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Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez of the Civil Rights Divison Speaks on the Justice Department’s Investigation into the Seattle Police Department

"Our goal with this investigation – as with all of our police pattern and practice investigations – is simple: to ensure that the community has an effective, accountable police department that controls crime, ensures respect for the Constitution, and earns the trust of the public it is charged with protecting."




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Antitrust Division Issues 2011 Edition of Its Annual Newsletter

The newsletter provides information about the recent activities and accomplishments of the Antitrust Division for the general public as well as the legal and business communities.



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Justice Department Refers Five Accused 9/11 Plotters to Military Commissions

The Justice Department today announced that the cases involving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees accused of conspiring to commit the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks have been referred to the Defense Department to proceed in military commissions and that the federal indictment against these defendants that was returned under seal by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York on Dec. 14, 2009 has been unsealed and dismissed.



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Joint Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder and Italian Minister of Justice Angelino Alfano Regarding Continued Cooperation

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Italian Minister of Justice Angelino Alfano today met at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., to re-affirm the joint commitment of the United States and Italy to strengthen cooperation in the ongoing fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime.



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Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, Man Sentenced for Involvement in the Fatal Beating of Luis Ramirez

Colin Walsh, 19, of Shenandoah, Pa., was sentenced today to 55 months in prison for his role in the fatal beating of Luis Ramirez.



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Justice Department Requires Google Inc. to Develop and License Travel Software in Order to Proceed with Its Acquisition of ITA Software Inc.

In order for Google Inc. to proceed with its proposed acquisition of ITA Software Inc., the Justice Department will require Google to develop and license travel software, to establish internal firewall procedures and to continue software research and development.



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Justice Department Requires Divestiture in Stericycle Inc.'s Acquisition of Healthcare Waste Solutions

The Department of Justice will require Stericycle Inc. to divest an asset used in the treatment of infectious waste in order to proceed with its acquisition of Healthcare Waste Solutions Inc.



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Outlaws Motorcycle National President Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

The national president of the American Outlaw Association (Outlaws) motorcycle gang was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for leading a violent criminal organization.



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Former Employee of U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Stealing Nearly $250,000

A former employee of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., to 42 months in prison for stealing nearly $250,000 intended for the payment of shipping and customs services for the embassy.



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Arkansas Men Charged with Federal Hate Crime Related to the Assault of Five Hispanic Men

The Justice Department announced today the arrest of Sean Popejoy, 19, and Frankie Maybee, 20, both of Green Forest, Ark., on charges related to a racially-motivated assault on five Hispanic men.



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Justice Department Settles Allegations of Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination in Iowa Against LF Staffing Services Inc.

The Justice Department today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with LF Staffing Services Inc., located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to resolve allegations that LF Staffing Services engaged in employment discrimination by improperly pre-screening job applicants and rejecting valid work authorization documents presented by certain groups of immigrant workers.



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Houston Registered Nurse Pleads Guilty in Connection with an Alleged $5.2 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A registered nurse employed by a Houston health care company pleaded guilty today in connection with an alleged $5.2 million Medicare fraud scheme.



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Massachusetts Fish Packer Found Guilty of Falsely and Misleadingly Labeling Frozen Fish Fillets

Stephen C. Delaney, 55, of Quincy, Mass., was found guilty on April 8, 2011, by a federal jury in Boston of falsely labeling frozen fish fillets from China.



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Virginia Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Plotting Attacks on D.C.-Area Metro Stations with People He Believed to Be Al-Qaeda Members

Farooque Ahmed, 35, of Ashburn, Va., was sentenced today to 23 years in prison, followed by 50 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to charges stemming from his attempts to assist others whom he believed to be members of al-Qaeda in planning bombings at Metrorail stations in the Washington, D.C., area.



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U.S. Army Contractor Pleads Guilty to Assault in Relation to Stabbing at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan

Sean T. Brehm, 44, of Capetown, South Africa, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.



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Statement of Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jason Weinstein Before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism

"The department has organized itself to ensure that we are in a position to aggressively investigate and prosecute cyber crime wherever it occurs," said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Weinstein.




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Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the Berkeley County, S.C., Sheriff’s Office for Violating the First Amendment and Inmate’s Right to Practice His Religion

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the Berkeley County, S.C., Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Wayne DeWitt for violating the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.



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Department of Justice Takes Action to Disable International Botnet

Today the Department of Justice and FBI announced the filing of a civil complaint, the execution of criminal seizure warrants, and the issuance of a temporary restraining order as part of the most complete and comprehensive enforcement action ever taken by U.S authorities to disable an international botnet.



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U.S. Court Bars California Man from Selling or Administering Pension and Employee Welfare-Benefit Plans

A federal court in Los Angeles has permanently barred William Alexander of Pasadena, Calif., and his two companies, Retirement Plan Services Inc. and Lyons Pensions Inc., from selling or administering pension plans or employee welfare-benefit plans.



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Louisiana Father and Son Plead Guilty to Guiding Illegal Hunts for Protected Alligators

Larry Dees Sr., 66, and Larry Dees Jr., 37, both of Maringuoin, La., each pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge, La., to two violations of the Lacey Act for leading sport hunters to unauthorized areas to hunt American alligators in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act and Louisiana law.



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Justice Department Files ADA Lawsuit Against Puerto Rico Department of Justice for Discriminatory Employment Practices

The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Juan, Puerto Rico, charging the Puerto Rico Department of Justice with employment discrimination for failing to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee with a disability, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.



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Newspaper Publisher Pleads Guilty to Making False Statement to Congress

Karl B. Rodney, the chief executive officer of the Carib News Foundation and publisher of Carib News, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to making a false statement to the U.S. House of Representatives.



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National Security Division Announces FARA eFile for Foreign Agents Registration Act Electronic Filing

The Justice Department’s National Security Division today announced the launch of a system for the electronic filing of registration statements and supplements with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).



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Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Balkans Justice Ministerial

"As we gather this week, this commitment has never been more important – especially in our collective efforts to prevent and combat corruption on a global scale."




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Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez Speaks at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition Annual Conference Luncheon

"President Obama and Attorney General Holder recognize that civil rights enforcement is about protecting individual rights and helping entire communities," said Assistant Attorney General Perez.




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Terra Industries Inc. to Pay $625,000 Clean Air Act Penalty and Spend $17 Million to Install Pollution Controls at Acid Plants in Iowa, Mississippi and Oklahoma

Terra Industries Inc., one of the nation’s largest producers of nitric acid and nitrogen fertilizers, has agreed to pay $625,000 in civil penalties to settle alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act at nine of its plants in Iowa, Mississippi and Oklahoma.



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Attorney General Hosts 2nd Annual Meeting with Commissioners of the African Union

Attorney General Eric Holder met today with commissioners of the African Union (AU) in an effort to underscore the U.S. government’s commitment to Africa, particularly efforts to promote rule of law and to combat transnational crime.



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Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Jefferson County, Texas, Drainage District Number Seven on Bailout from the Voting Rights Act

The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with Jefferson County, Texas, Drainage District Number Seven on the terms of a consent decree filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.



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Los Angeles-Area Man Pleads Guilty to Establishing Fraudulent Medical Clinics and Using Stolen Doctor Identities to Defraud Medicare of up to $13.6 Million

A Los Angeles-area man pleaded guilty today to establishing fraudulent medical clinics and using stolen identities of physicians to defraud Medicare of up to $13.7 million.



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Former Texas Correctional Officer Sentenced on Conviction Arising from Inmate Beating and Subsequent Cover-Up

A former Bexar County Sherriff’s Office Deputy was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia to 27 months in prison for depriving a man of his constitutional right to be free from excessive force and for obstructing justice.



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District of Columbia Attorney and Investigators Indicted for Alleged Roles in Scheme to Obstruct Justice in Criminal Case

A seven-count federal indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charging a Washington, D.C., criminal defense attorney and two criminal investigators for their alleged roles in a scheme to obstruct an ongoing criminal case, including, among other things, manufacturing evidence and tampering with a witness.



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Federal Charges Filed Against Las Vegas Man for Defrauding Distressed Homeowners

A Las Vegas man was arrested yesterday on charges that he defrauded distressed homeowners in Las Vegas who were attempting to refinance or adjust their home mortgages.



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Alabama Businessman Pleads Guilty in Wide-Ranging Conspiracy to Influence and Corrupt Votes Related to Electronic Bingo Legislation

An Alabama businessman pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Wallace Capel Jr. to his role in conspiring to bribe legislators in exchange for their favorable votes on pro-gambling legislation.



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Last of 10 Las Vegas Defendants Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Emissions Test Records

Wajdi Waked, 25, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty today before Judge Philip M. Pro of the U.S. District Court in Nevada, to one count of violating the Clean Air Act by falsifying emissions test results.



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Three Miami-Area Medical Professionals Each Sentenced to Prison for Roles in $23 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

Two Miami-area medical assistants and a physician assistant were sentenced to prison today for their roles in a $23 million Medicare fraud scheme involving HIV infusion therapy.



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Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks About the Department of Justice’s Priorities and Mission

"Boundless, too, are the opportunities now before us. So, today, as we look toward the future, we will take action in four key areas to fulfill one core mission: protecting the American people. These priorities will allow us to build on the record of success that we’ve established, and they will guide our future efforts."




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Statement of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division on Its Decision to Close Its Investigation of Southwest's Acquisition of Airtran

After a thorough investigation, the Antitrust Division determined that the proposed merger between Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways is not likely to substantially lessen competition.



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Former Humanitarian Workers Each Sentenced to 142 Months in Prison for Defrauding Usaid of $1.9 Million

Two former humanitarian aid workers were each sentenced today to 142 months in prison for defrauding the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) of approximately $1.9 million that was intended to assist impoverished people and towns in Liberia.



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Baton Rouge, La., Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Aiding in Preparation of False Tax Returns

Cynthia Peters was sentenced to 27 months in prison based on her plea of guilty to one count of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of a false income tax return.



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Oakland, California, Patient Recruiter Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Causing the Submission of $1.2 Million in False Power Wheelchair Claims to Medicare

An Oakland, Calif., woman was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for her role in a scam to bill Medicare for more than $1.2 million in claims for expensive, high-end power wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment (DME) that were not medically necessary.



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Lufkin, Texas, Woman Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Involvement in Gang Murders

A Lufkin, Texas, woman was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone to 180 months in prison for her role in a double homicide that took place in Nacogdoches, Texas, in August 2007.



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Justice Department Settles Allegations of Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination Against Wendy’s Franchise Owners in Maine

The Justice Department has reached a settlement agreement today with Restwend LLC, the corporate owner of several Wendy’s restaurants in Maine, to resolve allegations that at least one of its restaurants engaged in employment discrimination by refusing to hire individuals believed to be non-U.S. citizens.



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Assistant Attorney General Tony West Speaks at American Bar Association Day at the University of Chicago Law School

"Protecting the safety and security of the American people; protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud; and protecting consumers from financial fraud and other health and safety threats – these imperatives have driven the Civil Division’s work over the last two years, and, as Attorney General Edward Levi reminded us almost 40 years ago, “the agenda of the Justice Department is inevitably unfinished,” these priorities guide us still as we continue to tackle new challenges."




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Deputy Attorney General James Cole and Assistant Attorney General Ignacia Moreno Commend Efforts by Employees of the Environment and Natural Resources Division at Earth Day Service Event

Marking the eighth annual Earth Day Service Celebration today, Deputy Attorney General James Cole and Assistant Attorney General Ignacia S. Moreno commended volunteers from the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division as they began work on a future Community Greening Center near Marvin Gaye Park in Northeast Washington, D.C.



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Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violations

The Justice Department announced today that Johnny Mathis, 47, of Lecompte, La., pleaded guilty to two federal crimes for shooting at the home of three Hispanic men living across the street from him because of the victims’ race and national origin.



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Justice Department Signs Agreement with the City of Independence, Kansas, to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities

The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the city of Independence, Kan., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for people with disabilities.



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Three Sentenced for Involvement in Civil Rights Conspiracy and Cover-Up in Connection with Cross-Burning in Athens, Louisiana

Jeremy Matthew Moro, Joshua James Moro and Sonya Marie Hart were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter in connection with a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of an interracial couple by burning a cross near their home in Athens, La., in October 2008.



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California Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Distributing Pirated Music During Five-Year Period

Richard Franco Montejano, 29, of Harbor City, Calif., pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit criminal copyright infringement, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.



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Statement of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division on Its Decision to Close Its Investigation of Perdue’s Acquisition of Coleman Natural Foods

After a thorough review of the evidence, the Antitrust Division concluded that the facts did not support challenging the proposed transaction between Perdue and Coleman Natural Foods.



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Justice Department Files Motion to Ensure That Mississippi School District Complies with Desegregation Orders

In a motion filed with the court today, the United States alleges that the school district has failed to dismantle the vestiges of segregation in its schools, and that schools that were racially segregated by law in 1969, when the district was originally ordered to desegregate, remain so today.



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