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Georgia Couple Convicted of Conspiring to Defraud Irs and Filing False Returns in South Florida Refund Scheme

Elmo Antonio George and Nasheba Necia Hunte, formerly from the U.S. Virgin Islands and currently residents of Villa Rica, Ga., were found guilty today by a federal jury in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., of conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and filing false individual income tax returns for 2005 and 2006, the Justice Department and the IRS announced.



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Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the Consumer Federation of America 2012 Consumer Assembly

"Over a decade ago, as a lawyer in the California Attorney General’s office, I worked on a variety of consumer protection issues, from identity theft to the victimization of elder consumers. And over the last three years, President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and I have made protecting consumers a centerpiece of the Justice Department’s overall anti-fraud efforts," said Acting Associate Attorney General West.




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Police Chief in Omega, Georgia, Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Charges

The Justice Department announced today that a federal grand jury in Macon, Ga., returned a one-count indictment against Walter Young, 54, police chief of the Omega Police Department, for physically abusing a man in his custody.



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Former Chief Financial Officer of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme

Delton de Armas, a former chief financial officer of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp. (TBW), pleaded guilty today to making false statements and conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud for his role in a more than $2.9 billion fraud scheme that contributed to the failures of TBW and Colonial Bank.



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Two Southern California Men Plead Guilty for Their Roles in a Nationwide Breach of Credit and Debit Card Terminals at Michaels Stores Inc.

Edward Arakelyan, 21, and Arman Vardanyan, 22, were each charged in a criminal information filed on March 5, 2012, in U.S. District Court in Oakland, Calif., with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.



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Justice and Interior Departments Launch National Criminal Justice Training Initiative in Cherokee Nation

The Justice and Interior Departments today completed the first in a series of national level training courses, “Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country” (CJIC), designed to strengthen the ability of tribal and local law enforcement to participate in the investigation and enforcement of federal crimes in Indian country and fulfill a key training requirement under the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA).



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Attorney General’s Task Force on Children’s Exposure to Violence Holds Public Hearing in Miami

Attorney General Eric Holder’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence concluded a three-day public hearing in Miami today on the challenges of preventing children’s exposure to violence in the community. At the hearing, expert panelists on the child welfare system testified about how immigrant and at-risk youth are exposed to violence and how mayors across the country are interrupting the cycle of violence in their cities, among other issues.



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Louisiana Jury Convicts General Manager/former Owner of Arkla Disposal Services of Violations of Clean Water Act and Obstructing an EPA Investigation

Father and son, John Tuma and Cody Tuma, 28, of Shreveport, were both charged in a five-count indictment with violations of the Clean Water Act, conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to illegal discharges coming from the Arkla Disposal Services Inc., a facility in Shreveport, La.



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Three Brandon, Miss., Men Plead Guilty for Their Roles in the Racially Motivated Assault and Murder of an African-American Man

Deryl Paul Dedmon, John Aaron Rice and Dylan Wade Butler, all from Brandon, Miss., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Jackson to federal hate crime charges in connection with an assault culminating in the death of James Craig Anderson.



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Federal Prisoner Charged in California for Murder of Cellmate

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today charging Samuel Stone, 32, with first degree murder and murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence.



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Armenian Power Member and Three Armenian Power Associates Convicted in Los Angeles for Roles in Identity Theft Ring

Arman Sharopetrosian, Karen Markosian, Artush Margaryan and Kristine Ogandzhanyan were found guilty of conspiring to commit bank fraud, attempted bank fraud and various counts of aggravated identity theft.



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Pennsylvania- Based Eusa Pharma (USA) Inc. to Pay U.S. $180,000 for Allegedly Submitting Inflated Claims to Medicare

EUSA Pharma (USA) Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $180,000 to resolve claims that it violated the False Claims Act by allegedly encouraging doctors to submit inflated claims to Medicare for imaging scans.



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California Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Prison for Production and Possession of Child Pornography

Edward Lee Sullivan, of Oakland, Calif., was sentenced today to 300 months in prison for production and possession of child pornography.



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U.S. and Mexican Officials Sign Letter of Intent to Share $6 Million in Forfeited Assets to Combat Financial Infrastructure of Organized Crime

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Mexican Attorney General Marisela Morales Ibáñez today signed a letter of intent for the United States to share approximately $6 million in forfeited funds with the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico to support Mexican efforts to combat the financial infrastructure of organized criminal groups and to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in forfeiture matters.



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Washington State Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Filing False Liens Against Government Officials

Ronald James Davenport of Chewelah, Wash., was sentenced to 41 months in prison today for filing more than $20 billion in false liens against four federal government officials, the Justice Department and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) announced today.



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Justice Department Requires Divestitures in Humana Inc.'s Acquisition of Arcadian Management Services Inc.

The Justice Department will require Humana Inc. and Arcadian Management Services Inc. to divest assets relating to Arcadian’s Medicare Advantage business in parts of five states in order for Humana to proceed with its acquisition of Arcadian.



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New York Financial Investor Pleads Guilty to Bid Rigging at Municipal Tax Lien Auctions in New Jersey

A financial investor who purchased municipal tax liens at auctions in New Jersey pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to rig bids for the sale of tax liens auctioned by municipalities throughout the state.



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Witness in Identity Theft and Tax Trial Convicted of Perjury and Lying to a Federal Agent

A federal jury in Montgomery, Ala., convicted Nacretia Lewis today of perjury and lying to a federal agent, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced.



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Detroit Podiatrist Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme

Dr. Errol Sherman was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerald E. Rosen in Detroit.



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Residential Youth Treatment Facility for Medicaid Recipients in Marion, Virginia Agrees to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

Universal Health Services Inc. (UHS) and two subsidiaries have reached a settlement in a False Claims Act lawsuit with the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Justice Department announced today.



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Georgia Tax Preparer Charged with Tax Fraud and Identity Theft

Willie C. Grant, a Bibb County, Ga., tax return preparer who owned and operated “Grant Income Tax Bookkeeping and Check Cash,” was indicted on March 15, 2012, by a federal grand jury with 23 counts of making false claims for tax refunds, four counts of theft of government money and four counts of aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.



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Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Bar Indiana Firm from Preparing Tax Returns

The United States has asked a federal court to bar a tax preparation firm and its owner, John Newlin, from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.



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Virginia Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Scheme to Conceal Pakistan Government Funding for His U.S. Lobbying Efforts

Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, 62, a U.S. citizen and resident of Fairfax, Va., was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy and tax violations in connection with a decades-long scheme to conceal the transfer of at least $3.5 million from the government of Pakistan to fund his lobbying efforts in America related to Kashmir.



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Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation by the City of Selma, Texas, Fire Department

The Department of Justice announced today the filing of a civil suit against the city of Selma, Texas, alleging that the city discriminated against firefighter Adam Sadler in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.



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Miami-Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Participating in $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

Lazaro Acosta, 41, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz in Miami to one count of currency structuring to avoid reporting requirements.



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Former Civilian Contractor Pleads Guilty in North Carolina for Role in Scheme to Steal and Sell Military Equipment in Iraq

David John Welch, 36, of Hope Mills, N.C., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge W. Earl Britt to a criminal information charging him with one count of conspiracy to steal property under the control of a government contractor.



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Two Owners and Two Employees of Miami Home Health Company Plead Guilty in $20 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

Ariel Rodriguez, 41, Reynaldo Navarro, 37, and Ysel Salado, 26, each pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and Melissa Rodriguez, 24, pleaded guilty on March 28, 2012, before Judge Cooke to the same charge.



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Miami-Area Assisted Living Facility Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Kickback Scheme

Billy Denica, 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard in Miami to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.



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Georgia-Based Radiation Oncology Practice to Pay $3.8 Million to Settle False Claims Act Case

Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia LLC, a radiation oncology practice, and its affiliates RCOG Cancer Centers LLC, Physician Oncology Services Management Company LLC, Frank A. Critz, M.D. and Physician Oncology Services L.P. (collectively, RCOG) agreed to pay $3.8 million to settle claims that they violated the False Claims Act.



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Former Executive of Miami-Based Ocean Bank Sentenced to Serve 37 Months in Prison for Participating in Bribery Scheme and Filing False Tax Returns

A former executive of Ocean Bank, a financial institution headquartered in Miami, was sentenced today for participating in a scheme to accept bribes and for failing to report income on federal income tax returns



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Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the Youth Violence Champions of Change Event

"Because the issue of preventing Youth Violence is one that Attorney General Holder and I are deeply committed to. As he often says, fighting violence in our cities and building a fair and effective justice system – a system that keeps citizens safe and maintains its legitimacy in the eyes of everyone it serves – has never been more difficult, and never more urgent," said Acting Associate Attorney General West.




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U.S. Announces Innovative Clean Air Agreement for Industrial Flares with Marathon Petroleum Company

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced an innovative environmental agreement with Ohio-based Marathon Petroleum Company that already has significantly reduced air pollution from all six of the company’s petroleum refineries.



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Former Wilcox County, Georgia, Jail Trustee Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Inmate

The Justice Department announced today that former jail trustee Willie James Caruthers pleaded guilty yesterday to acting with several others, including law enforcement officials, to assault an inmate inside of the Wilcox County, Ga., Jail on July 23, 2009.



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Justice Department Files Complaint Against Home Depot for Violating the Employment Rights of a California Army National Guard Soldier

The Justice Department announced today the filing of a complaint in U.S. District Court in Arizona against Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. for violating the employment rights of California Army National Guard soldier Brian Bailey under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).



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Former CIA Officer John Kiriakou Indicted for Allegedly Disclosing Classified Information, Including Covert Officer’s Identity, to Journalists and Lying to CIA’s Publications Board

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou was indicted today for allegedly repeatedly disclosing classified information to journalists, including the name of a covert CIA officer and information revealing the role of another CIA employee in classified activities.



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Arkansas Man Sentenced for His Role in Firebombing Residence of Interracial Couple

The Department of Justice announced today that Gary Dodson, 33, of Waldron, Ark., was sentenced in Little Rock for his involvement in firebombing the residence of an interracial couple. On Dec. 7, 2011, Dodson pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the civil rights, criminal interference with housing rights due to race and possession of an unregistered firearm/destructive device. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson sentenced Dodson to 15 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for the three counts of conviction.



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District of Columbia Return Preparer Indicted for Preparing False Tax Returns

A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging Enyinnaya Udo with 25 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.



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Statement of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division on Its Decision to Close Its Investigation of Highmark’s Affiliation Agreement with West Penn Allegheny Health System

The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division issued the following statement today after announcing the closing of its investigation into Highmark’s affiliation agreement with West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS).



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Pennsylvania Tax Defier Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison

Troy A. Beam of Shippensburg, Pa., was sentenced today to 74 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher C. Conner, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced.



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Pennsylvania Man Indicted for Cross Burning

Ryan M. Held, aka Ryan M. Foley, 20, of Philipsburg, Penn., was indicted on March 27, 2012, by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from a cross burning he committed in August 2010. The indictment was unsealed today.



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Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Tax Evasion

Stephen Thomas of York, Pa., was arrested on charges of attempted tax evasion, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. On April 4, 2012, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging Thomas with three counts of attempted evasion of his personal income taxes. The indictment was unsealed following Thomas’s arrest.



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Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the Y Factor: Men Leading by Example Event

"When we survey the landscape around the country and see great efforts such as this summit taking place, it reminds us that in the 17 years since the Violence Against Women Act was first passed, we can truly say we've made great progress in the way communities respond to domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking," said Acting Associate Attorney General West.




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Departments of Justice and Education Reach Agreement with the University of California, San Diego to Resolve Harassment Allegations

The Departments of Justice and Education reached a settlement agreement with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), to resolve an investigation into complaints of racial harassment against African-American students on campus. Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 each prohibit harassment based on race.



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Two Former Executives of California Valve Company Plead Guilty to Foreign Bribery Offenses

Stuart Carson, the former president of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.-based valve company Control Components Inc. (CCI), and Hong “Rose” Carson, the former CCI director of sales for China and Taiwan, have pleaded guilty to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).



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Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Good Apple Awards

"For nearly two decades – since 1993, when a group of concerned and frustrated – but ultimately hopeful – Harvard Law School graduates from the Class of 1958 came together around a common goal – to launch a new, national effort that would help establish public interest law centers across the country and rally support for struggling pro bono organizations – the Appleseed Network has been on the front lines of the fight to realize our nation’s founding promise of equal justice under law," said Attorney General Holder.




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Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Shut Down Three Philadelphia-area Tax Preparers

The United States has asked a federal court to bar three Philadelphia-area tax preparers from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. According to the government complaint in the civil injunction suit, defendants Deron Joe, Edmund Dassin and James Tokpawhiea are Liberian nationals who are legal permanent residents of the United States. The suit alleges that most of the customers of their business, Urban Tax Professionals, are also from Liberia and were referred to the defendants by family or friends.



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Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Memorial Service for Police Chief Michael Maloney

"From the time he walked this gridiron, Michael Maloney was a leader. Shortly after he graduated from high school, he discovered a passion for public service that came to shape his life – and improved so many others. Although he could have chosen an easier path – or a safer one – he wanted to use his skills and many talents to help people and communities in need. He wanted to make a difference. And, by any measure, he succeeded," said Attorney General Holder.




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International Competition Network Launches New Initiatives on Enforcement Cooperation, Investigative Process and Working with the Courts

The International Competition Network (ICN) launched and approved three new initiatives on international enforcement cooperation, the investigative process in competition cases and working with the courts.



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New Jersey Financial Investor and His Company Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging at Municipal Tax Lien Auctions

A financial investor who purchased municipal tax liens at auctions in New Jersey, as well as a company in which he was a partner, pleaded guilty today for their roles in a conspiracy to rig bids for the sale of tax liens auctioned by municipalities throughout the state.



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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 400 Months in Prison for Role in Violent Home Invasion Robberies of Business Owners in Four States

Tahn Le, 44, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 400 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to commit violent home invasion robberies of successful Asian business owners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.



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