w Former New Jersey Chiropractor Charged in Scheme to Extinguish Debt and to Obtain Fraudulent IRS Tax Refunds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:26:57 EST A federal grand jury in Trenton, N.J., returned an indictment charging David Moleski with 14 counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of corruptly impeding the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws and three counts of filing false claims for tax refunds, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w New Jersey Man Arrested for Illegally Importing Narwhal Tusks and Money Laundering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:19:40 EST A New Jersey man was arrested today for crimes related to the illegal importation and illegal trafficking of narwhal tusks (whale tusk) and associated money laundering crimes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Department of Justice Forfeits Nearly $7 Million in Proceeds of Unlawful Offshore Gambling and Money Laundering Following Guilty Plea by William Paul Scott By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:38:38 EST The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a consent order of forfeiture today ordering the civil forfeiture of $6,976,924 traced to international money laundering of the proceeds from an offshore Internet gambling operation that illegally targeted U.S. residents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Payment Processor for Scareware Cybercrime Ring Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:43:30 EST A Swedish credit card payment processor was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for his role in an international cybercrime ring that netted $71 million by infecting victims’ computers with “scareware” and selling rogue antivirus software that was supposed to secure victims’ computers but was, in fact, useless. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Japanese-Based Toyo Ink and Affiliates in New Jersey and Illinois Settle False Claims Allegation for $45 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:53:32 EST Japan-based Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co. Ltd. and various affiliated entities (collectively, Toyo Ink) have agreed to pay $45 million, plus interest, to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly failing to pay antidumping and countervailing duties, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Penguin Group (USA) Inc. in E-Books Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:55:12 EST The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement with Penguin Group (USA) Inc.–one of the largest book publishers in the United States–and will continue to litigate against Apple Inc. and Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC, which does business as Macmillan, for conspiring to raise e-book prices to consumers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Owner of Brooklyn, N.Y., Clinic Pleads Guilty in Connection with $71 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:22:30 EST The owner and manager of a Brooklyn, N.Y., health care clinic pleaded guilty today in federal court for her role in a $71 million Medicare fraud and money laundering scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Individual Arrested in Connection with Costa Rica-based Business Opportunity Fraud Ventures By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:35:02 EST A dual United States and Costa Rican citizen charged in connection with the operation of a series of fraudulent business opportunities was arrested today in Chicago following his indictment by a federal grand jury in Miami on Nov. 29, 2011, the Justice Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced today. Sean Rosales was arrested based on charges that he and his co-conspirators purported to sell beverage and greeting card business opportunities, including assistance in establishing, maintaining and operating such businesses. The charges in the indictment form part of the government’s continued nationwide crackdown on business opportunity fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Manalapan, N.J., Woman Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Girl, Streaming Assault Live Over the Internet By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:16:17 EST A New Jersey woman was sentenced today to serve 30 years in prison for producing child pornography through the sexual exploitation of a 5-year-old girl on more than one occasion and streaming footage of a sexual assault over the Internet. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Physical Therapy Assistant Pleads Guilty in Connection with Detroit Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:07:34 EST Detroit-area resident Ankit Patel pleaded guilty today for his role in a $13.8 million home health care fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w UBS Securities Japan Co. Ltd. to Plead Guilty to Felony Wire Fraud for Long-running Manipulation of LIBOR Benchmark Interest Rates By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:58:08 EST UBS Securities Japan Co. Ltd. (UBS Japan), an investment bank, financial advisory securities firm and wholly-owned subsidiary of UBS AG, has agreed to plead guilty to felony wire fraud and admit its role in manipulating the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), a leading benchmark used in financial products and transactions around the world. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w New Jersey Company Pleads Guilty for Role in Bid-Rigging Scheme at Municipal Tax Lien Auctions By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:30:08 EST A New Jersey company in the business of receiving the assignment of municipal tax liens pleaded guilty today for its role in a conspiracy to rig bids for the sale of tax liens auctioned by municipalities in New Jersey. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Reaches Settlement with New York Manufacturer to Resolve Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:47:13 EST The Justice Department announced today that it reached a settlement agreement with R-Tronics LLC, a company based in Rome, N.Y., which manufactures custom and prototype cables, wire harnesses and electro-mechanical assemblies. The agreement resolves allegations that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by limiting its hiring practices to U.S. citizens. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w New Mexico Probation Officer Indicted on Sexual Assault Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:19:02 EST A federal grand jury in Albuquerque, N.M., has indicted Gordon Chavez, 35, a probation officer with the New Mexico Corrections Department on charges related to the sexual assault of a probationer whom he supervised. The New Mexico Corrections Department placed Chavez on administrative leave following his arrest on Dec. 4, 2012. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Settles Immigration-Based Discrimination Claim Against New York Hospital By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:21:37 EST The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Holliswood Hospital, a hospital in Queens, N.Y., resolving claims that the hospital violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), when it required newly hired lawful permanent residents to provide more or different documents during the Form I-9 employment eligibility verification process. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Former Army Contractor Employee and Two Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeants Plead Guilty to Roles in Afghanistan Contract Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:28:57 EST A former employee of a U.S. Army contractor and two former U.S. Army staff sergeants pleaded guilty today for their roles in a fraud scheme involving a contract to provide armored vehicles to the U.S. Military in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Owners of Two Miami Home Health Companies Plead Guilty in $48 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:59:18 EST The owners and operators of two Miami health care agencies pleaded guilty today for their participation in a $48 million home health Medicare fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Owner of Pavement Painting Business Sentenced in Alaska for Illegally Disposing Hazardous Waste By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:49:05 EST The former owner of a road and parking lot painting and striping business in Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced today for illegally disposing of more than 200,000 pounds of highly flammable hazardous waste in Anchorage. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against the Alamance County, N.C., Sheriff’s Office By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:52:54 EST The Justice Department today filed a civil rights lawsuit against Terry S. Johnson, in his official capacity as head of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) in North Carolina. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Department of Justice Will Not Challenge STARS Alliance LLC’s Joint Procurement Proposal By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:24:57 EST The Department of Justice today announced that it will not challenge a proposal by STARS Alliance LLC (STARS), a group of seven nuclear power plant operators, to procure jointly certain goods and services. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Ohio-Based Wheelchair Manufacturer Agrees to Consent Decree to Resolve Allegations of Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:01:23 EST The Justice Department, at the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), today filed a complaint and a proposed consent decree in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against Invacare Corp., Gerald B. Blouch and Ronald J. Clines. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department and Lesley University Sign Agreement to Ensure Meal Plan Is Inclusive of Students with Celiac Disease and Food Allergies By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:15:11 EST The Justice Department today announced an agreement with Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., to ensure that students with celiac disease and other food allergies can fully and equally enjoy the university’s meal plan and food services in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Georgia Tax Preparers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:44:14 EST The United States has asked a federal court in Atlanta to bar Larry J. Heath, who operates Heath’s Income Tax II in Cartersville, Ga., and his brother Andrew R. Heath, who operates Excellent Tax Service of Acworth, Ga., from preparing tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Announces Agreement with the State of New Hampshire on Bailout of Covered Jurisdictions Under the Voting Rights Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:17:33 EST The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with the State of New Hampshire that will allow for all 10 of the towns in that state that are covered jurisdictions under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act to bail out from coverage by these provisions. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Against New Mexico-Based Producer of Peanut Butter Products and Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:57:34 EST U.S. District Court Judge William P. Johnson entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Sunland Inc., a Portales, N.M.-based producer of peanut butter, and Jimmie D. Shearer, president and chief executive officer of Sunland, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Illinois-based Hardware Distributor W.W. Grainger Pays US $70 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:37:35 EST W.W. Grainger Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $70 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims under contracts with the General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Postal Services (USPS), the Department of Justice announced today. Grainger is a national hardware distributor headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Victory Pharma Inc. of San Diego Pays $11.4 Million to Resolve Kickback Allegations in Connection with Promotion of Its Drugs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:11:03 EST Victory Pharma Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, has agreed to pay $11,420,743 to resolve federal civil and criminal liability arising from its marketing of the pharmaceutical products Naprelan, Xodol, Fexmid and Dolgic, the Justice Department announced today. Under the agreement announced today, Victory entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and paid a criminal forfeiture of $1.4 million to resolve federal Ant-Kickback Statute allegations, and paid $9,938,310 to resolve False Claims Act allegations. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Department Reaches Settlement with Custer County and the State of Idaho for Cooperation Over Roads on Federal Land By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:39:38 EST The Department of Justice and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced today – Dec. 28, 2012 – a settlement of the United States’ federal court lawsuit against Custer County and the State of Idaho concerning county action on roads and trails on federal land in Custer County. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Federal Court Bars Alleged Co-Owner of Las Vegas Instant Tax Service Franchise from Preparing Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:33:23 EST A Nevada federal court has permanently barred Benyam Tewolde from preparing tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Tewolde and his wife, Yordanos Kidanits, are the alleged co-owners of an Instant Tax Service franchise that operates at multiple locations in the Las Vegas area. Instant Tax Service is a nationally franchised tax preparation company based in Dayton, Ohio. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Attorney General Eric Holder Welcomes Bill Baer as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division By www.justice.gov Published On :: Sun, 30 Dec 2012 13:58:42 EST Attorney General Eric Holder today welcomed the confirmation of Bill Baer as the Department of Justice’s Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Announces Successful Resolution of Case Regarding Delaware State Prisons By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:07:08 EST The Justice Department announced that the state of Delaware has fully complied with the parties’ amended memorandum of agreement (MOA) which was reached after an investigation of three Delaware state prisons. The MOA, which includes reforms in mental health care, medical care and suicide prevention, was entered into after an investigation of the conditions at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution and the Sussex Correctional Institution. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Reaches Agreement with California Irrigation District on Bailout Under the Voting Rights Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 15:11:01 EST The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with the Browns Valley Irrigation District, a special district in California, that, if approved by the court, will allow for the district to bail out from its status as a “covered jurisdiction” under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and thereby exempt the district from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The district covers part of Yuba County, which is a jurisdiction subject to Section 5. The agreement is in the form of a consent decree filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Department of Justice Will Not Challenge Proposed Joint Venture Between Flight Support Service Operators at Connecticut Airport By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 17:46:35 EST The Department of Justice today announced that it will not challenge a proposal by Columbia Fuel Services Inc. and Lanmar Aviation Inc., the only providers of flight support services at the Groton-New London Airport, in Groton, Conn., to combine their fuel and hangar resources into a newly formed joint venture, Mystic Jet Center. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Transocean Agrees to Plead Guilty to Environmental Crime and Enter Civil Settlement to Resolve U.S. Clean Water Act Penalty Claims from Deepwater Horizon Incident By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 09:47:24 EST Transocean Deepwater Inc. has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act (CWA) and to pay a total of $1.4 billion in civil and criminal fines and penalties, for its conduct in relation to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the Department of Justice announced today Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Law Firm Over Discrimination Against Deaf Individuals By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 11:53:05 EST The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with Peroutka and Peroutka P.A., a debt collection law firm based in Pasadena, Md., to resolve allegations that the law firm violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by discriminating against people who are deaf. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Several Retailers Agree to Resolve Allegations Concerning the Unlawful Advertising and Selling of Rayon Products as Being Made from Bamboo By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 17:08:12 EST Amazon.com; Leon Max Inc., d/b/a Max Studio; Macy’s Inc.; and Sears, Roebuck and Co., Kmart Corporation and Kmart.com (collectively, Sears) have agreed to settle civil lawsuits concerning alleged violations of the Textile Fiber Product Identification Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Owner of Detroit Adult Day Care Centers Pleads Guilty in Connection with Medicare Psychotherapy Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 Jan 2013 18:41:06 EST The owner of several Detroit-area adult day care centers pleaded guilty today for her role in a $13.2 million psychotherapy fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w U.S. Announces Clean Air Act Settlement with Wisconsin Utility By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 13:11:41 EST The Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS) will invest approximately $300 million in pollution control technology, pay a civil penalty of $1.2 million, and spend $6 million on environmental mitigation projects to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA), according to the terms of a settlement with the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Former Owner of Employee Leasing Company Pleads Guilty in Salt Lake City to Federal Employment Tax Crime By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 17:22:03 EST Richard R. Whatley, a former owner of Alliance Staffing Management Inc., pleaded guilty today for willfully failing to account for and pay over employment taxes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Former Police Officer in New Town, North Dakota, Arrested on Federal Civil Rights Violation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 18:43:50 EST The Justice Department announced today that Lindrith Tsoodle, 57, a former officer with the Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department, was apprehended and arrested on the Rocky Boy Reservation in Montana yesterday in relation to his indictment on civil rights and obstruction violations. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Georgia Woman Indicted for Stealing Identities to Obtain Tax Refunds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 13:52:54 EST A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., returned a superseding indictment charging Deatrice Smith Williams and Quentin Collick for their roles in a stolen identity refund fraud conspiracy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Owner of Detroit Adult Day Care Centers Pleads Guilty in Connection with Medicare Psychotherapy Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 16:17:55 EST The owner of several Detroit-area businesses that housed severely mentally-disabled Medicare recipients pleaded guilty today for his role in a $13.2 million fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Reaches Settlement with South Carolina Food Service Provider to Resolve Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 16:51:47 EST The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Centerplate Inc., resolving allegations that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Files Lawsuit in Idaho Against Jerome County Sheriff’s Office to Enforce the Employment Rights of Army National Guard Member By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 19:07:50 EST The United States Justice Department and U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today the filing of a complaint alleging that the Jerome County Sheriff’s Office willfully violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 by failing to reemploy and terminating Idaho Army National Guard Member Mervin Jones while he was recuperating from a knee injury that he sustained while performing military service. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w South Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Failing to Disclose Income from Swiss Bank Accounts and Agrees to $21 Million Penalty By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 13:40:08 EST Mary Estelle Curran of Palm Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to filing false tax returns for tax years 2006 and 2007. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Former Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Corrections Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 14:18:31 EST Demetrio Juan Gonzales, 40, a former corrections officer at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised released for violating the civil rights of an individual in his custody when he struck and choked the victim in the shower room/dress out area of MDC. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Dreamboard Member Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Participating in International Criminal Network Organized to Sexually Exploit Children By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 17:33:29 EST A Massachusetts man was sentenced today to serve 45 years in prison for his participation in an international criminal network, known as Dreamboard, dedicated to the sexual abuse of children and the creation and dissemination of graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse throughout the world. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Chicago Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting Woman Across State Lines for Prostitution By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Jan 2013 18:36:36 EST Montell Williams, of Chicago, pleaded guilty today in Hammond, Ind., to violating the Mann Act by transporting a woman across state lines for the purpose of having her engage in prostitution. Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Obtains Comprehensive Agreement to Resolve Long Standing Litigation Regarding the Rights of People with Developmental Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:20:41 EST Today, the Justice Department announced that yesterday afternoon it filed in federal court a comprehensive agreement that will resolve long running litigation with the state of Tennessee originally concerning conditions of care at the former Arlington Developmental Center (ADC). Full Article OPA Press Releases
w Justice Department Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Bazaarvoice Inc. Regarding the Company’s Acquisition of PowerReviews Inc. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:03:26 EST The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today against Bazaarvoice Inc. challenging the company’s June 2012 acquisition of PowerReviews Inc. Full Article OPA Press Releases