ex Third Dreamboard Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Participating in International Criminal Network Organized to Sexually Exploit Children By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 18:34:06 EDT John Wyss, aka “Bones,” 55, of Monroe, Wis., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Maurice Hicks in the Western District of Louisiana. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in Belize By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 19:03:49 EDT Roland J. Flath, 72, of Fond du Lac, Wis., was sentenced in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin by Judge J.P. Stadtmueller. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Texas Tax Preparers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Sep 2012 16:43:32 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has sued two Dallas tax return preparers, seeking to bar them from preparing federal tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex California Landlord Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit for $2.13 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:42:26 EDT The Justice Department today announced that Rawland Leon Sorensen, the owner and manager of dozens of residential rental properties in Bakersfield, Calif., will be obligated to pay more than $2 million in monetary damages and civil penalties to settle a Fair Housing Act lawsuit alleging that he sexually harassed women tenants and prospective tenants. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Employment Discrimination by Texas Farm By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:56:39 EDT The Justice Department filed a motion to intervene today in a lawsuit against Jerry Estopy, d/b/a Estopy Farms, a sorghum and soy farm in McAllen, Tex., which also provides equipment and equipment operators for harvests at other farms. The Justice Department seeks to intervene in a lawsuit filed by two U.S. citizens against the farm. The department alleges that the company discriminated against one of the U.S. citizens when it refused to hire him based on his citizenship status. The Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA) anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on national origin or citizenship status in the hiring or firing process. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department Settles with Pennsylvania School for $715,000 Over Exclusion of Child with HIV By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:08:10 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it and the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania have reached a settlement with the Milton Hershey School of Hershey, Pa., to remedy alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agreement resolves allegations that the school violated the ADA by refusing to consider a child, known by the pseudonym Abraham Smith, for enrollment due to the fact that he has HIV. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Minnesota Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Sexual Abuse of Minors By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:57:37 EDT Joshua Gardner, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery in the District of Minnesota. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Acting New England Crime Boss Pleads Guilty in Racketeering and Extortion Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:10:45 EDT Anthony L. Dinunzio, 53, of East Boston, Mass., the acting leader of the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN) crime family, pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to extort protection payments from adult entertainment businesses in Rhode Island, according to a signed plea agreement filed today in U.S. District Court in Providence, R.I. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department Settles Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Against City of Corpus Christi, Texas, Police Department By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:06:46 EDT The Department of Justice announced today that it has entered into a settlement to resolve the department’s allegations that the city of Corpus Christi, Texas, violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against women when hiring entry-level police officers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Attorney General Eric Holder Expands National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention to Ten Cities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:54:25 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Mary Lou Leary today announced that four new cities will join a White House initiative to prevent youth violence. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Guam Bar Owner Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking and Related Crimes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:45:59 EDT Song Ja Cha, 70, a bar owner in Guam, was sentenced to life in prison today for her involvement in a sex trafficking scheme to force young women and one juvenile girl into prostitution, the Department of Justice announced. Cha was also ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution to the victims in this case as well as a $10,000 fine. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Taiwan Auto Lights Manufacturer Executive Pleads Guilty in Price-Fixing Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:06:17 EDT The vice chairman and second-highest ranking officer of a Taiwan aftermarket auto lights manufacturer pleaded guilty today for his participation in an international conspiracy to fix the prices of aftermarket auto lights. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former New Mexico Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Criminal Civil Rights Charge By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Oct 2012 18:16:21 EDT Demetrio Juan Gonzales, 40, a former corrections officer at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today to one count of 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
ex U.S. District Court Orders Community Notice to Corpus Christi, Texas, Residents Who May Be Victims of Environmental Crimes by Citgo Refinery By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 10:03:07 EDT Persons living around the CITGO refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, who suffered immediate negative health effects from emissions from two large tanks at the facility that were operated between January 1994 and May 2003 in violation of the federal Clean Air Act, may be crime victims in United States v. CITGO Petroleum Corporation et al. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Customs and Border Protection Officer Sentenced for Sexual Assault of Women at Miami International Airport By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 18:19:49 EDT Paulo Morales, 48, of Miami, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum to 33 months in prison along with one year supervised release, the Justice Department announced. In July, Morales, a former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against City of Selma, Texas, for Retaliating Against Firefighter By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 5 Oct 2012 12:27:12 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into a settlement to resolve allegations that the city of Selma, Texas violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by engaging in retaliation against a firefighter for filing a complaint against a superior for using ethnic slurs in the workplace. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex US Customs and Border Protection Officer and Two Associates Charged with Undertaking Multi-Year Bribery and Alien Smuggling Operation Along the US/Mexico Border By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 5 Oct 2012 18:40:45 EDT A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer, his girlfriend and an associate have been charged in Brownsville, Texas, for engaging in a multi-year bribery and alien smuggling operation along the U.S./Mexico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Owner of Texas Home Health Services Company Pleads Guilty, Admits Role in $374 Million Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:11:46 EDT A Dallas-area home health services company owner today admitted his role in a $374 million home health fraud scheme in which he and others conspired to bill Medicare for unnecessary services that were never performed. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Louisiana Man Sentenced in Virginia to 25 Years in Prison for Filming His Sexual Abuse of a Minor Girl By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:42:05 EDT Gregory Thomas Miller, 57, of Deville, La., pleaded guilty on April 27, 2012, to a 10-count indictment charging him with seven counts of production of child pornography, one count of transporting child pornography, one count of possessing child pornography and one count of marijuana possession. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Top Executives at Kolon Industries Indicted for Stealing DuPont’s Kevlar Trade Secrets By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 11:05:56 EDT Kolon Industries Inc. and several of its executives and employees have been indicted for allegedly engaging in a multi-year campaign to steal trade secrets related to DuPont’s Kevlar para-aramid fiber and Teijin Limited’s Twaron para-aramid fiber. The indictment seeks forfeiture of at least $225 million in proceeds from the alleged theft of trade secrets from Kolon’s competitors. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Three Former Financial Services Executives Sentenced to Serve Time in Prison for Roles in Conspiracies Involving Investment Contracts for the Proceeds of Municipal Bonds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:44:33 EDT Three former financial services executives were sentenced today in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, for their participation in conspiracies related to bidding for contracts for the investment of municipal bond proceeds and other municipal finance contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department to Monitor Early Voting in Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:31:27 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor portions of the early voting period for the Nov. 6, 2012, general election in Dallas and Harris Counties, Texas, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. Early voting in Dallas and Harris Counties begins on Monday, October 22. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former New Mexico Corrections Officer Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting Inmate By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:47:46 EDT Sylvester Bruce, 45, a former corrections officer with Navajo Nation’s Shiprock Detention Center (SDC) in Shiprock, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court on charges related to the sexual abuse of an inmate during the summer and fall of 2010. In July 2012, Bruce pleaded guilty to one count of violating the victim’s civil rights when he touched her breasts against her will. Bruce also pleaded guilty to making material false statements to the FBI when he denied taking pictures of inmates inside the cells of the SDC. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former San Juan County, New Mexico, Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty to Violating Civil Rights of Man by Assaulting Him with a Flashlight By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:15:07 EDT R. Dale Frazier, 57, of Flora Vista, N.M., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a federal civil rights charge in connection with the unlawful assault and beating of Dovovan Tanner with a flashlight. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former Texas Parole Officer Indicted for Bribery Scheme Involving Assigned Parolee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:33:55 EDT A former Texas state parole officer was arrested today in Dallas on charges of engaging in a bribery scheme involving one of her assigned parolees. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department Reaches Agreement to Extend Critical Reforms at the Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Camps By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:06:44 EDT The Justice Department has reached an agreement with the county of Los Angeles to extend critical reforms at the Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation Camps that were set to expire later this month. The agreement amends a memorandum of agreement (MOA) entered into in 2008 to resolve the department’s investigation into conditions of confinement at the juvenile camps. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former Middle School Employee Pleads Guilty in Texas to Production and Distribution of Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:12:19 EDT Robert Ramos Jr., 33, of Austin, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane in the Western District of Texas to one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Member Sentenced in Houston for Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Nov 2012 14:30:05 EDT Bobby Teets, 46, aka “Bull,” pleaded guilty on Dec. 9, 2010, to racketeering aggravated assault for his role in the assault of an applicant for membership in the gang, and was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. Teets is to serve the 72-month sentence consecutively to the state prison term he is currently serving. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex German Shipping Companies Convicted in Texas and Alaska for Environmental Crimes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Nov 2012 14:55:32 EDT Two German shipping companies pleaded guilty today in federal court in Houston to criminal charges that they concealed the illegal dumping of oil at sea from U.S. Coast Guard inspectors. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former New Mexico Navajo Police Officer Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison on Sexual Abuse Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 6 Nov 2012 17:35:44 EST 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. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Mexican Pecan Company Owner Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-Import Bank By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 7 Nov 2012 19:14:11 EST Leopoldo Valencia-Urrea, 50, was sentenced by Judge Kathleen Cardone in U.S. District Court in El Paso, Texas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Texas Inmate Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for Assaulting Fellow Inmate By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 17:53:05 EST John Hall, 27, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Seagoville, Texas, pleaded guilty today in federal court to violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act stemming from his assault of a fellow inmate, who he believed to be gay, the Department of Justice announced. Hall assaulted his fellow inmate with a dangerous weapon, causing bodily injury to the victim on Dec. 20, 2011. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex 34 Alleged Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Members Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 13:39:57 EST Thirty-four alleged members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang (ABT), including four of its most senior leaders, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Houston for allegedly conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer Speaks at Press Conference to Announce Charges Against Alleged Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Leaders By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 13:37:15 EST "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. Full Article Speech
ex The Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission Release FCPA Resource Guide By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:15:12 EST 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. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department Settles Civil Contempt Claim Against Exelon Corporation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:45:08 EST 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. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex BP Exploration and Production Inc. Agrees to Plead Guilty to Felony Manslaughter, Environmental Crimes and Obstruction of Congress Surrounding Deepwater Horizon Incident By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:14:49 EST 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. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Settle Pay Discrimination Lawsuits Against Two Texas State Agencies By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:59:41 EST 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. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Ohio Automobile Parts Supplier Executive Pleads Guilty in Price-Fixing and Bid-Rigging Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:41:35 EST An executive at the Ohio subsidiary of a Japanese automotive supplier pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids of anti-vibration rubber parts sold in the United States and elsewhere. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Nearly $1 Million Now Available to Support Partnerships Offering Education and Workforce Training for Incarcerated Individuals Exiting Prisons By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:30:24 EST The Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education announced today a new, nearly $1 million grant fund entitled, “Promoting Reentry Success through Continuity of Educational Opportunities”, that will invest in innovative programs preparing incarcerated individuals to successfully reenter society with the support of education and workforce training. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex New Mexico Man Sentenced to Prison for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:06:01 EST 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. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former Executives of Stanford Financial Group Entities Convicted for Roles in Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:33:41 EST A Houston federal jury has convicted Gilbert T. Lopez Jr., the former chief accounting officer of Stanford Financial Group Company, and Mark J. Kuhrt, the former global controller of Stanford Financial Group Global Management, for their roles in helping Robert Allen Stanford perpetrate a fraud scheme involving Stanford International Bank (SIB). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Iranian National and His Company Charged in Plot Involving Export of Military Antennas from the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:00:14 EST Amin Ravan, a citizen of Iran, and his Iran-based company, IC Market Iran, have been charged in an indictment unsealed today with conspiracy to defraud the United States, smuggling, and violating the Arms Export Control Act in connection with the unlawful export of 55 military antennas from the United States to Singapore and Hong Kong. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former Executive at Florida-Based Lender Processing Services Inc. Admits Role in Mortgage-Related Document Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:15:34 EST A former executive of Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS) – a publicly traded company based in Jacksonville, Fla. – pleaded guilty today, admitting her participation in a six-year scheme to prepare and file more than 1 million fraudulently signed and notarized mortgage-related documents with property recorders’ offices throughout the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Mexican National Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Trafficking the Identities of Puerto Rican U.S. Citizens By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:01:25 EST Jose Sergio Garcia-Ramirez, 37, formerly of Rockford, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí, in the District of Puerto Rico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Sussex County, Delaware, for Blocking Affordable Housing By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:36:08 EST The Justice Department announced today that it has settled a lawsuit against Sussex County, Del., and the Planning and Zoning Commission of Sussex County for race and national origin discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Former Puerto Rico Police Officers Charged with Extorting a Commonwealth Defendant for $50,000 By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:38:24 EST Abimael Arroyo-Cruz, 30, of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, and Josue Becerril-Ramos, 36, of Carolina, Puerto Rico, were both charged in an indictment returned today in the District of Puerto Rico with one count of conspiracy, one count of federal programs bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and one count of attempted extortion. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Attorney General Eric Holder and High-Level Officials Launch Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 09:09:06 EST Attorney General Eric Holder and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström will launch the Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online at a ministerial conference tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2012, in Brussels. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex County Commissioner Convicted in Georgia for Attempted Extortion and Bribery By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 13:33:39 EST A federal jury in Albany, Ga., convicted Sumter County, Ga., County Commissioner Al J. Hurley late yesterday on corruption charges stemming from his acceptance of illicit payments in exchange for his official efforts to secure government contracts for a private contractor. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ex Texas Man Sentenced in Indiana to 330 Months in Prison for Participating in International Child Pornography Distribution Ring By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 14:59:55 EST A Texas man was sentenced today to serve 330 months in prison for his participation in an international child pornography distribution ring. Full Article OPA Press Releases