us Consortium of 49 Massachusetts Law Enforcement Agencies to Pay U.S. $200,000 for Alleged False Claims By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:53:26 EDT The North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) will pay the United States $200,000 to settle allegations that it made false claims related to the use of Justice Department grant funds. Based in Boston, NEMLEC is a non-profit corporation and a law enforcement council. It is comprised of a consortium of 47 police departments in Middlesex and Essex Counties, as well as two county sheriff’s departments. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island Residents Arrested for Promoting and Using Tax Defier Schemes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:28:50 EDT Seven individuals from around New England have been indicted in federal court in Boston for conspiracies to defraud the United States through the promotion and use of multiple tax fraud schemes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Microsemi Corp. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:45:48 EDT The Department has reached a proposed settlement with Microsemi Corporation that requires the company to divest all of the assets that it acquired from Semicoa Inc. on July 14, 2008. The Department said that without this divestiture, there would be little or no competition in the development, manufacture and sale of certain semiconductor devices used in military and space programs essential to the security of the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Five Arrested in Houston Sex Trafficking Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:22:13 EDT Four men and one woman have been arrested on charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking of children, as well as forcing and coercing adults to engage in commercial sex acts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Housing Discrimination Against Idaho Condominium Developer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:35:13 EDT The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the developer of the Riverwalk Condominiums, a condominium apartment complex in Post Falls, Idaho, for violating the Fair Housing Act by constructing apartments that do not have required accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Detroit Area Physical Therapist Pleads Guilty to Causing More Than $1.6 Million in Fraudulent Medicare Billing By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:54:41 EDT Detroit area physical therapist Jay Jha, 45, pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program of approximately $18.3 million. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Race Discrimination Allegations Against Davie, Florida, Apartment Complex By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:29:05 EDT The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the owner of College Square Apartments, in Davie, Fla., to settle allegations of discrimination against African Americans. Under the consent decree, approved today in U.S. District Court in Miami, the defendants must pay a total of up to $140,000 to victims of discrimination and a civil penalty of $74,000 to the government. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo Convicted of Attempted Extortion and Bribery By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:43:43 EDT Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo was convicted today by a federal jury in Albany, N.Y., of attempted extortion and soliciting a bribe. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Seeks Removal of Detroit-Area Man Who Shot Jews While Serving as Nazi Policeman By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:07:31 EDT The Department has initiated removal proceedings against a Troy, Mich., resident based on his participation in violent acts of persecution while serving as an armed member of the Nazi-sponsored Ukrainian Auxiliary Police (UAP) in occupied L’viv, Ukraine, during World War II. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Announces Largest Health Care Fraud Settlement in Its History By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 10:39:53 EDT American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and its subsidiary Pharmacia &Pfizer”) have agreed to pay $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice, to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Ventura County, California, to Enforce Employment Rights Under the ADA By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 14:52:16 EDT The Department filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles charging Ventura County, Calif., with discrimination in its employment practices by refusing to hire a qualified applicant because she is deaf. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Former Pacific Consolidated Industries LP Executive Pleads Guilty in Connection with Bribes Paid to U.K. Ministry of Defense Official By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 18:00:24 EDT The former director of sales and marketing for Pacific Consolidated Industries LP (PCI) pleaded guilty today to charges related to the bribery of a U.K. Ministry of Defense (UK-MOD) official in order to obtain lucrative equipment contracts with the U.K. Royal Air Force, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department to Monitor Election in Ohio By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 11:40:21 EDT The Department announced that during the Sept. 8, 2009, municipal election in Cleveland, Ohio, it will monitor polling place activities for compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Attorneys from the Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Department of Justice Will Not Challenge Hospitals’ Joint Purchasing Agreement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 12:42:47 EDT The Department will not challenge a proposal by Memorial Health Inc. (Memorial), and St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System (St. Joseph’s/Candler) to enter an exclusive joint purchasing agreement with respect to the purchase of certain medical and surgical supplies. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Lawsuit Charges Atlanta Condominium with Discrimination Against Families with Children By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 13:59:58 EDT The Department filed a lawsuit against an Atlanta condominium association, as well as the owner of a unit and the real estate agent who sold it, for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against families with children. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Department of Justice Will Not Challenge Proposed Conduct of Less-Than-Truckload Freight Transportation Joint Venture By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 17:05:57 EDT The Department will not challenge a proposal by seven regional less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation companies to bid jointly and engage in other collaborative activity as part of their nationwide LTL truck transportation services joint venture. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Former Tennessee Deputy Sheriff Sentenced for Using Excessive Force By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 18:23:32 EDT Adam S. Pretti, a former deputy with the Shelby County, Tenn., Sheriff’s Office, was sentenced today in federal court in Memphis to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release for using excessive force during an encounter with a citizen. Pretti was also ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Four Members of Alleged Internet Music Piracy Group Charged with Copyright Infringement Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 17:22:08 EDT Four individuals were indicted today by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia with conspiracy to commit copyright infringement for allegedly obtaining and illegally releasing copyrighted music. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Husband and Wife Co-owners of Subcontracting Company Plead Guilty to Contract Fraud Related to Afghanistan Rebuilding By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 18:20:26 EDT Delmar Dwayne Spier, the chief executive officer and managing director of United States Protection and Investigations, LLC (USPI), today pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiracy, major fraud and wire fraud arising from an alleged scheme to defraud the United States; and his wife, Barbara Edens Spier, the president and owner of USPI, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with U.S.-sponsored rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Pennsylvania Businessman Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced in Puerto Rico Corruption Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:46:56 EDT Dr. Candido Negron Mella pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for his participation in a corruption scheme involving the 2000 Resident Commissioner campaign of a former governor of Puerto Rico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Massachusetts and New York By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:31:11 EDT The Department will monitor the Sept. 15, 2009, municipal elections in Springfield, Mass., and Newburgh, N.Y., to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Federal observers will be assigned to monitor polling place activities in Springfield and Newburgh. The observers will watch and record activities during voting hours at polling locations. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Film Executive and Spouse Found Guilty of Paying Bribes to a Senior Thai Tourism Official to Obtain Lucrative Contracts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:37:04 EDT Gerald Green and Patricia Green, Los Angeles-area film executives, were found guilty late last Friday of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and money laundering laws of the United States, as well as substantive violations of the FCPA and U.S. money laundering laws in relation to a sophisticated bribery scheme that enabled the defendants to obtain a series of Thai government contracts, including valuable contracts to manage and operate Thailand’s yearly film festival. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Commemorates Fifteen Years of the Violence Against Women Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:13:47 EDT The Department today commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was signed into law on September 13, 1994. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Manager of Bogus Foreign Currency Exchange Ponzi Scheme Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:36:35 EDT Teresa Vogt, a resident of Anaheim, Calif., pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2009, to one count of obstruction of justice before U.S. District Court Judge Dale S. Fischer in Los Angeles. Vogt and eight co-defendants were indicted in May 2005 on tax fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and other charges related to the operation of the Genesis Fund. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Allegations of Religion Discrimination Against Guideone Mutual Insurance Co. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:19:17 EDT The Department announced a settlement that, pending court approval, will resolve allegations that the GuideOne Mutual Insurance Company and two authorized agents discriminated because of religion when they advertised special benefits and discounts only to “churchgoers” and “persons of faith.” Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Submits Views on Proposed Google Book Search Settlement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:33:02 EDT The Department advised the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that while it should not accept the class action settlement in The Authors Guild Inc. et al. v. Google Inc. as proposed due to concerns of the United States regarding class action, copyright and antitrust law, the parties should be encouraged to continue their productive discussions to address those concerns. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Asks Court to Bar Nebraska CPA from Preparing Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:03:55 EDT The United States has asked a federal court in Lincoln, Neb., to bar Donald Ondrak, a Lexington, Neb., CPA, from preparing tax returns. According to the government complaint in the case, Ondrak’s firm, Don Ondrak PC, prepares federal income tax returns for customers that unlawfully understate income and employment tax liabilities by under-reporting income, overstating expenses and claiming improper deductions for non-deductible personal expenses. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Alleging Race Discrimination by the City of Bonita Springs, Florida By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:36:48 EDT The Department has reached a consent decree with the city of Bonita Springs, Fla., that, if approved in federal court in Fort Myers, Fla., will resolve the department’s allegations that the city discriminated against an African American employee in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Federal Court Bars Georgia Man & Tax Preparation Businesses from Preparing Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:10:05 EDT A federal court has permanently barred Wayne Perry, a Macon, Ga., man, and his tax preparation firms, Premier Choice Inc. and Perry Tax Services, from preparing federal tax returns. Perry agreed to the injunction. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to Hold Workshops Concerning Horizontal Merger Guidelines By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:08:09 EDT The Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that they will solicit public comment and hold joint public workshops to explore the possibility of updating the Horizontal Merger Guidelines that are used by both agencies to evaluate the potential competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Obtains $134,000 in Discrimination Settlement with Mobile Home Park in Daphne, Alabama By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:57:27 EDT The Department’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today jointly announced an agreement with the owners and managers of Pina’s Mobile Home Park in Daphne, Ala., to settle allegations of discrimination against families with children. Under the consent decree, approved today in federal court in Mobile, Ala., the defendants must pay up to $104,130 to victims of discrimination and an additional $30,000 to the government as a civil penalty. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Announces Settlement of Its First Landlord-Tenant Case Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:10:49 EDT The Department announced that it had reached a settlement with a Virginia landlord to resolve allegations that she violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The lawsuit alleged that the landlord failed to return prepaid rent and security deposits to a tenant who had terminated her lease early in order to comply with military orders to relocate from to Georgia. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation by Franklin County, North Carolina By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:51:58 EDT The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Raleigh, N.C., against Franklin County, N.C., alleging that the county retaliated against a former employee in its Department of Public Utilities, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, after the employee complained about sexual harassment by a co-worker. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Florida Limousine Drive Sentenced to Prison for Securities and Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:58:34 EDT Eli Goldshor of Boca Raton, Fla.,was sentenced today for conspiracy to commit securities fraud and willfully failing to file tax returns. Goldshor, a self-employed limousine driver, was sentenced by Judge William Zloch in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to 18 months in prison. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Michigan Servicemember Against Security Company By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:11:20 EDT The Department today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Michigan alleging that Knight Protective Service Inc., willfully violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by failing to promptly and properly reemploy King A. Gatten, a retired Army servicemember, when he returned from military service. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Announced Public Education Campaign Grants to Fight Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:59:27 EDT The Department today awarded $723,000 in grants to twelve groups serving communities throughout the country. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Sues Massachusetts and Its Department of Corrections for Discriminating Against Female Job Applicants By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:48:05 EDT The Department’s complaint alleges that Massachusetts and the MDOC are using an unlawful physical abilities test (PAT) that disproportionately screens out female applicants for entry-level correctional officer jobs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settlement Will Ensure Accessibility of Donna's Restaurant in Baltimore By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:13:39 EDT The Department announced a settlement agreement to make Donna’s, a café and restaurant located in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore accessible to people with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation by Franklin County, North Carolina By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:25:48 EDT The Department has reached a consent decree with Franklin County, N.C., that, if approved in federal court in Raleigh, N.C., will resolve the department’s allegation that the county retaliated against a former employee in its Department of Public Utilities, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Formosa Plastics Corp., Texas, and Formosa Plastics Corp., Louisiana, will spend more than $10 million on pollution controls to address air, water, and hazardous waste violations at two petrochemical plants in Point Comfort, Texas, and Baton Rouge, La. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:04:05 EDT Formosa Plastics Corp., Texas, and Formosa Plastics Corp., Louisiana, will spend more than $10 million on pollution controls to address air, water, and hazardous waste violations at two petrochemical plants in Point Comfort, Texas, and Baton Rouge, La. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Challenging Conditions at Two Erie County, New York, Correctional Facilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:35:34 EDT The lawsuit alleging that conditions at the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility routinely and systematically deprive inmates of constitutional rights. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Indianapolis Law Firm to Enforce the Employment Rights of Indiana National Guardsman By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:36:34 EDT The consent decree will resolve the Department’s complaint on behalf of an Indiana National Guardsman alleging that the law firm violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit Against Columbus, Indiana By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:38:01 EDT The city violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a nonprofit organization a permit to operate a group home for 11 men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us New Jersey Hospital to Pay $8.3 Million for Alleged Kickbacks and Causing Submission of False Claims to Medicare By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:04:08 EDT “Today’s settlement reflects the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to protect the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship,” said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Reaches Settlement with First United Security Bank of Thomasville, Alabama, Regarding Alleged Discrimination in Lending By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:10:21 EDT The Bank will invest more than $600,000, open a new branch in an African-American neighborhood in west central Alabama and take other steps as part of a settlement. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Auto Lending Discrimination in Los Angeles By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 10:28:40 EDT The United States has filed a lawsuit alleging that a bank and two automobile dealerships in Los Angeles violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act by charging non-Asian-American customers higher interest rate mark-ups for a period of at least two years. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Announces Success in Battle Against Firearms Trafficking and Recovery Act Funds to Build on Project Gunrunner By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 18:48:03 EDT Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director Kenneth E. Melson today announced the results of ATF’s Gun Runner Impact Team (GRIT) initiative, a 120-day deployment of ATF resources to the Houston Field Division to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking by Mexican drug cartels Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Observes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 18:51:08 EDT “We know domestic violence is an epidemic that affects communities across this country regardless of age, race or socio-economic background,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Georgia Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 14:09:21 EDT The United States has sued a tax return preparer in Marietta, Ga., seeking to bar him from preparing federal tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
us Colorado Man Sued by the Justice Department for Promoting Alleged Tax Fraud Schemes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:49:29 EDT The United States has asked a federal court in Denver to bar Curtis Morris, an Elizabeth, Colo., tax return preparer, and his business, Numbers & Beyond, from preparing tax returns. Full Article OPA Press Releases