se Former New Mexico Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 May 2012 17:51:39 EDT Lawrence Etsitty, 30, a former police officer with the Navajo Police Department, pleaded guilty today in federal court to two charges related to the sexual abuse of a woman who was in his custody on Jan. 25, 2009. Etsitty pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of the victim when he touched and kissed her against her will, while she was handcuffed. Etsitty also pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI in connection with the sexual assault. Etsitty did not enter a plea to the portion of the indictment that alleged the offense included kidnapping. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Justice Department Settles Document Abuse Claim Against Imagine Schools in Ohio By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 May 2012 16:58:45 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Imagine Schools Inc., resolving allegations that the company discriminated under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, when it fired an employee at its Imagine School in Groveport, Ohio, in connection with a “reverification” of his employment eligibility. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Florida Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking of Minors and Production of Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 May 2012 18:22:26 EDT James Mozie of Oakland Park, Fla., was sentenced today to life in prison on charges of sex trafficking of minors and production of child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Speaks at Press Conference Regarding Settlement with Abbott Laboratories By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 May 2012 15:40:21 EDT "As today’s announcement shows, we are committed to combating health care fraud in all its forms – from fly-by-night operations to some of the nation’s largest companies pursuing sophisticated schemes targeting government health care programs," said Deputy Attorney General Cole. Full Article Speech
se Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at Press Conference Regarding Settlement with Abbott Laboratories By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 May 2012 15:43:20 EDT "These agreements provide an example of the kind of resolution we will seek from companies that misguidedly put profits over patients," said Acting Associate Attorney General West. Full Article Speech
se Direct Resource Inc. Agrees to Pay $450,000 to Settle Allegations of Selling Foreign Products to Federal Agencies By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 May 2012 10:06:19 EDT Direct Resource Inc. has agreed to pay the government $450,000 to resolve allegations that the company falsely claimed payment in violation of the Trade Agreements Act (TAA), which prohibits the sale of products to federal agencies from countries that do not have a reciprocal trade agreement with the United States, the Justice Department announced today. The Columbus, Ohio, company allegedly knowingly sold products from China, a country that does not have such an agreement with the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Alabama Return Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax Conspiracy Involving Stolen Identity Refund Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 May 2012 17:46:05 EDT Margaret Kirksey, a resident of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced today in the Middle District of Alabama to 81 months in federal prison for filing false tax returns using stolen identities, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Leaders of Multi-million Dollar Fraud Ring That Used Stolen Information of Medicaid Recipients Each Sentenced to Over 25 Years in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 May 2012 17:47:47 EDT Veronica Dale and Alchico Grant, who jointly ran a stolen identity refund fraud ring that attempted to defraud the United States of millions of dollars over several years, were sentenced to federal prison today, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Veronica Dale, of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced to 334 months and Alchico Grant of Lowndes County, Ala., was sentenced to 310 months in prison. In addition, Dale and Grant were both ordered to pay over $2.8 million in restitution to the IRS. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Michigan Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Tax Fraud Scheme and Gun Crime By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 May 2012 12:40:46 EDT Karl Herrington, of Parma, Mich., was sentenced today to 97 months in prison, following convictions at trial for corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the administration of the Internal Revenue laws, filing false tax forms with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and being a felon in possession of firearms, the Justice Department, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the IRS and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Former Birmingham, Ala., School Security Officer Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Production of Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 May 2012 17:11:46 EDT U.S. District Judge Inge P. Johnson also sentenced Michael Wayne Wooten, 61, of Alabaster, Ala., to lifetime supervised release following his prison term. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Department of Justice Files Lawsuit in Arizona Against Maricopa County, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and Sheriff Joseph Arpaio By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 May 2012 12:57:52 EDT The Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit in federal court today against Maricopa County, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and Sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio, arising from unconstitutional and unlawful actions by the defendants. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Alaskan City Agrees to Extensive Sewer System Upgrade in Federal Settlement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 May 2012 13:56:09 EDT The city of Unalaska, Alaska, will undertake a major upgrade of its municipal sewage treatment plant under a settlement of a Clean Water Act enforcement action filed against the city and the state of Alaska by the Department of Justice on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Vice Lords Gang Member Who Escaped Prison After Murder Conviction in Tennessee Sentenced to Life in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 May 2012 18:18:07 EDT Vice Lords gang member Jessie Lobbins was sentenced today in Nashville, Tenn., to life in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Todd J. Campbell. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Department of Justice Seizes More Than $1.5 Million in Proceeds from the Online Sale of Counterfeit Sports Apparel Manufactured in China By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 10:48:15 EDT The investigation also resulted in the seizure of three domain names used in the sale of counterfeit sports apparel. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Health Care Providers Settle with Justice Department Over Complaints of HIV Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 14:19:29 EDT The Justice Department announced that it has reached two settlements today resolving claims that health care providers refused to serve people with HIV in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Rhode Island-based Sellers of Herbal Products Held in Contempt By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 16:16:51 EDT A U.S. district court judge has held Daniel Chapter One, an herbal products company located in Portsmouth, R.I., and its officers, James and Patricia Feijo, in civil contempt of court for violating the terms of a preliminary injunction order, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Georgia County Commissioner Charged with Attempted Extortion, Bribery and False Statements By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 17:09:38 EDT Al J. Hurley, 54, is charged in a three-count indictment filed in the Middle District of Georgia with attempted extortion, bribery and false statements. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se 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
se Nebraska Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 May 2012 19:36:25 EDT Austin Galvan, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon for the District of Nebraska. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Wilcox County, Georgia, Sheriff, Son and Jailer Face Civil Rights Charges in Superseding Indictment By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 May 2012 14:50:26 EDT The Justice Department, along with U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore, Middle District of Georgia, today announced that a grand jury returned a superseding indictment against former Wilcox County Sheriff Stacy Bloodsworth; his son, Austin Bloodsworth; and former Wilcox County Jailer Casey Owens. The superseding indictment charges the defendants with assaulting three different inmates inside of the Wilcox County Jail on July 23, 2009, thereby violating their civil rights. As a result of the assaults, one inmate suffered a broken jaw, and two other inmates sustained bruises and scratches. The indictment also charges the defendants with conspiring to cover up the assaults. In addition, Stacy Bloodsworth and Austin Bloodsworth were charged with lying to the FBI, while Owens was charged with writing a false report about the incident. Stacy Bloodsworth was charged with tampering with one of the victims, as well as two witnesses. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Two Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Members Sentenced for Racketeering Assault By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 May 2012 09:25:12 EDT Two members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) have been sentenced to federal prison for their role in an aggravated assault that took place in Tomball, Texas, in September 2008. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Japanese Citizen Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Participating in International Child Pornography Ring By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 May 2012 12:08:35 EDT Futoshi Tachino, a Japanese citizen most recently residing in Winnipeg, Canada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Colorado-Based QEP Field Services Agrees to Pay $4 Million and Install Pollution Controls to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Clean Air Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 May 2012 15:59:40 EDT The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with QEP Field Services Co. (QEPFS), formerly Questar Gas Management Co., to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at five natural gas compressor stations on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Northeastern Utah. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Alabama Sisters Sent to Prison for Their Roles in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 May 2012 15:55:25 EDT Loretta Fergerson and her sister, Tracey Fergerson, both of Montgomery, Ala., were each sentenced to 115 months prison for their involvement in a conspiracy to file claims for false income tax refunds using stolen identities, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller ordered the Fergerson sisters to pay $504,305 in restitution to the IRS. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Arizona State Representative Charged with Bribery, Fraud, Attempted Extortion and Making False Statements By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 May 2012 17:59:48 EDT The indictment charges Paul Ben Arredondo, 63, of Tempe, with one count of federal programs bribery, two counts of honest services mail fraud, one count of attempted Hobbs Act extortion and one count of making false statements. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Houston-Area Nurse Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison for Role in $5.2 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 May 2012 18:43:49 EDT Ezinne Ubani, the former director of nursing at Family Healthcare Group, a Houston home health care company, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas in the Southern District of Texas to 97 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Justice Department Releases Final Rule to Prevent, Detect and Respond to Prison Rape By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 12:20:37 EDT The Justice Department today released a final rule to prevent, detect and respond to sexual abuse in confinement facilities, in accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Co-Owner of Detroit-Area Physical Therapy Company Sentenced to 48 Months for Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 13:26:42 EDT The co-owner of a Detroit-area physical therapy company was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for her leading role in a more than $1.9 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Defendants in Alabama Plead Guilty in Two Separate Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Schemes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 14:43:36 EDT Three defendants in separate cases involving the use of stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns have pleaded guilty in the Middle District of Alabama, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Justice Department Settles with Flint, Michigan, to Make Voting Accessible to People with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 13:02:45 EDT The Justice Department today announced a settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the city of Flint, Mich., to make all the city’s polling places more accessible for individuals with mobility impairments. The case was commenced based on a complaint from the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, and was investigated jointly by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Michigan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Justice Department Settles with Home Depot to Enforce the Employment Rights of an Army National Guard Soldier By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 15:40:21 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with Home Depot U.S.A. Inc., to resolve allegations that the company violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) when it terminated the employment of Army National Guard soldier Brian Bailey. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se President of South Carolina-Based Firm Charged with Illegally Exporting Goods to Iran By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 18:22:00 EDT Markos Baghdasarian, the president of Delfin Group USA, was arrested on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, just prior to boarding an international flight to the United Arab Emirates. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se 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
se Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Speaks on Alternatives to Incarceration Program: the Use of “Drug Courts” in the Federal and State Systems By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 May 2012 19:04:11 EDT "The Attorney General and I are committed to a criminal justice system and a sentencing policy that are both tough and fair; that deter those contemplating serious criminal conduct and that are guided by research that show when non-incarceration is the best sanction," said Deputy Attorney General Cole. Full Article Speech
se 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
se Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against New Jersey Information Technology Company for Retaliation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 May 2012 17:34:06 EDT The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Whiz International, an information technology staffing company in Jersey City, N.J., regarding allegations that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it terminated an employee in retaliation for her opposition to Whiz’s preference for foreign nationals with temporary work visas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 64 Months in Prison on Child Pornography Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 May 2012 18:13:26 EDT Chris Allen Oake, 61, of Acton, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton in Boston. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary Speaks at the National Second Chance Act Conference By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 May 2012 10:29:53 EDT "It’s been remarkable to witness the way the issue of reentry has taken root in so many communities across the country. And it’s impressive to see how, thanks to visionary leaders in the Administration, in Congress, and in the states, the topic has become so prominent on the nation’s public safety agenda," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Leary Full Article Speech
se Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Second Chance Act Conference By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 May 2012 10:34:50 EDT "Today, I want to assure each of you that – for me, for President Obama, for leaders across the administration, and for my colleagues at every level of the Justice Department – effective reentry is, and will remain, a top priority," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech