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Five Men Plead Guilty in Virginia for Roles in Child Pornography Distribution Conspiracy

Manuel Antonio Mares, 57, of Miami; Jeremy Hart Yost, 26, of West Bend, Ore.; Richard Phillip Allen, 66, of Redondo Beach, Calif.; and James Calvin Boyd, 58, of Pell City, Ala., pleaded guilty today before Senior District Judge Norman K. Moon in the Western District of Virginia to one count of conspiring to receive, distribute, possess and access with the intent to view child pornography. Jesse Leon Coleman, 48, of Lynchburg, Va., pleaded guilty today before Judge Moon to one count of receiving child pornography.



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Owner of Miami Assisted Living Facility Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Role in Medicare Fraud Conspiracy

Alba Serrano, 66, of Miami, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz in the Southern District of Florida.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former New Mexico Navajo Police Officer Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison on Sexual Abuse Charges

Lawrence Etsitty , 31, a former police officer with the Navajo Police Department (NPD), was sentenced today in federal court on charges related to the sexual abuse of a woman who was in his custody on Jan. 25, 2009. Earlier this year, Etsitty pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of the victim when he groped, touched and kissed her against her will, while she was handcuffed. Etsitty also was charged and pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI.



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Barbados National Sentenced to Prison for Using Stolen Identities to Obtain Tax Refunds

Andrew J. Watts, a Barbados national, was sentenced in Chicago by U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall to 114 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of just under $1.7 million for devising and executing a stolen identity federal income tax refund fraud scheme, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.



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Mexican Pecan Company Owner Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-Import Bank

Leopoldo Valencia-Urrea, 50, was sentenced by Judge Kathleen Cardone in U.S. District Court in El Paso, Texas.



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US Government Intervenes in False Claims Lawsuit Against Fluor Companies

The government has intervened in a lawsuit against Fluor Hanford Inc. and its parent company, Fluor Corporation (collectively Fluor), in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, the Justice Department announced today. Fluor Hanford, Inc. is a subsidiary of Fluor Corporation, a Texas-based corporation that provides a wide variety of services to government and private customers. The False Claims Act lawsuit was originally filed by whistleblower Loydene Rambo, a former employee of Fluor.



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Two Former U.S. Soldiers Sentenced for Roles in Fraudulent Military Recruiting Referral Bonus Scheme

Grant E. Bibb, 41, of Eagle Pass, Texas, and Paul Escobar, 32, of San Antonio, were sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in the Western District of Texas.



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Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Baltimore University School of Law

"The country we have inherited has been defined by the hard work and tremendous courage of those who, throughout our history, have chosen not just to devote themselves to studying the law, but also to advancing the cause of justice," said Attorney General Holder.




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Army National Guard Recruiter Admits Crimes in Fraudulent Recruiting Referral Bonus Scheme

An Army National Guard recruiter pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Texas for his role in a bribery and fraud scheme that caused approximately $98,000 in losses to the Army National Guard Bureau, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.



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Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Georgia School District to Ensure All Students Can Enroll in and Attend School

The Justice Department announced that it has entered into a settlement agreement with the Henry County School District in Henry County, Ga., to ensure that all students in the district are able to enroll in school, regardless of national origin or immigration status.



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Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Ohio Promoter of Alleged Tax-fraud Scheme

The Justice Department announced today that it has asked a federal court in Columbus, Ohio, to permanently bar John Allen from promoting tax-fraud schemes and preparing federal tax returns.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Miami Office Special Agent in Charge Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Transporting Child Pornography

Anthony Mangione, 52, of Parkland, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra in West Palm Beach, Fla.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer Speaks at Press Conference to Announce Charges Against Alleged Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Leaders

"The Criminal Division is determined, with its federal, state and local law enforcement partners, to continue disrupting and dismantling ABT and other violent criminal enterprises," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer.




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Saudi Student Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Use of Weapon of Mass Destruction

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 22, a citizen of Saudi Arabia and resident of Lubbock, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter in federal court in Amarillo, Texas, to life in prison.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against the City of San Jacinto, California, Alleging Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the city of San Jacinto, Calif., alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act based on its treatment of group homes for persons with disabilities. This lawsuit is part of the Justice Department’s continuing effort to enforce civil rights laws that require states and municipalities to end discrimination against, and unnecessary segregation of, persons with disabilities.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Roquette America Inc., to Pay $4.1 Million Penalty to Settle Violations of Clean Water Act at Its Keokuk, Iowa, Facility

Roquette America, Inc., has agreed to pay a $4.1 million civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit at its grain processing facility in Keokuk, Iowa.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former U.S. Army Major Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Bribery Scheme Related to Department of Defense Contracts in Kuwait

A former U.S. Army Major was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for his participation in a bribery scheme related to his activities as a contracting official in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in 2005 and 2006.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Two Florida Men and Company Charged in Philadelphia with Rattlesnake Trafficking

Robroy MacInnes, 54, of Fort Myers, Fla., Robert Keszey, 47, of Bushnell, Fla., and Glades Herp Farm Inc., were charged in a two-count indictment today in federal court in Philadelphia.



  • OPA Press Releases

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South Carolina Man Sentenced for Committing Federal Hate Crime Against an African-American Teenager

Chase McClary, 24, of Johnsonville, S.C., was sentenced today in federal court to four years in prison followed by three years supervised release for his racially-motivated attack of an African-American teenager.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Vehicle and Engine Importers to Pay Civil Penalty to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with two former importers of highway motorcycles, recreational vehicles and small spark ignition engines.



  • OPA Press Releases

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The Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission Release FCPA Resource Guide

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today released A Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the Guide). The 120-page Guide provides a detailed analysis of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and closely examines the DOJ and SEC’s approach to FCPA enforcement.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Two Former Alabama Court Employees Indicted for Stealing Programming Code for Sensitive Court Data System

Two former employees of the Alabama Administrative Office of the Courts were indicted today in Montgomery, Ala., for stealing the programming code for a sensitive court data system, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance for the Northern District of Alabama.



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New England Crime Boss Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison

Anthony L. Dinunzio, the acting leader of the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN) crime family, was sentenced today to serve 78 months in federal prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy to extort protection payments from adult entertainment businesses in Rhode Island.



  • OPA Press Releases

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U.S. Forfeits $2.1 Million Worth of Property Purchased with Alleged Bribes Paid to the Family of the Former President of Taiwan

The Department of Justice has forfeited a Manhattan condominium and a Virginia residence – with a combined value of approximately $ 2.1 million – purchased with the proceeds of alleged bribes paid to the family of the former President of Taiwan, Shui-Bian Chen, as part of the department’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Statement on Entergy Corp.’s Transmission System Commitments and Acquisition of KGen Power Corp.’s Plants in Arkansas and Mississippi

The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division issued a statement today regarding Entergy Corp.’s commitments to join a regional transmission organization (RTO) and divest its transmission system; Entergy’s proposed acquisitions of the Hinds and Hot Spring generating facilities in Mississippi and Arkansas, respectively, from KGen Power Corporation; and the division’s open investigation into Entergy’s alleged anticompetitive conduct.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Settles Civil Contempt Claim Against Exelon Corporation

Exelon Corporation has agreed to pay $400,000 as part of a civil settlement with the Department of Justice that resolves Exelon’s alleged violations of two court orders entered in connection with Exelon’s acquisition of Constellation Energy Group.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Requires Divestitures in Star Atlantic’s Acquisition of Veolia

The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement that will require Star Atlantic Waste Holdings L.P. and Veolia ES Solid Waste Inc. to divest commercial waste collection or disposal assets in northern New Jersey, central Georgia, and the Macon, Ga., metropolitan area in order to proceed with Star Atlantic’s proposed $1.9 billion acquisition of Veolia.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Announces Sweep of Criminal and Civil Business Opportunity Cases

The Justice Department announced today the filing of several criminal and civil business opportunity fraud cases, initiated as part of a joint sweep with the Federal Trade Commission and several states. Business opportunity fraud schemes take advantage of people looking for work by luring them in with false promises of big profits and leaving them worse off than they started.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Department of Justice Completes Review of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Use of Force Policies and Practices

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced the completion and delivery of an eight-month review of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s use of force policies and practices. The report, funded by a grant from the COPS Office, lists 75 findings and recommendations regarding officer-involved shootings and other use-of-force issues.



  • OPA Press Releases

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BP Exploration and Production Inc. Agrees to Plead Guilty to Felony Manslaughter, Environmental Crimes and Obstruction of Congress Surrounding Deepwater Horizon Incident

BP Exploration and Production Inc. (BP) has agreed to plead guilty to felony manslaughter, environmental crimes and obstruction of Congress and pay a record $4 billion in criminal fines and penalties for its conduct leading to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, Attorney General Eric Holder announced today.



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Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart Delery Speaks at the “Operation Lost Opportunity” Press Conference

"Financial fraud affects people every day and can be devastating for victims. Business opportunity schemes prey on people who want to work to support themselves and their families. But instead of getting meaningful employment, victims are defrauded out of their money, their credit, and their time," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Delery.




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Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the BP Press Conference

"Today, in U.S. District Court here in the Eastern District of Louisiana, the Department filed a 14-count information charging BP with 11 counts of felony manslaughter, one count of felony obstruction of Congress, and violations of the Clean Water and Migratory Bird Treaty Acts in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began in April 2010," said Attorney General Holder.




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Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer Speaks at the BP Press Conference

"We hope that today’s acknowledgement by BP of its misconduct – through its agreement to plead guilty to 11 counts of felony manslaughter – brings some measure of justice to the family members of the people who died onboard the rig," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer.




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Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez Speaks at the UT Diversity and Civility Conference

"Too many of our neighbors are still victims of discrimination, bigotry, and violence. Too many are denied opportunities to participate fully in their communities and build valued lives for their families. But at the Division, we are in the opportunity business. And we are committed to working together with all of you to expand access to the promise of American life and the fundamental civil rights protected by our federal laws," said Assistant Attorney General Perez.




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Spokane Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights and Obstruction Violations in Connection with In-custody Death of Otto Zehm

A federal judge sentenced Spokane, Wash., Police Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. to 51 months in prison followed by three years supervised release for civil rights and obstruction violations stemming from his March 18, 2006, beating of an unarmed citizen and an extensive cover-up that followed, the Justice Department announced today. Following a Taser deployment and a rapid series of baton blows to the head, neck and body, the victim, the late Otto Zehm, 36, was hogtied, stopped breathing and was transported to the hospital, where he died two days later. The defendant claimed the beating was justified because he felt threatened by a plastic bottle of soda Zehm was holding.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Settle Pay Discrimination Lawsuits Against Two Texas State Agencies

The Justice Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that they have reached a settlement with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to resolve allegations that both state agencies were liable for pay discrimination on the basis of sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Pay Act of 1963.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Ebay Inc. Over Agreement Not to Hire Intuit Inc. Employees

The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today against eBay Inc., alleging that it violated antitrust laws when it entered into an agreement not to recruit or hire Intuit Inc.’s employees.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Permanently Bars Michigan Lawyer from Promoting Alleged Tax Fraud Scheme

A federal court has permanently barred a Michigan lawyer, Tammy Daniels of Farmington Hills, from promoting an alleged tax fraud scheme, the Justice Department announced today. The civil injunction order, to which Daniels consented without admitting the allegations against her, was signed by Judge Paul D. Borman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. In August the court enjoined Daniels’s co-defendants, Damian and Holly Jackson, from preparing federal tax returns for others and promoting the scheme.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Program Director and Therapist from Miami-Area Mental Health Care Corporation Convicted for Participating in $205 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

Program director Lydia Ward, 47, and therapist Nichole Eckert, 35, were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Two Patient Recruiters Sentenced in Miami for Roles in $50 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

Anthony Roberts, 45, and Derek Alexander, 39, both of Miami, were each sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola Jr. in the Southern District of Florida.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Al-Qaeda Operative Sentenced to Life in Prison in One of the Most Serious Terrorist Plots Against the United States since 9/11

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.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former Police of Puerto Rico Officer Sentenced to 181 Months in Prison for Providing Armed Security for Drug Transaction

Yamil Navedo Ramirez, 39, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Juan M. Perez-Gimenez in the District of Puerto Rico.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer Speaks at the American Conference Institute’s 28th National Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

"Nothing is more important than curbing corruption around the world – and we must, and we will, continue to do everything we can to ensure that young people across the globe can dream big dreams without having to worry that a corrupt leader will extinguish them," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer.




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Assistant Attorney General Perez Speaks at the George Washington University Law School Symposium

"Let’s work to prevent fraud, but let’s not erect new, unnecessary requirements that have a discriminatory impact. Let’s have a debate on the merits without trying to make it harder for our perceived opponents to vote," said Assistant Attorney General Perez.




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Assistant Attorney General Perez Speaks at the Grand Opening of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro

"We are a nation of great principles of religious freedom. But as we have learned, these principles are not self-executing. We have to work hard to preserve them," said Assistant Attorney General Perez.




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San Diego Used Car Wholesaler Sentenced on Tax Evasion

Mohammad Jafar Nikbakht, aka Freydoon Nikbakht, was sentenced Friday to 15 months in prison for evading his individual income taxes.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Agreement Furthers Cleanup of the Quanta Resources Superfund Site in Edgewater, New Jersey

Another important step toward cleaning up the Quanta Resources Superfund site in Edgewater, N.J., was announced today by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.



  • OPA Press Releases

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New Mexico Man Sentenced to Prison for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud

Douglas Kuester, 43, a tax preparer from Silver City, N.M., was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for filing false claims and aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Kuester was also ordered to pay $911,000 in restitution and will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission to Hold Workshop on Patent Assertion Entity Activities

The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced today that they will hold a joint public workshop on Dec. 10, 2012, to explore the impact of patent assertion entity (PAE) activities on innovation and competition and the implications for antitrust enforcement and policy.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Detroit-Area Nurse Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Role in $13.8 Million Home Health Care Fraud Scheme

Anthony Parkman, 41, of Southfield, Mich., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Gerald E. Rosen in the Eastern District of Michigan.



  • OPA Press Releases