted for Using Excessive Force By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:31:07 EST A federal grand jury today indicted a former Town Creek, Ala., police officer for violating an individual’s civil rights during the course of an arrest. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Dominican National Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Leading Role in Identity Trafficking Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:36:30 EST A Dominican national was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for his leading role in trafficking the identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and corresponding identity documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Maryland Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:42:27 EST Ryan Lohr, 26, a former correctional officer at the Roxbury Correctional Institution (RCI) in Hagerstown, Md., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to obstruct justice and destroy evidence from a March 9, 2008, assault of an inmate by RCI officers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium: Transforming the Coalition By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:18:35 EST "We need the continued partnerships of foreign, state, local, and tribal officials. We need the leadership of the business community and the innovation of researchers and academics; and we need the voices of victim advocates and the resolve of victim service providers," said Acting Associate Attorney General West. Full Article Speech
ffi Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Riverview, Fla., Tax-preparation Office Allegedly Involved in Identity Theft By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Feb 2013 17:00:28 EST The United States has asked a federal court to shut down a tax-preparation office in Riverview, Fla. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary Speaks at the 8th Annual Harry Frank Guggenheim Symposium on Crime in America By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 Feb 2013 08:51:00 EST "I’m especially proud of the part that we – at the Office of Justice Programs – have played in improving knowledge about what works in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice. Our National Institute of Justice and Bureau of Justice Statistics have, for many years, made significant contributions to our base of knowledge," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Leary. Full Article Speech
ffi Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Miami Tax-Preparation Office By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 Feb 2013 09:30:03 EST The United States has asked a federal court to shut down a tax-preparation office in Miami. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Virginia Dental Office to Stop HIV Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:37:05 EST The Justice Department announced today that, as part of its Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, it has reached a settlement with Woodlawn Family Dentistry, of Alexandria, Va., under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Muskogee, Oklahoma, Detention Officer Indicted for Making False Statements to the FBI By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:19:51 EST A federal grand jury in Muskogee, Okla., has indicted Dennis Frisbie Jr., 32, a former detention officer at the Muskogee County Jail (MCJ), on one count of making material false statements to the FBI. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Antiques Dealer Sentenced in New York City for Crimes Relating to Illegal Trafficking of Endangered Rhinoceros Horns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:52:02 EST David Hausman, an antiques dealer in Manhattan, was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to six months in jail for obstruction of justice and creating false records in connection with illegal rhinoceros horn trafficking. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Vice President Biden and Attorney General Holder Honor 18 Public Safety Officers with Medal of Valor By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:27:14 EST Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder today awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to 18 public safety officers who exhibited exceptional courage in saving and protecting others and whose heroic actions were above and beyond the call of duty. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Albuquerque Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:13:01 EST Matthew Pendley, 26, a former corrections officer at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today to one count of obstructing justice when he lied to law enforcement during their investigation of the assault on an inmate at the hands of another corrections officer. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary Speaks at the Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:33:16 EST "We’re here to recognize 18 extraordinary individuals for their quick thinking, selflessness, and exceptional courage. They are law enforcement and corrections officers and firefighters who went beyond the call of duty to risk – and in some cases, to give – their lives for their fellow citizens and colleagues," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Leary. Full Article Speech
ffi Former Officials and Broker of Peanut Corporation of America Indicted Related to Salmonella-Tainted Peanut Products By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:04:43 EST A 76-count indictment was unsealed yesterday charging four former officials of the Peanut Corporation of America and a related company with numerous charges relating to salmonella-tainted peanuts and peanut products. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy Elana Tyrangiel Speaks at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:59:22 EST "In fact, this initiative constitutes a significant step forward in fostering increased levels of engagement with these partners and with Congress, in establishing a productive partnership between the Department of Justice and NIST, and in strengthening our ability to realize the goals and priorities that we all share," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Tyrangiel. Full Article Speech
ffi High Ranking Gulf Cartel Member Convicted in Washington for Drug Trafficking By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:59:26 EST Aurelio Cano Flores, a Mexican national and high ranking member of the Gulf Cartel, was found guilty today by a federal jury of conspiring to import multi-ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ffi Former Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Assault an Inmate By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:06:30 EST Dustin Norris, a former correctional officer at the Roxbury Correctional Institution (RCI) in Hagerstown, Md., pleaded guilty to conspiring with other RCI officers to assault an inmate at the state prison on March 9, 2008. Full Article OPA Press Releases