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Federal Court Bars Firm with Offices in Pennsylvania and Virginia from Promoting Stock-Loan Tax Scheme

According to court findings, HedgeLender, which maintained offices in Philadelphia and Reston, Va., promoted a scheme purportedly allowing owners of appreciated stock to obtain cash through purported loans without reporting or paying tax on capital gains.



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Five Alabama Tax Return Preparers Charged with Tax Fraud

James E. Moss, who owned and operated “Flash Tax,” was charged with four of his employees by a grand jury sitting in Montgomery, Ala.



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Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Midwest BankCentre Regarding Alleged Lending Discrimination in St. Louis

Midwest BankCentre will open a full-service branch in an African-American neighborhood and invest approximately $1.45 million in majority African-American areas of the St. Louis metropolitan area as part of a settlement to resolve allegations that they engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination on the basis of race and color.



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Alabama Women Sentenced for Roles in Tax Fraud Conspiracy

Betty Washington, a resident of Montgomery County, Ala., was sentenced today to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,440,632 for conspiring to file false claims for refunds.



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Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Summit

"As we have seen repeatedly – most clearly on September 11th and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina – in times of crisis and emergency, law enforcement officers and first responders must be able to communicate quickly, across all jurisdictions. And as national security and public safety threats have continued to grow and to evolve, the need to bring public safety communications into the 21st century has never been greater."




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United States and Two California State Agencies File Civil Lawsuit Against Greka Oil & Gas Inc. for Oil Spills in Santa Barbara County

The United States, the California Department of Fish and Game and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region, filed a civil complaint today in federal court against Greka Oil & Gas Inc. alleging that the company violated federal and state water laws.



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Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services Highlight Joint Efforts to Combat Health Care Fraud in Philadelphia

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visited Philadelphia today where they participated in the sixth regional health care fraud prevention summit.



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Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Nixon State Bank to Resolve Allegations of Lending Discrimination

Nixon State Bank of Nixon, Texas, will establish uniform pricing policies, conduct employee training, and pay nearly $100,000 as part of a settlement to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination on the basis of national origin.



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Texas-Based Fluor Corporation to Pay U.S. $4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Act Liability

Fluor Hanford Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fluor Federal Services Inc. and Fluor Corporation, has agreed to pay the United States $4 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims, and paid and received kickbacks.



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Former Colonial Bank Senior Vice President Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Fraud Scheme

A former senior vice president and head of Colonial Bank’s Mortgage Warehouse Lending Division was sentenced today to eight years in prison for her role in a more than $2.9 billion fraud scheme that contributed to the failures of Colonial Bank and Taylor, Bean & Whitaker.



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Justice Department Reaches Agreement with City of Manassas Park, Virginia, on Bailout from the Voting Rights Act

The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with the city of Manassas Park, Va., that, if approved by the court, will allow for the city to bail out from its status as a “covered jurisdiction” under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and thereby exempt the city from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.



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California UBS Clients Plead Guilty to Hiding Assets in Secret Swiss Bank Account

Sean Roberts and Nadia Roberts of Tehachapi, Calif., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii of the Eastern District of California to a criminal information charging them with filing a false tax return related to an undisclosed Swiss bank account that they maintained at UBS, as well as other offshore bank accounts.



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Special Master Sheila L. Birnbaum Announces Draft Regulations to Govern 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

One month after assuming the position, September 11th Victim Compensa­tion Fund (VCF) Special Master Sheila L. Birnbaum today published draft regulations to govern the VCF, and asked the public to give her feedback on the proposals before victims can begin submitting claims to the fund later this year.



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HSBC India Client Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns and Failing to Report Foreign Bank Account

Dr. Arvind Ahuja of Greendale, Wis., was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Milwaukee on four counts of willfully filing materially false tax returns and four counts of failing to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts.



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Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Colorado State Courts to Remove Language Barriers

The Justice Department today announced it has reached an agreement with officials of the Colorado Judicial Department to ensure that limited English proficient (LEP) individuals seeking services throughout Colorado’s state court system will have access to timely and competent language assistance.



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Federal Court Bars Alabama Woman from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

A federal court has permanently barred Aurelia Sanderson Johnson from preparing federal tax returns for others.



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United States Sues Seattle-Area Man to Bar Him from Promoting Alleged “Form 1099-OID” Tax Fraud Scheme

The United States has sued a Seattle-area man to stop him from promoting an alleged tax fraud scheme.



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Washington, D.C.-based Academy for Educational Development Pays More Than $5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

The Academy for Educational Development (AED) in Washington, D.C., has agreed to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in connection with two cooperative agreements under which AED provided foreign assistance in Afghanistan and Pakistan.



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Federal Court Permanently Bars Detroit Woman from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

A federal court has permanently barred Tracey R. Randolph from preparing federal tax returns for others.



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Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Rappahannock, Virginia, on Bailout from the Voting Rights Act

The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with Rappahannock County, Va., that will allow for the county and its two political subdivisions to bail out from their status as “covered jurisdictions” under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act.



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Federal Court Bars Three Men from Promoting “Intermediary Transaction” Tax Shelter

A federal court has permanently barred Charles Klink, Caleb Grodsky and Steven Block from promoting abusive tax shelters known as “intermediary transactions” and “distressed asset trusts.”



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Federal Court Bars Idaho Woman from Promoting “Form 1099-OID” Tax Scheme

A federal court has permanently barred Penny Jones from preparing federal tax returns for others and from promoting the use of false tax forms.



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Former Alabama Mayor Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns

John Jackson, the former mayor of White Hall, Ala., was sentenced to two years in prison today, the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced.



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Owner of Miami Company Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-Import Bank

The owner of an investment planning company in Miami was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) of $5.2 million.



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D.C. Federal Court Bars Company from Promoting Alleged Tax Scheme Involving Improper Easements on Historic Buildings

A District of Columbia federal court has entered a permanent injunction order against Steven McClain and the Trust for Architectural Easements Inc. (formerly known as the National Architectural Trust).



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Court Bars Georgia Man from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

A federal court has permanently barred Cecil A. Collier from preparing federal tax returns for others.



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Department of Justice Proposes Legislation to Help Tribes Combat Violence Against Native Women in Indian Country

Today the Department of Justice proposed legislation that would significantly improve the safety of women in American Indian tribal communities and allow federal and tribal law-enforcement agencies to hold more perpetrators of domestic violence accountable for their crimes.



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Swiss International Bank's Former Head of North America Offshore Banking, Others Charged with Conspiracy

Markus Walder, former head of North America Offshore Banking at an international bank headquartered in Zurich; Susanne D. Rüegg Meier, a former manager with the international bank; Andreas Bachmann, a former banker at a subsidiary of the international bank; and Josef Dörig, the founder of a Swiss trust company, have been charged with conspiring with other Swiss bankers to defraud the United States.



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Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli Speaks on Proposed Legislation to Combat Violence Against Native Women in Indian Country

"We believe that enacting reforms along these lines — dealing with tribal jurisdiction over crimes of domestic violence, tribal protection orders, and amendments to the Federal assault statute — would significantly improve the safety of women in tribal communities and would allow Federal and tribal law-enforcement agencies to hold more perpetrators of domestic violence accountable for their crimes."




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Alabama Man Indicted for Lacey Act Wildlife Crimes

A Scottsboro, Ala., man was indicted today for the illegal possession, transportation and sale of protected reptiles in violation of the Lacey Act.



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Seventh Individual Sentenced in Connection with Costa Rica-Based Business Opportunity Fraud Ventures

Sirtaj Mathauda, a former resident of South Florida, was sentenced today in connection with a series of Costa Rica-based business opportunity fraud ventures.



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Former Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Sergeant Charged with Civil Rights Violations

The Justice Department announced today that a federal grand jury in Birmingham, Ala., returned a three-count indictment charging former Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s sergeant, Althea Mallisham, 52, with federal civil rights crimes for using a stun gun on three jail detainees in 2008.



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Federal Agencies Teach Leadership Skills, Hear from Students at 2011 Intertribal Youth Summit in Santa Fe, New Mexico

One hundred and seventy five young men and women from nearly 50 tribal communities across the country have convened at the week-long 2011 National Intertribal Youth Summit in Santa Fe, N.M., which runs from July 24-28, 2011.



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Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Bedford County, Virginia, on Bailout Under the Voting Rights Act

The Justice Department has reached an agreement with Bedford County, Va., that, if approved by the court, will allow for the county’s bailout from its status as a “covered jurisdiction” under the special provisions of Voting Rights Act, and thereby exempt the county from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the act.



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Repeat Offender Shipping Firm Sentenced in New Orleans to Pay $ 1 Million and Banned in “Magic Pipe” Case

Four corporations involved in owning and operating a fleet of vessels regularly visiting New Orleans were today sentenced to pay a $1 million penalty and banned from doing business in the United States for the next five years by Judge Carl J. Barbier.



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Attorney General Holder, Justice Department Officials Hold Listening Conference with Tribal Leaders in Rapid City & Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota

Attorney General Eric Holder and other administration officials met this week with tribal leaders and advocates to discuss issues of tribal safety and domestic violence in Rapid City, S.D., and Pine Ridge Reservation, S.D.



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Department of Justice Challenges Alabama Immigration Law

The Department of Justice challenged the state of Alabama’s recently passed immigration law, H.B. 56, in federal court today.



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Former UBS Banker Charged with Helping U.S. Taxpayers Use Secret Swiss Bank Accounts to Evade U.S. Taxes

Martin Lack, a former UBS AG banker who is currently an independent asset manager, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States.



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Federal Court in Los Angeles Bars California Man from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others

A federal court in Los Angeles has permanently barred Benjamin Aparicio from preparing federal tax returns for others.



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Las Vegas Real Estate Agent Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud and Bankruptcy Fraud Charges

German A. Posada of Las Vegas pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Pro to charges of filing a false 2004 individual income tax return and making a false statement in a bankruptcy proceeding.



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Alabama Return Preparers Charged with Conspiracy, Identity Theft, Filing False Tax Returns and Lying to Federal Agents

Yumeitrius Manuel and Margaret Kirksey, both of Montgomery, Ala., were indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges of conspiracy, identity theft, wire fraud, false claims and lying to federal agents.



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Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Alabama Tax Return Preparer

The United States has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop Lakeisha Pearson from preparing federal tax returns for others.



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New Approach Launched to Reduce Tribal Alcohol and Substance Abuse Problems

Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today announced a new federal framework to assist American Indian and Alaska Native communities in achieving their goals in the prevention, intervention and treatment of alcohol and substance abuse.



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Alabama Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Role in Tax Fraud Conspiracy

Eric Bernard Caldwell, a resident of Montgomery County, Ala., was sentenced today to 30 months in prison.



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California-Based Taleo Corp. Agrees to Pay U.S. $6.49 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

Taleo Corp. has agreed to pay the United States $6.49 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly caused false claims to be submitted to the Transportation Security Administration of the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department announced today.



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Puerto Rican-based Shipping Company Sentenced to Pay $700,000 Penalty for Intentional Cover-Up of Oil Pollution

Epps Shipping Company, a Liberian corporation doing business out of Carolina, Puerto Rico, was sentenced in federal court for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and making false statements to U.S. Coast Guard inspectors.



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Florida Woman Charged with Witness Tampering, False Statements and Obstruction of Justice in Relation to Her Husband’s Disappearance

Abby Beard Hogan, 50, was charged with two counts of making false statements to federal law enforcement officials, one count of witness tampering and four counts of obstruction of justice.



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Barrio Azteca Gang Member Extradited from Mexico to the United States to Face Charges Related to U.S. Consulate Murders in Juarez, Mexico

Miguel Angel Nevarez, aka “Lentes” and “94,” a member of the Barrio Azteca (BA) gang, has been extradited to the United States from Mexico to face a variety of charges including those related to his alleged participation in the March 13, 2010, murders of three individuals with ties to the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.



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Special Master Sheila L. Birnbaum Announces Final Rule to Govern 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

With the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, approaching, September 11th Victim Compensa¬tion Fund Special Master Sheila L. Birnbaum today announced the final rule governing the fund.



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Ohio Homebuilder Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Tax Fraud, Bank Fraud, Money Laundering and Obstruction of Justice Schemes

Thomas E. Parenteau of Hilliard, Ohio, was sentenced today to 22 years in prison for conspiring with his wife, his mistress and their accountant, to commit tax fraud and money laundering.



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