rt Justice Department Files Suit to Stop San Diego Man from Preparing Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 7 Aug 2013 19:01:20 EDT The Justice Department announced today that the United States has filed a civil injunction suit against Michael I. Turner, of San Diego to stop him from preparing federal tax returns. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Five Puerto Rico Police Department Officers Indicted on Federal Civil Rights, Obstruction of Justice and Perjury Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 7 Aug 2013 19:20:13 EDT A second superseding indictment against five Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) officers was announced today by Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division; Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos Cases, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Signs Agreement with the City of Fort Morgan, Colo. to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 8 Aug 2013 16:56:09 EDT The Justice Department announced today an agreement with the city of Fort Morgan, Colo., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Files Antitrust Lawsuit Challenging Proposed Merger Between US Airways and American Airlines By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:40:47 EDT The Department of Justice, six state attorneys general and the District of Columbia filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today challenging the proposed $11 billion merger between US Airways Group Inc. and American Airlines’ parent corporation, AMR Corp. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Ninth Individual Sentenced in Connection with Costa Rica-based Business Opportunity Ventures That Defrauded Americans By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 12:53:40 EDT Michael Kerry Deevy, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced today in connection with a series of business opportunity fraud ventures based in Costa Rica, the Justice Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced. Beginning in 2006, Deevy and his co-conspirators in Costa Rica are alleged to have fraudulently induced purchasers in the U.S. to buy business opportunities from companies known as Cards-R-Us Inc., Premier Cards Inc. and Nation West. The business opportunities cost purchasers thousands of dollars each, with most paying at least $10,000. Today’s sentencing forms part of the government’s continued nationwide crackdown on business opportunity fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination on Basis of Race and National Origin in Minneapolis By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 17:59:51 EDT The Justice Department today announced a settlement of its lawsuit alleging that Highland Management Group Inc., Edina Park Apartments LLC, and Amy Koch violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by discriminating against Somali prospective renters at Edina Park Apartments in Edina, Minn. a suburb of Minneapolis. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Homeowners Association and Property Management Company in Fair Housing Lawsuit Involving Occupancy Limits By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 18:36:29 EDT The Justice Department announced today that the Townhomes of Kings Lake HOA Inc. (HOA) and Vanguard Management Group Inc. have agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer at the Conference Call Regarding the Justice Department’s Lawsuit Challenging Us Airways’ Proposed Merger with American Airlines By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 11:42:25 EDT Consumers will also pay more on routes where US Airways and American today offer competing nonstop service. We know from prior mergers that elimination of head-to-head competition on nonstop routes results in substantial price increases for consumers. Full Article Speech
rt Justice Department Announces Charges Filed Against Two Derivatives Traders in Connection with Multi-Billion Dollar Trading Loss at JPMorgan Chase & Company By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 14:07:46 EDT U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara and Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office George Venizelos announced the unsealing of criminal complaints against Javier Martin-Artajo and Julien Grout for their alleged participation in a conspiracy to hide the true extent of losses in a credit derivatives trading portfolio maintained by the Chief Investment Office (CIO) of JPMorgan Chase & Company (JPMorgan). Martin-Artajo served as a Managing Director and Head of Credit and Equity Trading for the CIO, and Grout was a Vice President and derivatives trader in the CIO. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles Immigration-related Discrimination Claim Against Forever 21 By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:33:11 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Forever 21 resolving allegations that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it rejected a work-authorized individual’s Department of Homeland Security-issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and required her to produce a Permanent Resident Card (commonly known as a “Green Card”) as a condition of employment. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles Immigration-related Discrimination Claim Against SOS Employment Group By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:29:33 EDT The Justice Department today reached an agreement with SOS Employment Group, based in Salt Lake City resolving claims that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Files Lawsuit in Delaware Against Regal Contractors LLC Et Al., to Enforce the Employment Rights of Air Force Reserve Member By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 18:32:10 EDT The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware Charles M. Oberly III announced today the filing of a lawsuit alleging that Regal Contractors LLC, Regal Builders LLC and Noble Pond Homes willfully violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by terminating U.S. Air Force Reserve Member Lon Fluman following his return from required military training with his reserve unit. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Department of Justice Reaches Agreement to Improve Conditions at St. Tammany Parish Jail in Louisiana By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 16:29:08 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into a comprehensive agreement with the Parish of St. Tammany, La., and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff to correct conditions of confinement at the St. Tammany Parish Jail and to ensure that improvements made since the Department’s investigation will be maintained. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Three Members and One Associate of Violent North Carolina Latin Kings Gang Sentenced to Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 17:10:50 EDT Three members and one associate of the North Carolina Almighty Latin King/Queen Nation (ALKQN) have been sentenced this week in federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Fourteen More Army National Guard Recruiters and Soldiers Charged in Ongoing Bribery and Fraud Investigation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 11:49:52 EDT Fourteen current and former recruiters and soldiers of the U.S. Army National Guard have been charged in the Southern District of Texas for engaging in a multi-year scheme to defraud the U.S. Army National Guard Bureau, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Reaches Interim Olmstead Settlement with the State of Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 14:01:06 EDT The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that it has joined with private plaintiffs in entering an interim settlement agreement with the state of Texas intended to enable Texans with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to live in community settings rather than nursing facilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Federal Court Permanently Bars Indiana Instant Tax Service Franchisee from Tax Preparation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 18:25:03 EDT A federal court in Indianapolis permanently barred David Franklin and his company, Instant Refund Tax Service (IRTS), from preparing tax returns and from operating a tax-preparation business, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Northern California Residents Indicted for Filing False Liens Against IRS Employees and Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:00:18 EDT The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Sacramento, Calif., charging Teresa Marie Marty, Charles Tingler and Victoria Tingler, all of Placerville, Calif., with conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing multi-million dollar liens against government officials. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt New York Maintenance and Construction Company Owner Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Failing to Pay Payroll Taxes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 18:23:23 EDT Kathryn Keneally, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, announced today the guilty plea of Thomas Nastasi III, 46, of Mt. Kisco, N.Y., to one count of willful failure to pay the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the payroll taxes of his company, Nastasi Maintenance & Construction LLC. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles Fair Housing Lawsuit with Multi/Tech Engineering Services Inc. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 18:43:34 EDT The Justice Department announced today that Multi/Tech Engineering Services Inc., an engineering firm based in Salem, Ore., has agreed to pay more than $60,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging that it had violated the Fair Housing Act by designing Gateway Village Apartments with steps and other features that made it inaccessible to people with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice and Education Departments Announce New Research Showing Prison Education Reduces Recidivism, Saves Money, Improves Employment By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:42:26 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced research findings showing that, on average, inmates who participated in correctional education programs had 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than inmates who did not. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Florida Woman Sentenced for Role in Reverse Mortgage Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:58:34 EDT A Miami title agent and former mortgage broker was sentenced today for her role in a reverse mortgage loan fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department to File New Lawsuit Against State of Texas Over Voter I.D. Law By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 12:12:00 EDT The Department of Justice announced today that it will file a new lawsuit against the State of Texas, the Texas Secretary of State, and the Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety over the State’s strict voter photo identification law (SB 14). Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Big West Oil to Pay Penalty and Spend $18 Million on Emission Controls to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations at North Salt Lake Refinery By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 14:24:22 EDT Big West Oil LLC has agreed to pay a $175,000 penalty and to spend approximately $18 million to install emission controls at its refinery in North Salt Lake, Utah, announced the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today. Big West Oil will also invest $253,000 to improve the monitoring and management of potential releases of hydrofluoric acid at the facility. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Sues South Dakota Drug Manufacturer for Improperly Producing Sterile Eye Drops By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 12:43:10 EDT The government filed suit in the U.S. District Court for South Dakota against Dakota Laboratories LLC and its owner, Charles L. Voellinger, Sr., to block them from violating the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) in connection with their alleged violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP). Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Man Who Threatened Synagogue in Fargo, North Dakota, Charged with Civil Rights Violation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 10:02:16 EDT Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Jocelyn Samuels and U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota Timothy Q. Purdon announced that Dominique Jason Flanigan was arraigned today on civil rights and threats charges. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Obtains $22,000 Settlement in Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Against Mt. Washington, KY., Landlord By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:43:51 EDT The Justice Department announced today that Jerry L. Wilson, a Mt. Washington, Ky., landlord has agreed to pay $22,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against African-American apartment seekers and making statements indicating a preference for families without children for certain available apartments. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Sues to Shut Down South Carolina Tax Return Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:35:55 EDT The United States has requested the federal district court in Charleston, S.C. to permanently bar Jessica Geddis of Summerville, S.C., from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Puerto Rico Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2009 Mass Shooting By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:54:40 EDT Alexis Candelario-Santana, 42, was sentenced today to life in prison for murdering eight people and an unborn child and attempting to murder 19 others during a mass shooting at a Puerto Rico nightclub in 2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Conax Flordia Corp. Settles Allegations It Provided Improperly Tested Equipment and Non-Conforming Electronic Parts for Use by the Military and NASA By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:08:37 EDT Conax Florida Corp. and related companies have agreed to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that the company submitted false claims to the government for improperly tested inertia reels and non-conforming voltage references. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Two California Firms and Owner Agree to Settle Clean Air Act Violations Stemming from Illegal Import of Vehicles By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:06:30 EDT Two Los Angeles-based consulting firms, MotorScience Inc., and MotorScience Enterprise Inc., (MotorScience) and their owner, Chi Zheng, have agreed to settle alleged Clean Air Act (CAA) violations stemming from the illegal import of 24,478 all-terrain, recreational vehicles into the U.S. from China without testing to ensure emissions would meet applicable limits on harmful air pollution, announced the Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (ARB). Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Announces Update to Marijuana Enforcement Policy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:28:37 EDT Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an update to its federal marijuana enforcement policy in light of recent state ballot initiatives that legalize, under state law, the possession of small amounts of marijuana and provide for the regulation of marijuana production, processing, and sale. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Former North Carolina Probation Officer Sentenced for Coercing Probationer into Sexual Acts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 18:36:01 EDT Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division and Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced today that former North Carolina Department of Correction’s Division of Community Corrections Probation Officer Willie James Steele Jr., 43, has been sentenced for violating the constitutional rights of a female probationer that he was supervising by coercing her into sexual acts on two separate occasions. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Three Former Broker-dealer Employees Plead Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Bribery of Foreign Officials, Money Laundering and Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 13:46:18 EDT Three employees of a New York-based U.S. broker-dealer have pleaded guilty for their roles in bribery schemes involving two state economic development banks in Venezuela. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Federal Court Permanently Bars Texas Tax Preparer from Preparing Tax Returns for Others By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 4 Sep 2013 14:55:59 EDT The Justice Department announced today that a federal court has permanently barred Nina Thompson Price from preparing federal tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Northern California Real Estate Investor Agrees to Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging at Public Foreclosure Auctions By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 13:06:58 EDT A Northern California real estate investor has agreed to plead guilty for his role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Fourth Georgia Corections Officer Pleads Guilty in Inmate Beating Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 18:23:39 EDT Today, the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia announced that Kadarius Thomas, a former member of the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) and a former supervisor at Macon State Prison (MSP), in Oglethorpe, Ga., pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Department of Justice Reaches Settlement with Virginia School District to Ensure Equal Opportunites for English Language Learner Students By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 5 Sep 2013 18:27:46 EDT The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has reached a comprehensive settlement agreement with the Prince William County School District in Virginia to improve services for approximately 13,000 students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and provide language access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents district-wide. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Jerome County Idaho Sheriff’s Office to Resolve the Employment Rights of Army National Guard Member By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 18:40:45 EDT The Depatment of Justice and U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson for the District of Idaho announced today that they reached an agreement with the Jerome County, Id., Sheriff’s Office to resolve the allegations that Jerome County violated the employment rights of Idaho Army National Guard Member Mervin Jones while he was recuperating from a knee injury that he sustained while performing military service. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Alleging Auto Lending Discrimination in Los Angeles By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 6 Sep 2013 18:39:47 EDT The United States has settled a lawsuit alleging that an automobile dealership formerly doing business in Los Angeles violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) by charging non-Asian customers higher interest rate markups than other customers for a period of at least three years. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Ohio and New York By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 9 Sep 2013 15:29:16 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor elections on Sept. 10, 2013, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and in Queens County, N.Y. The monitoring will ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Staffing Company to Resolve Immigration-related Unfair Employment Practices By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 9 Sep 2013 18:56:54 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Kelly Services Inc., a staffing company based in Troy, Mich., resolving an allegation of discrimination based on citizenship status during the employment eligibility re-verification process at one of its branch locations in Schaumburg, Ill. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt G.S. Electech Inc. Executive Indicted for Role in Bid Rigging and Price Fixing on Automobile Parts Installed in U.S. Cars By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:07:52 EDT A federal grand jury in Covington, Ky., has returned an indictment against G.S. Electech Inc. executive, Shingo Okuda for his role in an international conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids of auto parts used on antilock brake systems installed in U.S. cars. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Department of Justice Ceremony Commemorating the Twelfth Anniversary of September 11, 2001 By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 08:38:15 EDT It is an honor to join so many friends and colleagues for today’s observance – as we mark the twelfth anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever carried out against the United States; remember the nearly 3,000 innocent people whose lives were lost; and pay tribute to the 72 brave law enforcement officers who were called, on that beautiful autumn morning, to make the ultimate sacrifice. Full Article Speech
rt Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-based Discrimination at Helena, Mont., Apartment Complex By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 09:34:42 EDT The Justice Department filed a lawsuit yesterday against the owners, builders and designers of an eight unit apartment complex at 175 and 195 Silsbee Avenue in Helena, Mont. for violations of the Fair Housing Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt North Carolina Woman Sentenced for Preparing False Tax Returns and Identity Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:35:39 EDT The Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that yesterday Leslie Louise Brewster of Durham, N.C. was sentenced to serve 70 months in federal prison for crimes related to preparing false tax returns and identity fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Obama Administration Announces a Coordinated Effort to Protect Consumers by Preventing and Detecting Potential Fraud in the Health Insurance Marketplace By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:10:18 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Edith Ramirez met at the White House to kick off a comprehensive interagency initiative to prevent, protect against, and where necessary prosecute consumer fraud and privacy violations in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Justice Department Awards $90 Million to Enhance, Support Tribal Justice and Safety By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 16:55:26 EDT The Department of Justice today announced the awarding of 192 grants to 110 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, tribal consortia and tribal designated non-profits. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Tennessee Federal Court Bars the Owners of Mo’ Money Taxes from Owning, Operating, Licensing or Franchsing a Tax Return Preparation Business and Preparing Tax Returns for Others By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:28:27 EDT A federal court in Memphis, Tenn., permanently barred the owners of Mo’ Money Taxes, Markey Granberry and Derrick Robinson, as well as a former Mo’ Money manager, Eumora Reese, from preparing tax returns for others and owning or operating a tax return preparation business, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
rt Maine Resident Pleads Guilty to Engaging in Cyber “Sextortion” of New Hampshire Victim By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:18:07 EDT A Maine resident pleaded guilty today in federal court to engaging in a type of cyberstalking known as “sextortion.” Full Article OPA Press Releases