ni Four Alleged Members of the Internet Piracy Group “IMAGiNE” Indicted in Virginia By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:44:40 EDT Four individuals have been charged in the Eastern District of Virginia for their alleged roles in an Internet piracy group that distributed via the Internet copies of movies showing only in theaters. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Department of Justice Releases Investigative Findings on the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:50:30 EDT Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department today announced its findings regarding the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County (JCMSC), and the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center in Tennessee. The Justice Department found that the juvenile court fails to provide constitutionally required due process to all children appearing for delinquency proceedings, that the court’s administration of juvenile justice discriminates against African-American children, and that its detention center violates the substantive due process rights of detained youth by not providing them with reasonably safe conditions of confinement. The investigation, opened in August 2009, was conducted under provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Two Northern California Real Estate Investors Agree to Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging at Public Foreclosure Auctions By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:58:57 EDT Two northern California real estate investors have agreed to plead guilty for their roles in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in northern California. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia Servant of Justice Awards 80th Anniversary Dinner By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:20:26 EDT "Every day, Legal Aid attorneys are in the courtroom – standing up for survivors of domestic violence; helping families facing eviction, and veterans who have been denied their benefits; and making sure adults and children alike have an understanding of the rights and protections to which they are entitled. And, because of your consistent focus on pro bono work, you are helping to rally the entire bar to this cause," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
ni Virginia Man Sentenced for Filing a False Refund Claim Based on Forms-1099 and for Failing to File Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:41:55 EDT Richard Jaensch, 54, of Annandale, Va., was sentenced today to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Jaensch had been found guilty on Dec. 7, 2011, by a federal jury sitting in Alexandria, Va., of corruptly endeavoring to impede the IRS, filing a false claim for a refund and four counts of failing to file tax returns for 2004 through 2007. Judge Lee also sentenced Jaensch to three years supervised release and ordered him to pay $197,984 in restitution to the IRS. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Federal Jury Finds Ira Isaacs Guilty in Los Angeles Adult Obscenity Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:02:16 EDT Ira Isaacs, 60, was found guilty today in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on one count of engaging in the business of producing and selling obscene videos and four counts of distributing obscene videos, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. of the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Steve Martinez of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Nation’s Largest Mortgage Insurance Provider to Resolve Allegations of Discrimination Against Women on Maternity Leave By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:50:51 EDT The Department of Justice announced today that it has settled its lawsuit against the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC) for discriminating against women on maternity leave in violation of the Fair Housing Act. This settlement is the department’s first involving discrimination against women and families in mortgage insurance. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department Announces Investigations of the Handling of Sexual Assault Allegations by the University of Montana, the Missoula, Mont., Police Department and the Missoula County Attorney’s Office By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 1 May 2012 15:49:18 EDT The Department of Justice today announced a series of investigations stemming from allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment at the University of Montana and in the greater Missoula, Mont., community. These investigations will seek to determine whether gender discrimination affected the prevention, investigation and prosecution of sexual assaults and sexual harassment in Missoula. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Former Magistrate in Portsmouth, Virginia, Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 2 May 2012 16:30:41 EDT Deborah Clark, 52, of Portsmouth, Va., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Henry C. Morgan Jr. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department Returns $44 Million to Victims of Qwest Communications Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 May 2012 17:20:44 EDT The $44 million in funds were forfeited to the United States as a result of the 2007 federal conviction of Qwest’s chief executive officer, Joseph P. Nacchio, for securities fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Nine Alabama Family Members Indicted in Conspiracy to Obtain Tax Refunds Using Stolen Identities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 May 2012 13:16:42 EDT Barbara Murry, Douglas Murry, Douglas Murry III, Yolanda Moses, Lee Moses, Veronica Temple, Jeffrey Temple, Almetta Johnson and Courtney Johnson were charged in an indictment by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama on a variety of counts stemming from an identity theft and tax fraud scheme, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the University of Michigan Law School Senior Day Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Sun, 6 May 2012 14:01:28 EDT "Know this: times of difficulty, of novel questions and new tests, are the most exciting, and consequential, times to be a lawyer. Since our nation's earliest days, the service and contributions of attorneys - and, very often, of young attorneys - have kept the great and unique American experiment in motion," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
ni Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Detroit NAACP Centennial Celebration 57th Annual Fight for Freedom Dinner By www.justice.gov Published On :: Sun, 6 May 2012 20:40:10 EDT "Across the Administration, we’re working in a range of other innovative ways to achieve fairness and expand opportunity – from successfully advocating for the reduction of the unfair and unjust 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses – to launching a new, Department-wide Diversity Management Initiative. And our determination to build on these efforts has, quite simply, never been stronger," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
ni Justice Department to Monitor Election in Wisconsin By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 May 2012 11:11:08 EDT The Justice Department announced today that the Civil Rights Division will monitor the election on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, in Milwaukee. The monitoring will ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. In addition, the act requires certain covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance during the election process. The city of Milwaukee is required to provide assistance in Spanish. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on the Passing of Former U.S. Attorney General Nicholas DeBelleville Katzenbach By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 May 2012 18:42:24 EDT Today, we mourn the loss of Nicholas Katzenbach, one of our Nation's great champions of civil rights and equal justice. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Companies Agree to $4.25 Million Natural Resource Damages Settlement at Industri-Plex Superfund Site, Woburn, Mass. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 May 2012 14:04:31 EDT Pharmacia Corporation and Bayer CropScience Inc. have agreed to pay $4.25 million to federal and state natural resource trustees to resolve claims for natural resource damages connected with the Industri-plex Superfund site located in Woburn, Mass. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni California Member of the Internet Piracy Group “IMAGiNE” Pleads Guilty to Copyright Infringement Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 May 2012 13:36:23 EDT Sean M. Lovelady, 28, of Pomona, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Two Stock Promoters, a Stock Trader and a Securities Lawyer Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in a $7 Million Fraudulent Stock Manipulation Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 May 2012 17:19:14 EDT Two stock promoters, a securities lawyer and a stock trader associated with a Costa Rican brokerage firm were sentenced today in the Southern District of Florida for their participation in a stock manipulation scheme that defrauded investors in a company called CO2 Technologies. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 10:04:28 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor municipal elections on May 12, 2012, in Dallas, Galveston, and Jasper Counties in Texas to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Former New England Organized Crime Leader and Associate Sentenced for Racketeering and Extortion Activities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 14:07:50 EDT Luigi “Louie” Manocchio, an admitted former boss and underboss of the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN), was sentenced today to 66 months in federal prison for his leadership of and participation in a racketeering and extortion conspiracy that demanded and received between $800,000 and $1.5 million in “protection” payments from several Rhode Island adult entertainment businesses from 1995-2009. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Principal of Offshore Brokerage Firm Sentenced in Miami to 20 Years in Prison for $7 Million Stock Manipulation Scam By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 16:56:40 EDT Jonathan Curshen, 47, the principal of Red Sea Management and Sentry Global Securities, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard W. Goldberg. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Virginia Anesthesiologist Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 17:36:43 EDT George Anderson, 57, an anesthesiologist from Farmville, Va., pleaded guilty today to two counts of filing a false corporate and false individual income tax return, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Three Former Financial Services Executives Convicted for Roles in Conspiracies Involving Investment Contracts for the Proceeds of Municipal Bonds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 18:04:56 EDT A federal jury in New York City today convicted three former financial services executives for their participation in conspiracies related to bidding for contracts for the investment of municipal bond proceeds and other municipal finance contracts Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the University of North Carolina Law School Commencement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Sat, 12 May 2012 09:55:45 EDT "Class of 2012, you now stand at a crossroads in our history. And it’s time to begin making some important choices," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
ni Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Nebraska By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 May 2012 08:45:58 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor the primary elections on May 15, 2012, in Colfax and Douglas Counties in Nebraska, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. In addition, the Act requires Colfax County to provide language assistance in Spanish during the election process. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Nineteen-Year Police Veteran Convicted in Puerto Rico for Role in Providing Armed Security for Drug Transaction By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 May 2012 19:08:49 EDT Yamil Navedo Ramirez, 39, was convicted of one count of attempting to possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug transaction. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Two Individuals and Their California Company Sentenced in Connection with Exports of Computer Equipment to Iran By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 May 2012 17:12:40 EDT Massoud Habibion, 49, a U.S. citizen, Mohsen Motamedian, 44, a U.S. citizen, and their Costa Mesa, Calif., company, Online Micro LLC, were sentenced today in the District of Columbia in connection with a scheme to illegally export millions of dollars worth of computer-related goods from the United States to Iran through the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down San Antonio Tax Return Preparers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 10:02:56 EDT The United States has sued Pete Gutierrez and Jeanette Gutierrez, who do business as Fast Cash Refund Express and Fast Cash Refund Express Electronic Services, seeking to bar them and their companies from preparing any federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. In addition to the Gutierrezes, the civil injunction suit also named FCRE Inc., and Fast Cash Refund Express Electronic Tax Service LLC, as defendants. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Wythe County, Virginia, on Bailout from the Voting Rights Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 18:21:08 EDT The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with Wythe County, Va., that will allow for the county and its three political subdivisions, the Wythe County School District and the towns of Rural Retreat and Wytheville, to bail out from their status as “covered jurisdictions” under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and thereby exempt these jurisdictions from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The agreement is in the form of a consent decree filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and must be approved by the court. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Dreamboard Member Found Guilty in Louisiana for Participating in International Criminal Network Organized to Sexually Exploit Children By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 May 2012 09:55:45 EDT John Wyss, aka “Bones,” 55, of Monroe, Wis., was found guilty of one count of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, one count of conspiracy to advertise child pornography and one count of conspiracy to distribute child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Former Alexandria, Virginia, Resident Pleads Guilty to Corruptly Endeavoring to Impede the Internal Revenue Service By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 13:57:30 EDT Donald R. Megginson, a former resident of Alexandria, Va., pleaded guilty to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Former Haitian Government Official Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Role in Scheme to Launder Bribes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 19:32:32 EDT Jean Rene Duperval, a former director of international relations for Telecommunications D’Haiti S.A.M. (Haiti Teleco), a Haitian state-owned telecommunications company, was sentenced today to nine years in prison for his role in a scheme to launder bribes paid to him by two Miami-based telecommunications companies. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Former Pennsylvania Businessman Convicted of Filing False Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 May 2012 17:20:00 EDT Jonathon Felix, formerly of Villanova, Pa., was found guilty by a federal jury of willfully signing and filing false income tax returns, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Petrese Tucker presided over the trial in Philadelphia. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department Recognizes Efforts to Rescue Children from Abuse and Prosecute Predators By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2012 14:14:23 EDT Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole paid tribute to four individuals today during the National Missing Children’s Day ceremony at the Justice Department’s Great Hall. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Georgia Tax Cheats Indicted for Conspiring to Defraud the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2012 16:28:17 EDT Tyrone Devon Thompson, Aritha Currie, Julius Thompson, Tronda Thompson and Shonda Sneed were charged in an indictment by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Georgia on a variety of counts stemming from a tax fraud scheme, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The 22-count indictment charges all five with conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false claims against the United States. The indictment, which was returned on May 11, 2012, was unsealed following the defendants’ arrests. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Investment Club Manager Sentenced in Virginia to 12 Years in Prison for $40 Million Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 May 2012 17:56:10 EDT Alan James Watson, 47, of Clinton Township, Mich., was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for fraudulently soliciting and accepting $40 million from more than 900 members of his investment club, Cash Flow Financial LLC (CFF). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni California Woman Indicted for Allegedly Impersonating a Congressional Aide By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 May 2012 18:28:49 EDT The indictment charges Susan Tomsha-Miguel, 51. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department Settles with Louisiana School District to Ensure Equal Opportunities for All Students By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 May 2012 17:54:45 EDT The Department of Justice announced today that it entered into a settlement agreement with the Lincoln Parish School Board in Louisiana to ensure the school district reaches full compliance with its longstanding desegregation obligations. The agreement was approved by a judge today and is in the form of a consent order. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at Drug Court Commencement and Phase Progression Recognition Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 May 2012 10:11:58 EDT "My colleagues and I across the Justice Department – and the entire Obama Administration – remain deeply committed to expanding this work through funding grants, training, and other forms of assistance. We’re eager to continue partnering with leading jurists like those who serve this Court, tireless advocates like our allies at the PSA and NADCP, and determined drug court participants like each of you," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
ni Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 May 2012 09:52:59 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor primary elections on May 29, 2012, in Fort Bend, Harris and Jefferson Counties in Texas, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes. The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group. In addition, the act requires certain covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance during the election process. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department Announces Agreement to Protect Rights of Military and Overseas Voters in California By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 13:31:00 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with California state officials to help ensure that military servicemembers, their family members and U.S. citizens living overseas have the opportunity to participate fully in California’s June 5, 2012, federal primary election. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Former Head of Worldwide Sales at California Valve Company Pleads Guilty to Foreign Bribery Offense By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 16:40:25 EDT Paul Cosgrove, the former Head of Worldwide Sales at Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.-based valve company Control Components Inc. (CCI) pleaded guilty today to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Romanian National Extradited to U.S. to Face Charges for Allegedly Participating in Multimillion Dollar Scheme to Hack into and Steal Credit Card Data from U.S. Merchants By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 18:16:05 EDT Adrian-Tiberiu Oprea, 28, of Constanta, Romania, was extradited to the United States and appeared in federal court in New Hampshire today, to face federal charges relating to his alleged participation in an international multimillion dollar scheme to remotely hack into and steal payment card data from hundreds of U.S. merchants’ “point of sale” computer systems. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Virginia-based Defense Contractor Calnet to Pay $18.1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Lawsuit By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 16:49:18 EDT Calnet Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $18.1 million to resolve allegations that the company submitted false claims to the Department of Defense, the Justice Department announced today. Calnet Inc., an intelligence analysis, information technology and language services company, is headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni New England Organized Crime Associate Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 18:25:19 EDT Richard Bonafiglia, 58, of Providence, R.I., an admitted associate of the New England La Cosa Nostra was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence today to 84 months in federal prison for his participation in a racketeering conspiracy to shakedown several Rhode Island adult entertainment businesses for protection money. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Justice Department to Monitor Elections in California, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wisconsin By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 11:15:06 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor elections on June 5, 2012, in the following jurisdictions to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other federal voting rights statutes: Alameda, Fresno and Riverside Counties, Calif.; Cibola and Sandoval Counties, N.M.; Shannon County, S.D.; and the city of Milwaukee. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West and U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter Announce Pilot Initiative to Address Sexual Assault on Montana Reservations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 Jun 2012 18:52:22 EDT Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West today joined U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter and Vice-Chairman of the Crow Nation Calvin Coolidge Jefferson to announce a multi-agency collaboration with tribal governments to establish sexual assault response teams (SARTs) in the six Montana reservations under federal jurisdiction. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ni Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the Press Conference Regarding Sexual Assault Response Team Initiative By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 Jun 2012 18:51:22 EDT "We hope that establishing SART teams on every Montana reservation will bring healing and justice to victims of sexual violence – the kind of help that will also strengthen the faith and confidence that native women have in their criminal justice system," said Acting Associate Attorney General West. Full Article Speech
ni Acting Assistant Attorney General Stuart F. Delery Speaks at the American Bar Association’s Ninth National Institute on the Civil False Claims Act and Qui Tam Enforcement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 Jun 2012 14:03:47 EDT "Protecting taxpayer dollars is one of the Attorney General’s core priorities. This includes a commitment to increase our efforts to reduce fraud at the outset," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Delery. Full Article Speech
ni Justice Department Settles Lawsuit with United Airlines to Enforce Employment Rights of Air National Guardsman By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 8 Jun 2012 16:52:22 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with United Airlines Inc., resolving Ten Eyck LaTourrette’s allegation that the airline violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) by under compensating his retirement plan during his military service. LaTourrette is currently a major serving in the Colorado Air National Guard and a first officer for United Airlines. Full Article OPA Press Releases