o Cargolux Airline Executives Indicted in Conspiracy to Fix Surcharge Rates on Air Cargo Shipments By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:48:07 EDT A Miami grand jury returned an indictment today against two executives of Cargolux Airlines International S.A., a Luxembourg-based corporation, for participating in a conspiracy to fix and coordinate certain surcharges on air cargo shipments to and from the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Four Former Airline Executives Indicted in Conspiracy to Fix Fuel Surcharges on Air Cargo Shipments to South and Central America By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:49:25 EDT A Miami grand jury returned an indictment today against four former airline executives of competing air cargo carriers for participating in a conspiracy to fix surcharges on air cargo shipments from the United States to South and Central America following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Owner of New Jersey Fishing Company Pleads Guilty to Organizing and Financing Network of High-tech Marijuana Grow Facilities in Four States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:14:14 EDT A Philadelphia man has pleaded guilty for his role in organizing and financing a network of high-tech, indoor marijuana grow facilities stretching from Florida to Connecticut. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Texas Man Who Was Part of Father and Son Team of Pirated Software Sellers Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:38:39 EDT Todd Alan Cook, 24, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III for selling more than $1 million worth of pirated computer software through the Internet, in violation of criminal copyright infringement laws. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Virginia Information Technology Director Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Hacking Former Employer’s Website By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:53:07 EDT A fired information technology director for Transmarx LLC, a Richmond, Va., company, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for hacking into his former employer’s website. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Securities Attorney and Former Stock Broker Each Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for $43 Million Pump-and-Dump Stock Manipulation Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:10:18 EDT A securities attorney and a former stock broker were sentenced today to 188 months and 151 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in an extensive pump-and-dump stock manipulation scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Rocky Mountain Instrument to Pay U.S. $1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:53:50 EDT The United States has reached a settlement with Rocky Mountain Instrument Company (RMI) to resolve claims that the manufacturer violated the False Claims Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Maryland Contractors and Their President to Pay United States for Falsely Obtaining Hubzone and SBA 8(a) Contracts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:55:13 EDT Platinum One Contracting, located in Capitol Heights, Md., its president, Anthony Wright, and Capitol Contractors, also located in Capitol Heights, and its president, Vernon J. Smith III, have agreed to pay the United States $200,000 to settle claims that they used false statements to obtain contracts from the Department of Defense. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Justice Department to Monitor Polls in 18 States on Election Day By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:36:11 EDT The Justice Department announced today that its Civil Rights Division plans to deploy more than 400 federal observers and department personnel to 30 jurisdictions in 18 states for the Nov. 2, 2010, general election. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 10th Anniversary Event By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:49:54 EDT "Today, we commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
o Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer Delivers Remarks at the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 10th Anniversary Event By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:55:08 EDT "The Trafficking Victims Protection Act was a landmark piece of legislation," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. Full Article Speech
o Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez Delivers Remarks at the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 10th Anniversary Event By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:58:27 EDT "Human trafficking is a grave affront to human rights and to our nation’s core values, and there can be no higher calling in our commitment to vindicating the individual rights of all people than eradicating this form of modern-day slavery," said Assistant Attorney General Perez. Full Article Speech
o All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Air Cargo and Air Passenger Services By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:08:26 EDT All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. (ANA) has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $73 million criminal fine for its role in two separate conspiracies to fix prices in the air transportation industry. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Burning African-American Church By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 1 Nov 2010 16:20:39 EDT Benjamin Haskell was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor in Springfield, Mass., to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the 2008 burning of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, a predominately African-American Church, on the morning after President Barack Obama was elected as the first African-American President of the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Miami Contractor Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 17:07:22 EDT Axel Rafael Mercado pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion before U.S. District Court Judge Patricia A. Seitz in the Southern District of Florida. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Former President of New Jersey Manufacturer and Distributor of Food Service Equipment Hardware Charged with Conspiracy to Allocate Customers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 16:57:43 EDT An Atlanta grand jury returned an indictment today against the former president and chief executive officer of a Lakewood, N.J.-based manufacturer and distributor of food service equipment hardware, for conspiring to allocate customers for the sale of commercial and institutional food service equipment hardware. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Former Kershaw County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Department Officer Charged with Civil Rights Violation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 18:00:17 EDT Oddie Tribble, a former police officer with the Kershaw County, S.C., Sherriff’s Office, was charged today with violating the civil rights of an arrestee on Aug. 5, 2010. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Three Arkansas Men Indicted for Burning Cross to Intimidate African-American Resident By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 18:05:54 EDT James Bradley Branscum, Tony Branscum, both of Salado, Ark., and Curtis Coffee of Batesville, Ark., were indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges related to their roles in burning a cross in the yard of an African-American resident in Salado on Aug. 28, 2010. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Miami Contractor Sentenced to Prison for Employment Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 11:56:38 EDT Victor Manuel Amaya was sentenced to two years in prison for employment tax fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Department of Justice Announces Public Hearings on Proposed Revisions to ADA Regulations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 12:47:20 EDT The Department of Justice has scheduled three public hearings on its regulatory proposals concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Justice Department Sues Chicago Lawyer to Halt Tax Shelters with $370 Million in Alleged Sham Deductions By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 12:55:16 EDT The United States has asked a federal court in Chicago to permanently bar John E. Rogers, a Chicago tax lawyer and former partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, from promoting tax shelters that allegedly use distressed Brazilian debt to illegally lower customers’ reported income. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Federal Court Bars Texas Man and His Corporations from Pyramiding Employment Taxes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 15:00:55 EDT A federal court Tuesday issued a memorandum opinion and a preliminary injunction against Arthur Piner Grider, III; Asgard Avionics Corp. of Florida; and 14 other corporate defendants who operate as employee leasing companies, from violating the Internal Revenue Code. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Baltimore Police Department Officer Sentenced to Five Years in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 16:11:22 EDT Gregory Mussmacher was convicted by a jury in May 2010 for physically abusing a juvenile in his custody and for obstructing justice to cover up what he had done. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Westerly, Rhode Island, Man Convicted of Possessing and Distributing Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 18:09:35 EDT David Chiaradio, 28, of Westerly, R.I., was convicted today by a federal jury in Providence, R.I., of one count of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Maryland Man Sentenced for Sending Threatening Email to Illinois Mosque By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 19:12:17 EDT Ilya Sobolevskiy, a 25-year-old resident of Maryland, was sentenced today to serve 12 months in prison and to pay a $3,000 fine for violating the civil rights of members of an Urbana, Ill., mosque, announced the Justice Department. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Former Department of Defense Employee Arrested and Charged for Allegedly Stealing Financial Assistance Funds Intended for Service Members By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 10:00:31 EDT Tyrone L. Ellis, a former civilian employee of the Department of Defense (DoD), was arrested yesterday and has been charged with conspiracy, conversion and false statements related to his alleged theft of Army Emergency Relief (AER) funds while he was employed at Camp Humphreys in the Republic of Korea. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Oil Services Companies and a Freight Forwarding Company Agree to Resolve Foreign Bribery Investigations and to Pay More Than $156 Million in Criminal Penalties By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 12:53:02 EDT A global freight forwarding company, as well as five oil and gas service companies and subsidiaries, have all agreed to resolve investigations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Louisiana Vessel Company to Pay $2.1 Million in Penalties By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 16:19:33 EDT Offshore Vessels LLC (OSV) was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $1,750,000 and remit a payment of $350,000 as community service to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Gainesville, Florida, Man Arrested for His Role in a $30 Million Ponzi Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 17:06:20 EDT David R. Lewalski, formerly of Gainesville, Fla., was arrested today in Manhattan on a wire fraud charge related to his alleged participation in a $30 million investment fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer Speaks at Practising Law Institute By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 10:02:01 EDT "One concrete and very direct result of the Justice Department’s participation in the Task Force is that we have forged and fostered strong relationships with our partners in the fight against financial fraud," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. Full Article Speech
o Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services Team Up to Crack Down on Health Care Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 14:48:27 EDT Today, Department of Justice Attorney General Eric Holder and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visited Brooklyn, N.Y., where they participated in the third Regional Health Care Fraud Prevention Summit. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o State Department Employee Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements About Accessing Confidential Passport Files By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 15:24:36 EDT Brooke E. Reyna, 28, of Barrington, N.H., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire to making false statements. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Ruston, Louisiana, Man Sentenced for Federal Hate Crime By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 5 Nov 2010 18:04:20 EDT Robert Jackson, 37, of Ruston, La., was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for placing a hangman’s noose under the carport of the home of a Honduran immigrant who moved to Ruston from New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Virginia Man Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 10:51:24 EST Gary Lee Rimmer, 56, was indicted in June 2010 and charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Imprisoned Spy Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Act as an Agent of the Russian Government and Money Laundering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 14:10:37 EST Harold James Nicholson, 59, appeared before U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown and pleaded guilty to the crimes of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government and conspiracy to commit international money laundering. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Arizona Attorney and Accountant Sentenced to Prison for Abusive Foreign Trust Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 09:07:05 EST Steven W. Allen, a practicing attorney from Mesa, Ariz., and Allen Goodmansen, a certified public accountant, also from Mesa, were sentenced to prison for tax fraud by Phoenix federal district court Judge Roslyn O. Silver. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Federal Court Bars Owner and Employees of Providence, Rhode Island, Firm from Preparing Federal Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 09:08:55 EST A federal judge in Providence, R.I., entered a preliminary injunction against Michael Brier, individually, and doing business as Refunds Now Inc., RNTS Inc., FTIRS Inc., POTIRS Inc. and IHIRS Inc. from preparing federal tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Clean Water Act Settlement with Indianapolis Will Reduce Pollution at Lower Costs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 16:35:23 EST The Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the state of Indiana have reached an agreement with the city of Indianapolis on important modifications to a 2006 consent decree that will make Indianapolis’ sewer system more efficient, leading to major reductions in sewage contaminated water at a savings to the city of approximately $444 million. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Oregon Man Sentenced for Threatening Lima, Ohio, Civil Rights Leader by Mailing Noose By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 16:50:26 EST Daniel Lee Jones, a Portland, Ore., white supremacist, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and three years supervised release for threatening the president of the Lima, Ohio, chapter of the NAACP by mailing him a noose. Jones entered a guilty plea on May 17, 2010, to using the U.S. Postal Service to send a threatening communication. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Pharmaceutical Company Lawyer Charged with Obstruction and Making False Statements By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 09:54:31 EST Lauren Stevens of Durham, N.C., was charged with one count of obstructing an official proceeding, one count of concealing and falsifying documents to influence a federal agency, and four counts of making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Department of Justice Statement on the Investigation into the Destruction of Videotapes by CIA Personnel By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 12:46:03 EST “In January 2008, Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed Assistant United States Attorney John Durham to investigate the destruction by CIA personnel of videotapes of detainee interrogations," said Matthew Miller, Director, Office of Public Affairs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Hilton Worldwide Inc. Over ADA Violations at Hilton Hotels and Major Hotel Chains Owned by Hilton By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 12:04:14 EST The Justice Department and Hilton Worldwide Inc. today announced a comprehensive, precedent-setting agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that will make state-of-the-art accessibility changes to approximately 900 hotels nationwide. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Latin Kings Leader Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 14:38:30 EST Remy Heath, aka “Remy,” “King Remy,” and “King Mellow,” 26, of Hyattsville, Md., pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, in connection with his gang activities as a member and leader of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o St. Joseph Medical Center in Maryland to Pay U.S. $22 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 16:19:24 EST St. Joseph Medical Center has agreed to pay the United States $22 million to settle allegations under the False Claims Act that it paid unlawful remuneration under the Anti-Kickback Act and violated the Stark Law when it entered into a series of professional services contracts with MidAtlantic Cardiovascular Associates. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Familial Status Discrimination in Elko, Nevada By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 17:46:15 EST The Justice Department today announced a settlement of its lawsuit alleging that Lee Enterprises Inc. and its subsidiary, Lee Publications Inc., violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by publishing an advertisement that discriminated on the basis of familial status in the Elko Daily Free Press. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Three Former Executives Indicted in Color Display Tube Price-Fixing Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 9 Nov 2010 18:11:42 EST A federal grand jury in San Francisco today returned an indictment against three former executives from two color display tube (CDT) manufacturing companies for their participation in a global conspiracy to fix prices of CDTs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Former Caesars Palace Nightclub Host Pleads Guilty to Tax Crime By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:20:30 EST Richard Chu, a former "VIP host" at Pure Nightclub located in Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of filing a false federal income tax return for the 2006 tax year. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit in Iowa Against Owner and Managers of Federally-subsidized Property for Sex Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:26:07 EST The Justice Department announced today that it has sued the owners and managers of Park Towers Apartments, a federally-subsidized apartment complex in Waterloo, Iowa, alleging a pattern or practice of sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Justice Department Reaches Settlement with University of South Carolina to Ensure Students Are Free from Harassment By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:11:35 EST The Justice Department reached a settlement agreement with the University of South Carolina to resolve an investigation into the university’s policies and procedures related to discrimination and harassment. Full Article OPA Press Releases
o Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion as Part of Organized Crime Investigation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:13:58 EST Gerald Diodati, 61, of Seekonk, Mass., pleaded guilty today before Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi to one count of tax evasion. Full Article OPA Press Releases