o

Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down South Florida Tax Preparers

The United States has asked a federal court to permanently bar two Broward County, Fla., tax preparers and their business from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney Holds Conference Call Regarding Justice Department Lawsuit to Stop H&R Block Inc. from Buying TaxACT

"We are blocking this transaction because the proposed merger would substantially lessen competition in the tax preparation software market, resulting in higher prices, lower quality and reduced innovation," said Assistant Attorney General Varney.




o

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division Speaks at the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Takedown Press Conference

"Today, a 50-count superseding indictment was unsealed charging 13 leaders, members and associates of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family with crimes that spanned more than a decade."




o

Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson for the Office of Justice Programs Speaks at the Coalition for Juvenile Justice Annual Meeting

“The challenges facing us in juvenile justice really require that we join together to work on the long term problems… from right-to-counsel issues to disproportionate minority contact to our continued struggles to recognize youth development in disposition decisions. But despite these challenges – and the challenges arising from a tough economy – I’m optimistic that we’re moving in the right direction.”




o

Attorney General Calls for Action to Protect Children from Violence in New TV Public Service Announcement

A public service announcement (PSA) featuring Attorney General Eric Holder began airing this week on the Investigation Discovery network.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

New Jersey UBS Client Sentenced for Failing to Report More Than $1 Million in Swiss Bank Account

Harry Abrahamsen previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh to an information charging him with one count of willful failure to file an FBAR.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Alabama Tax Preparer Sentenced for Identity Theft and Filing False Tax Returns

On Feb. 22, 2011, after a four-day trial, a jury in Montgomery, Ala., convicted Sharon Thurman of 14 counts of making false claims, two counts of theft of government money and two counts of aggravated identity theft.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Federal Court Bars Arizona Family from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

The court’s preliminary injunction order against Shelia Young, Deane Young and Kennith Defoor will remain in effect while a related criminal case against the defendants proceeds in court.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Miami-Area Owners and Operators of Medical Equipment Company Plead Guilty to Medicare Fraud

Two Miami-area residents who were owners and operators of a durable medical equipment (DME) company, pleaded guilty today for their roles in a scheme to defraud Medicare.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Former White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Officer Charged with Civil Rights Violations

A federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a two-count indictment today charging former White Mountain Apache Tribal police officer, Glenn Cromwell, with federal crimes in connection with maliciously abandoning Anthony Archuleta and Barry Lowe in dangerously cold weather conditions in December 2008.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Jenkens & Gilchrist Attorneys, Former BDO Seidman CEO and Deutsche Bank Broker Found Guilty in New York of Multi-Billion Dollar Criminal Tax Fraud Scheme

Paul M. Daugerdas, Donna M. Guerin, Denis M. Field and David Parse were convicted today in Manhattan federal court for their roles in a tax shelter scheme in which they designed, marketed and implemented fraudulent tax shelters used by wealthy individuals to avoid paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Justice Department’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Event

"This event is more than just a celebration of all that has been accomplished up to this point. It’s also a solemn reminder of the obstacles to equal justice and equal opportunity that, unfortunately, persist. And it’s an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the continued progress – and unwavering vigilance – that must be not only our shared priority, but our common cause."




o

Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez Speaks at the All People’s Program Honoring the Freedom Riders

"It is an honor to be able to help carry forward the legacy of the heroes of our nation’s struggle for civil rights," said Assistant Attorney General Perez.




o

Justice Department Settles Case Against South Bend, Indiana, Public Transportation Corporation to Defend Employment Rights of Army Reservist

The Department of Justice announced today that it has resolved claims made by Stephen Ralston against the South Bend, Ind., Public Transportation Corporation (TRANSPO) under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Justice Department Honors Citizens, Law Enforcement at National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony

Deputy Attorney General James Cole spoke at the annual National Missing Children’s Day ceremony today at the Justice Department’s Great Hall, honoring missing children, their families, child advocates and others who protect the safety of children.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Federal Court Bars Chicago Woman from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

A federal court has permanently barred Martha A. Jones of Chicago from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Jackson County, Michigan, Man Arrested and Charged with Obstructing the IRS in Form 1099-OID Schemes

Karl Herrington of Parma, Mich., was arrested today on charges of two counts of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the administration of the internal revenue laws, and five counts of filing false tax forms with the Internal Revenue Service.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

North Carolina Pilot Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns and Obstructing the IRS

Charles Alexander Davis formerly of Mooresville, N.C., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Charlotte, N.C., on 10 counts of willfully filing materially false tax returns and one count of obstructing and impeding the Internal Revenue Service.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Statement by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division Before the Senate Judiciary Committee

"The Justice Department successfully and aggressively uses every tool now available to us to prosecute crimes committed abroad by U.S. Government personnel and U.S. Government contractors."




o

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division Speaks at the Franz-Hermann Brüner Memorial Lecture at the World Bank

"Prosecutors and law enforcement professionals in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice are working hard to fight corruption at every level, at home and abroad. This work is one way in which we send the message loud and clear that public officials who abuse their power for personal gain – whether they are in the United States or the emerging democracies of North Africa and the Middle East or anywhere else around the world – are on the wrong side. And we will keep working and keep fighting to hold them to account."




o

Deputy Attorney General James Cole Speaks at the Department’s National Missing Children’s Day Ceremony

"National Missing Children’s Day is a reminder to all parents and guardians of the need for high-quality photographs of their children for use in case of an emergency, vigilant efforts by the public to pay close attention to the posters, AMBER Alerts and posted photographs of missing children."




o

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Grand Opening of the Next Door Chattanooga Release Center

"Today, we know that these public safety challenges cannot be addressed through enforcement alone – but instead must be met by a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, intervention, enforcement, and reentry. By engaging stakeholders at every level of government and law enforcement – as you’ve done here in Tennessee – and by strengthening our partnerships with, across, and beyond the nonprofit sector, you’ve shown that we can help women to break the cycle of addiction; to rise above the effects of poverty, crime, and violence; and to take new ownership of their lives. This is the type of innovative work that The Next Door is leading each day and, now, brings to the Chattanooga community."




o

Lufkin, Texas, Man and Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Nacogdoches, Texas, Murders

A Lufkin, Texas, man and woman have been sentenced to federal prison for their part in a double homicide in Nacogdoches, Texas, in August 2007.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Justice Department Settles with Bank of America and Saxon Mortgage for Illegally Foreclosing on Servicemembers

The Justice Department today announced settlements with two lenders under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to resolve allegations that the lenders wrongfully foreclosed upon active duty servicemembers without first obtaining court orders, in violation of the SCRA.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Former Nasdaq Executive Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading

A former managing director of the NASDAQ Stock Market pleaded guilty today for his participation in an insider trading scheme in which he purchased and sold stock in NASDAQ-listed companies based on material, non-public information he obtained in his capacity as a NASDAQ executive.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Two Individuals Convicted of Importing and Selling Counterfeit Cisco Computer Networking Equipment

Chun-Yu Zhao, of Centreville, Va., and Donald H. Cone, of Frederick, Md., were convicted by a federal jury in Alexandria, Va., for their roles in a sophisticated scheme to import and sell counterfeit Cisco-branded computer networking equipment.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Areté Sleep to Pay the United States $650,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

Areté Sleep LLC, Areté Sleep Therapy LLC and Areté Holdings LLC have agreed to pay the United States $650,000 to settle allegations that their sleep medicine and durable medical equipment facilities in Arizona and Texas submitted false claims to Medicare.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

San Diego Attorney Sentenced for Tax Crimes

A San Diego attorney was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Houston to 10 months in prison for evading taxes on at least $3 million in unreported income from 2000 to 2002.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Three Convicted of Sex Trafficking, Forced Labor and Immigration Offenses on Long Island, N.Y.

A federal jury in Central Islip, N.Y., today found Antonio Rivera, 36, and Jason Villaman, 33, guilty of conspiracy, sex trafficking, forced labor, alien harboring and alien transportation.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Houston Federal Jury Convicts Patient Recruiter of Medicare Fraud Involving Claims of Hurricane Damage to Power Wheelchairs

Marion Beverly Metoyer, a patient recruiter for a Houston durable medical equipment (DME) company, was convicted today by a Houston federal jury of health care fraud related to a power wheelchair fraud scheme.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Wisconsin Man Charged with FACE Act Violations

The Justice Department announced today that Ralph Lang, 63, Marshfield, Wis., was charged today in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison, Wis., with attempting to injure, intimidate and interfere with other persons because those persons were providing reproductive health services.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez Speaks on Settlements with Bank of America and Saxon Mortgage

"The Civil Rights Division enforces several laws designed to protect the rights of members of the military – so that their brave and selfless service doesn’t put them at risk of losing their jobs at home; so that they don’t have to forfeit their right to vote; so that they can be assured they and their families in the consumer context will not be penalized for their courageous decision to serve our nation."




o

Texas Resident Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for $17 Million Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-Import Bank

An El Paso, Texas, resident was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) of more than $17 million.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

EVA Airways Corporation Agrees to Plead Guilty and to Pay $13.2 Million Fine for Price Fixing on Air Cargo Shipments

EVA Airways Corporation has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $13.2 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air cargo industry.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Vice President of Fraudulent Physical Therapy Company Pleads Guilty to Medicare Fraud

A Miami-area resident who was an owner and vice-president of a fraudulent physical therapy company in Lakeland, Fla., pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Federal Court Shuts Down Georgia Tax Return Preparers

A federal court has permanently barred two women from preparing federal income tax returns for others and from operating their tax preparation business.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Minneapolis Youth Violence Prevention Conference

“This conference provides a critical opportunity to highlight, to celebrate, and – hopefully – to replicate, the extraordinary progress that’s been made under Minneapolis’s “Blueprint for Action” strategy. It’s also our chance to reaffirm our commitment to the goals that we share – protecting young people in need and at risk; and strengthening our approach to addressing one of the greatest public safety – and public health – epidemics of our time: children’s exposure to violence.”




o

Two Iraqi Nationals Indicted on Federal Terrorism Charges in Kentucky

An Iraqi citizen who allegedly carried out numerous Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and another Iraqi national alleged to have participated in the insurgency in Iraq have been arrested and indicted on federal terrorism charges in the Western District of Kentucky.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Attorney General Eric Holder, Justice Department and Administration Officials Join with Actors from HBO’s The Wire for Launch of Drug Endangered Children Public Awareness Campaign

Attorney General Eric Holder announced today the launch of a public awareness campaign at a Federal Interagency Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Task Force event to bring attention to the challenges faced by children and families affected by drug abuse and highlight the work being done across the country to address these issues.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Justice Department Reaches Americans with Disabilities Act Settlement with Wells Fargo

The Justice Department announced today a comprehensive settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Wells Fargo &s services nationwide, including its nearly 10,000 retail banking, brokerage and mortgage stores, over 12,000 ATMs, and its telephone and website services.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Justice Department Settles Allegations of Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination Against American Academy of Pediatrics

The Justice Department today reached a settlement agreement with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an organization of 60,000 pediatricians based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., resolving allegations that the organization impermissibly allowed postings on its www.PedJobs.org website that limited applications to U.S. citizens and certain visa holders.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Kansas Man Convicted of Visa Fraud

A Kansas man who previously resided in Rwanda was convicted today of visa fraud, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Deputy Attorney General James Cole Speaks at the Federal Interagency Drug Endangered Children Task Force Event

On behalf of the Federal Interagency Drug Endangered Children Task Force and its members and supporters – and, more importantly, the millions of voiceless children across this Nation who are forced to survive unimaginable home lives – I want to thank you all for coming to this Public Awareness Event.




o

Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson of the Office of Justice Programs Speaks at the National Symposium on Pretrial Justice

"Each of you has been invited because of your experience, your expertise, and your influence within your constituencies. What we have in this room today is a gathering of many of the most influential criminal justice stakeholders in the nation and we’re going to really try to leverage that influence."




o

Florida and Arkansas Residents Charged for Involvement in Multi-Million Dollar Fraudulent Tax Refund Scheme

Laura Barel of Lauderhill, Fla., has been charged with one count of filing a false claim and two counts of aiding and abetting the filing of a false claim.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Pittsburgh Crips Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Charges

A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty today in federal court to charges of conspiring to conduct a racketeering enterprise related to his membership in a Pittsburgh Crips criminal enterprise.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Two Former Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, Police Officers Sentenced for Falsifying Information About the Beating of a Latino Man

The Justice Department announced that Matthew Nestor and William Moyer were sentenced today for falsifying information related to the investigation into the beating death of Luis Ramirez.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Justice Department Files Suit Against Colorado Couple for Face Act Violations

The Justice Department today filed a civil complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against Kenneth and JoAnn Scott for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Florida Physician Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Fraudulent Lobbying and Fund Raising Conspiracy

A Florida physician was sentenced today to four years in prison for his role in a fraud scheme involving lobbying and fund raising for political candidates and organizations.



  • OPA Press Releases

o

Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Louisiana Private School to Ensure Effective Diabetes Care for Students

The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the Alexandria Country Day School in Alexandria, La., to resolve allegations that the school denied a six-year-old girl with Type I diabetes admission to the school after her parents requested that the school supervise her in daily diabetes care practices.



  • OPA Press Releases