se Third Member of Internet Piracy Group "IMAGiNE" Sentenced in Virginia to 40 Months in Prison for Criminal Copyright Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:53:00 EST A third member of the Internet piracy group “IMAGiNE” was sentenced today to 40 months in prison, and a fifth member of IMAGiNE pleaded guilty today for his role in the conspiracy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Statement by Attorney General Eric Holder on the Release of the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women Recommendations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:26:32 EST Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the release of the recommendations by the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se New Jersey Couple Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Pay Employment Taxes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:17:23 EST James and Theresa DeMuro of Bridgewater, N.J., were each sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to 44 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se New Jersey Man Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Half-Billion Dollar Fraud Scheme with Thousands of Victims Worldwide By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:44:22 EST A certified public accountant (CPA) and purported outside auditor for Provident Capital Indemnity Ltd. (PCI) was sentenced today in Richmond, Va., to 54 months in prison for his role in an approximately half-billion-dollar fraud scheme that affected more than 3,500 victims throughout the United States and abroad. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Justice Department Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against North Carolina Company By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:34:03 EST The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Gamewell Mechanical Inc., a subsidiary of Woodfin Heating, Inc. based in Salisbury, N.C., resolving claims that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), when it terminated three employees based on the incorrect assumption that they were undocumented foreign nationals when they were in fact U.S. citizens. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Former Fair Financial Company CEO Sentenced In Indianapolis to 50 Years in Prison for Role in $200 Million Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:52:30 EST The former chief executive officer of Fair Financial Company, an Ohio financial services business, was sentenced today to serve 50 years in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud approximately 5,000 investors of more than $200 million. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Justice Department Settles Discrimination Claim Against Oregon Homecare Provider By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 3 Dec 2012 14:30:11 EST The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with ComForcare In-Home Care & Senior Services, a home care provider for sick and elderly patients in Tigard, Ore. The agreement resolved claims that the provider violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), when it demanded unnecessary documentation from a newly naturalized citizen in response to an initial mismatch in E-Verify and then refused to hire her when she did not produce it. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Attorney General Eric Holder and High-Level Officials Launch Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 09:09:06 EST Attorney General Eric Holder and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström will launch the Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online at a ministerial conference tomorrow, Dec. 5, 2012, in Brussels. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Justice Department Recovers Nearly $5 Billionin False Claims Act Cases in Fiscal Year 2012 By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 11:08:29 EDT The Justice Department secured $4.9 billion in settlements and judgments in civil cases involving fraud against the government in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2012. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Texas Man Sentenced in Indiana to 330 Months in Prison for Participating in International Child Pornography Distribution Ring By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 14:59:55 EST A Texas man was sentenced today to serve 330 months in prison for his participation in an international child pornography distribution ring. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Florida Man Charged with Filing False Claims for Tax Refunds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 17:30:04 EST A federal grand jury in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., returned an indictment charging Paul F. Wrubleski with corruptly impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws and four counts of filing false claims for tax refunds, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Three Men Sentenced to Prison for Participation in Online Conspiracy to Trade Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 17:39:43 EST Two Wisconsin men and a Missouri man were sentenced to prison for their role in a conspiracy to advertise, distribute and possess child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se New Mexico Probation Officer Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 18:26:42 EST Gordon Chavez, 35, a probation officer with the New Mexico Corrections Department of Probation and Parole, was arrested today in Albuquerque, N.M., on charges related to the sexual assault of a probationer whom he supervised. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Nashville, Tennessee Mo’ Money Taxes Licensee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 10:02:14 EST The United States has asked a federal court to shut down a Mo’ Money Taxes tax preparation office in Nashville. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se US and Local Governments Achieve $50 Million Settlement to Address Contamination at Superfund Site in Rialto, Calif. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 12:26:08 EST The United States has entered into two settlements worth more than $50 million to clean up contamination from the B.F. Goodrich Superfund Site in San Bernardino County, Calif. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Kentucky-Based Defense Contractors, Owners Agree to Pay $6.25 Million to Resolve Allegations That They Submitted False Statements and Claims to Obtain Army Contracts Intended for Small Businesses By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 14:59:08 EST Kentucky-based Lusk Mechanical Contractors and Commonwealth Technologies, and their owners, Harry Lusk and Wendell Goodman, have agreed to pay $6.25 million to resolve allegations that they submitted false statements to the Small Business Administration and false claims to the Army, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Virginia Anesthesiologist Sentenced for Filing False Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 15:00:44 EST Dr. George Anderson, 57, of Farmville, Va., was sentenced today to 33 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for criminal tax fraud, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, sitting in Richmond, Va., also ordered Anderson to pay $471,919 of restitution to the IRS. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Shreveport, La., Wastewater General Manager and Former Owner Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Discharging Pollutants into the Red River By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 17:39:02 EST John Tuma, 55, of Centerville, Texas, was sentenced today following his March 21, 2012, trial conviction by a federal jury for discharging untreated wastewater directly into the Red River without a permit, discharging untreated wastewater into the city of Shreveport sewer system in violation of its permit and obstructing an EPA inspection. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Notorious Sex Trafficker Terrence “T-Rex” Yarbrough Faces up to Life in Prison Following Sex Trafficking Conviction in Tennessee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 17:04:33 EST Terrence Yarbrough, a/k/a, “T-Rex,” 37, of Memphis, Tenn., was convicted today in federal court on 10 counts of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit food stamp fraud, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online Ministerial By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 10:22:54 EST "Despite the uncertain challenges we face, and the many responsibilities before us, I’m confident that today’s session will afford a unique opportunity to strengthen our shared commitment to this work," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
se Healthpoint Ltd. to Pay up to $48 Million for False Medicaid and Medicare Claims for Unapproved Prescription Drug By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Dec 2012 10:46:26 EST Healthpoint Ltd. and DFB Pharmaceuticals will pay up to $48 million to resolve allegations that Healthpoint caused false claims to be submitted to Medicare and Medicaid for an unapproved drug, Xenaderm, which was ineligible for reimbursement by those programs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission to Hold Workshop on Patent Assertion Entity Activities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 14:30:37 EST The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will hold a joint public workshop on Dec. 10, 2012, to explore the impact of patent assertion entity (PAE) activities on innovation and competition and the implications for antitrust enforcement and policy, which will also be webcast live. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Florida CPA Sentenced for Role in Foreclosure Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 17:13:06 EST Barrington Coombs, 58, of Weston, Fla., was sentenced today to serve a year and a day in prison for his role in a foreclosure rescue scheme that victimized desperate homeowners on the brink of losing their homes, the Justice Department announced. Coombs was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra in the Southern District of Florida. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Former California Police Officer Indicted and Arrested on Civil Rights Charges for Sexually Assaulting Woman While Transporting Her to Jail By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:24:38 EST Bryan Benson, a former Anderson, Calif., police officer, was arrested today on charges of deprivation of civil rights for sexually assaulting a woman while transporting her to jail and of trying to conceal his criminal conduct, announced the Justice Department. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Former Dallas Securities Broker Pleads Guilty in Oklahoma for Role in Stock Manipulation Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:12:43 EST A former securities broker pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to defraud thousands of investors through the manipulation of publicly traded stocks. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Justice Department Announces Consent Decree Regarding Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:55:02 EST The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a proposed consent decree with class plaintiffs and Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) Sheriff Marlin Gusman following a comprehensive investigation and extensive settlement negotiations regarding unlawful conditions at the prison. The consent decree outlines remedial measures to address the allegations in the complaints filed by class plaintiffs and by the United States in Jones v. Gusman, including deficiencies in prisoner safety from physical and sexual assaults, medical and mental health care, suicide prevention, environmental and life safety and limited English proficiency (LEP) services for Spanish-speaking prisoners. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Federal Court Permanently Bars Baton Rouge Tax Service from Preparing Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:31:41 EST A federal court has permanently barred Larry Carnell Dixon Sr., a Louisiana tax return preparer, and his business, Dixon’s Tax Service, LLC from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. The civil injunction order, to which Dixon and Dixon’s Tax Service LLC, consented without admitting the allegations against them, was signed by Judge James Brady of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Husband and Wife Sentenced in Virginia for Investment Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:55:56 EST Former FBI agent John Robert “Bob” Graves and his wife Sara Turberville Graves were sentenced today in federal court to serve 135 months in prison and 36 months in prison, respectively, for their participation in an investment fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Foreclosure Rescue Scam and Theft of Government Funds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:59:37 EST A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for operating a foreclosure rescue scam that defrauded distressed homeowners who were struggling to pay their mortgages. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence Presents Final Findings, Recommendations to Attorney General By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:56:25 EST Attorney General Eric Holder’s Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence today presented its final report and policy recommendations gathered from public hearings held across the country over the past year. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Pfizer Agrees to Pay $55 Million for Illegally Promoting Protonix for Off-Label Use By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:50:16 EST Pfizer Inc. will pay $55 million plus interest to resolve allegations that Wyeth LLC illegally introduced and caused the introduction into interstate commerce of a misbranded drug, Protonix, between February 2000 and June 2001, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Two Alabama Real Estate Investors and Their Company Plead Guilty to Conspiracies to Rig Bids and Commit Mail Fraud for the Purchase of Real Estate at Public Foreclosure Auctions By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:45:31 EST Two Alabama real estate investors and their company pleaded guilty today for their roles in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in southern Alabama. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Introduction of the Presentation of the Final Report of the Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:41:15 EST "Now, there’s no question that we can be proud of the anti-violence work that’s already under way - and the progress that so many of you are leading - in big cities and small towns across the country. But, as this report clearly illustrates, we cannot yet be satisfied - and this is no time to become complacent," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
se Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Conclusion of the Presentation of the Final Report of the Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:49:34 EST "This report is a central part of the Department’s broader efforts to collect information, solicit expert guidance, and formulate proactive strategies for addressing children’s exposure to violence. Its findings are consistent with, and complementary to, another recent report – focused on exposure to domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault – that was released by the National Advisory Committee for the Office on Violence Against Women," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
se U.S., Pennsylvania and Scranton, Pa., Sewer Authority Settle Violations of Sewage Overflows By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:26:43 EST The United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania announced today a settlement with the Scranton Sewer Authority (SSA) resolving alleged Clean Water Act violations involving sewer overflows to the Lackawanna River and its tributaries/ Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Owner of Louisiana-Based Health Care Company Convicted in Texas for Role in $6.7 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:33:47 EST The owner and operator of a Louisiana-based durable medical equipment (DME) company was convicted today by a federal jury in Houston for his role in a $6.7 million Medicare fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Former New Jersey Chiropractor Charged in Scheme to Extinguish Debt and to Obtain Fraudulent IRS Tax Refunds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:26:57 EST A federal grand jury in Trenton, N.J., returned an indictment charging David Moleski with 14 counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of corruptly impeding the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws and three counts of filing false claims for tax refunds, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Louisiana Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to FBI, Falsifying Records By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:28:20 EST Kevin L. Groom Sr, 45, a correctional officer with the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge James J. Brady for the Middle District of Louisiana for his role in covering up an incident in which correctional officers used excessive force against an inmate. Groom admitted filing a false report and subsequently providing false information to the FBI about the incident. Investigation of the incident is ongoing. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se New Jersey Man Arrested for Illegally Importing Narwhal Tusks and Money Laundering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:19:40 EST A New Jersey man was arrested today for crimes related to the illegal importation and illegal trafficking of narwhal tusks (whale tusk) and associated money laundering crimes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Former Lincoln County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office Detective Sentenced on Sexual Abuse Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:46:33 EST Scott Edwards, a former Lincoln County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department detective, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by three years supervised release for violating the constitutional rights of five women through acts of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual contact while serving as their “drug court tracker,” when the women were participants in the Lincoln County Drug Court program. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Former Alabama State Employee Sentenced for Identity Theft and Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:06:49 EST Natacia Webster of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced today to 50 months in prison for conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Webster had pleaded guilty to those charges in September 2012. She was also ordered to pay $113,000 in restitution and will serve three years on supervised release following her release from federal prison. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Payment Processor for Scareware Cybercrime Ring Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:43:30 EST A Swedish credit card payment processor was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for his role in an international cybercrime ring that netted $71 million by infecting victims’ computers with “scareware” and selling rogue antivirus software that was supposed to secure victims’ computers but was, in fact, useless. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Japanese-Based Toyo Ink and Affiliates in New Jersey and Illinois Settle False Claims Allegation for $45 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:53:32 EST Japan-based Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co. Ltd. and various affiliated entities (collectively, Toyo Ink) have agreed to pay $45 million, plus interest, to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly failing to pay antidumping and countervailing duties, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Bridgeport, Conn., Drug Dealer Sentenced to Death for Murdering Three People in 2005 By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:29:22 EST U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton today sentenced Azibo Aquart to death for murdering three Bridgeport, Conn., residents on Aug. 24, 2005. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Justice Department and the City of Portland, Ore., Jointly File Court Enforceable Agreement to Reform Portland Police Bureau’s Use of Force Practices By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:19:35 EST The United States and the city of Portland, Ore., have jointly filed in federal court a proposed court enforceable settlement agreement to remedy constitutional claims that the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional uses of force in response to “low-level offenses” against persons with actual or perceived mental illness. The agreement addresses the allegations described in a civil action also filed today by the United States, under provisions of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 for alleged violations of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Department of Justice Enters into Agreement to Reform the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:01:03 EST The Department of Justice today announced that it has entered into a comprehensive memorandum of agreement with the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, Tenn., to resolve findings of serious and systemic failures in the juvenile court that violate children’s due process and equal protection rights. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Convicted Fraudster Admits Obstructing Justice, Attempting to Corruptly Influence U.s. Attorney to Dismiss Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:11:20 EST A defendant who tried to escape fraud charges against him by exerting pressure on a U.S. Attorney’s spouse and candidate for office pleaded guilty today to obstruction of justice for perpetrating the scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Penguin Group (USA) Inc. in E-Books Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:55:12 EST The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement with Penguin Group (USA) Inc.–one of the largest book publishers in the United States–and will continue to litigate against Apple Inc. and Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC, which does business as Macmillan, for conspiring to raise e-book prices to consumers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Former Heber City, Utah Resident Convicted of Filing False Claims for Tax Refunds Totaling More Than $2.2 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:57:10 EST April J. Rampton, 41, formerly of Heber City, Utah, was convicted yesterday in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City of nine counts of filing false claims for income tax refunds, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Rampton, who was indicted on Sept. 14, 2011, was released following the verdict. She is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Dee Benson on Feb. 27, 2013. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on six similar counts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
se Individual Arrested in Connection with Costa Rica-based Business Opportunity Fraud Ventures By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:35:02 EST A dual United States and Costa Rican citizen charged in connection with the operation of a series of fraudulent business opportunities was arrested today in Chicago following his indictment by a federal grand jury in Miami on Nov. 29, 2011, the Justice Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced today. Sean Rosales was arrested based on charges that he and his co-conspirators purported to sell beverage and greeting card business opportunities, including assistance in establishing, maintaining and operating such businesses. The charges in the indictment form part of the government’s continued nationwide crackdown on business opportunity fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases