ai Houston-based Plains Pipeline to Spend More Than $44 Million to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:19:21 EDT Plains All American Pipeline L.P. and several of its operating subsidiaries will spend approximately $41 million over the next three years to prevent and remediate corrosion, improve leak detection practices and capabilities, and enhance pipeline oversight on 10,420 miles of crude oil pipeline operated in the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Resolves Discrimination Case Against Flushing, N.Y., Restaurant That Ejected Patrons Because of Religion By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:49:37 EDT The Justice Department filed a consent decree today resolving claims of religious discrimination against the Lucky Joy restaurant, located in Flushing, N.Y. In the consent decree, the restaurant’s owner, Lucky Joy Restaurant Inc., and its president, Xiao Rong Wu, admit that the restaurant engaged in a pattern or practice of wrongfully ejecting Falun Gong practitioners from the premises. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Los Angeles Men Arrested for Clean Air Act Asbestos Worker Protection Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:08:53 EDT Charles Yi and John Bostick were arrested Wednesday for violations of the Clean Air Act’s asbestos work practice standards committed during the renovation of a 204-unit apartment building in Winnetka, Calif., in January through February of 2006. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Northern Virginia Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Failing to Pay Employment Taxes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:14:33 EDT Eric Jon Eisenhower, a resident of Fairfax Station, Va., pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Alexandria, Va., for failing to collect, account for and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) more than $200,000 in withholdings from employees’ paychecks between 2004 and 2008. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai DOJ Officials Raise Awareness of Disaster Fraud Hotline for Reporting Oil Spill-Related Schemes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:37:41 EDT As the Deepwater Horizon oil spill clean-up efforts continue and the Gulf Coast Claims Facility opens its doors, the Department of Justice is reminding members of the public to be aware of and report any instances of suspected fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Former Airline Executives Indicted in Conspiracy to Fix Fares on Flights Between the United States and the Republic of Korea By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:34:34 EDT A Brooklyn, N.Y., grand jury returned an indictment today against two former executives of Asiana Airlines, Inc. for participating in a conspiracy to fix economy class airfares paid by passengers for travel from the United States to the Republic of Korea. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai United Airlines and Continental Airlines Transfer Assets to Southwest Airlines in Response to Department of Justice’s Antitrust Concerns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:53:05 EDT The Department of Justice announced today that in light of the agreement by United Airlines Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc. to transfer takeoff and landing rights (slots) and other assets at Newark Liberty Airport to Southwest Airlines Co., the department has closed its investigation into the proposed merger of UAL Corporation, the parent of United, and Continental. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Corporate Executive Charged for Alleged Role in Illegal Campaign Contribution Scheme and with Witness Tampering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 08:42:40 EDT A Natick, Mass., man was charged today in federal court in Boston with engaging in a scheme to conceal from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and from the public illegal campaign contributions made to federal campaign committees, and with witness tampering, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office For Refusing Full Cooperation With Title VI Investigation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 12:16:04 EDT The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Maricopa County, and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio for refusing full cooperation with the department’s investigation of alleged national origin discrimination in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Polar Air Cargo LLC Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Air Cargo Shipments By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 13:49:57 EDT Polar Air Cargo LLC has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $17.4 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air transportation industry. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Six People Charged in Human Trafficking Conspiracy for Exploiting 400 Thai Farm Workers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 16:24:40 EDT A federal grand jury in Honolulu indicted Mordechai Orian, an Israeli national; Pranee Tubchumpol, Shane Germann and Sam Wongsesanit of Global Horizons Manpower Inc., located in Los Angeles; and Thai labor recruiters Ratawan Chunharutai and Podjanee Sinchai for engaging in a conspiracy to commit forced labor and document servitude. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Cisco Systems and Westcon Group North America Pay $48 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 16:18:06 EDT Cisco Systems and Westcon Group North America (formerly d.b.a. Comstor) have agreed to pay the United States $48 million to settle claims that they made misrepresentations to the General Services Administration (GSA) and other federal agencies in violation of the False Claims Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai California Man Sentenced for Hate Crime and Mail Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 14:39:04 EDT Eric Clawson, 28, of San Francisco, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C. England, Jr., for depriving the civil rights of an African-American man when he assaulted the victim in a bar. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Hawaiian County Agrees to Pay Restitution and Modify Operations to Resolve Endangered Species Act & Migratory Bird Treaty Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:11:04 EDT The county of Kauai, Hawaii, has entered into a plea agreement to resolve alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Religious Discrimination Against the City of Walnut, California By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:12:37 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the city of Walnut, Calif., alleging that the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), when, in 2008, it denied a conditional use permit to the Chung Tai Zen Center so that it could build and operate a Buddhist house of worship at property it then owned in the city. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Corporate Executive Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Campaign Contribution Scheme and to Witness Tampering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:10:51 EDT Martin Raffol, 54, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns in Boston to one count of engaging in a scheme to conceal material information from the FEC and one count of witness tampering. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Drug Maker Forest Pleads Guilty; To Pay More Than $313 Million to Resolve Criminal Charges and False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:24:41 EDT Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc. has agreed to plead guilty to charges relating to obstruction of justice, the distribution of Levothroid, which at the time was an unapproved new drug, and the illegal promotion of Celexa for use in treating children and adolescents suffering from depression. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Settles Allegations of Disability Discrimination Against City of Satsuma, Alabama By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:41:40 EDT The Justice Department today settled a lawsuit against the city of Satsuma, Ala., and the city’s Board of Adjustment, alleging housing discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Reaches Agreements to Protect Rights of Military and Overseas Voters from Colorado, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Hawaii By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:11:10 EDT The Justice Department today announced that it has reached agreements with Colorado, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Hawaii officials to help ensure that military service members and U.S. citizens living overseas have an opportunity to participate fully in the Nov. 2, 2010 federal general election. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Martinair Airline Executive Indicted in Conspiracy to Fix Surcharge Rates on Air Cargo Shipments By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:21:31 EDT An Atlanta grand jury returned an indictment today against an executive of Martinair Holland N.V. 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
ai East Aurora, N.Y., Chiropractor Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Failing to File Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:16:55 EDT A federal judge in Buffalo, N.Y., has sentenced John Weisberg to 12 months in prison for failing to file tax returns. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Idaho Businessman Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Failure to Pay Employment Taxes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:29:39 EDT Roberto Trevizo Corral, a resident of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered to pay $771,252.11 in restitution for failing to collect and pay over employment taxes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai U.S. Reaches Agreements with Kings Mountain, N.C., and Sandy Springs, Ga., to Terminate Coverage from Preclearance of the Voting Rights Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:25:10 EDT The Justice Department announced that it reached agreements this week with the city of Kings Mountain, N.C., and the city of Sandy Springs, Ga., in the form of consent decrees filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Three Individuals Plead Guilty for Their Roles in a Houston Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Claims of Hurricane Damage to Power Wheelchairs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:44:59 EDT Three individuals pleaded guilty today in connection with a Medicare fraud scheme operated out of a Houston-area durable medical equipment (DME) company. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Georgia-based Multi Family Housing Developer Alleging Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 10:55:15 EDT The Justice Department announced that it filed a lawsuit today against Post Properties Inc., Post Apartment Homes L.P. and Post GP Holdings Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia for failing to provide accessible features required by the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act at multi-family housing developments in six states. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Campaign Contribution Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:56:04 EDT Paul Magliocchetti, the founder and president of PMA Group Inc., a lobbying firm, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Arlington, Va., to making hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions and making false statements to a federal agency. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai China Airlines Ltd. Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Air Cargo Shipments By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:18:31 EDT China Airlines Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $40 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air transportation industry. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai BP Products to Pay Largest Single-facility Clean Air Act Penalty for Releases of Hazardous Pollutants at Texas City Refinery By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:27:02 EDT BP Products North America Inc. has agreed to pay a $15 million penalty to resolve federal Clean Air Act violations at its Texas City, Texas, petroleum refinery. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai United States Sues Marine Engine Manufacturer and Shipbuilder Under Clean Air Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:10:20 EDT The United States filed a civil complaint today against Coltec Industries Inc., a subsidiary of EnPro Industries Inc., and the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corp. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Two Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tax Preparers Plead Guilty to Aiding in Preparation of False Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:01:16 EDT Cynthia Peters and Melissa Edwards pleaded guilty to one count each of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge, La. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Maryland Contractors and Their President to Pay Settlement for Falsely Obtaining Hubzone Contracts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Oct 2010 15:48:29 EDT CSI Engineering and CSI Design Build, located in Beltsville, Md., and their president, Debdas Ghosal, have agreed to pay the United States $200,000 to settle claims that they used false statements to obtain contracts from several government agencies. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Bank to Pay $2.2 Million to Settle Allegations of False Claims to Small Business Administration By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 Oct 2010 17:41:45 EDT Saehan Bank has agreed to pay the United States $2.2 million to settle allegations arising under the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act with respect to a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, the Justice Department announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Los Angeles Medical Equipment Supplier Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Role in Power Wheelchair Scheme to Defraud Medicare By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 19:42:16 EDT The owner and operator of a Los Angeles durable medical equipment company was sentenced to 46 months in prison in connection with a power wheelchair scheme to defraud Medicare. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Jury Finds Asbestos Air Monitoring Company and Employees Guilty of Clean Air Act and Fraud Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:33:36 EDT A federal jury in Utica, N.Y. has found Certified Environmental Services Inc. (CES); two of its managers, Nicole Copeland and Elisa Dunn; and one of its employees, Sandy Allen, guilty of conspiring to aid and abet Clean Air Act violations, commit mail fraud, and defraud the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination at Royal Arms Apartment Complex in Ohio By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:34:37 EDT The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of Royal Arms Apartments, a 26-unit apartment building in Ravenna, Ohio, for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating on the basis of familial status in the rental of apartments. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Hawaii Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison for Molesting Minor on an Airplane By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:15:02 EDT Curtis Keith Cooper of Princeville, Hawaii, was sentenced today to 97 months in prison for molesting a minor while aboard a flight from Hawaii to California in July 2003, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Florence T. Nakakuni. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Announces Public Education Campaign Grants to Fight Immigration-related Employment Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:45:57 EDT The Justice Department today announced that it has awarded $720,321 in grants to 13 organizations throughout the country to conduct public education programs for workers and employers about federal protections against immigration-related job discrimination. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai U.S. Files PCB Cleanup Lawsuit Against 12 Polluters of Wisconsin’s Fox River By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:47:54 EDT The Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division announced the filing of a major lawsuit today against 10 companies and two municipalities to require continued environmental cleanup work at Wisconsin’s Lower Fox River and Green Bay Site. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Ninth Taiwan Executive Indicted for Participating in Global LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:18:52 EDT A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned an indictment against a former executive of a Taiwan thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) producer for participating in a global conspiracy to fix prices of TFT-LCD panels. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:19:10 EDT The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) alleging that provisions of its agreements with hospitals raise hospital prices, prevent other insurers from entering the marketplace and discourage discounts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Obtains Comprehensive Agreement Regarding the State of Georgia’s Mental Health and Developmental Disability System By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:41:01 EDT The Justice Department today announced that it has entered into a comprehensive settlement agreement that will transform the state of Georgia’s mental health and developmental disability system and resolve a lawsuit the United States brought against the state. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Settles Allegations of Immigration-related Employment Discrimination Against Catholic Healthcare West By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:56:21 EDT The Justice Department today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) to resolve allegations that CHW engaged in a pattern or practice of citizenship status discrimination by imposing unnecessary and discriminatory hurdles to employment for work-authorized individuals. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Attorney General Holder and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announce Settlement Agreement with Native American Farmers Claiming Discrimination by USDA By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:23:38 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder and Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the settlement of a class action lawsuit filed against USDA by Native American farmers alleging discrimination by USDA. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai California-based Mailing Firms to Pay $4.2 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations for Underpayment of Postage By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:55:13 EDT California-based companies Quicksort Inc., Quicksort LA Inc. and Quicksort Sacramento Inc. have agreed to pay the United States $4.2 million to settle allegations that Quicksort violated the False Claims Act by falsely representing the level to which it had pre-sorted mailings in order to obtain discounted postage rates from the U.S. Postal Service. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Against Families with Children at Apartment Complex in Longview, Wash. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:42:23 EDT The Justice Department announced today that the owners and manager of Mountain View Apartments in Longview, Wash., have agreed to pay $12,500 as a civil penalty to settle allegations that they discriminated against families with children in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Nigerian National Sentenced to 102 Months in Prison for Role in Airline Ticket Scam By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:40:13 EDT Ademola Ismaila Adegoke, 43, of Accra, Ghana, was sentenced today to 102 months in prison for using stolen credit card numbers to steal more than $400,000 from U.S. citizens. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Obtains $120,000 Settlement in Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Against Indiana Condominium Association By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:13:37 EDT The Justice Department announced today that a Munster, Ind., condominium association and its three member board of directors have agreed to pay $120,000 to resolve allegations that they refused to approve the sale of a condominium to an African-American couple because of their race and because they had children. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Sues Return Preparers in Florida and Missouri Who Allegedly Claimed More Than $70 Million in Fraudulent Tax Refunds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:58:07 EDT The United States has sued Iliana Sorensen of Hialeah, Fla., and Gerald A. Poynter II of Kansas City, Mo., seeking to bar them from preparing federal tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Justice Department Enters Agreement to Make Kerrville, Texas, Cailloux Theater Accessible to Persons with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:20:22 EDT The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the city of Kerrville, Texas, and Playhouse 2000 to bring the Cailloux Theater into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ai Former HannStar Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty and Serve Jail Time for Participating in Global LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:25:37 EDT A former executive from HannStar Display Corporation has agreed to plead guilty and to serve jail time in the United States for participating in a global conspiracy to fix the price of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels. Full Article OPA Press Releases