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Former Kansas Businessman Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Role in Scheme to Defraud Federal E-rate Program

Leonard Douglas “Doug” LaDuron also was ordered to pay $238,607 in restitution.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Shuts Down Idaho Tax Preparer

A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction barring Penny Lea Jones of Idaho Falls, Idaho, from preparing federal income tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Files Six Lawsuits to Enjoin Preparation of Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Returns

The United States this week filed five civil injunction lawsuits in Detroit, Cincinnati and Chicago against several individuals and their tax preparation services.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Bar Nationwide Frivolous Lawsuit Scheme

The Department has sued George K. Pragovich of Clarksville, Tenn., to stop him from promoting an alleged nationwide scheme involving hundreds of frivolous lawsuits filed against the United States.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Wyoming Used Car Dealer Convicted in Federal Court for Odometer Tampering

After a two-week trial, a federal jury in Cheyenne, Wyo., today convicted Randy Lee (aka Jimmy Lee) on eleven of fourteen felony counts with which he was charged.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Permanently Blocks Tennessee Woman from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others

A federal court has issued a permanent injunction barring Karen Liane Miller of Nashville, Tenn., from preparing federal income tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Two New Jersey Executives Each Sentenced to 27 Months in Jail for Roles in Nationwide Scheme to Defraud the Federal E-rate Program

Benjamin Rowner and Jay H. Soled, former owners of DeltaNet Inc., were also each sentenced to pay $271,716 in restitution, jointly and severally, to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Officials Close the Investigation into the Death of Sean Bell

There is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers involved in the fatal shooting of Sean Bell.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Federal Bar Association’s Advancement of Social Justice Luncheon

"Today, it’s also my pleasure to join you in recognizing Kathleen Straus and in celebrating the example of public service reflected in Wade McCree’s life and career," said Attorney General Holder.




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Alleged Mexican Drug Cartel Leader Extradited from Mexico to United States to Face Federal Drug-trafficking Charges

An allegedly high-ranking leader of one of Mexico’s largest drug cartels, whose father allegedly heads a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and is among Mexico’s most powerful drug kingpins, was extradited today from Mexico to face federal narcotics trafficking conspiracy charges in the United States.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Obstructing DOJ Office of the Inspector General

A federal inmate pleaded guilty today in Kansas City, Mo., to obstruction of justice by making false statements and creating false evidence related to identity theft in an attempt to lessen penalties for charges in an underlying case.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court in Los Angeles Shuts Down Tax Firm for Requesting $23 Million in Bogus Tax Refunds

A federal court in Los Angeles has permanently barred Nyla McIntyre of Covina, Calif. and her business, Approved Financial Services, Inc., from preparing tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former Acting Executive Director of Nonprofit Organization in American Samoa Pleads Guilty to Theft of Federal Grant Funds

The former acting executive director of U’una’i Legal Services Corporation pleaded guilty today to stealing $31,292 from the federally-funded organization in American Samoa.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Permanently Shuts Down Northern California Tax Preparer

A federal judge in Sacramento, Calif., has permanently barred Teresa Marty, of Pollock Pines, Calif, and her Placerville, Calif.-based business, Advanced Financial Services LLC, from acting as federal tax return preparers.



  • OPA Press Releases

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California Man Convicted of Federal Hate Crime for Race-Motivated Assault

A federal jury in Sacramento, Calif., today convicted, Eric Clawson, 28, of San Francisco, of a federal hate crime for assaulting an African-American man in a Chico, Calif. bar.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Orders Kansas Tax Preparer to Stop False Claims

A federal judge in Kansas City, Kan., has issued a preliminary injunction barring a Garden City, Kan., tax preparer, Jose Lares, from preparing returns with false dependent exemptions and false filing statuses.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Court Issues Order Barring Michigan Tax Preparer from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others

A U.S. District Court has issued an order permanently barring Shawn Robin Gibson, a Detroit tax preparer, from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Two Puerto Rico Police Officers Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Charges Related to Fatal Assault

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel R. Dominguez sentenced former San Juan, Puerto Rico Police Officers, Carlos Pagan Ferrer, 32, and Juan Morales Rosado, 32, today for their role in the fatal assault by San Juan officers against Jose Rivera Robles, an unarmed civilian.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Mobile, Alabama, Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges Related to Desecration of Synagogue

Christian Rodney Ice, of Mobile, Ala., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Mobile to one count of violating the Church Arson Act by placing threatening graffitti and neo-Nazi markings on a synagogue in Mobile.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Permanently Bars Stratham, N.h., Tax Preparer from Preparing Taxes for Others

A federal district judge in New Hampshire has permanently barred Faith A. Bartlett, individually and operating as Atlantic Bookkeeping & Tax Services and Newbury Business Services Inc., from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Bars St. Louis Tax Firm from Certain Conduct

A federal judge in St. Louis has barred two St. Louis tax preparers and their businesses from certain conduct the Justice Department announced today



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Government Announces Removal of Obsolete Ships from Suisun Bay

The federal government announced today that it would remove the remaining 52 ships that currently sit in the Suisun Bay as part of an agreement with environmental groups that was filed in federal court in Sacramento, Calif.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Mobil Oil Companies to Pay U.S. $32.2 Million to Resolve Allegations of Underpayment of Royalties from American Indian and Federal Lands

Mobil Natural Gas Inc., Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S. Inc. and their affiliates have agreed to pay the United States $32.2 million to resolve claims that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying royalties owed on natural gas produced from federal and American Indian leases.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Learning Tree International Inc. Agrees to Pay $4.5 Million to Settle Allegations of Improper Billing Practices and Retention of Federal Funds

Learning Tree International Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $4.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act when it improperly invoiced federal agencies in advance for information technology training courses and kept federal funds for training courses that were never actually provided.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court in Chicago Bars Tax Preparer from Preparing Returns for Customers

A federal judge in Chicago has permanently barred Matoi Rimes, individually and operating as Rimes Accounting Service, from preparing federal tax returns for anyone who is not a member of his immediate family.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Shuts Down Nebraska Tax Preparer

A federal court in Lincoln, Neb., has issued a permanent injunction barring a Lexington, Neb., tax preparer, Donald R. Ondrak, and his company, Don Ondrak P.C., from preparing tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Shuts Down Florida Tax Preparer

A federal district court in Florida has permanently barred Jacksonville resident Shirley Clark from preparing tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Arkansas Private Banking System Barred from Operating by Federal Court

A federal judge in Fayetteville, Ark., has barred Wayne Hicks and his company, My Icis Inc., from operating a private banking system that allegedly helped customers avoid taxes by shielding their identities and other financial transactions from the Internal Revenue Service.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Officials Close the Investigation into the Death of Martin Lee Anderson

The Justice Department will not pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against the eight Bay County, Fla., Boot Camp staff members involved in the incident that resulted in the death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Shuts Down Illinois Tax Preparer

A federal judge in Chicago has issued a preliminary injunction against a Joliet, Ill., tax return preparer.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Shut Down Ohio Firm That Allegedly Promotes Improper Theft Loss Deductions

The United States has sued an Ohio man and his company, seeking to bar them from promoting a scheme that allegedly helps customers claim improper theft loss tax deductions.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Attorney General Eric Holder Welcomes Christopher H. Schroeder as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy

Attorney General Eric Holder today welcomed the confirmation of Christopher H. Schroeder as the new Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy (OLP). Schroeder was confirmed today by the U.S. Senate.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Salt Lake Federal Court Bars CPA from Preparing Tax Returns for Others

A federal court in Salt Lake City has permanently barred Dick Jenkins, a CPA from Heber City, Utah, from preparing tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Shuts Down Miami Tax Preparer

A federal court has permanently barred David Santiago and his business, Santiago Investment & Consulting Inc., both based in Miami, from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Two Puerto Rico Police Officers Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Charges Related to Fatal Assault

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel R. Dominguez sentenced former San Juan, Puerto Rico, Police Officers, Aaron Vidal Maldonado and Jose Pacheco Cruz today for their roles in the fatal assault by San Juan officers against Jose Rivera Robles, an unarmed civilian.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Shuts Down South Carolina Tax Preparer

A federal district judge in Columbia, S.C., has permanently barred Dorothy Lee Anderson of Hopkins, S.C., from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to Hold Workshop on Promoting Innovation

The Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced today that they will hold a joint public workshop on the intersection of patent policy and competition policy and its implications for promoting innovation



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Bars Georgia Man from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others

A federal court has barred Robert Knupp of Marietta, Ga., from preparing federal income tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court Bars Kansas Man from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

A federal judge in Kansas City, Kan., has permanently barred a Garden City, Kan. tax preparer, Jose Lares, from preparing federal tax returns.



  • OPA Press Releases

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New York Federal Court Permanently Bars Two Brothers from Preparing Tax Returns & Promoting Tax Evasion Schemes

A federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., has permanently barred brothers Archie J. Pugh Jr. and Theodore Pugh from promoting tax evasion schemes and preparing federal income tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Ship Management Firm Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Violating Federal Pollution Law

Cooperative Success Maritime S.A., the operator of the M/T Chem Faros, a 21,145 gross-ton ocean-going cargo ship that regularly transported cargo between foreign ports and the United States, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), and to making material false statements.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Faisal Shahzad Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to 10 Federal Crimes Arising from Attempted Car Bombing in Times Square

“Faisal Shahzad plotted and launched an attack that could have led to serious loss of life, and today the American criminal justice system ensured that he will pay the price for his actions,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. 



  • OPA Press Releases

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Twenty-six Alleged Bloods Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Federal Racketeering, Firearms and Narcotics Charges

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting our nation’s communities from the violent and dangerous crimes alleged in this indictment,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Downsville, Louisiana, Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime

Robert Jackson, 37, of Downsville, La., pleaded guilty in federal court to placing a hangman’s noose in the carport of the home of a family in order “to send a message” to African-American males who had been frequently visiting the victim’s home.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Mobile, Alabama, Man Indicted on Federal Civil Rights and Weapons Charges Related to Desecration of Synagogue

A federal grand jury in Mobile, Ala., has returned a three-count indictment charging Thomas Hayward Lewis, 24, of Mobile, with violating and conspiring to violate the civil rights of congregants of the Congregation Tree of Life Messianic Synagogue in Mobile, as well as possession of an unregistered firearm.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Citing Conflict with Federal Law, Department of Justice Challenges Arizona Immigration Law

The Department of Justice challenged the state of Arizona’s recently passed immigration law, S.B. 1070, in federal court today. The Department said the Arizona law unconstitutionally interferes with the federal government’s authority to set and enforce immigration policy.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former Bureau of Prisons Corrections Officer Convicted of Federal Civil Rights Charges

A federal jury in Orlando, Fla., found former Bureau of Prisons corrections officer Michael Kennedy guilty late yesterday on felony federal civil rights charges related to the fatal assault of an inmate in March 2005.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Maryland Man Sentenced on Federal Sex Trafficking, Drug and Firearm Charges

Lloyd Mack Royal III, aka “Blyss,” “B,” and “Furious,” 29, of Gaithersburg, Md., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams Jr. for his role in a sex trafficking operation.



  • OPA Press Releases

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California Man Indicted in Las Vegas for Filing False Liens Against Federal Employees & Filing False Tax Forms

A Las Vegas federal grand jury has indicted Thanh Viet Jeremy Cao, a resident of Orange County, Calif., for filing false liens against federal employees and corruptly obstructing the administration of the federal tax laws.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Federal Court in Chicago Permanently Bars Mother/Daughter Team from Preparing Tax Returns for Others

A federal district judge in Chicago has permanently barred Natalie Bradford, individually, and operating as K & N Tax Pros Inc., and Kristine Burkland-Valdez, individually, and operating as K & N Tax Pros Inc. and Tax Pros Inc., from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases