y Spokane, Washington, Man Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Charges Related to Threats to Reproductive Health Services Clinic By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:38:36 EDT Donald Hertz pleaded guilty today in federal court in Spokane to one count of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Agency Chief FOIA Officers Respond to the President’s and Attorney General’s Call for Transparency By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:02:07 EDT Responding to the President’s and Attorney General’s call for increased transparency, federal agencies across the government have released more documents, made more information available on websites and decreased backlogs in the past year. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Georgia Defense Contractor and Its President to Pay $750,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:54:58 EDT Quantum Dynamics Inc, located in Macon, Ga., and its president, Audrey Price, have agreed to pay the United States $750,000 to settle claims that they fraudulently obtained contracts from the Army. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Former Deputy Sheriff from Choctaw County, Oklahoma, Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:54:28 EDT Former Choctaw County, Okla., deputy sheriff Ben Westley Milner was sentenced today in Muskogee, Okla., to serve 18 months in prison and two years supervised release for violating the civil rights of three men by assaulting them without legal justification. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Three Indicted for Civil Rights Conspiracy, False Statements and Perjury in Connection with Cross-burning in Athens, Louisiana By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:51:21 EDT A federal grand jury in Shreveport, La., returned an indictment yesterday charging Joshua James Moro, 23; Jeremy Matthew Moro, 33; and Sonya Marie Hart, 31, with offenses related to a cross-burning in Athens, La., in October 2008, near the home of an interracial couple. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Miami-area Clinic Owner, Patient Recruiter, Two Nurses and Medicare Beneficiary Plead Guilty in Home Health Care Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:50:08 EDT Arturo Fonseca, Isis Torres, Francisco Portillo, Eduardo Romero and William Madrigal pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan to various health care fraud charges. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Northwest Airlines LLC Agrees to Plead Guilty for Fixing Prices on Air Cargo Shipments By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:57:40 EDT Northwest Airlines LLC has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $38 million criminal fine for its role, through Northwest Airlines Cargo, in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air transportation industry. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Louisiana Vessel Company Pleads Guilty to Dumping Oil on High Seas, Will Pay $2.1 Million in Penalties By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:46:37 EDT Offshore Vessels LLC has entered a plea of guilty to knowingly discharging waste oil from one of its vessels, in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Florida Businessman Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Role in Foreign Bribery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:29:59 EDT A Miami businessman was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to pay bribes to former officials of the Republic of Haiti. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Freight Forwarder Panalpina Pays U.S. $375,000 to Settle False Claims and Kickbacks Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:31:05 EDT Swiss-based freight forwarder Panalpina Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $375,000 to settle allegations that the company paid kickbacks to employees of Kellogg Brown & Root Inc. (KBR). Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Two Brothers Plead Guilty in Miami HIV Infusion Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:32:42 EDT Two brothers pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Miami for participating in a $13.7 million HIV infusion Medicare fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:19:19 EDT A Virginia man pleaded guilty today to charges related to his possession and distribution of images containing child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Department of Justice Releases First National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 12:02:30 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder today announced that the Department of Justice released its first-ever National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Owners of “Super Soda Center Stores” in Maryland and Delaware Settle Allegations of Underground Storage Tank Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 15:30:08 EDT The United States has settled alleged violations of federal and state underground storage tank (UST) regulations at 17 gas stations in Delaware and Maryland formerly owned by Duncan Petroleum Corp. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler Speaks at the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction Announcement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 12:08:56 EDT "As the Justice Department brings its fight against child exploitation to a new level today, I am honored to stand with so many incredible colleagues and public servants who have made it their life’s work to protect exploited children and seek justice for the most vulnerable members of our society," said Acting Deputy Attorney General Grindler. Full Article Speech
y Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction Announcement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 2 Aug 2010 12:10:30 EDT "Today marks an important step forward in meeting these responsibilities and taking our fight against child exploitation and sexual abuse to the next level," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
y North Carolina Businessman Pleads Guilty to Role in Foreign Bribery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 15:28:33 EDT A former Kyrgyzstan country manager for a U.S. tobacco company has pleaded guilty for his role in a conspiracy to pay bribes to officials of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Fourth Chi Mei Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty and Serve Jail Time for Participating in Global LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 14:00:46 EDT A former executive from Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corporation has agreed to plead guilty and to serve jail time in the United States for participating in a global conspiracy to fix the price of thin-film transistor-liquid crystal display panels. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to Spend Millions to Reduce Commuter Train Emissions in Clean Air Act Settlement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 14:46:07 EDT In response to a federal enforcement action for excessive train engine idling, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) will spend more than $2 million to reduce diesel locomotive emissions throughout the MBTA’s commuter rail system. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Lobbyist Indicted for Orchestrating Illegal Campaign Contribution Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 13:16:12 EDT Paul Magliocchetti, the founder and president of PMA Group Inc. (PMA), a lobbying firm in Arlington, Va., was arrested today on charges of making illegal campaign contributions and making false statements to a federal agency. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 14:00:15 EDT A Bedford, Va., man pleaded guilty today to transporting, receiving and possessing child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Two South Florida Residents Plead Guilty in Medicare Fraud Cases By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 18:41:40 EDT Two South Florida residents pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Miami for their participation in separate Medicare fraud schemes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Operator of Miami HIV Clinic Pleads Guilty for Role in Medicare Fraud Ring By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 14:09:34 EDT Jose Garcia, 55, who was a fugitive for nearly two years, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Miami for his participation in a Medicare fraud scheme involving a Miami-area HIV clinic. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Jury Awards $115,000 to Victims of Housing Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 15:37:08 EDT A federal jury in Detroit today returned a $115,000 verdict against an Ypsilanti, Mich., man for sexually harassing female tenants in his capacity as a property manager. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y New York Merchant Bank Pleads Guilty to FCPA Violation; Bank Chairman Pleads Guilty to Failing to Disclose Control of Foreign Bank Account By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 18:23:57 EDT – The Mercator Corporation, a merchant bank with offices in New York, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Manhattan, N.Y., to one count of making an unlawful payment to a senior government official of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Statement of Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli on Deepwater Horizon Escrow Fund By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 09:52:09 EDT “Today, the department announced that it had completed negotiations to establish a $20 billion fund to provide the necessary resources to those suffering from the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico," said Associate Attorney General Perrelli. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y New Jersey Landfill Owners Agree to Comply with Clean Air Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:33:22 EDT The second of two agreements to resolve longstanding problems with landfill gas emissions and their negative impacts on air quality at the Middlesex County and Edgeboro landfills in New Jersey has been reached to bring them into compliance with the Clean Air Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Federal Court Bars Missouri Lawyer from Promoting Tax Schemes That Cost the U.S. at Least $100 Million in Lost Taxes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:56:06 EDT A federal court in Kansas City, Mo, has permanently barred Missouri lawyer A. Blair Stover Jr. from promoting a variety of improper tax schemes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-based Housing Discrimination at Louisville, Kentucky, Apartment Complex By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:03:27 EDT “Since 1991, federal law has required that new multi-family housing complexes with four or more units be built with certain accessible features. There is no excuse for developers and design professionals to fail to comply,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Settlement Reached with City and County of Honolulu to Address Wastewater Collection & Treatment Systems By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:46:59 EDT A comprehensive settlement has been reached with the City and County of Honolulu that will address Clean Water Act compliance at Honolulu’s wastewater collection and treatment systems. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Two Former Navajo Police Officers in Tuba City, Arizona, Charged with Civil Rights Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:27:55 EDT A federal grand jury in Phoenix, Ariz., returned a three-count indictment today charging former Navajo Police Officer Christine Thinn and former Navajo Police Sergeant Phillip Bedonie Jr. with federal crimes in connection with the beating of Newton Charlie in January 2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Former Defense Department Contract Employee Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Related to Contracts in Support of Iraqi War By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:33:51 EDT A former contract employee of the U.S. Defense Department (DoD) pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to bribe U.S. Army contracting officials stationed at Camp Arifjan, an Army base in Kuwait, and to money laundering conspiracy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Arizona Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:58:03 EDT David Ralph Garcia Jr., 38, of Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in prison for possessing images of child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y New Congressional Funding to Enhance Department of Justice Southwest Border Strategy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:34:20 EDT Today’s passage by Congress of the Border Security Appropriations Bill provides $196 million for the Department of Justice to surge federal law enforcement efforts in high crime areas in the Southwest Border region. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Justice Department Resolves Discrimination Case Against Flushing, N.Y., Restaurant That Ejected Patrons Because of Religion By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:49:37 EDT The Justice Department filed a consent decree today resolving claims of religious discrimination against the Lucky Joy restaurant, located in Flushing, N.Y. In the consent decree, the restaurant’s owner, Lucky Joy Restaurant Inc., and its president, Xiao Rong Wu, admit that the restaurant engaged in a pattern or practice of wrongfully ejecting Falun Gong practitioners from the premises. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Former Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Products and Services Firm Pleads Guilty for Role in Fraud Conspiracies Involving Proceeds of Municipal Bonds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:31:11 EDT The former owner and chief executive officer of a financial products and services firm pleaded guilty today for his participation in fraud conspiracies related to contracts for the investment of municipal bond proceeds and other related municipal finance contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli Speaks at the Department of Education’s Bullying Summit By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:50:57 EDT "Our nation’s children deserve a learning environment that allows them to reach their full potential, and no child should be scared to go to school because of bullying," said Associate Attorney General Perrelli. Full Article Speech
y Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler Speaks at the 8th Circuit Judicial Conference By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:45:12 EDT "As I have seen every day at the Department of Justice – in national-security briefings, reviews of case files, and meetings with the leaders of our divisions and task forces – our role as lawyers has evolved," said Acting Deputy Attorney General Grindler. Full Article Speech
y Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:53:16 EDT Ilkham Fazilov pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy for his role in a criminal enterprise that engaged in numerous criminal activities including forced labor, fraud in foreign labor contracting, visa fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, tax evasion and money laundering. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Georgia Manufacturer of Food Service Equipment Hardware Pays $3.3 Million Fine for Role in Customer Allocation Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:25:27 EDT A New York corporation, whose principal place of business is Newnan, Ga., was sentenced to pay a $3.3 million criminal fine for conspiring to allocate customers in the food service equipment hardware market, including walk-in refrigeration equipment. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Cheese Manufacturer Sorrento Lactalis to Pay U.S. $315,000 for Exceeding Discharge Levels into Idaho’s Mason Creek By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:15:16 EDT Cheese manufacturer Sorrento Lactalis Inc. will pay the United States a $315,000 penalty for excess discharges in violation of its wastewater permit levels, according to an agreement between the company. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Barclays Bank PLC Agrees to Forfeit $298 Million in Connection with Violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Trading with the Enemy Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:15:29 EDT Barclays Bank PLC, a United Kingdom corporation headquartered in London, has agreed to forfeit $298 million to the United States and to the New York County District Attorney’s Office in connection with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Trading with the Enemy Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Fraud in Foreign Labor Contracting Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:14:36 EDT Andrew Cole pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy and fraud in foreign labor contracting charges arising from his role in a criminal enterprise that engaged in numerous criminal activities, including forced labor, fraud in foreign labor contracting, visa fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, tax evasion and money laundering. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Detroit-Area Doctor Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:13:05 EDT Farmington Hills, Mich., physician Jose Castro-Ramirez was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program. Castro-Ramirez was also ordered to pay $9.4 million in restitution and sentenced to a three-year term of supervised release following his prison term. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Two Defendants Sentenced to Prison in International Child Pornography Conspiracy Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:24:02 EDT Two defendants were sentenced today to prison in connection with a series of superseding indictments charging 26 individuals for their participation in an online child pornography conspiracy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y DEA Heads First-ever Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-back Day By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:04:40 EDT The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and government, community, public health and law enforcement partners today announced a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Former U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Bribery in Afghanistan Fuel Theft Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:12:08 EDT A former U.S. Army Sergeant pleaded guilty today to bribery in connection with a fuel theft scheme to solicit more than $400,000 in bribes from a government contractor in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Statement on Accused Arms Trafficker Viktor Bout by Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:34:31 EDT “We are extremely pleased that the Appeals Court in Thailand has granted the extradition of Viktor Bout to the United States on charges of conspiring to sell weapons to a terrorist organization for use in killing Americans," said Acting Deputy Attorney General Grindler. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Dominion & Marathon Oil to Pay $6.9 Million to Resolve Allegations of Royalty Underpayments from American Indian and Federal Lands By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:00:48 EDT Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc. and Marathon Oil Company have agreed to pay the United States $2,219,974.98 and $4,697,476.57, respectively, to resolve claims that the two companies separately violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying royalties owed on natural gas produced from federal and Indian leases. Full Article OPA Press Releases
y Natchez, Mississippi, Police Officers Indicted for Civil Rights Offenses, Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft and Fraud, and False Statements By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:07:13 EDT A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Natchez, Miss., Police Department Officers Elvis Prater, 35, and Dewayne Johnson, 32, with civil rights offenses and other offenses related to the beating of two men in custody, the theft of an arrestee’s credit and debit cards, and the officers’ false statements to federal investigators. Full Article OPA Press Releases