us Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Using a Noose to Assault a Man at the Pentagon By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:29:19 EDT William Michael King, a fifty-year-old truck driver from Maryland, pleaded guilty today to assault and violating the civil rights of an African American man he encountered while King delivered construction materials to the Pentagon. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Iowa Man Convicted of Interfering with Housing Rights of African-American Family By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:20:57 EDT Justin Hanson, 21, of Mason City, Iowa, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids to violating the civil rights of an African-American family. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Houston Man Sentenced for Human Trafficking and Alien Smuggling Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:29:25 EDT Maximino Mondragon, 57, was sentenced today for his role in a scheme to smuggle Central American women and girls into the United States and to hold them in a condition of forced labor in the Houston area. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Lawsuit to Enforce N.Y. Army Servicemembers Employment Rights By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:44:08 EDT The Department today has reached a settlement that, if approved by the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, will resolve its lawsuit filed on behalf of Frantz Julien against Symphony Diagnostic Services Inc., doing business as MobilexUSA (Mobilex). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Attorney General Holder Announces Recovery Act Grants to Save or Create Justice Related Jobs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:41:33 EDT U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today announced that more than $424 million in Recovery Act funds will go to 20 states, territories and the District of Columbia to maintain or increase public safety, while creating or retaining jobs within the law enforcement community. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Sues Nobel Learning Communities Inc. for Discrimination Against Children with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:37:04 EDT The Department has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia against Nobel Learning Communities Inc. (Nobel) alleging the company violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act by excluding children with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities from its schools and programs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Americraft Carton Inc. on Behalf of Michigan Army National Guardsman By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:30:33 EDT The Department announced a settlement that, if approved by the court, will resolve its lawsuit filed on behalf of David D. Sweatt, a Michigan Army National Guard member currently serving in Iraq, against his former employer, Americraft Carton Inc. (Americraft). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Obtains $200,000 in Housing Discrimination Settlement with Lakewood, New Jersey, Apartment Complex By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:45:02 EDT The Department announced an agreement with the owners, a manager and a former manager of Cottage Manor Apartments in Lakewood, N.J., to settle allegations of discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin and race. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us President of Long Island Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Customer Allocation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:04:16 EDT The owner and president of a Ronkonkoma, N.Y., designing and manufacturing company pleaded guilty to conspiring to allocate a U.S. Navy contract for Navy straps. Navy straps are a type of tiedown equipment used by the U.S. Navy to secure munitions and other supplies for transport on ships and airplanes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Sues Fitchburg, Mass., Housing Authority for Disability Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:09:52 EDT The Department today filed suit against the Fitchburg Housing Authority in Fitchburg, Mass., and its Executive Director Robert W. Hill alleging that they violated the Fair Housing Act when they refused to allow a tenant to transfer to a different apartment as a reasonable accommodation for her disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Two South Florida Men Indicted in Connection with Fraudulent ATM Business Opportunity Venture By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2009 17:34:55 EDT A Miami federal grand jury has charged two South Florida men with conspiracy, mail and wire fraud in connection with the operation of a fraudulent ATM business opportunity. The criminal charges are part of the governments continued nationwide crackdown on business opportunity fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Mississippi By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 May 2009 12:33:49 EDT The Department announced that on May 5, 2009, it will monitor municipal elections in the towns of Cleveland, Como, Meridian and Sardis, Miss., to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Consolidated Multiple Listing Service Inc. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 May 2009 14:19:19 EDT The Department has reached a proposed settlement with Consolidated Multiple Listing Service Inc. (CMLS) that requires CMLS to change its rules to allow low-priced and innovative brokers to compete with traditional brokers in the Columbia, S.C., area. The Department said the rules caused consumers to pay more for residential real estate brokerage services in the Columbia area. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Columbus Woman Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 May 2009 17:27:05 EDT Marsha K. Parenteau of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Parenteau appeared before Judge Michael H. Watson in Columbus. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to Enforce the Employment Rights of Air Force Reservist By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 May 2009 14:40:14 EDT The Department filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, Calif., against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), alleging that the CDCR failed to promptly reemploy U.S. Air Force reservist Dany Felix in violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Swedish National Charged with Hacking and Theft of Trade Secrets Related to Alleged Computer Intrusions at NASA and Cisco By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 May 2009 19:21:56 EDT Philip Gabriel Pettersson, aka "Stakkato," 21, a Swedish national, was indicted today on intrusion and trade secret theft charges. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-based Housing Discrimination at Six Complexes in Sioux Falls, South Dakota By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2009 17:35:49 EDT The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Equity Homes Inc, PBR LLC, BBR LLC and Shane Hartung in U.S. District Court in South Dakota for failing to provide accessible features required by the Fair Housing Act at multi-family housing developments in Sioux Falls. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Korean Businessman Indicted in Bribery Conspiracy and Wire Fraud Scheme Involving $206 Million Contract By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2009 18:25:21 EDT A South Korean businessman was indicted today for his alleged role in a bribery conspiracy for a $206 million telecommunications contract involving employees of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Seeks to Bar New York Attorney from Using Employment Taxes as Working Capital By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 May 2009 14:51:19 EDT The United States has filed a lawsuit against New York attorney Thomas B. Pruzan, d/b/a the Pruzan Law Firm, seeking to put an end to Mr. Pruzans repeated failure to timely deposit and pay the employment and unemployment taxes due from his law firm, as well as his failure to timely file employment and unemployment tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Synapse Data and Telecom Inc to Enforce the Employment Rights of Utah National Guard Member By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 May 2009 16:19:37 EDT The Department announced the filing of a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City on behalf of Jose A. Ortega, a Utah National Guard member, against Synapse Data and Telecom Inc., and Matthew Mossbarger, Synapses owner and operator, alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 8 May 2009 14:03:14 EDT On May 9, 2009, the Department of Justice will monitor municipal elections in the cities of Farmers Branch and Hondo, Texas, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Withdraws Report on Antitrust Monopoly Law By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 11 May 2009 09:40:52 EDT Christine A. Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Departments Antitrust Division, today announced that the Department is withdrawing, effective immediately, a report relating to monopolization offenses under the antitrust laws that was issued in September 2008. As of today, the Section 2 report will no longer be Department of Justice policy. Consumers, businesses, courts and antitrust practitioners should not rely on it as Department of Justice antitrust enforcement policy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us U.S. District Court Judge Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 11 May 2009 15:30:55 EDT U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for obstruction of justice related to an investigation of a judicial misconduct complaint filed against him. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Antitrust Division Announces Initiative to Help Protect Recovery Funds from Fraud, Waste and Abuse By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2009 14:26:41 EDT The Department's Antitrust Division announced the details of its newly formed initiative aimed at preparing government officials and contractors to recognize and report efforts by parties to unlawfully profit from the stimulus projects that are being awarded as part of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Stanford Financial Group Chief Investment Officer Charged with Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2009 14:10:50 EDT A federal grand jury in Houston returned a two-count indictment today charging Laura Pendergest-Holt, the chief investment officer of Houston-based Stanford Financial Group (SFG), with conspiring to obstruct a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proceeding investigating SFG, as well as a substantive count of obstructing the SEC proceeding. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Deputy U.S. Marshal Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Justice by Witness Tampering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 13 May 2009 17:25:00 EDT Deputy U.S. Marshal Benjamin Bates pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing justice today in federal court in San Antonio for tampering with a witness he was transporting to the grand jury to testify about civil rights abuses at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center in Texas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Three Former Kentucky Jailers Plead Guilty to Systematic Detainee Abuse and Coverup By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 14 May 2009 17:16:36 EDT Three former jailers at the Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center (FCDC) pleaded guilty today to civil rights charges in federal court in Lexington, Ky. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Two Florida Businessmen Plead Guilty to Participating in a Conspiracy to Bribe Foreign Government Officials and Money Laundering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 15 May 2009 15:55:04 EDT The president of a Miami-Dade County, Fla.,-based intermediary and the former controller of a Miami-Dade County-based telecommunications company both have pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in a conspiracy to pay and conceal more than $1 million in bribes to former Haitian government officials. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department to Monitor Election in Philadelphia By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 18 May 2009 15:25:41 EDT On May 19, 2009, the Justice Department will monitor the election in the city of Philadelphia to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Wagner Industrial Electric Inc. to Enforce the Employment Rights of Indiana Reservist By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2009 09:29:53 EDT The Department has entered into a consent decree with Wagner Industrial Electric Inc. that, if approved by the court, will resolve the Department’s complaint the company failed to properly reemploy Indiana Army National Guard Reservist Kevin Stenger in violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Sues Garner, North Carolina, for Disability Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2009 16:10:16 EDT The Department has filed suit against the town of Garner, N.C., and the towns board of adjustment alleging that they violated the Fair Housing Act when they refused to allow up to eight men recovering from drug and alcohol addictions to live together as a reasonable accommodation for their disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Housing Discrimination at Four Multifamily Housing Complexes in Spokane County, Washington By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 20 May 2009 16:06:15 EDT The Department announced today a settlement of a lawsuit alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the design and construction of four multifamily housing complexes in the Spokane, Wash., area in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 20 May 2009 16:03:33 EDT Christopher Handley, 39, of Glenwood, Iowa, pleaded guilty today in Des Moines, Iowa, to possessing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children and mailing obscene material. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the City of Marion, Arkansas, Alleging Race Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 May 2009 17:47:12 EDT The Department has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Arkansas against the City of Marion alleging it subjected Stacy D. Allen, an African-American and a former City part-time patrol officer, to discrimination on the basis of his race when he was not selected for either of two full-time patrol officer positions in the Marion Police Department. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against City of Chesapeake, Virginia, to Enforce the Employment Rights of Virginia Coast Guard Reservist By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 22 May 2009 12:51:06 EDT The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Va., on behalf of U.S. Coast Guard Reserve member Paul Sutton against the city of Chesapeake alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Suit Against Fresno County, California, to Protect Employment Rights of Navy Reservist By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 22 May 2009 12:52:32 EDT In a lawsuit filed today on behalf of U.S. Navy Reservist Porotesano Faapouli the Justice Department contends that Fresno County, Calif., violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by failing to promptly and properly reemploy Faapouli when he returned from active military duty with a service-related injury. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the Newark, New Jersey, Public Schools to Enforce the Employment Rights of Naval Reservist By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2009 13:56:55 EDT The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., on behalf of U.S. Naval Reserve member George Lawton against the Newark Public Schools (NPS) alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Sheriff of Hendry County, Florida, Alleging Pregnancy Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 May 2009 11:48:48 EDT The Department today has entered into a consent decree that, if approved by the U.S District Court in Fort Myers, Fla., will resolve its complaint against the Sheriff of Hendry County, Fla., and the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit Against the Board of Education of the City of Chicago By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 May 2009 11:50:20 EDT The Department today has entered into a settlement agreement with the city of Chicagos Board of Education that, if approved and entered by the court, will resolve a complaint of pregnancy discrimination filed by the United States against the board under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Massachusetts Man Indicted for Trafficking in Illegally-Imported Sperm Whale Teeth By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 May 2009 15:02:55 EDT A Massachusetts man has been charged in U.S. District Court in Boston with crimes related to the illegal importation and illegal trafficking of sperm whale teeth. On May 13, 2009, a federal grand jury sitting in Boston, returned an indictment that was unsealed today against David L. Place of Nantucket, Mass. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Los Angeles Area Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Tax Evasion Used Frivolous Tax Defier Arguments By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 May 2009 16:49:31 EDT Giancarlo Pertile was sentenced to prison for tax evasion yesterday afternoon. U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz sentenced Pertile, the former owner of Art Marble Design Inc., in Moorpark, Calif., to 60 months in federal prison and ordered Pertile to pay a fine of $75,000. In January 2009, Pertile was convicted by a Los Angeles federal jury of five counts of tax evasion for the years 1998 through 2002. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Mississippi, New Jersey and South Dakota By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 09:59:41 EDT On June 2, 2009, the Department of Justice will monitor elections in the following jurisdictions to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes: the towns of Como, Drew, Greenwood, Isola, Louise and Meridian, Miss.; Bergen County, Middlesex County and the borough of Penns Grove, N.J.; and the town of Martin, S.D. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Northwest Indiana Businessman Who Used Sham Trusts Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud on Eve of Trial By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:02:50 EDT Donald Sikma, a businessman from Dyer, Ind., has pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return. Sikma, whose trial was scheduled to begin today, entered his guilty plea Monday before Judge Theresa L. Springmann in Fort Wayne, Ind. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Massachusetts Couple Charged with Tax Evasion By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 16:14:37 EDT Frederick Allen and Kimberlee Allen, both of Harwich, Mass., were arraigned today before Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler in Boston on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, tax evasion and failure to file tax returns. The indictment alleges that the Allens conspired to defraud the United States of assessing and collecting federal income taxes from 1998 through April 2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Against Essex County, New Jersey By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 15:37:59 EDT The Department filed a lawsuit today against Essex County, N.J., alleging that it discriminated against a Muslim corrections officer on the basis of her religion in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Fact Sheet: Prosecuting and Detaining Terror Suspects in the U.S. Criminal Justice System By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 06:05:37 EDT Since the 1990s, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) has investigated and successfully prosecuted a wide range of international and domestic terrorism cases including the bombings of the World Trade Center and U.S. Embassies in East Africa in the 1990s. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against the Sheriff of Harrison County, Indiana, Alleging Sex Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:19:10 EDT The Department today entered into a consent decree with Harrison County, Ind., Sheriff George Michael Deatrick, in his official capacity, the Harrison County Board of Commissioners and the Harrison County Council that, if approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, will resolve the Departments complaint filed in March 2009 under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Nevada to Enforce Employment Rights of U.S. Army Reservist By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:56:20 EDT The Department today filed a lawsuit against the state of Nevada and its Office of the State Controller alleging it violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by refusing to promptly reemploy Arthur Ingram when he returned from active military duty and then by firing him after he filed a USERRA complaint. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Attorney General Eric Holder at the National Institute of Justice Conference By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:37:25 EDT "You at NIJ are not only the scientists, you are also the builders. As you design and test your theories, you construct a foundation on which together we will build strong, credible policies. I thank you for your commitment to science and to improving the world in which we live. What you do is important to every citizen in this country." Full Article Speech
us Two Baltimore Businessmen Indicted for Conspiring to Rig Bids at Maryland Tax Lien Auctions By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:04:04 EDT Two Baltimore businessmen were indicted today for conspiring to rig bids at tax lien auctions in Maryland for more than five years. The one-count felony indictment filed today in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore alleges that Harvey M. Nusbaum and his business partner, Jack W. Stollof, participated in a conspiracy to rig bids in tax lien auctions conducted by the city of Baltimore and various counties in the state of Maryland beginning in or around the Spring of 2002 and continuing until at least Aug. 9, 2007. Full Article OPA Press Releases