rt Department of Justice Seizes More Than $1.5 Million in Proceeds from the Online Sale of Counterfeit Sports Apparel Manufactured in China By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 10:48:15 EDT The investigation also resulted in the seizure of three domain names used in the sale of counterfeit sports apparel. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Former New England Organized Crime Leader and Associate Sentenced for Racketeering and Extortion Activities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 14:07:50 EDT Luigi “Louie” Manocchio, an admitted former boss and underboss of the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN), was sentenced today to 66 months in federal prison for his leadership of and participation in a racketeering and extortion conspiracy that demanded and received between $800,000 and $1.5 million in “protection” payments from several Rhode Island adult entertainment businesses from 1995-2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Health Care Providers Settle with Justice Department Over Complaints of HIV Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 14:19:29 EDT The Justice Department announced that it has reached two settlements today resolving claims that health care providers refused to serve people with HIV in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Georgia County Commissioner Charged with Attempted Extortion, Bribery and False Statements By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 17:09:38 EDT Al J. Hurley, 54, is charged in a three-count indictment filed in the Middle District of Georgia with attempted extortion, bribery and false statements. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the University of North Carolina Law School Commencement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Sat, 12 May 2012 09:55:45 EDT "Class of 2012, you now stand at a crossroads in our history. And it’s time to begin making some important choices," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
rt Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Nebraska By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 May 2012 08:45:58 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor the primary elections on May 15, 2012, in Colfax and Douglas Counties in Nebraska, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. In addition, the Act requires Colfax County to provide language assistance in Spanish during the election process. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Nineteen-Year Police Veteran Convicted in Puerto Rico for Role in Providing Armed Security for Drug Transaction By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 May 2012 19:08:49 EDT Yamil Navedo Ramirez, 39, was convicted of one count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug transaction. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Japanese Citizen Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Participating in International Child Pornography Ring By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 May 2012 12:08:35 EDT Futoshi Tachino, a Japanese citizen most recently residing in Winnipeg, Canada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Two Individuals and Their California Company Sentenced in Connection with Exports of Computer Equipment to Iran By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 May 2012 17:12:40 EDT Massoud Habibion, 49, a U.S. citizen, Mohsen Motamedian, 44, a U.S. citizen, and their Costa Mesa, Calif., company, Online Micro LLC, were sentenced today in the District of Columbia in connection with a scheme to illegally export millions of dollars worth of computer-related goods from the United States to Iran through the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Arizona State Representative Charged with Bribery, Fraud, Attempted Extortion and Making False Statements By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 May 2012 17:59:48 EDT The indictment charges Paul Ben Arredondo, 63, of Tempe, with one count of federal programs bribery, two counts of honest services mail fraud, one count of attempted Hobbs Act extortion and one count of making false statements. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Releases Final Rule to Prevent, Detect and Respond to Prison Rape By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 12:20:37 EDT The Justice Department today released a final rule to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse in confinement facilities, in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down San Antonio Tax Return Preparers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 10:02:56 EDT The United States has sued Pete Gutierrez and Jeanette Gutierrez, who do business as Fast Cash Refund Express and Fast Cash Refund Express Electronic Services, seeking to bar them and their companies from preparing any federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. In addition to the Gutierrezes, the civil injunction suit also named FCRE Inc., and Fast Cash Refund Express Electronic Tax Service LLC, as defendants. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Wythe County, Virginia, on Bailout from the Voting Rights Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 18:21:08 EDT The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with Wythe County, Va., that will allow for the county and its three political subdivisions, the Wythe County School District and the towns of Rural Retreat and Wytheville, to bail out from their status as “covered jurisdictions” under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and thereby exempt these jurisdictions from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The agreement is in the form of a consent decree filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and must be approved by the court. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Former U.S. Army Captain Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Property at Camp Speicher, Iraq By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 19:45:10 EDT Nicole E. Luvera, 29, of Newnan, Ga., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg in Atlanta to a criminal information charging her with one count of theft of government property. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division Stuart F. Delery Speaks at American Bar Association Forum By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 16:04:33 EDT "The Abbott resolution was the most recent result of the President’s initiative to crack down on health care fraud," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Delery. Full Article Speech
rt Dreamboard Member Found Guilty in Louisiana for Participating in International Criminal Network Organized to Sexually Exploit Children By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 May 2012 09:55:45 EDT John Wyss, aka “Bones,” 55, of Monroe, Wis., was found guilty of one count of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, one count of conspiracy to advertise child pornography and one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt North Carolina Department of Corrections Probation Officer Indicted for Civil Rights Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 May 2012 13:59:39 EDT The Department of Justice announced that North Carolina Department of Correction’s Division of Community Corrections Probation Officer Willie James Steele Jr., 47, was indicted yesterday on civil rights charges for violating the constitutional rights of a female probationer that he was supervising by coercing her into sexual acts on two separate occasions. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Files Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit Against the Nevada Division of Forestry By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 May 2012 14:16:07 EDT The Department of Justice today announced the filing of a lawsuit against the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) alleging that NDF discriminated against Ms. Tawnya Meyer, a former employee, when they fired her soon after she announced her pregnancy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Extends Compliance Deadline for Existing Pools Under the 2010 ADA Standards By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 May 2012 17:30:31 EDT The Justice Department announced today an extension for existing swimming pools to comply with the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design. Existing pools must comply with the standards by Jan. 31, 2013. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles with Flint, Michigan, to Make Voting Accessible to People with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 13:02:45 EDT The Justice Department today announced a settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the city of Flint, Mich., to make all the city’s polling places more accessible for individuals with mobility impairments. The case was commenced based on a complaint from the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, and was investigated jointly by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Michigan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles with Home Depot to Enforce the Employment Rights of an Army National Guard Soldier By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 15:40:21 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with Home Depot U.S.A. Inc., to resolve allegations that the company violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) when it terminated the employment of Army National Guard soldier Brian Bailey. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt President of South Carolina-Based Firm Charged with Illegally Exporting Goods to Iran By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 18:22:00 EDT Markos Baghdasarian, the president of Delfin Group USA, was arrested on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, just prior to boarding an international flight to the United Arab Emirates. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Speaks on Alternatives to Incarceration Program: the Use of “Drug Courts” in the Federal and State Systems By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 19:04:11 EDT "The Attorney General and I are committed to a criminal justice system and a sentencing policy that are both tough and fair; that deter those contemplating serious criminal conduct and that are guided by research that show when non-incarceration is the best sanction," said Deputy Attorney General Cole. Full Article Speech
rt Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against New Jersey Information Technology Company for Retaliation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 May 2012 17:34:06 EDT The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Whiz International, an information technology staffing company in Jersey City, N.J., regarding allegations that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it terminated an employee in retaliation for her opposition to Whiz’s preference for foreign nationals with temporary work visas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Statement of the Attorney General on Resignation of U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2012 12:32:31 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the resignation of United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Recognizes Efforts to Rescue Children from Abuse and Prosecute Predators By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:14:23 EDT Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole paid tribute to four individuals today during the National Missing Children’s Day ceremony at the Justice Department’s Great Hall. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary Speaks at the Justice Department’s National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:12:38 EDT "I’ve spent much of my career – as a prosecutor, in government, and as head of the National Center for Victims of Crime – working to strengthen our responses to victims of all ages. I never cease to marvel at the incredible devotion and resolve of victim advocates," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Leary. Full Article Speech
rt Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Speaks at the Justice Department’s National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:18:16 EDT "I am so pleased to be here today to honor four individuals for their extraordinary efforts to find and rescue missing and exploited children and bring perpetrators to justice. Their achievements – and the stories behind them – remind us of the special qualities possessed by every single one of you who works to protect our children," said Deputy Attorney General Cole. Full Article Speech
rt Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) Working Group Announces New Resources to Investigate RMBS Misconduct By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 May 2012 12:23:23 EDT The Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) Working Group announced new resources today in the ongoing effort to investigate misconduct, including the launch of a RMBS website to report fraud and the creation of a coordination team to facilitate the various investigations underway around the country. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Issues Further Guidance on Accessibility Requirements for Existing Swimming Pools at Hotels and Other Public Accommodations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 May 2012 13:34:51 EDT The Justice Department released two technical assistance documents today regarding the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to swimming pools. The documents can be found at www.ada.gov//qa_existingpools_titleIII.htm and www.ada.gov/pools_2010.htm. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt U.S. Court Rules That Nation’s Auto Dealers Are Required to Provide Complete Data on Car Loan Terms By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 May 2012 15:50:37 EDT A federal judge in Washington has ruled that automobile dealers who engage in certain three-party financing transactions must disclose certain information to consumers who take out car loans if they are offered less favorable terms, such as a higher interest rate, than the most favorable terms available to the majority of consumers Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles with Louisiana School District to Ensure Equal Opportunities for All Students By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 May 2012 17:54:45 EDT The Department of Justice announced today that it entered into a settlement agreement with the Lincoln Parish School Board in Louisiana to ensure the school district reaches full compliance with its longstanding desegregation obligations. The agreement was approved by a judge today and is in the form of a consent order. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at Drug Court Commencement and Phase Progression Recognition Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 May 2012 10:11:58 EDT "My colleagues and I across the Justice Department – and the entire Obama Administration – remain deeply committed to expanding this work through funding grants, training, and other forms of assistance. We’re eager to continue partnering with leading jurists like those who serve this Court, tireless advocates like our allies at the PSA and NADCP, and determined drug court participants like each of you," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
rt Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 May 2012 09:52:59 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor primary elections on May 29, 2012, in Fort Bend, Harris and Jefferson Counties in Texas, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. In addition, the act requires certain covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance during the election process. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Miami Man Convicted for Obstruction of Justice and False Statements for Certifying Ships Safe for Sea By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 May 2012 12:35:21 EDT Alejandro Gonzalez, 60, of Miami-Dade County, Fla., was convicted by a federal jury in Miami of three counts of making false statements to the U.S. Coast Guard and one count of obstruction of an agency proceeding. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Announces Agreement to Protect Rights of Military and Overseas Voters in California By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 13:31:00 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with California state officials to help ensure that military servicemembers, their family members and U.S. citizens living overseas have the opportunity to participate fully in California’s June 5, 2012, federal primary election. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Romanian National Extradited to U.S. to Face Charges for Allegedly Participating in Multimillion Dollar Scheme to Hack into and Steal Credit Card Data from U.S. Merchants By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 18:16:05 EDT Adrian-Tiberiu Oprea, 28, of Constanta, Romania, was extradited to the United States and appeared in federal court in New Hampshire today, to face federal charges relating to his alleged participation in an international multimillion dollar scheme to remotely hack into and steal payment card data from hundreds of U.S. merchants’ “point of sale” computer systems. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against New Jersey Information Technology Company for Retaliation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 May 2012 11:05:59 EDT The Justice Department settled a lawsuit today against Whiz International LLC, an information technology staffing company in Jersey City, N.J., regarding allegations that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it terminated an employee in retaliation for expressing opposition to Whiz’s alleged preference for foreign nationals with temporary work visas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Against New York City Transit Authority By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 May 2012 15:12:10 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) to resolve allegations that the NYCTA is engaged in a pattern or practice of religious discrimination. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Reaches $21 Million Settlement to Resolve Allegations of Lending Discrimination by Suntrust Mortgage By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 31 May 2012 15:07:05 EDT SunTrust Mortgage Inc., the mortgage lending subsidiary of the nation’s 11th-largest commercial bank, has agreed to pay $21 million to resolve a lawsuit by the Department of Justice that it engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination that increased loan prices for many of the qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers who obtained loans between 2005 and 2009 through SunTrust Mortgage’s regional retail offices and national network of mortgage brokers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Las Vegas Casino for Unfair Documentary Practices By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 31 May 2012 16:33:36 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it filed a lawsuit against Tuscany Hotel and Casino LLC in Las Vegas, alleging that the company engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination in the employment eligibility verification and re-verification process. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires employers to treat all authorized workers equally during the hiring, firing and employment eligibility verification process, regardless of their national origin or citizenship status. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez Speaks on the Fair Lending Settlement with SunTrust Mortgage Inc. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 31 May 2012 13:44:33 EDT "Today’s settlement with SunTrust builds on an unprecedented period of fair lending enforcement by the department. Since the establishment of the Fair lending Unit, thanks to the committed career professionals in the Division, we have brought record numbers of enforcement actions," said Assistant Attorney General Perez. Full Article Speech
rt Fourteen Defendants Plead Guilty for Their Roles in Scheme to Fraudulently Control Home Owners Associations in Las Vegas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 09:42:19 EDT Fourteen individuals pleaded guilty yesterday in the District of Nevada for their roles in the scheme to fraudulently take control of various home owners’ associations (HOAs) in the Las Vegas area. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles Lawsuit with Pierce County, Washington, Alleging Employment Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 17:31:33 EDT The Justice Department announced today it has entered into a consent decree with Pierce County, Wash., that, if approved by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, will resolve allegations that the county discriminated against a female employee by retaliating against her in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII is a federal statute which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion and protects employees who file complaints under any of those bases. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Doctors, Therapist and Recruiters from Miami-Area Mental Health Care Corporation Convicted for Participating in $205 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 19:43:15 EDT A federal jury today convicted two Miami-area doctors, one Miami-area therapist and two others for their participation in a Medicare fraud scheme involving more than $205 million in fraudulent billings by American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC), a mental health care corporation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department to Monitor Elections in California, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wisconsin By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 11:15:06 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor elections on June 5, 2012, in the following jurisdictions to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes: Alameda, Fresno and Riverside Counties, Calif.; Cibola and Sandoval Counties, N.M.; Shannon County, S.D.; and the city of Milwaukee. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Arecibo, Puerto Rico, to Upgrade Sewer System to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 14:07:24 EDT A settlement between the United States and the municipality of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, will resolve violations of the Clean Water Act and specifically violations of its Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System General Permit. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Former American Samoan Department of Education Employee Sentenced to 25 Months in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 18:48:44 EDT Gustav Nauer, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra in the District of Hawaii. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Office on Violence Against Women Announces Agreements to Cross-Designate Tribal Prosecutors in Nebraska, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 Jun 2012 15:00:16 EDT The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) announced today that four tribes in Nebraska, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota will be awarded cooperative agreements to cross-designate tribal prosecutors to pursue violence against women cases in both tribal and federal courts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Texas Resident Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-import Bank By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 Jun 2012 18:58:09 EDT Hector Cuevas, 42, was also sentenced by Judge Kathleen Cardone in U.S. District Court in El Paso to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $553,148 in restitution and $690,624 in forfeiture. Full Article OPA Press Releases