ed Tennessee-Based Home Health Care Provider & Related Entities Agree to Pay More Than $9 M to Resolve False Claims Act Lawsuit By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:36:42 EDT James W. Carell, CareAll Management LLC (formerly known as Diversified Health Management Inc.), CareAll Inc., the James W. Carell Family Trust, VIP Home Nursing and Rehabilitation Services LLC, Professional Home Health Care LLC, University Home Health, LLC and Elizabeth Vining (as representative of the Estate of Robert Vining) have agreed to pay $9.375 million to the federal government. This payment is to resolve the lawsuit that the United States filed in 2009 alleging that they violated the False Claims Act, caused Medicare to pay out money through mistake of fact, and were unjustly enriched by falsely concealing the home health agencies’ relationship with their management company, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Arizona Tax Defier Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Fraud and Tax Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:01:33 EDT Richard Kellogg Armstrong, 77, of Prescott, Ariz., was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Blackburn ordered the sentence to run consecutively to the 660 day prison term and $1,021,500 of fines cumulatively imposed upon Armstrong as punitive sanctions for 10 acts of contempt of court. He also ordered Armstrong to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the amount of $1,678,834 and to forfeit two residences and a personal aircraft. The sentence was announced by the Justice Department’s Tax Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. Codefendant Curtis L. Morris, age 43, of Elizabeth, Colo., is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6, 2012. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Residents of California and Utah Sentenced for Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 08:53:42 EDT David L. Johnson and Michael L. Putnam were sentenced today following their convictions for tax crimes related to their involvement in the Genesis Fund, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Both Johnson and Putnam had previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer in the Central District of California. According to the original indictment filed in this case, the Genesis Fund was a private investment fund that was marketed as investing in foreign currency trading, but that operated as a Ponzi scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Miami-Area Patient Broker Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Role in $200 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:19:05 EDT Jean-Luc Veraguas, 51, of Plantation, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frederico A. Moreno in the Southern District of Florida. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Federal Court in Kansas City, Kansas, Shuts Down Tax-return Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:55:28 EDT A federal court in Kansas City, Kan., has permanently barred Ahferom Goitom from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. The civil injunction order, to which Goitom consented without admitting the allegations against him, was signed by Judge John W. Lungstrum of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. The case is one of five similar lawsuits (the others were filed in Indianapolis; Las Vegas; Chicago; and Dayton, Ohio) to shut down four of the largest Instant Tax Service franchise owners, as well as the Dayton-based corporate franchisor of the Instant Tax Service brand—ITS Financial LLC. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Delaware Company Fined for Unlawful Discharges of Oil in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:55:21 EDT Cedyco Corporation, headquartered in Houston, was sentenced today in federal court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Six Indicted in Alabama in Million-dollar Conspiracy to Use Stolen Identities to Obtain Tax Refunds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:40:40 EDT A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., returned a superseding indictment charging Antoinette Djonret, Angelique Djonret, Tabitha Stinson, Melba Wilson, Chantresa Hayes and Corey Means with conspiring to file false tax returns using stolen identities, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The 49-count indictment charges Djonret with filing false claims, theft of government funds, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft and possession of unauthorized access devices. Angelique Djonret is also charged with filing false claims, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft. Corey Means and Chantresa Hayes are charged with theft of government funds. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Alabama Women Indicted in $2.8 Million Conspiracy to Use Stolen Identities to Obtain Tax Refunds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:39:32 EDT A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., returned a 25-count indictment charging Larreka Jackson for conspiring to file false tax returns using stolen identities, filing false claims, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Italian Ship Owner and Chief Engineer Sentenced in Alabama for Crimes Related to Illegal Discharges from Cargo Ship By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:40:44 EDT Giusseppe Bottiglieri Shipping Company S.P.A, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Ginny Granade in the Southern District of Alabama to pay a $1 million criminal fine, serve four years of probation, and make a $300,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Yazaki Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Automobile Parts Installed in U.S. Cars By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:02:51 EDT An executive of Tokyo-based Yazaki Corporation has agreed to plead guilty for his role in a conspiracy to fix prices of instrument panel clusters, also known as meters, installed in cars sold in the United States and elsewhere. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Alabama Man Indicted in a Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:59:03 EDT A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., returned an indictment charging Quentin Collick for conspiring to file false tax returns using stolen identities, theft of public funds, and aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Arizona Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison in Money Laundering and Tax Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:33:40 EDT Gino Carlucci was sentenced to 188 months in prison for his role in conspiracies to commit money laundering and to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and for filing a false income tax return, the Justice Department and the IRS announced today. On July 25, 2011, a federal jury in Phoenix convicted Carlucci of both conspiracies and the tax crime after an eight-day trial. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission to Hold Workshop on “Most-Favored-Nation” Clauses By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:41:40 EDT The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced today that they will hold a joint public workshop on most-favored-nation clauses (MFNs) on Sept.10, 2012, to explore the use of MFN clauses and the implications for antitrust enforcement and policy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed North Carolina Poultry Processing Plant Convicted for Knowing Violations of Clean Water Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:55:51 EDT A federal jury today found House of Raeford Farms Inc., the owner and operator of a poultry slaughtering and processing facility located in Raeford, North Carolina, guilty of 10 counts of knowing violations of the Clean Water Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Florida Assisted Living Facility Owner Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:42:25 EDT Bobby Ramnarine, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks in the Southern District of Florida. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Medical Equipment Company Owner Sentenced in Louisiana to 180 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:39:07 EDT Henry Lamont Jones, 37, of Prairieville, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James J. Brady of the Middle District of Louisiana. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Federal Courts Order Seizure of Three Website Domains Involved in Distributing Pirated Android Cell Phone Apps By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:40:54 EDT The department said that this is the first time website domains involving cell phone app marketplaces have been seized. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Detroit-Area Resident Pleads Guilty to Participating in $3.1 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:21:57 EDT Gregory Lawrence, 54, of Detroit, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court Judge Victoria A. Roberts in the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Two Former Senior Executives of Arthrocare Corp. Arrested in $400 Million Securities Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:03:27 EDT A 16-count indictment was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas against John Raffle, the former senior vice president of strategic business units of ArthroCare and David Applegate, the former senior vice president in charge of ArthroCare’s spine division. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Settlement Requires Boston Water and Sewer Commission to Remedy Sewer and Stormwater Discharges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:45:10 EDT Under the terms of a consent decree lodged in federal court today, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) will implement extensive remedial measures to minimize the discharge of sewage and other pollutants into the water bodies in and around Boston. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Wisconsin Neurosurgeon Convicted of Filing False Tax Return and Failing to File Report of Foreign Bank Accounts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:48:59 EDT A jury convicted Arvind Ahuja yesterday on federal tax charges stemming from his failure to disclose offshore bank accounts maintained in India and the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Trial began on Aug. 15, 2012 before U.S. District Judge Charles N. Clevert, Jr., in Milwaukee. Ahuja, a prominent neurosurgeon in Milwaukee, was convicted of one count of filing a false 2009 individual income tax return and one count of failing to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Pacific Health Corporation and Related Entities Agree to Pay $16.5 Million for Allegedly Engaging in an Illegal Kickback Scheme in Los Angeles By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:37:06 EDT The United States has entered into a settlement agreement with Pacific Health Corporation (PHC) and related entities in which they agreed to pay the government and the state of California $16.5 million for allegedly engaging in an illegal kickback scheme in Los Angeles, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Eight Individuals and a Corporation Convicted at Trial in Florida in $50 Million Medicare Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:45:23 EDT Eight individuals and a Miami-based corporation were convicted by a federal jury for their participation in a Medicare fraud scheme involving the submission of more than $50 million in fraudulent billings to Medicare. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Japanese Automobile Parts Manufacturer Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Parts Installed in US Cars By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:40:24 EDT Nagoka, Japan-based Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $1 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices of instrument panel clusters, commonly known as meters, installed in cars sold in the United States and elsewhere. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Federal Court Permanently Bars California Lawyer from Tax Preparation and Giving Tax Advice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:25:39 EDT A federal court in San Diego has permanently barred a tax lawyer and his law firm from providing tax advice and from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. The civil injunction order against Scott A. Waage, of San Diego, was signed by Judge William Q. Hayes of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Waage agreed to the injunction without admitting the allegations against him. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Two Investment Advisors Convicted in California of High Yield Investment Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:01:04 EDT William J. Ferry, a former stock broker and investment advisor, and Dennis J. Clinton, a former real estate investment manager, were found guilty by a federal jury in Santa Ana, Calif., today for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud a wealthy investor of $1 billion in a high-yield investment fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Alabama Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Money and Property from Highway Motorists By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:44:30 EDT Jessie Alan Fuller, 25, of Pensacola, Fla., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge W. Keith Watkins to 37 months in prison and two years supervised release, the Justice Department announced. Fuller pleaded guilty on April 26, 2012, to one count of conspiracy against rights, a felony, and one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, a misdemeanor. These charges stemmed from Fuller’s stealing money and property from motorists on Interstate 65 in central Alabama while he was a police officer with the Fort Deposit Police Department. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crimes Charge By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:01:21 EDT Everett Dwayne Avery, 36, of Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty in federal court today to a federal hate crime, admitting that he assaulted a victim because he believed the victim was gay, the Justice Department, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Robert D. Foley, III announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Miami Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Obstruction of Justice and False Statements for Certifying Ships Safe for Sea By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:42:21 EDT Alejandro Gonzalez, 60, of Miami-Dade County, Fla., was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to 21 months in prison. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Government Files Complaint Against Dallas Area-Based For-profit Chain of Schools for False Claims Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:13:00 EDT The United States has intervened and filed a complaint against the private, for-profit chain of schools, ATI Enterprises Inc. based in North Richland, Texas, the Justice Department announced today. ATI Enterprises, Inc., which does business as ATI Technical Training Center, ATI Career Training Center and ATI Career Training, operates career college campuses in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Leader Sentenced in Houston for Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:08:57 EDT Steven Walter Cooke, 48, aka “Stainless,” pleaded guilty on March 16, 2012, to racketeering aggravated assault for his role in the beating of an ABT prospect member. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Departments of Justice and Education Reach Settlement with Arizona Department of Education to Ensure That ELL Students Are Properly Identified and Not Prematurely Exited By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:34:40 EDT The Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, and the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, today entered into a settlement agreement with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) that requires ADE and Arizona public schools to offer targeted reading and writing intervention services to tens of thousands of English Language Learner (ELL) students who were prematurely exited or incorrectly identified as Initially Fluent English Proficient (IFEP) over the past five school years. The agreement also requires ADE to develop proficiency criteria that accurately identify and exit ELL students. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Three Former UBS Executives Convicted for Frauds Involving Contracts Related to the Investment of Municipal Bond Proceeds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:09:33 EDT A federal jury in New York City today convicted three former financial services executives for their participation in frauds related to bidding for contracts for the investment of municipal bond proceeds and other municipal finance contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Eduardo Arellano-Felix Extradited from Mexico to the United States to Face Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:14:32 EDT Eduardo Arellano-Felix, 55, one of the alleged members of the Arellano-Felix Organization (AFO), was extradited today by the government of Mexico to the United States to face racketeering, money laundering and narcotics trafficking charges in the Southern District of California. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed British Citizen Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:52:06 EDT Simon Jasper McCarty, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright of the District of Hawaii. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed 3M Company Abandons Its Proposed Acquisition of Avery Dennison’s Office and Consumer Products Group After Justice Department Threatens Lawsuit By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 18:41:02 EDT 3M Co. abandoned its plan to acquire Avery Dennison Corp.’s Office and Consumer Products Group, its closest competitor in the sale of adhesive-backed labels and sticky notes, after the Department of Justice informed the companies that it would file a civil antitrust lawsuit to block the deal. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed North Carolina Businessman Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Payroll Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Sep 2012 17:00:15 EDT Bruce Gregory Harrison III of Greensboro, N.C., was sentenced today to 144 months in prison following his December 2011 conviction for payroll tax fraud and other crimes, announced Kathryn Keneally, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division; Ripley Rand, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina; and Richard Weber, Chief of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Criminal Investigation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed United States Intervenes in False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Orlando, Florida-area Hospice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 11:11:38 EDT The government has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against Hospice of the Comforter Inc. (HOTCI) alleging false Medicare billings, the Justice Department announced today. HOTCI provides hospice services to patients residing in the vicinity of Orlando, Fla. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Arizona Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Selling Access to Botnets By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 14:03:00 EDT Joshua Schichtel, 30, of Phoenix, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for selling command-and-control access to and use of thousands of malware-infected computers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Third Dreamboard Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Participating in International Criminal Network Organized to Sexually Exploit Children By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 18:34:06 EDT John Wyss, aka “Bones,” 55, of Monroe, Wis., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Maurice Hicks in the Western District of Louisiana. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Massachusetts Tax Fraud Promoter Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Obstruct and Impede the IRS By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 17:53:08 EDT A federal judge in Worcester, Mass., sentenced William Scott Dion today to 84 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States, and for obstructing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Justice Department and IRS announced. U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor also ordered Dion to pay restitution in the amount of $3 million. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in Belize By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 19:03:49 EDT Roland J. Flath, 72, of Fond du Lac, Wis., was sentenced in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin by Judge J.P. Stadtmueller. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Scotts Miracle-Gro Will Pay $12.5 Million in Criminal Fines and Civil Penalties for Violations of Federal Pesticide Laws By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Sep 2012 15:31:59 EDT The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a producer of pesticides for commercial and consumer lawn and garden uses, was sentenced today in federal district court in Columbus, Ohio, to pay a $4 million fine and perform community service for eleven criminal violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, which governs the manufacture, distribution, and sale of pesticides. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Us Airways Pilot Sentenced in North Carolina to 10 Years in Prison for Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:43:11 EDT Charles A. Davis, 63, formerly of Mooresville, N.C. was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison for committing tax fraud, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. U.S. Judge Richard L. Voorhees in the Western District of North Carolina also ordered Davis to serve twelve months of supervised release after his prison term and pay $538,569 as restitution to the IRS. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Louisiana Resident Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Role in Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:39:10 EDT Karen T. Rayburn, 47, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James J. Brady of the Middle District of Louisiana. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Justice Department Releases a Report on Accessibility of Federal Government Electronic and Information Technology By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:26:47 EDT The Justice Department announced the release of its “Section 508 report to the President and Congress: “Accessibility of Federal Electronic and Information Technology.” Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Minnesota Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Sexual Abuse of Minors By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:57:37 EDT Joshua Gardner, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery in the District of Minnesota. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed South Florida Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison in Drug Diversion Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:18:32 EDT South Florida man, William D. Rodriguez, has been sentenced to serve 120 months in prison in connection with a multi-million dollar prescription drug diversion and money-laundering scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Former Chief Investment Officer of Stanford Financial Group Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:24:32 EDT Laura Pendergest-Holt, 39, the former chief investment officer of Houston-based Stanford Financial Group, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for her role in obstructing a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation into Stanford International Bank (SIB), the Antiguan offshore bank owned by convicted financier Robert Allen Stanford. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ed Four Individuals Charged in Detroit for Alleged Roles in Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Sep 2012 17:39:11 EDT Four individuals were charged in court documents unsealed today in the Eastern District of Michigan for their participation in a Medicare fraud scheme involving home health services. Full Article OPA Press Releases