t Justice Department Releases Video Explaining Federal Protections Against Immigration-Related Discrimination in the Workplace By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:54:08 EST The Department released a new video aimed at educating employers about worker rights and employer responsibilities under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Three South Carolina Men Plead Guilty to Federal Civil Rights and Carjacking Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:57:39 EST Thomas Howard Blue Sr., Thomas Howard Blue Jr. and Judson Hartley Talbert pleaded guilty today in federal court in Florence, S.C., to charges relating to the assault of an African-American man and two white men in December 2007. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Two Florida Executives, One Florida Intermediary and Two Former Haitian Government Officials Indicted for Their Alleged Participation in Foreign Bribery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 16:15:38 EST Two Florida executives of a Miami-Dade County-based telecommunications company, the president of Florida-based Telecom Consulting Services Corp., and two former Haitian government officials were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their alleged roles in a foreign bribery, wire fraud and money laundering scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t U.S. Settles with Itochu Corp. and Itochu International Regarding Defective Bullet-Proof Vests By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 17:16:51 EST The United States has reached a $6.75 million settlement with Itochu Corp. of Japan and its American subsidiary, Itochu International Inc., to resolve claims under the False Claims Act in connection with the companies’ importation and sale of defective Zylon fiber used as the key ballistic material in bullet-proof vests purchased by the United States for federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t District of Columbia Seafood Company, Two Employees Charged with Purchasing Illegally Harvested Striped Bass By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:02:52 EST A Washington, D.C., fish wholesaler and two of its employees have been charged in U.S. District Court in Maryland for the purchase of illegally harvested striped bass, commonly referred to as rockfish, from the Potomac River from 1995 through 2007. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Attorney General Holder, Secretary Salazar Announce Settlement of Cobell Lawsuit on Indian Trust Management By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 10:42:37 EST “Over the past thirteen years, the parties have tried to settle this case many, many times, each time unsuccessfully,” said Attorney General Holder. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Member of the Cherokee Nation Pleads Guilty to Selling Bear Gall Bladders By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:04:52 EST Clement Calhoun of Cherokee, N.C., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Asheville, N.C., to federal charges for unlawfully trafficking in bear gall bladders. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Justice Department Signs Agreement with City of Atlanta to Ensure Civic Access for Persons with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:00:28 EST “Civic access is a basic and critical civil right, and it ensures individuals with disabilities can play productive, fulfilling roles in their communities,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Four Arkansas Men Sentenced on Civil Rights Charges in Cross Burning Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 14:56:13 EST Jacob Wingo, Clayton Morrison, Darren McKim and Richard Robins were sentenced today and yesterday in federal court in Hot Springs, Ark., on federal civil rights and obstruction of justice charges related to a conspiracy to drive a woman and her children from their home in Donaldson, Ark., because the victims associated with African-Americans. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Former U.S. Army Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Role in Bribery Conspiracy in Al-hillah, Iraq By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 16:32:11 EST Curtis Whiteford, a former colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, was sentenced today to five years in prison for his participation in a wide-ranging bribery conspiracy in Al-Hillah, Iraq. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Syracuse Mortgage Underwriter to Pay United States Nearly $679,000 to Resolve Mortgage Fraud Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 17:26:32 EST Robert Corp, a mortgage underwriter in Syracuse, N.Y., has agreed to pay the United States close to $679,000 to settle allegations that he defrauded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Attorney General Holder at the Announcement of Cobell V. Salazar Settlement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 11:14:20 EST "Thank you Secretary Salazar. Today marks another significant step forward in the government’s work to fulfill our trust obligation for hundreds of thousands of individual Native Americans. Cobell v. Salazar is one of the largest class actions ever brought against the U.S. government." Full Article Speech
t Associate Attorney General Perrelli at the Announcement of Cobell V. Salazar Settlement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 12:39:45 EST "Thank you to the Attorney General, and thank you to Secretary Salazar and Deputy Secretary Hayes for the extraordinary commitment of their Department of the Interior to bring this case to a resolution." Full Article Speech
t Department Issues FOIA Annual Report in More Accessible Format as Part of the President’s Initiative on Transparency and Open Government By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 11:01:42 EST As a result of the new format, members of the public, including public interest organizations, scholars, and the media, will be able to more easily track FOIA performance. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t State Department Employee Sentenced for Illegally Accessing Confidential Passport Files By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 12:59:34 EST Kevin M. Young, 42, was sentenced today to 12 months of probation for illegally accessing more than 125 confidential passport application files. Young was also ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay in the District of Columbia to perform 100 hours of community service. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Polembros Shipping Ltd. Sentenced for Crimes Related to Pollution from Cargo Ship Traveling to New Orleans By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:53:47 EST Polembros Shipping LTD., a ship management company headquartered in Greece, was sentenced today in federal court in New Orleans to pay a $2.7 million criminal fine for violating anti-pollution laws, ship safety laws, and making false statements during a U.S. Coast Guard investigation of the M/V Theotokos, the Justice Department announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Taiwan LCD Producer Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $220 Million Fine for Participating in LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 16:20:54 EST Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracy are some of the largest computer and television manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and HP. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Georgia Couple Charged with Human Trafficking and Immigration Violations for Exploiting Woman from Swaziland By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:55:09 EST A federal grand jury in Atlanta has indicted an Ellenwood, Ga., husband and wife, Juna Gwendolyn Babb, 54, and Michael J. Babb, 53, on charges of conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, which is confiscating someone’s passport and visa, and harboring an alien for financial gain, the Justice Department announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t United States Transfers One Guantanamo Bay Detainee to Kuwait By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 16:36:55 EST Fouad Mahmoud al-Rabiah, a Kuwaiti national, has been transferred from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the control of the government of Kuwait. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation by City of Fort Pierce, Florida By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:57:31 EST “Our nation’s civil rights laws ensure that every individual can go to work each day without fear of discrimination based on the color of their skin,” said Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Largest Environmental Bankruptcy in U.S. History Will Result in Payment of $1.79 Billion Towards Environmental Cleanup & Restoration By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:36:10 EST As a result of the largest environmental bankruptcy in U.S. history, $1.79 billion has been paid to fund environmental cleanup and restoration under a bankruptcy reorganization of American Smelting and Refining Company LLC (ASARCO). Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Ft. Worth, Texas, Couple Charged with Holding Nigerian Woman in Domestic Servitude By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:20:13 EST A federal grand jury has indicted a Ft. Worth, Texas, husband and wife, Emmanuel and Ngozi Nnaji, on charges of engaging in a nine-year scheme to compel the labor of a Nigerian victim as their domestic servant. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Former DOD Contracting Officer Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:36:32 EST Tijani Ahmed Saani was also ordered to pay a $1.6 million fine and serve one year of supervised release following his prison term. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Police Officer Indicted on Federal Civil Rights Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:16:39 EST A federal grand jury in Providence, R.I., has indicted an officer with the Woonsocket Police Department, charging him with violating the civil rights of a 16 year-old juvenile by physically assaulting him, as well as obstruction of justice. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Statement by Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Joint Study on School Crime and Safety By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:40:59 EST “Eradicating youth violence is a priority of this administration and a priority of both these agencies," said Attorney General Holder and Education Secretary Duncan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Statement of Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli Before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee of Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Entitled "H.r. 1924, the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009" By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:55:59 EST "The challenges facing law enforcement in tribal communities are enormous. The basic level of police protection that most Americans take for granted simply does not exist in many parts of Indian Country. We have a duty to change that." Full Article Testimony
t Physical Therapist, Money Launderer and Patient Recruiter Plead Guilty in Connection with Multiple Detroit Health Care Fraud Schemes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:10:53 EST Detroit-area residents Baskaran Thangarasan, Sandeep Aggarwal and Wayne Smith pleaded guilty this week for their roles in connection with several Detroit-area health care fraud schemes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Former Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Participating in Scheme to Steal Large Quantities of Fuel from U.S. Army in Iraq By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:52:47 EST Robert Jeffery, 55, a former master chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, was sentenced today to four years in prison for his participation in a scheme to steal approximately 10 million gallons of fuel from the U.S. Army in Iraq, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil H. MacBride. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Ninth Person Pleads Guilty to Illegally Accessing Confidential Passport Files By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:59:38 EST A ninth individual pleaded guilty today to illegally accessing numerous confidential passport application files, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Attorney General Eric Holder at the Installation Ceremony for Assistant Attorneys General Laurie Robinson and Ronald Weich By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:54:31 EST "Laurie and Ron are not only valued colleagues, they are leaders in the Department and throughout this Administration," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
t North Dakota Executive Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:07:24 EST Micheal Fisher, a former co-owner of Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. Inc. (FSG) based in Dickinson, N.D., was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Terrorism Defendants Sentenced in Atlanta By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:54:41 EST Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, 23, of Roswell, Ga., and Syed Haris Ahmed, 25, of Atlanta, were sentenced today in federal court following their convictions earlier this year in separate but related criminal trials. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Presidential Task Force on Controlled Unclassified Information Releases Report and Recommendations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:31:49 EST Attorney General Holder and Secretary Janet Napolitano announced two major steps in their efforts to implement reforms to enhance information sharing among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies and safeguard sensitive information used by the government—designed to expand joint capabilities to protect the United States from terrorist activity, violent crime and other threats to the homeland. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Two Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, Men and Four Police Officers Indicted for Hate Crime and Related Corruption By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:39:01 EST A federal grand jury has returned multiple indictments arising out of a fatal racially motivated beating and related police corruption in Shenandoah, Pa. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Los Angeles Area Tax Preparer Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Violating Injunction By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:07:00 EST James A. Mattatall of Torrance, Calif., was sentenced to six months in prison for violating a permanent injunction. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t University of Phoenix Settles False Claims Act Lawsuit for $67.5 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:03:29 EST University of Phoenix has agreed to pay the United States $67.5 million to resolve allegations that its student recruitment policies violated the False Claims Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Medicare Fraud Strike Force Expands Operations into Brooklyn, N.Y.; Tampa, Fla.; and Baton Rouge, La. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:16:05 EST Thirty people have been charged in three cities for their alleged roles in schemes to submit more than $61 million in false Medicare claims as part of the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Michigan Tax Preparers Permanently Barred from Preparing Returns for Others By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:18:57 EST Chief District Judge Paul L. Maloney has permanently barred Joyce M. Stone and Charles J. Freed, both of Tipton, Mich., from preparing income tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Former Senate Employee Charged with $75,000 Wire Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:34:31 EST Ngozi T. Pole, 39, a former office manager in the U.S. Senate, was charged today in a six-count indictment for an alleged scheme to defraud the U.S. Senate of more than $75,000, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Parent Company of Two New Jersey Hospitals to Pay U.S. $7.95 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:00:47 EST Our Lady of Lourdes Health Care Services Inc., the parent company of two New Jersey hospitals, has agreed to pay the United States $7.95 million to resolve allegations that the hospitals defrauded Medicare. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Former State Department Employee Sentenced for Illegally Accessing Confidential Passport Files By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:15:55 EST Karal Busch, 28, of District Heights, Md., was sentenced today to 24 months of probation for illegally accessing more than 65 confidential passport application files. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Attorney General Eric Holder at the Fatherhood Town Hall By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:31:35 EST "I’m honored to be joined here this evening by fellow dads and leaders focused on fatherhood," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
t Virginia Resident Charged with Conspiring to Bribe Former Panamanian Government Officials for Maritime Contract By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:26:52 EST A federal grand jury has charged a Virginia Beach, Va., resident with conspiracy to pay bribes to former Panamanian government officials to secure maritime contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, Christine Varney, Issues Statement on European Commission Microsoft Settlement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:01:50 EST “The Antitrust Division commends the efforts of the European Commission and Microsoft Corporation, which have announced that they have reached a comprehensive settlement resolving their disputes under European competition law." Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Retired Army Major Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Role in Bribery Scheme Involving DOD Contracts in Kuwait By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:07:56 EST Christopher Murray pleaded guilty in January 2009 to four counts of bribery and one count of making a false statement. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Justice Department Reaches Americans with Disabilities Act Settlement with Intellitec Colleges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:35:26 EST The department announced a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Intellitec Colleges in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and Pueblo, Colo., to ensure access to its technical colleges for individuals with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Justice Department Signs Agreement with Santa Rosa, California, to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:39:14 EST The department announced an agreement with Santa Rosa, Calif., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Credit Suisse Agrees to Forfeit $536 Million in Connection with Violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and New York State Law By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:13:03 EST The forfeiture is the largest ever entered against an entity for IEEPA violations. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Former Kansas Businessman Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Role in Scheme to Defraud Federal E-rate Program By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:51:55 EST Leonard Douglas “Doug” LaDuron also was ordered to pay $238,607 in restitution. Full Article OPA Press Releases
t Attorney General Eric Holder at a Press Conference Announcing the Credit Suisse Resolution By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:15:10 EST "The U.S. financial system is built on trust and transparency. Our banks must know what payments they are processing and for whom. Credit Suisse’s decades-long scheme to flout the rules that govern our financial institutions robbed our system of the legitimacy that is fundamental to it success." Full Article Speech