io 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
io Colombian National Arraigned on Charges of Providing Material Support to the FARC By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:55:27 EDT A 32-year-old Colombian citizen, Luz Mery Gutierrez Vergara, who was extradited from the Republic of Colombia on Thursday, made her initial appearance today in federal court in Washington, D.C., to face charges for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to provide material support to the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, commonly known as the FARC. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Defendant Sentenced to Life for Participation in International Child Exploitation Enterprise By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:22:12 EDT James Freeman of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., was sentenced to life in prison today for his activity in a global child pornography trafficking enterprise. Freeman, a registered sex offender, was found guilty following a six-day trial in January 2009 of six counts relating to his criminal activities as a member of the child exploitation enterprise. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io Two Additional Defendants Sentenced for Conspiring to Kill U.S. Soldiers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:35:09 EDT The remaining two men convicted of plotting to kill members of the U.S. military during an armed attack on a military base were sentenced today to federal prison terms of life for one defendant and 33 years for the other for conspiring to kill members of the U.S. military. U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler sentenced Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer to a term of life in prison plus an additional, consecutive 30 years. Judge Kugler sentenced Serdar Tatar to 33 years in prison. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io 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
io Former Mississippi Deputy Sheriffs Sentenced to Serve Time on Civil Rights Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:06:50 EDT Former Tippah County, Miss., Deputy Sheriff William Rogers and his son, former Tippah County Deputy Sheriff Jeffrey Rogers, were sentenced in federal court on April 30, 2009, for violating the civil rights of an arrestee by shooting him with a taser unnecessarily. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io 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
io Chinese Baby Furniture Company Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Internationally Protected Wood By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2009 16:52:22 EDT Style Craft Furniture Co. Ltd., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Camden, N.J., to one count of smuggling cribs containing internationally protected wood known as ramin. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io U.S. Intervenes in Suit Against Former Beef Suppliers to National School Lunch Program By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2009 17:39:21 EDT The United States has intervened in a civil lawsuit against two former suppliers to the National School Lunch Program Hallmark Meat Packing Company and Westland Meat Company Inc. for submitting false and fraudulent claims to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). All ground beef containing defendants products was recalled by USDA as of Feb. 16, 2008, and defendants no longer supply beef to the National School Lunch Program or AMS. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Three Teamsters Local 743 Workers in Chicago Convicted of Labor Fraud and Theft of Union Ballots in Bid to Rig Contested 2004 Elections By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2009 17:36:38 EDT A former officer and two employees of Teamsters Local 743 (Local 743) were convicted today in federal court in Chicago of federal labor fraud and theft charges in connection with stealing union ballots in an effort to rig two elections in favor of an incumbent slate of officers in 2004. A federal jury returned guilty verdicts today, after deliberating since April 29, 2009, against the three defendants whose trial began on April 6, 2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Deputy Attorney General David Ogden's Address at the American Bar Association Section of Litigation 2009 Annual Conference John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Awards Luncheon By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 May 2009 17:11:18 EDT "To ensure that the Department holds itself to the highest standards during discovery -- as in every stage of litigation -- in our criminal cases, and also in our civil litigation, we have taken both short-term and long-term action." Full Article Speech
io 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
io Three Ohio Residents Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud for Fraudulent Real Estate Loan Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 May 2009 17:24:04 EDT Todd Gongwer of Dublin, Ohio; Lance Parker of Dublin, Ohio; and Joel Lee, of Galena, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Gongwer, a licensed real estate agent, also pleaded guilty to tax evasion in the hearing before Judge Michael H. Watson in Columbus, Ohio. Parker also pleaded guilty to illegally structuring cash transactions. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 May 2009 17:37:07 EDT Timothy Lantz, 57, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today in Columbus to one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of failing to update his sex offender registration. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io MS-13 Leader Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Gun Violation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 May 2009 18:37:25 EDT U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Victor Ramirez, a/k/a Mousey, age 30, a native of El Salvador who resided in Hyattsville, Md., to 60 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io U.S. Court Shuts Down Georgia Tax Preparation Firms Allegedly Involved in Fuel Credit Tax Scam By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 May 2009 14:30:45 EDT A federal court in Savannah, Ga., today permanently barred Ophelia Kelley, of Vidalia, Ga., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. According to the government complaint, Kelley operated two return preparation firms in Vidalia – Kelley Tax Service and City and Country Girl Tax Service. Kelley agreed to the civil injunction order. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Travel with Intent to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Possession of Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 May 2009 16:11:30 EDT Patrick Cochran, 47, of Lake Jackson, Texas, pleaded guilty today to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and one count of possession of child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io Chief Engineer Sentenced for Concealing Vessel Pollution By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2009 17:11:59 EDT Carmelo Oria, a Spanish citizen who was the chief engineer on the Cyprus-flagged M/T Nautilus, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts for maintaining inaccurate records that concealed a discharge of oil-contaminated water from the bilges of the M/T Nautilus. Oria was sentenced to one month in prison, to be followed by supervised release for a term of two years and a $3,000 fine. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Connecticut Accountant Pleads Guilty to Income Tax Evasion By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2009 17:18:54 EDT Frank P. DiMartino, an accountant from Orange, Conn., pleaded guilty today to charges of tax evasion. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io 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
io Former Bank of China Managers and Their Wives Sentenced for Stealing More Than $485 Million, Laundering Money Through Las Vegas Casinos By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2009 18:58:35 EDT Two former managers of the Bank of China and their wives were sentenced today after their convictions on Aug. 29, 2008, by a federal jury in Las Vegas on charges of racketeering, money laundering, international transportation of stolen property as well as passport and visa fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Former New Mexico Jail Administrator Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 May 2009 19:08:02 EDT A former jail administrator at the Cibola County Detention Center in Grants, N.M., was sentenced today to 97 months in prison, two years of supervised release and a $400 special assessment for violating the rights of inmates in his custody at two separate New Mexico jails. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io 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
io Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden at His Installation Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 8 May 2009 17:30:44 EDT "This is an exciting time as well as a challenging one, and under the leadership of this President and this Attorney General, we are up for the job together." Full Article Speech
io Novo Nordisk Agrees to Pay $9 Million Fine in Connection with Payment of $1.4 Million in Kickbacks Through the United Nations Oil-for-food Program By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 11 May 2009 15:28:20 EDT Novo Nordisk A/S (Novo), a Danish corporation based in Bagsvaerd, Denmark, has agreed to pay a $9 million penalty for illegal kickbacks paid to the former Iraqi government. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io Attorney General Eric Holder at the Semi-Annual Conference of the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT) Resident Legal Advisors and Foreign Service Nationals By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 11 May 2009 16:36:46 EDT "Helping foreign countries improve their criminal justice systems so they can cooperate more effectively with us and with their neighbors in real time is an important aspect of this department’s mission." Full Article Speech
io 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
io Alaska Mine Operators to Pay $883,628 to Resolve Environmental Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2009 14:32:04 EDT Alaska Gold Co. (Alaska Gold), and NovaGold Resources Inc. (NovaGold), the owners and operators of the Rock Creek Mine near Nome, Alaska, have agreed to pay a $883,628 civil penalty to resolve violations of a storm water discharge permit. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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
io Defense Department Official Charged with Espionage Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 13 May 2009 10:35:26 EDT A Defense Department official has been charged with conspiracy to communicate classified information to an agent of a foreign government. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Attorney General Eric Holder at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Candlelight Vigil By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 15 May 2009 11:11:00 EDT "Tonight we hold a vigil, but every day we must be vigilant. So let us bind ourselves together with a new bond of service -- to make our country brighter, safer and more hopeful -- and in so doing, let us honor the memory of our fallen heroes every day." Full Article Speech
io Former Image Entry Inc., VP Pleads Guilty to Securities and Wire Fraud Conspiracy, and Tax Evasion By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 15 May 2009 17:27:24 EDT Michael Wayne Sulfridge, a resident of Union Grove, Ala., and former vice president of corporate finance at Image Entry, Inc. (Image Entry), pleaded guilty today to fraud and tax evasion charges stemming from the companys 2001 acquisition by Sourcecorp, Inc. (Sourcecorp). Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Attorney General Eric Holder at the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 15 May 2009 17:34:08 EDT "Let us bind ourselves together in a new bond of service -- to make our country brighter, safer, and more hopeful -- and in so doing, let us bear true witness to the legacies of our fallen heroes." Full Article Speech
io 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
io 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
io 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
io 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
io Minnesota Hospitals to Pay U.S. $2.28 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 May 2009 10:45:59 EDT Three HealthEast Care System hospitals have agreed to pay the United States $2.28 million to settle allegations that the health care facilities submitted false claims to Medicare. All three hospitals are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., area. The settlement resolves allegations that the St. Paul-based hospitals overcharged Medicare from 2002 to 2007 by thousands of dollars each time they performed kyphoplasty, a minimally-invasive procedure used to treat certain spinal fractures that often are due to osteoporosis. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Texas-Based Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers to Pay U.S. $4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 May 2009 11:30:26 EDT Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers Inc. nursing home chain will pay the United States $4 million to settle allegations that Regency submitted false claims to Medicare and the Texas Medicaid program. The Victoria, Texas-based chain currently owns and operates 24 nursing home facilities located through the state. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io Maine Department of Education to Pay United States $1.5 Million to Settle False Claims Involving Migrant Education Program By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 May 2009 17:18:17 EDT The Maine Department of Education (MDE) has agreed to pay the United States $1.5 million to settle allegations that it submitted false information to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the state education agencys eligibility to receive federal funds under the Migrant Education Program. Full Article OPA Press Releases
io 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