ed South Florida Corrections Officer Sentenced on Federal Civil Rights Charge By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:53:12 EST Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) officer Guruba Griffin, 32, was sentenced by District Judge Cecilia Altonaga to serve one year in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Assistant Administrator of Houston Hospital Pleads Guilty to Participating in $116 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:24:14 EST Mohammad Khan, 62, of Houston, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks, and five counts of paying or offering to pay health care kickbacks. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Wife of Former Army Major Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Role in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Related to Dod Contracts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:29:29 EST Eurica Pressley, 39, was sentenced today in Birmingham, Ala., to 72 months in prison for her participation in a bribery and money laundering scheme related to bribes paid for contracts awarded in support of the Iraq war. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Federal Officials Announce Nationwide Crackdown on Black Market Rhino Trade By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:08:48 EST Seven people have been arrested on charges of trafficking in endangered black rhinoceros horn over the past week in Los Angeles, Newark, N.J., and New York. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Pensacola, Florida, Man Indicted for Arson at American Family Planning Clinic By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:04:44 EST Bobby Joe Rogers, 41, of Pensacola, Fla., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the fire that destroyed the American Family Planning Clinic in Pensacola on Jan. 1, 2012. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Chairman and CEO of Kellogg, Brown & Root Inc. Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Foreign Bribery and Kickback Schemes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:09:50 EST Albert “Jack” Stanley, a former chairman and chief executive officer of Kellogg, Brown & Root Inc. (KBR), was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by participating in a decade-long scheme to bribe Nigerian government officials to obtain engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts and for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud as part of a separate kickback scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Ohio Wildlife Officer Convicted of Trafficking in White-Tailed Deer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:42:36 EST Allan Wright, 45, of Russellville, Ohio, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Cincinnati to violating the Lacey Act by trafficking in and making false records for illegally harvested white-tailed deer. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Houston Patient Recruiter Convicted in $1.1 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:07:24 EST Michelle Turner, 44, of Spring, Texas, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of conspiring to receive illegal kickbacks for referring Medicare beneficiaries and two counts of receiving illegal kickbacks for referring Medicare beneficiaries. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Los Angeles Church Pastor Sentenced to Serve 36 Months in Prison for $14.2 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:41:30 EST Connie Ikpoh, 49, also was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter for the Central District of California to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $6.7 million in restitution jointly and severally with her co-conspirators. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Case Involving Disabled Veteran in Utah By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:07:26 EST The Justice Department today announced a $20,000 consent decree that resolves a lawsuit alleging that a Park City, Utah, condominium association and its management company violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a resident’s request for a reasonable accommodation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Dallas Doctor Arrested for Alleged Role in Nearly $375 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:43:36 EST A physician and the office manager of his medical practice, along with five owners of home health agencies, were arrested today on charges related to their alleged participation in a nearly $375 million health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent claims for home health services. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed United States Intervenes in Suit Against American Commercial College Inc. Alleging False Claims Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:36:20 EST The United States has intervened in a whistleblower suit pending under the False Claims Act against American Commercial College Inc. (ACC), a chain of for-profit colleges located in west Texas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Attorney General Eric Holder Testifies Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:17:22 EST "“In response to my call to identify savings across the department, almost $700 million in savings have been developed – funds that are being reinvested in critical mission areas. I also want to note that, in the department’s FY 2013 budget of $27.1 billion, proposed spending increases have been exceeded by proposed cuts," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
ed Three Individuals Charged with 1998 Racially-Motivated Murders of Two Men in Las Vegas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:50:59 EST The Justice Department announced today that Ross Hack, 40, Leland Jones, 31, and Melissa Hack, 37, have been charged with first degree murder and firearms offenses in relation to the 1998 deaths of Lin Newborn and Daniel Shersty. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Australian Man and His Firm Indicted in Plot to Export Restricted Military and Other U.S. Technology to Iran By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:21:53 EST An Australian man and his company have been indicted today by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia for conspiring to export sensitive military and other technology from the United States to Iran, including components with applications in missiles, drones, torpedoes and helicopters. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Puerto Rico Senator and Businessman Each Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Their Roles in Bribery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 12:20:19 EST Hector Martinez Maldonado, a former Puerto Rico Senator, and Juan Bravo Fernandez, the former president of the largest private security firm in Puerto Rico, were each sentenced today to 48 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a bribery scheme involving the passage of legislation beneficial to Bravo Fernandez’s business. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Ripley, Tennessee, Police Officer Arrested on Federal Civil Rights and Obstruction Charges Involving Alleged Use of Force By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 17:44:18 EST Stephen Michael Kirkpatrick, 47, was indicted on two counts of violating the victim’s rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures and the use of unreasonable force by a person acting under color of law and one count of obstruction of justice. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Mississippi Office Manager Sentenced to 89 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 18:16:44 EST Cynthia Cooley, of Hattiesburg, Miss., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett in the Southern District of Mississippi. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Deputy Attorney General James Cole Speaks at High Level Hemispheric Meeting Against Transnational Organized Crime By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 12:20:54 EST "It is a distinct pleasure to be in Mexico City at today’s Hemispheric Meeting and to have the unique opportunity to speak with you – our shared partners in the Americas and Spain – about transnational organized crime, undoubtedly a global menace that we must work together to defeat. Organized criminals have adapted rapidly to the new, globalized world. They are, in fact, helping to shape that world, and not in a good direction," said Deputy Attorney General Cole. Full Article Speech
ed Oregon Man Convicted for Helping Thousands Steal Internet Service By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 10:28:48 EST Ryan Harris, 26, was the owner of TCNISO, a company that distributed products enabling users to steal Internet service. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed U.S. Files False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Florida-based Federal Grant Recipient By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 10:22:15 EST The United States has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against the Florida-based Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA), the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Miami Taxidermist Sentenced for Wildlife Smuggling By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 12:13:23 EST Enrique Gomez De Molina, 48, of Miami Beach, Fla., was sentenced in federal court in Miami today to 20 months in prison for illegal trafficking in endangered and protected wildlife. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Manager for Violent Fraudulent Document Ring Sentenced to Two Life Sentences for Murdering Rival Vendor By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 19:10:19 EST Edy Oliverez-Jiminez, aka “Daniel,” Erasmo,” “Ulysses” and “Jesus,” 25, of Virginia Beach, Va., was sentenced today to two consecutive life terms on prison, after having been convicted by a jury for racketeering, murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to produce and transfer false identification documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Italian Shipping Company and Chief Engineer Charged with Environmental Crimes and Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 16:02:51 EST Italian-based shipping company Giuseppe Bottiglieri Shipping Company S.P.A., owner and operator of the Motor Vessel Bottiglieri Challenger, and Vito La Forgia, the vessel’s chief engineer, have been charged in a four-count indictment with the illegal dumping of waste oil and oil-contaminated waste water in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, conspiracy and two counts of obstruction of justice. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Illinois Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Advertise Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 17:00:53 EST Jonathon Sudduth of Springfield, Ill., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips in Los Angeles to 22 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for conspiracy to advertise child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former FDA Chemist Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Insider Trading By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 17:06:30 EST Cheng Yi Liang, a former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chemist from Gaithersburg, Md., was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for engaging in insider trading on multiple occasions based on material, non-public information he obtained in his capacity as an FDA scientist. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Departments of Justice and Education Resolve Harassment Allegations in Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 19:36:56 EST The Departments of Justice and Education, together with six private student plaintiffs and the Anoka-Hennepin School District, filed a proposed consent decree today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, resolving complaints of sex-based harassment of middle and high school students in the school district. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Member of the Aryan Brotherhood Sentenced for Assaulting a Jewish Inmate in Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 19:12:42 EST Timothy Lee York, 35, of Fountain Valley, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 63 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to violently assaulting a Jewish inmate at a federal correctional facility in Texas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Federal Court in Illinois Shuts Down Nationwide “Employee Benefit Plan” Tax Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 09:29:43 EST A federal court has permanently barred Tracy L. Sunderlage, Linda Sunderlage and four companies from operating an alleged scheme to help high-income individuals attempt to avoid income taxes by funneling money through purported employee benefit plans, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Kansas Refinery to Pay Nearly $1 Million Penalty for Environmental Violations Related to Air Emissions By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 15:14:06 EST Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing (CRRM) has agreed to pay a civil penalty of more than $970,000 and invest more than $4.25 million in new pollution controls and $6.5 million in operating costs to resolve alleged violations of air, Superfund and community right-to-know laws at its Coffeyville, Kan., refinery. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Allen Stanford Convicted in Houston for Orchestrating $7 Billion Investment Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 18:22:59 EST A Houston federal jury today convicted Robert Allen Stanford, the former Board of Directors Chairman of Stanford International Bank (SIB), for orchestrating a 20-year investment fraud scheme in which he misappropriated $7 billion from SIB to finance his personal businesses. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Department of Veterans Affairs Official Sentenced to Serve 60 Months in Prison for Conspiracy and Wire Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 16:55:23 EST The former associate director of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy in Hines, Ill., his wife and their temporary staffing company were sentenced today for their participation in a conspiracy to defraud the VA and the Small Business Administration. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed U.S. Army Captain Pleads Guilty to Accepting Illegal Gratuities Related to Contracting in Support of Iraq War By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 18:41:29 EST Michael George Rutecki, 33, of North Pole, Alaska, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline in the District of Alaska to a criminal information charging him with one count of accepting illegal gratuities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Attorney General Eric Holder Testifies Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 10:04:24 EST "Despite the significant fiscal constraints the federal government has faced in recent years, the 116,000 dedicated employees who serve in Department offices around the world have made significant – and, in many cases, historic – progress in safeguarding our citizens from terrorism, violent crime, financial fraud, and a range of threats that often disproportionately threaten the most vulnerable members of society," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
ed Owner of Houston Health Care Company Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison in Connection with Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 16:34:49 EST Akinsunbo Akinbile, 44, of Richmond, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison in Houston. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Broward County, Fla.-Area Halfway House Owner Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Participating in Fraud and Kickback Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 16:55:15 EST Barry Nash, 69, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King in Miami to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Richmond Cell Manager of Sophisticated, Violent Fraudulent Document Ring Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 19:11:02 EST Armando Gonzalez-Medina, 35, of Richmond, Va., was sentenced today to 84 months in prison, after pleading guilty to participating in a racketeering conspiracy and conspiring to possess, produce and transfer fraudulent identification documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Accused Member of Foreign Terrorist Organization Extradited to United States on Hostage Taking Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:05:12 EDT Alexander Beltran Herrera, 35, aka Jhon Alexander Beltrain Herrera, aka Rodrigo Pirinolo, an accused member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has been extradited from Colombia to face hostage taking and terrorism charges in the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed $25 Billion Mortgage Servicing Agreement Filed in Federal Court By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:38:51 EDT The Justice Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and 49 state attorneys general announced today the filing of their landmark $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to address mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Three Former Corrections Officers Charged with Federal Civil Rights Offenses for Role in Beating Death of an Inmate at Ventress Correctional Facility in Alabama By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:27:04 EDT The Justice Department announced today that a federal grand jury has charged Michael Smith, 37, Matthew Davidson, 43, and Joseph Sanders, 31 – former corrections officers of the Alabama Department of Corrections – in a 17-count indictment. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Federal Court Sets $128 Million Aggregate Back Pay Damages in Employment Discrimination Lawsuit Against the City of New York’s Fire Department By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:46:45 EDT A federal court announced last week that it had determined the aggregate amount of back pay damages owed to African-American and Hispanic applicants who were discriminated against by the city of New York in the hiring of entry-level firefighters for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Devon Energy to Pay U.S. $3.5 Million to Resolve Allegations of Royalty Underpayments from Federal and Indian Lands By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:12:38 EDT Devon Energy Corporation and its affiliates have agreed to pay the United States $3,492,463 to resolve claims that PennzEnergy, a predecessor to Devon, violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying royalties owed on natural gas produced from federal and Indian lands, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Haitian Government Official Convicted in Miami for Role in Scheme to Launder Bribes Paid by Telecommunications Companies By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:18:36 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, has been convicted by a federal jury on all counts for his role in a scheme to launder bribes paid to him by two Miami-based telecommunications companies. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed United Kingdom Citizen and Two Americans Charged in Alabama for Allegedly Conspiring to Defraud United States Government By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:43:58 EDT United Kingdom citizen Ahmed Sarchil Kazzaz and his company, Leadstay Company, were charged in an indictment unsealed today in the Northern District of Alabama for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay kickbacks in exchange for receiving subcontracts for a Department of Defense program in Iraq. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Taiwan-Based AU Optronics Corporation, Its Houston-Based Subsidiary and Former Top Executives Convicted for Role in LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:58:03 EDT A federal jury in San Francisco today convicted the largest Taiwan liquid crystal display producer, its subsidiary and their two former executives for their participation in a conspiracy to fix the prices of thin-film transistor-liquid crystal display panels sold worldwide. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against United Airlines for USERRA Violation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:41:29 EDT The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against United Airlines Inc., alleging violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Alabama Woman Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:40:53 EDT Melinda Clayton of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced today to 61 months in prison, following a guilty plea to conspiracy to make false claims, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Miami-Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Participating in $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:18:25 EDT Mathis Moore, 56, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber in Miami to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Six Plead Guilty in Ohio to Tax and Mail Fraud Conspiracies Involving I.D. Theft of Deceased By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:25:14 EDT Muaad Salem, Hanan Widdi, Najeh Widdi, Hazem Woodi, Daxesj Patel and Fahim Suleiman each entered guilty pleas before the Honorable James S. Gwin today to charges arising from a scheme to obtain false and fraudulent U.S. Treasury tax refund checks, the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Haji Bagcho Convicted by Federal Jury in Washington, D.C., on Drug Trafficking and Narco-terrorism Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:02:48 EDT An Afghan national with ties to the Taliban was convicted today by a jury in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of conspiracy, distribution of heroin for importation into the United States and narco-terrorism. Full Article OPA Press Releases