co South Florida Resident Convicted in Connection with International Fraudulent Lottery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 16:33:53 EST A federal jury in Miami today convicted a South Florida resident for her role in an international fraudulent lottery scheme that targeted U.S. citizens. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Chiropractor Convicted of Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Feb 2014 11:21:01 EST Following a trial that began on Jan. 29, 2014, a federal jury convicted David Moleski, formerly of Neptune, N.J., of 14 counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede Internal Revenue laws and three counts of submitting false claims for tax refunds. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co New Mexico Farmer Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud, Fraudulently Collecting Farm Subsidies By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Feb 2014 14:25:30 EST Bill Melot, a farmer from Hobbs, N.M., was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison today to be followed by three years of supervised release for tax evasion, program fraud and other crimes, the Justice Department, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Sanborn Map Co. Pays $2.1 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Claims for Map Work Related to United States Military Convoy Routes in Iraq and Marine Corps Bases in United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Feb 2014 17:05:45 EST Sanborn Map Company Inc. has agreed to pay $2.1 million to the U.S. government to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims in connection with U. S. Army Corps of Engineers contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Bank of America Executive Pleads Guilty for Role in Conspiracy and Fraud Involving Investment Contracts for Municipal Bonds Proceeds By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 13:17:16 EST A former Bank of America executive pleaded guilty today for his participation in a conspiracy and scheme to defraud related to bidding for contracts for the investment of municipal bond proceeds and other municipal finance contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Guatemalan Special Forces Officer Sentenced for Covering up Involvement in 1982 Massacre By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:00:55 EST A former Guatemalan Special Forces officer was sentenced today to serve 10 years in prison for covering up his involvement in a 1982 massacre at Dos Erres, Guatemala. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Executive of Power Generation Company Charged with Fraud and Money Laundering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:10:51 EST Asem Elgawhary, the former principal vice president of Bechtel Corporation and general manager of the Power Generation Engineering and Services Company (PGESCo), was indicted by a grand jury in Maryland today on charges that he defrauded his former employers, laundered the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme and violated federal tax laws. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the State of Rhode Island and the R.I. Department of Corrections Alleging Race and National Origin Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 18:28:35 EST The Justice Department announced the filing of a lawsuit today against the State of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections alleging that the defendants are engaged in a pattern or practice of employment discrimination against African-Americans and Hispanics in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Federal Advisory Committee Examines Juvenile Courts and Justice System Programs for American Indian Children Exposed to Violence By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 12:26:37 EST More than 30 tribal leaders, juvenile court judges, child advocates, juvenile justice system experts and community members from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community testified today in the second public hearing of the Advisory Committee of the Attorney General’s Task Force on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Statements of Associate Attorney General Tony West and Acting Assistant Attorney General of Enrd on the National Strategy for Combatting Wildlife Trafficking By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:22:23 EST Today, the White House released the National Strategy for Combatting Wildlife Trafficking. The Department of Justice, along with the Departments of State and the Interior, are co-chairs of the U.S. Task Force established by President Obama to lead the implementation of this strategy. On Thursday, Associate Attorney General Tony West will lead the U.S. Delegation’s participation at the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Four Employees of Adoption Services Provider Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud the United States in Connection with Ethiopia Operations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:51:53 EST Four current and former employees of International Adoption Guides Inc. (IAG), an adoption services provider, have been indicted by a grand jury in South Carolina for allegedly conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with IAG’s adoption services in Ethiopia. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Minnesota Man and Woman Sentenced for Participating in a Sex Trafficking Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 18:43:08 EST Today, the Justice Department announced that Andre James Hertzog, 29, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison and eight years of supervised release for participating in a sex trafficking conspiracy. Nicole Bramer, 29, was sentenced to serve 21 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Associate Attorney General Tony West Delivers Remarks at the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence Hearing By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 11:05:37 EST Let us reaffirm our commitment to the safety and health of tribal communities. And let us rededicate ourselves to giving native children a future unclouded by violence and brightened by hope. This is the responsibility of every one of us. Full Article Speech
co Armenian Power Gang Associate Convicted for His Role in Racketeering Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 15:58:18 EST Andranik Aloyan, an associate of the Armenian Power gang, has been convicted at trial for his role in a racketeering conspiracy that included stealing personal and financial information of elderly bank customers who held accounts that were valued at more than $25 million. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Joint Statement by Attorney General Eric Holder and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on the Declassification of Additional Documents Regarding Collection Under Section 501 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 18:51:59 EST Attorney General Eric Holder and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper released the following joint statement Wednesday. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co MPRI Inc. Agrees to Pay $3.2 Million for False Labor Charges on Contract to Support Army in Afghanistan By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:21:09 EST MPRI Inc. has agreed to pay $3.2 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false labor charges on a contract to support the Army in Afghanistan. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Bridgestone Corp. Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Automobile Parts Installed in U.S. Cars By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 10:00:49 EST Bridgestone Corp., a Tokyo, Japan-based company, has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $425 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices of automotive anti-vibration rubber parts installed in cars sold in the United States and elsewhere. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co U.S., Canada and Mexico Antitrust Officials Participate in Trilateral Meeting in Washington to Discuss Antitrust Enforcement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:01:45 EST The heads of the antitrust agencies of the United States, Canada and Mexico – Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, Chairwoman Edith Ramirez of the Federal Trade Commission, Canadian Commissioner of Competition John Pecman and President Alejandra Palacios Prieto of the Mexican Federal Competition Commission – met today in Washington, D.C., to discuss their mutual efforts to ensure continued effective antitrust enforcement cooperation in our increasingly interconnected markets. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Independent Contractor in Afghanistan Pleads Guilty for His Role in Offering $54,000 in Bribes to a U.S. Government Official By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:15:11 EST Earlier today at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., Akbar Ahmad Sherzai, 49, of Centreville, Va., an independent contractor for a trucking company operating in Afghanistan that was responsible for delivering fuel to U.S. Army installations, pleaded guilty to his role in offering a U.S. Army serviceman $54,000 in bribes to falsify documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Narwhal Tusk Trafficker Convicted of Conspiracy and Money Laundering By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:53:55 EST Andrew L. Zarauskas, 60, of Union, N.J., was found guilty today by a federal jury in Bangor, Maine, of illegally trafficking and smuggling narwhal tusks, and associated money laundering crimes. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Justice Department Finds Substantial Evidence of Gender Bias in Missoula County Attorney’s Office By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 18:44:16 EST Today, the Department of Justice issued a letter of findings describing problems in the Missoula County, Mont., Attorney’s Office’s response to sexual assault, and concluding that there is substantial evidence that the County Attorney’s response to sexual assault discriminates against women. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Virginia-Based Contractor to Pay $6.5 Million to Settle Allegations of False Claims on Navy Contracts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 12:28:32 EST Vector Planning and Services Inc. (VPSI), an information technology, systems engineering, program management and consulting firm headquartered in Chantilly, Va., has agreed to pay the government $6.5 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that the company inflated claims for payment under several Navy contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Virginia Subcontractor Pleads Guilty to Bribery By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 14:25:50 EST Dwayne Allen Hardman, 44, of Charleston, W.V., pleaded guilty today to paying bribes to public officials. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Puerto Rico Correctional Officer Sentenced for Scheme to Smuggle Heroin into State Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 15:53:12 EST A former correctional officer at the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison for attempting to smuggle heroin into the prison where he worked, Bayamón State Penitentiary, in exchange for a $3,000 payment. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Chief Executive Officer of Oil Services Company Pleads Guilty to Foreign Bribery Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:18:12 EST The former chief executive officer of PetroTiger Ltd., a British Virgin Islands oil and gas company with operations in Colombia and offices in New Jersey, pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to pay bribes to foreign government officials and to defraud PetroTiger. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Barrio Azteca Lieutenant Who Ordered the Consulate Murders in Ciudad Juarez Found Guilty on All Counts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:45:20 EST The Barrio Azteca Lieutenant who ordered the murders of a U.S. Consulate employee, her husband and the husband of another U.S. Consulate employee was found guilty by a jury on all counts charged. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Government Intervenes in Lawsuit Against Tenet Healthcare Corp. and Georgia Hospital Owned by Health Management Associates Inc. Alleging Payment of Kickbacks By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:07:49 EST The government has intervened in a False Claims Act lawsuit against Tenet Healthcare Corp. (Tenet) and four of its hospitals in Georgia and South Carolina, as well as a hospital in Monroe, Ga., owned by Health Management Associates Inc. (HMA), alleging that the hospitals paid kickbacks to obstetric clinics serving primarily undocumented Hispanic women in return for referral of those patients for labor and delivery at the hospitals. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Denso Corp. Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty to Obstructing Automotive Parts Investigation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 10:51:54 EST A former executive of Japan-based Denso Corp. has agreed to plead guilty to obstruction of justice charges in connection with the Antitrust Division’s investigation into a conspiracy to fix the prices of heater control panels installed in cars sold in the United States and elsewhere. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Maryland Corrections Officer Convicted for Beating Inmate and Ensuing Cover-Up By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 15:07:57 EST The Justice Department announced that James Kalbflesh, a former correctional officer at the Roxbury Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, Md., was convicted today by a federal jury on three civil rights and conspiracy counts related to his participation in the beating of an RCI inmate in 2008 and the cover-up that followed. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Government Files Enforcement Action Against Four California Companies and Six Individuals to Stop the Importation of Dangerous Children’s Products By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:19:49 EST The government has asked a federal court in California to issue an injunction shutting down the importation and sales activities of four California companies and six individuals in connection with their imports of illegal children’s products containing, among other things, lead, phthalates and small parts inappropriate for children under age three. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Justice Department Highlights Efforts to Combat Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 11:40:54 EST Today, the Justice Department announced the results of its ongoing efforts to combat tax refund fraud that involves identity theft. The Tax Division, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide, has prioritized the investigation and prosecution of individuals who engage in stolen identity refund fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Attorney General Holder Urges Congress to Create National Standard for Reporting Cyberattacks By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:06:16 EST In a video message released today, Attorney General Eric Holder called on Congress to create a strong, national standard for quickly alerting consumers whose information may be compromised by cyberattacks. This legislation would strengthen the Justice Department's ability to combat crime, ensure individual privacy, and prevent identity theft, while also helping to bring cybercriminals to justice. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Discrimination at Nine Multifamily Housing Complexes in Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:56:38 EST The Justice Department announced today that a federal district court judge in Jackson, Miss., approved a settlement of the department’s lawsuit against the original owners and developers of nine multifamily housing complexes located in Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Employee of Florida Airline Fuel Supply Company Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Federal Investigation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:01:14 EST A former employee of a Florida-based airline fuel supply service company pleaded guilty today to obstructing an investigation into fraud and anticompetitive conduct in the airline charter services industry. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Three Plead Guilty to Bank Secrecy Act Violations in Connection with Check Cashing Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:55:07 EST Three men have pleaded guilty in Brooklyn, N.Y., for their roles in a check cashing scheme designed to evade anti-money laundering reporting requirements. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Okla. Jail Superintendents Convicted of Excessive Force Against Inmates By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 19:22:32 EST Today, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, Okla., convicted Raymond A. Barnes, 43, and Christopher A. Brown, 32, the former jail superintendent and assistant jail superintendent, respectively, of the Muskogee County Jail on multiple counts of civil rights offenses related to allegations of excessive force on inmates at MCJ on or between August 2009 and May 2011. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services Announce Record-Breaking Recoveries Resulting from Joint Efforts to Combat Health Care Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:13:31 EST Attorney General Eric Holder and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Program report showing that for every dollar spent on health care-related fraud and abuse investigations through this and other programs in the last three years, the government recovered $8.10. This is the highest three-year average return on investment in the 17-year history of the HCFAC Program. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Testifies Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:48:31 EST Since 2009, the Department has publicly charged 73 account holders and 35 professionals with violations arising from their offshore banking activities, and 72 individuals have pled guilty or were convicted at trial. Just as importantly our enforcement efforts have driven over 43,000 taxpayers with secret offshore accounts to identify themselves to the IRS, disclose their offshore accounts, and to pay a total of over $6 billion in back taxes, penalties and interest. And that number is growing. Full Article Speech
co South American Company Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Ocean Shipping Services for Cars and Trucks By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:51:34 EST Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores S.A. (CSAV), a Chilean corporation, has agreed to plead guilty and to pay an $8.9 million criminal fine for its involvement in a conspiracy to fix prices, allocate customers and rig bids of international ocean shipping services for roll-on, roll-off cargo, such as cars and trucks, to and from the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Statement on Condition of Attorney General Eric Holder By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 11:35:20 EST Director of Public Affairs Brian Fallon released the following statement this morning. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Fort Benning Employee Allegedly Steals Military Identities to Commit Multi-Million Dollar Tax Refund Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:46:02 EST Tracy Mitchell, a resident of Phenix City, Ala., was indicted for her involvement in a stolen identity refund fraud scheme, Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally of the Justice Department's Tax Division and U.S. Attorney George L. Beck Jr. for the Middle District of Alabama announced today following the unsealing of the indictment. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Portola Valley, Calif., Man Sentenced to Prison for Failure to Report Foreign Bank Accounts Held at UBS By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:52:08 EST Christopher B. Berg of Portola Valley, Calif., was sentenced yesterday to one year and one day in prison to be followed by three years supervised release, announced Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division Kathryn Keneally and U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag for the Northern District of California. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Justice Department Releases New Planning Tool to Help Courts Provide Access to Limited English Proficient Individuals By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:50:49 EST Today, the Justice Department released a new tool to help state and local courts assess and improve their language assistance services for limited English proficient litigants, victims and witnesses who need access to court services. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Singapore Shipping Company, Crew Member, Plead Guilty to Illegally Discharging Oily Waste By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 15:02:47 EST Singapore-based ODFJELL ASIA II PTE LTD (ODFJELL) and one of its senior crew members pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Hartford, Conn., for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Coal Companies and Subsidiaries to Spend Estimated $200 Million on Treatment and System-wide Upgrades to Reduce Water Pollution By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 14:49:39 EST Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (Alpha), one of the nation’s largest coal companies, Alpha Appalachian Holdings (formerly Massey Energy), and 66 subsidiaries have agreed to spend an estimated $200 million to install and operate wastewater treatment systems and to implement comprehensive, system-wide upgrades to reduce discharges of pollution from coal mines in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Shut Down Clinton, Miss., Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 16:32:17 EST The United States filed a complaint seeking to bar Kavivah Branson, aka Kavivah Bradley, and her Jackson, Miss., business, Branson Tax Service, from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Two Individuals and Company Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Sell Trade Secrets to Chinese Companies By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 17:33:47 EST A federal jury in San Francisco has found two individuals and one company guilty of economic espionage, theft of trade secrets, bankruptcy fraud, tax evasion, and obstruction of justice for their roles in a long-running effort to obtain U.S. trade secrets for the benefit of companies controlled by the government of the People’s Republic of China. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Justice Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Enter into Consent Decree with Harmony Public Schools Resolving Claims of Retaliation and Pay Discrimination Against Teacher By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 17:53:37 EST The Justice Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced today that they have entered into a consent decree that, if approved by the court, will resolve both agencies’ claims against Harmony Public Schools on behalf of Nicole M. Tuchscherer, a former teacher at Harmony Science Academy-Austin. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Alexandria, Va., Couple Arrested on Immigration Charges for Harboring Domestic Servant in Their Home By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 18:38:18 EST The Department of Justice announced today that a federal criminal complaint has been filed in the Eastern District of Virginia charging defendants Abdelkader and Hnia Amal with immigration offenses in connection with allegations that they held a woman in their home as a domestic servant for three years. Full Article OPA Press Releases
co Former Owner of Florida Airline Fuel Supply Company Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Illinois-Based Ryan International Airlines By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 6 Mar 2014 13:48:41 EST A former owner and operator of a Florida-based airline fuel supply service company pleaded guilty today to participating in a kickback scheme to defraud Illinois-based Ryan International Airlines, a charter airline company located in Rockford, Ill. Full Article OPA Press Releases