united states Defendant Charged with Alleged Participation in the Murder of ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the Attempted Murder of ICE Special Agent Victor Avila Is Extradited from Mexico to the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:53:59 EST Julian Zapata Espinoza, also known as “Piolin,” has been extradited from Mexico to the United States to face charges for his alleged participation in the murder of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the attempted murder of ICE Special Agent Victor Avila on Feb. 15, 2011, in Mexico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Alabama Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:32:35 EST The Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that Tracey Fergerson pleaded guilty today before Magistrate Judge Charles S. Coody in Montgomery, Ala., to conspiring to defraud the United States government. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states U.S. Army Reserves Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the United States Related to Contracting in Support of Iraq War By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:15:23 EST Sergeant Amasha M. King, 33, of Forsyth, Ga., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell in Macon, Ga., to criminal information charging her with one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Department of Defense. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Justice Department Settlement Requires Gunnison Energy and SG Interests to Pay the United States a Total of $550,000 for Antitrust and False Claims Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:09:00 EST The department reached a settlement with Gunnison Energy Corporation, SG Interests I Ltd. and SG Interests VII Ltd. that requires the companies to pay a total of $550,000 to the United States for antitrust and False Claims Act violations related to natural gas leases sold at auction by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Intervenes in Suit Against American Commercial College Inc. Alleging False Claims Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:36:20 EST The United States has intervened in a whistleblower suit pending under the False Claims Act against American Commercial College Inc. (ACC), a chain of for-profit colleges located in west Texas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Accused Member of Foreign Terrorist Organization Extradited to United States on Hostage Taking Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:05:12 EDT Alexander Beltran Herrera, 35, aka Jhon Alexander Beltrain Herrera, aka Rodrigo Pirinolo, an accused member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has been extradited from Colombia to face hostage taking and terrorism charges in the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United Kingdom Citizen and Two Americans Charged in Alabama for Allegedly Conspiring to Defraud United States Government By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:43:58 EDT United Kingdom citizen Ahmed Sarchil Kazzaz and his company, Leadstay Company, were charged in an indictment unsealed today in the Northern District of Alabama for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay kickbacks in exchange for receiving subcontracts for a Department of Defense program in Iraq. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Files Lawsuit Against AT&T in Telecommunications Relay Services Fraud Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:42:47 EDT The United States has filed a complaint against AT&T Corporation under the False Claims Act for conduct related to its provision of Internet Protocol (IP) Relay services, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Settles False Claims Act Allegations Against Illinois-Based Lifewatch Services By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:29:01 EDT LifeWatch Services Inc., a Rosemont, Ill.-based company, has agreed to pay the United States $18.5 million to resolve allegations that the company submitted false claims to federal health care programs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Ammed Direct Llc to Pay $18 Million to United States and Tennessee to Resolve False Claims Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:31:33 EDT AmMed Direct LLC has agreed to pay the United States and the state of Tennessee $18 million plus interest to settle allegations that it submitted false claims to Medicare and Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare), the Justice Department announced today. Under the agreement, AmMed will pay $17,560,997 to the United States and $439,003 to Tennessee. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Utah Tax Defier Pleads Guilty in Nine-year Scam to Defraud the United States, Is Sentenced to Two-year Prison Term By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:36:10 EDT Stephen Murphy, a Utah resident, pleaded guilty in federal court in Salt Lake City to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, and was sentenced the same day to 24 months in prison, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. U.S. District Court Judge Dee Benson presided over the plea hearing and sentencing, which took place yesterday. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Georgia Tax Cheats Indicted for Conspiring to Defraud the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2012 16:28:17 EDT Tyrone Devon Thompson, Aritha Currie, Julius Thompson, Tronda Thompson and Shonda Sneed were charged in an indictment by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Georgia on a variety of counts stemming from a tax fraud scheme, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The 22-count indictment charges all five with conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false claims against the United States. The indictment, which was returned on May 11, 2012, was unsealed following the defendants’ arrests. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Alleged International Credit Card Trafficker “Badb” Extradited from France to the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:28:32 EDT Vladislav Anatolievich Horohorin, aka “BadB” of Moscow, an alleged international credit card trafficker thought to be one of the most prolific sellers of stolen credit card data, has been extradited from France to the United States to face criminal charges filed in the District of Columbia and in the Northern District of Georgia. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Arizona v. The United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:11:15 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Arizona v. The United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Barrio Azteca Leader Extradited from Mexico to United States to Face Charges Related to the U.S. Consulate Murders in Juarez, Mexico By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:59:13 EDT An alleged leader of the Barrio Azteca (BA), a transnational border gang allied with the Juarez Cartel, was extradited from Mexico to the United States to face charges related to the March 2010 U.S. Consulate murders in Juarez, Mexico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division Joseph F. Wayland Testifies Before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:24:32 EDT "In our system, antitrust and intellectual property policy function together to provide consumers with high-quality products and services at competitive prices, while at the same time preserving strong incentives for the innovation that creates and improves those products," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wayland. Full Article Speech
united states United States Settles Fair Housing Act Lawsuit Against Wisconsin Housing Provider By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 09:40:57 EDT The Justice Department announced today that the owner and former manager of the Lowrey Hotel and Café in New Richmond, Wis., has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging they had sexually harassed a homeless woman who sought shelter at the hotel. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Joins Lawsuit Against San Francisco Area’s North East Medical Services By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 7 Aug 2012 12:06:20 EDT The United States has joined a whistleblower action pending in the Northern District of California against the federally-qualified health center (FQHC), North East Medical Services (NEMS), alleging that the center under-reported income it received from a managed care organization in order to artificially inflate reimbursements it received from the California Medicaid program, the Justice Department announced today. North East serves the San Francisco Bay area. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Former Chief of Party in Baghdad for the United States Institute of Peace Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 7 Aug 2012 18:58:16 EDT The former chief of party in Baghdad for the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Robert Nathan Boorda, pleaded guilty to an information unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for conspiring to enrich himself by having USIP award a security contract at a fraudulently inflated price in exchange for a purported monthly consulting fee of $20,000 paid by the contractor. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Eduardo Arellano-Felix Extradited from Mexico to the United States to Face Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:14:32 EDT Eduardo Arellano-Felix, 55, one of the alleged members of the Arellano-Felix Organization (AFO), was extradited today by the government of Mexico to the United States to face racketeering, money laundering and narcotics trafficking charges in the Southern District of California. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Intervenes in False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Orlando, Florida-area Hospice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 11:11:38 EDT The government has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against Hospice of the Comforter Inc. (HOTCI) alleging false Medicare billings, the Justice Department announced today. HOTCI provides hospice services to patients residing in the vicinity of Orlando, Fla. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Co-Founder of Casino-Cheating Criminal Enterprise Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Targeting Casinos Across the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:15:28 EDT Van Thu Tran was sentenced today in San Diego to 36 months in prison for her role in a scheme to cheat casinos across the country out of millions of dollars. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Federal Court in New York Enters Consent Decree Between United States and Fan Club Website Company By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 14:07:06 EDT The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a consent decree between the United States and a company that operates fan club websites for popular recording artists such as Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, the Justice Department announced today. The government’s complaint, filed in connection with the decree, charges the company with violating both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. The company has agreed to pay a $1 million penalty to settle these charges. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Man Pleads Guilty in New York to Conspiring with Iranian Military Officials to Assassinate Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:51:12 EDT Manssor Arbabsiar, aka Mansour Arbabsiar, pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Southern District of New York to participating in a plot to murder the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States while the Ambassador was in the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Sues Jacintoport International for False Claims in Connection with the Delivery of Humanitarian Food Aid By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:06:59 EDT The United States has filed a complaint against Jacintoport International LLC under the False Claims Act in connection with a warehousing and logistics contract for the storage and redelivery of humanitarian food aid, the Justice Department announced today. Jacintoport is a cargo handling and stevedoring firm headquartered in Houston. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Sues Virginia-based Contractor for False Claims Under Contract for Security in Iraq By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:10:19 EDT The United States has filed a complaint against a Virginia-based contractor alleging that the company submitted false claims for unqualified security guards under a contract to provide security in Iraq, the Justice Department announced today. The company, Triple Canopy Inc. is headquartered in Reston, Va. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Files Suit to Stop Virginia Man from Promoting Tax Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 16:30:48 EST The United States has sued Charles Sewell of Bristol, Va., to bar him from promoting an alleged scheme involving fraudulent tax refund claims, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Al-Qaeda Operative Sentenced to Life in Prison in One of the Most Serious Terrorist Plots Against the United States since 9/11 By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:50:54 EST Earlier today, Adis Medunjanin, age 34, a Queens, N.Y., resident who joined al-Qaeda, then plotted and attempted to commit suicide terrorist attacks, was sentenced in the Eastern District of New York to life in prison for multiple federal terrorism offenses. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Sues Houston-based KBR and Kuwaiti Subcontractor for False Claims on Contracts to House American Troops in Iraq By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:12:02 EST The United States has filed a civil complaint against Kellogg, Brown & Root Services Inc. (KBR) and First Kuwaiti Trading Company for submitting inflated claims for the delivery and installation of trailers to house troops in Iraq. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Iranian National and His Company Charged in Plot Involving Export of Military Antennas from the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:00:14 EST Amin Ravan, a citizen of Iran, and his Iran-based company, IC Market Iran, have been charged in an indictment unsealed today with conspiracy to defraud the United States, smuggling, and violating the Arms Export Control Act in connection with the unlawful export of 55 military antennas from the United States to Singapore and Hong Kong. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states California Jewelry Store Owner Convicted of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Conspiracy to Launder the Proceeds of Bank Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:27:31 EST A federal jury sitting in Santa Ana, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, convicted Safieh Fard of one count of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and one count of conspiracy to launder the proceeds of bank fraud obtained after submitting fraudulent mortgage applications, the Justice Department and IRS Criminal Investigation announced. Fard’s co-conspirators, her sister Sedigheh Bahramian, and two of her sons, Mohsen Kikalaye and Ahmad Kikalaye, pleaded guilty to related counts of bank fraud in 2010. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Financial Consultant Extradited to the United States for Alleged Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-import Bank By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:57:00 EST Manuel Ernesto Ortiz-Barraza, an independent financial consultant, was extradited to the United States today for his alleged role in a scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) of over $2.5 million. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Former Executive Convicted for Role in Price-Fixing Conspiracy Involving Coastal Freight Services Between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:09:44 EST Following a two-week trial, a federal jury in Puerto Rico today convicted a former executive of a Florida-based coastal water freight transportation company for his participation in a conspiracy to fix rates and surcharges for water transportation of freight between the continental United States and Puerto Rico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Former Department of Defense Contractor Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Smuggling Kickback Proceeds from Afghanistan to the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:01:14 EST A former employee of a Department of Defense contracting company at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, was sentenced today to serve 30 months in prison for attempting to smuggle $150,000 in kickback proceeds he received for steering U.S. government subcontracts to an Afghan company. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Joins Lawsuit Alleging Lance Armstrong and Others Caused the Submission of False Claims to the U.S. Postal Service By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:44:23 EST The Department of Justice announced today that the government has joined a civil lawsuit alleging that Lance Armstrong, Johan Bruyneel and Tailwind Sports LLC and Tailwind Sports Corporation submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the U.S. Postal Service in connection with its sponsorship of a professional bicycle racing team by regularly employing banned substances and methods to enhance their performance, in violation of the USPS sponsorship agreements. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States to Accept Concurrent Jurisdiction Over White Earth Reservation in Minnesota By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:24:49 EDT The Department of Justice has granted a request by the White Earth Nation for the United States to assume concurrent criminal jurisdiction on the 1,300 square mile White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Former Shipping Executive Indicted for Role in Price-Fixing Conspiracy Involving Coastal Freight Services Between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:30:23 EDT A federal grand jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico, returned an indictment against Thomas Farmer, a former executive of Jacksonville, Fla.-based Crowley Liner Services, for participating in a conspiracy to fix rates and surcharges for freight transported by water between the continental United States and Puerto Rico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Doreen Alexander Extradited to the United States to Face Kidnapping Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 2 Apr 2013 18:33:11 EDT Doreen Alexander has been extradited to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago to face charges related to her alleged role in the 2005 kidnapping of naturalized U.S. citizen Balram “Balo” Maharaj. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Files Complaint Against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. for Allegedly Paying Kickbacks to Doctors in Exchange for Prescribing Its Drugs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:19:31 EDT The Justice Department announced today that the United States has filed a second civil false claims lawsuit against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. involving alleged kickbacks paid by the company to health care providers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Files False Claims Act Lawsuit Against the Largest For-Profit Hospice Chain in the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 2 May 2013 17:03:21 EDT The United States has filed suit against Chemed Corporation and various wholly owned hospice subsidiaries, including Vitas Hospice Services LLC and Vitas Healthcare Corporation, alleging false Medicare billings for hospice services. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states International Cybercriminal Extradited from Thailand to the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 3 May 2013 13:35:41 EDT Algerian national Hamza Bendelladj, aka “Bx1,” has been extradited from Thailand to the United States to face charges in Atlanta for allegedly playing a critical role in developing, marketing, distributing and controlling “SpyEye,” a pernicious computer virus designed to steal unsuspecting victims’ financial and personally identifying information. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Adventist Health Pays United States and State of California $14.1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 3 May 2013 18:07:21 EDT Adventist Health System/West, dba Adventist Health, and its affiliated hospital White Memorial Medical Center have agreed to pay the United States and the state of California $14.1 million to settle claims that they violated the False Claims Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states California Jewelry Store Owner Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Conspiracy to Launder the Proceeds of Bank Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 14 May 2013 10:07:02 EDT Safieh Fard, 52, of Escondido, Calif., was sentenced late yesterday to 63 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney. Fard was also ordered to pay $594,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid individual income taxes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Sues Brooklyn Fish Processors in Food Safety Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 17 May 2013 11:52:35 EDT The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit and sought a preliminary injunction against N.Y. Fish Inc.; New York City Fish Inc.; Maxim Kutsyk, Pavel Roytkov, Leonid Staroseletesky, and Steven Koyfman under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Florida Woman Indicted on Conspiracy for Role in Bringing 143 Haitian Nationals to the United States on Fraudulently Obtained Guest Worker Visas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 17 May 2013 17:36:55 EDT Today, a federal judge unsealed a three-count indictment returned by a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida charging Jetta McPhee, 59, of Tamarac, Fla., for her role in bringing 143 Haitian nationals to the United States on fraudulently obtained guest worker visas that McPhee and her co-conspirator secured based on false representations that there were jobs awaiting those workers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states French Oil and Gas Company, Total, S.A., Charged in the United States and France in Connection with an International Bribery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 29 May 2013 10:37:58 EDT Total, S.A., a French oil and gas company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange, has agreed to pay a $245.2 million monetary penalty to resolve charges related to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with illegal payments made through third parties to a government official in Iran to obtain valuable oil and gas concessions Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states Manssor Arbabsiar Sentenced in New York City Federal Court to 25 Years in Prison for Conspiring with Iranian Military Officials to Assassinate the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 30 May 2013 13:38:28 EDT Manssor Arbabsiar, aka “Mansour Arbabsiar,” was sentenced today in New York City federal court to 25 years in prison for participating in a plot to murder the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the U.S. while the Ambassador was in the U.S.. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states For-Profit School in Texas to Pay United States up to $2.5 Million for Allegedly Submitting False Claims for Federal Student Financial Aid By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 31 May 2013 15:59:43 EDT American Commercial Colleges Inc. (ACC) has agreed to pay the United States up to $2.5 million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that it violated the civil False Claims Act by falsely certifying that it complied with certain eligibility requirements of the federal student aid programs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States and Arkansas File Joint Complaint Against ExxonMobil for Pegasus Pipeline Oil Spill in Mayflower, Arkansas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:57:38 EDT Today the United States and the state of Arkansas filed a joint enforcement action against ExxonMobil Pipeline Company and Mobil Pipe Line Company (ExxonMobil) in federal district court in Little Rock, Ark. Full Article OPA Press Releases
united states United States Reaches Agreement with Suncoke Energy Resolving Clean Air Violations at Plants in Illinois and Ohio By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 17:40:38 EDT SunCoke Energy Inc. and two of its subsidiaries have agreed to pay $1.995 million to resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations of emission limits at the Gateway Energy and Coke plant in Granite City, Illinois, and the Haverhill Coke plant in Franklin Furnace, Ohio. Full Article OPA Press Releases