ed

Federal Court Enjoins Former Los Angeles Instant Tax Service Franchisee

A federal court in Los Angeles permanently barred a Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., married couple – Henock Teferi and Ruth Berhane – and their company, Plover Financial Services LLC, from engaging in certain abusive tax-preparation practices.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

High Ranking Gulf Cartel Member Convicted in Washington for Drug Trafficking

Aurelio Cano Flores, a Mexican national and high ranking member of the Gulf Cartel, was found guilty today by a federal jury of conspiring to import multi-ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Owners of Miami Home Health Companies Sentenced to Prison in $48 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

The owners and operators of two Miami health care agencies were sentenced to nine years and more than four years in prison today, respectively, and ordered to pay millions in restitution for their participation in a $48 million home health Medicare fraud scheme that billed for unnecessary home health care and therapy services.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

California Woman Convicted for Impersonating Congressional Aide to Deceive Tax Client

The operator of a California-based tax consulting business has been convicted by a federal jury in Fresno, Calif. for impersonating an aide to a U.S. Congressman in order to deceive a client.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Stock Manipulators Sentenced in Texas to Prison for $1 Million Securities Fraud Scheme

An employee of a Texas securities firm and a broker-dealer who conspired with him and others to artificially pump up the stock prices of several publicly traded companies were sentenced to prison terms today for their roles in the $1 million scheme.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Justice Department Prevails in Tax Shelter Case Involving $1 Billion in Tax Deductions

A federal court in Baton Rouge, La., on Monday rejected two tax shelter transactions entered into by The Dow Chemical Company that purported to create approximately $1 billion in phony tax deductions.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Nine Current or Former Roxbury Correctional Officers Charged in Connection with Two Assaults on an Inmate

Two separate indictments charging a total of nine current or former officers at Roxbury Correctional Institution were unsealed today, in relation to two assaults of an inmate, and subsequent obstruction of justice.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Justice Department Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against Illinois Staffing Agency

The Justice Department today reached an agreement with The Agency Staffing located in West Dundee, Ill., resolving claims that the staffing company violated the anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Departments of Justice and Labor Announce Availability of $32 Million in Grants to Help Formerly Incarcerated Juveniles and Women Prepare to Enter the Workforce

The Departments of Justice and Labor today announced the availability of approximately $32 million through two grant competitions that will offer job training, education and support services to formerly incarcerated youths and women.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Justice Department Announces More Than $12.6 Million in Grants to 20 Communities to Reduce Dating Violence

The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) today announced $12.6 million dollars in grants awarded to 20 communities as part of a new, consolidated program designed to more effectively reduce dating violence.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges

A member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang (ABT) pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges related to his membership in the ABT’s criminal enterprise.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

California Man Arrested in Federal Sex Trafficking Case

A Long Beach, Calif., man was arrested yesterday arraigned this afternoon on federal sex trafficking charges that allege he worked with a previously charged defendant to coerce women to work as prostitutes.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Texas Man Convicted in Corporate Hacking Case

A Texas resident was convicted today by a federal jury for conspiring to hack into his former employer’s computer network.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Edmund Pettus Bridge Crossing Jubilee

"At its core, this is the struggle exemplified in the moment we remember today, when – in the first days of March, 1965, hundreds of peaceful activists, protesting to secure the right to vote, set out from Selma along the road to Montgomery," said Attorney General Holder.




ed

Federal Court Bars Nashville, Tenn., Mo’ Money Taxes Licensee from Preparing Tax Returns

A federal court permanently barred Toney Fields and Trumekia Shaw, who do business as Fields Mo’ Money Taxes in Nashville, Tenn., from preparing federal tax returns.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Department of Justice Settles Two Civil Complaints Against Two Employers for Violations of Federal Statutes Relating to Military Reserve Duty

A settlement agreement was filed in U.S. District Court in Denver resolving a complaint alleging that two employers, Delaware Resource Group of Oklahoma LLC and FlightSafety Services Corporation, violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by not paying money into two U.S. Air Force veterans’ 401(k) plans.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Three Philippine Nationals Convicted in Los Angeles of Importing Military Grade Weapons

Three Philippine nationals were convicted today in Los Angeles of illegally importing military grade weapons in the United States after being caught in a sting operation that was conducted in the Philippines.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Former U.S. Consulate Guard Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Attempting to Communicate National Defense Information to China

Bryan Underwood, a former civilian guard at a U.S. Consulate compound under construction in China, was sentenced today to nine years in prison in connection with his efforts to sell for personal financial gain classified photographs, information and access related to the U.S. Consulate to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Par Pharmaceuticals Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay $45 Million to Resolve Civil and Criminal Allegations Related to Off-Label Marketing

New Jersey-based Par Pharmaceutical Companies Inc. pleaded guilty in federal court today and agreed to pay $45 million to resolve its criminal and civil liability in the company’s promotion of its prescription drug Megace ES for uses not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration and not covered by federal health care programs.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Justice Department Settles with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Over Discrimination Against People with Hepatitis B

The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School under the Americans with Disabilities Act.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Owner and Operator of Houston-Area Ambulance Service Convicted in Medicare Fraud Scheme

The owner and operator of a Houston-area ambulance company was convicted by a federal jury in Houston of multiple counts of health care fraud for submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Speaks at the U.N. Commission on Status of Women Event Entitled, "Intimate Partner Violence: Effective Interventions"

"Although there is still much work to be done, the United States has made significant strides in developing effective community responses to intimate partner violence that has stolen far too many promising futures – and shattered far too many lives," said Deputy Attorney General Cole.




ed

Former New Mexico Corrections Officer Convicted on Obstruction of Justice Charges

A federal jury late yesterday convicted Kevin Casaus, 25, a former corrections officer at the Bernalillo County, N.M., Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Albuquerque, N.M., on obstruction of justice and falsification of records charges.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, Associate of Usama Bin Laden, Arrested for Conspiring to Kill Americans

Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, a/k/a “Suleiman Abu Gayth”, a former associate of Usama Bin Laden, has been arrested and charged in an indictment unsealed today in New York City with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Alabama Defendants Sentenced for Their Role in a Million Dollar Identity Theft Tax Scheme

Corey Means was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in prison and Melba Wilson to eight months home detention for their involvement in a million dollar identity theft tax scheme.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Louisiana Tax Return Preparer Convicted of Stolen Identity Refund Fraud

Following a four-day jury trial in Baton Rouge, La., a federal jury convicted Angela Myers today of wire fraud, making false claims, subscribing to false tax returns and aggravated identity theft.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Pennsylvania Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Offense

Mark E. Thom Jr., 31, a Springdale Borough, Penn., Police Officer, pleaded guilty to a one count information charging him with violating the civil rights of an individual on Jan. 23, 2011 in Springdale.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

New York-Based Corning Incorporated to Pay U.S. $5.65 Million to Resolve False Claims Allegations

Corning Incorporated has agreed to pay the United States $5.65 million to resolve claims that it knowingly presented false claims to the United States for laboratory research products sold to federal agencies through Corning’s Life Sciences division.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Tennessee-Based Therapy Providers to Pay $2.7 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

The Justice Department announced today that Chattanooga, Tenn., based nursing home manager Grace Healthcare LLC and its affiliate Grace Ancillary Services LLC (collectively, Grace) have agreed to pay $2.7 million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting or causing the submission to the Medicare and TennCare/Medicaid programs of false claims for medically unreasonable and unnecessary rehabilitation therapy.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission Extend Public Comment Period for Patent Assertion Entity Workshop

The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced today that the deadline for submitting written comments on their recent Patent Assertion Entity Activities Workshop has been extended from March 10, 2013 to April 5, 2013.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Alabama Corrections Officer and Former Corrections Officer Indicted for Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud

A 29-count indictment was unsealed today in Montgomery, Ala., charging Bryant Thompson, an Alabama corrections officer, and Quincy Walton, a former Alabama corrections officer, with federal tax crimes.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Two Hungarian Nationals Sentenced in Tennessee for Roles in International Fraud Scheme Involving Online Marketplace Websites

Hungarian nationals Beatrix Boka and Aleksandar Kunkin were sentenced today to serve 36 months and 48 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in moving approximately $550,000 in illicit proceeds derived from an international online marketplace fraud scheme.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the Federal Advisory Task Force on Research on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women Living in Tribal Communities

"We cannot rest as long as crime rates in many tribal communities remain far above the national average. We cannot rest as long as tribal members suffer disproportionately from violence, property offenses, and other criminal acts," said Acting Associate Attorney General West.




ed

Veteran D.C. Defense Attorney Charles F. Daum Sentenced to Serve 63 Months in Prison for Obstruction of Justice

Veteran District of Columbia defense attorney Charles F. Daum was sentenced today to serve 63 months in prison on three counts of obstructing justice in a federal drug trafficking case.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Vice President Biden and Attorney General Holder Announce Grants to Help Reduce Domestic Violence Homicides

Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder today announced grants to 12 programs across the country to target the urgent need to reduce domestic violence homicides.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Owner of Tax Preparation Business Sentenced in Alabama to Federal Prison

Bruce King, the founder and operator of Premier Tax, was sentenced today in Montgomery, Ala., to 70 months in prison and ordered to pay $781,305 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for orchestrating a tax fraud scheme at his business.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Eight Individuals Indicted for Lacey Act Violations and Other Crimes Relating to the Trafficking of Paddlefish “Caviar”

Eight individuals face federal charges stemming from a joint U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Missouri Department of Conservation investigation of interstate and international trafficking in paddlefish “caviar."



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Federal Court Permanently Bars Michigan Woman from Preparing Tax Returns Claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit

A federal court has permanently barred Crystal Ireland, of Detroit, who does business as Master Mind Preparation, from preparing federal tax returns that claim the earned income tax credit.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Former Web Producer Indicted in California for Conspiring with “Anonymous” Members to Attack Internet News Site

A former web producer for a Tribune Company-owned television station in Sacramento, Calif., was charged today in an indictment for allegedly conspiring with members of the hacker group “Anonymous” to hack into and alter a Tribune Company website.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Aryan Brother Inmate Sentenced for Federal Hate Crime for Assaulting Fellow Inmate

John Hall, 27, an Aryan Brotherhood member and inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Seagoville, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor after pleading guilty to violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act stemming from his assault of a fellow inmate, whom he believed to be gay.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Houston-Area Doctor Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Role in $17.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A Texas doctor was sentenced today to serve 63 months in prison for conspiring to commit health care fraud by falsifying plans of care for Medicare beneficiaries, including patients whom he did not treat, as part of a $17.3 million Medicare fraud scheme.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

United States to Accept Concurrent Jurisdiction Over White Earth Reservation in Minnesota

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.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Two California Men Charged in Boston with Computer Hacking in Connection with Gift Card Fraud Scheme

Two California men have been charged in an indictment unsealed today in Boston with remotely hacking into merchants’ computerized cash registers in order to obtain fraudulent gift cards.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Medical Director for Miami-Based Health Care Clinic Sentenced to 144 Months in Prison for Role in $50 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A former medical director for Biscayne Milieu, a Miami-based mental-health clinic, was sentenced today to serve 144 months in prison for his role in a fraud scheme involving the submission of more than $50 million in fraudulent billings to Medicare.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Congressional Candidate Pleads Guilty to Violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act

Former Congressional candidate Justin Lamar Sternad pleaded guilty today in Miami to violating the Federal Election Campaign Act during his 2012 campaign.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Georgia Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison

Tyrone Thompson was sentenced today to 137 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson in the Middle District of Georgia for conspiracy and filing fraudulent tax returns in order to receive tax refunds, to which the defendant was not entitled.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Security Contractors Plead Guilty in Virginia to Illegally Obtaining $31 Million from Contracts Intended for Disadvantaged Small Businesses

Executives at two Arlington, Va.-based businesses have pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining more than $31 million in government contract payments that should have gone to disadvantaged small businesses.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Dual U.S.-Costa Rican Citizen Pleads Guilty in Connection with Costa Rica-based Business Opportunity Fraud Ventures

Sean Rosales pleaded guilty in Miami federal court to one count of an indictment pending against him, charging conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

Hospice of Arizona and Related Entities Pay $12 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

Hospice of Arizona L.C., along with a related entity, American Hospice Management LLC, and their parent corporation, American Hospice Management Holdings LLC, have agreed to pay $12 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting or causing the submission of false claims to the Medicare program for ineligible hospice services.



  • OPA Press Releases

ed

New York Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Mail Fraud and Attempting to Corruptly Influence a U.S. Attorney

A New York man was sentenced today in Buffalo to serve 11 years in prison for committing mail fraud and attempting to escape the charges by exerting pressure on a U.S. Attorney’s spouse and candidate for office, the Justice Department announced.



  • OPA Press Releases