al

Department of Justice Secures More Than $2 Billion in Judgments and Settlements as a Result of Enforcement Actions Led by the Criminal Division

In fiscal year 2010, the Department of Justice secured approximately $2.072 billion in judgments and settlements as a result of enforcement actions led by the Criminal Division, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Attorney General Holder Announces Violence Against Women Tribal Prosecution Task Force in Indian Country

Attorney General Eric Holder today announced the formation and inaugural meeting of the Violence Against Women Federal and Tribal Prosecution Task Force.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Justice Department Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy’s Swearing-In as Attorney General with Kennedy Family, Civil Rights Leaders and Former Employees

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy’s swearing-in as the nation’s 64th Attorney General, the Justice Department today welcomed Kennedy family members, including Ethel Kennedy, renowned civil rights leaders, historians and current and former Justice Department employees to pay tribute to Attorney General Kennedy’s service.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Mobile, Alabama, Man Sentenced on Federal Civil Rights and Weapons Charge Related to Desecration of Synagogue

A judge sentenced Thomas Hayward Lewis to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for violating the civil rights of congregants of the Congregation Tree of Life Messianic Synagogue, as well as possession of an unregistered firearm.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy’s Swearing-In as 64th Attorney General

"Today, we come together to celebrate the achievements and enduring contributions of our nation’s 64th Attorney General – a man whose legacy continues to guide us, whose memory continues to touch us, and whose example continues to inspire us."




al

Michigan Businessman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Federal E-Rate Program

A Michigan businessman pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with the federal E-Rate program.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Efforts Recover Record $4 Billion; New Affordable Care Act Tools Will Help Fight Fraud

Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a new report showing that the government’s health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year 2010.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Lockheed Martin to Pay $2 Million to Resolve Allegations Resulting from Fraudulent Submission of Government Contract

Lockheed Martin Inc. has reached a $2 million settlement with the United States to resolve False Claims Act claims in a whistleblower suit.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Attorney General Holder Joins President Obama, Administration Officals to Announce Presidential Initiative Supporting Military Families

Attorney General Eric Holder today joined President Barack Obama and other administration officials to announce the presidential initiative aimed at establishing a coordinated and comprehensive federal approach to supporting military families.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Two Individuals Plead Guilty to Defrauding FCC Video Relay Service Program

Two individuals pleaded guilty today for their participation in a conspiracy to defraud the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Video Relay Service (VRS) program.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Seafood Wholesaler Owners Plead Guilty to Selling Falsely Labeled Fish, Smuggling, and Misbranding of Seafood Products

Karen L. Blyth and David H.M. Phelps pleaded guilty today in federal court in Mobile, Ala., to 13 felony offenses for their roles in purchasing and selling farm raised Asian catfish and Lake Victoria perch falsely labeled as grouper; selling foreign farm-raised shrimp falsely labeled as U.S. wild caught shrimp, selling shrimp that falsely claimed to be larger, more expensive shrimp than they actually were; and for buying fish they knew had been illegally imported into the United States



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli Speaks at the Department of Justice – Health and Human Services Health Care Fraud Press Conference

"The Departments of Justice and HHS have a long history of working together in this fight against health care fraud. While we know that most health care dollars are spent on healing sick Americans and most companies and providers work hard to play by the rules, we also know that too much money is lost to fraud and abuse. So, we have been fighting back together, on behalf of American taxpayers and patients."




al

Former Upstate New York Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Using and Selling Abusive Trust Schemes to Obstruct the IRS

Richard A. Muto of Buffalo, N.Y., has pleaded guilty to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the administration of the internal revenue laws.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli Speaks at the Defending Childhood Grantee Meeting

"The Defending Childhood Initiative is one of several in the Department where we have sought to enhance how we work together, all with the goal of better helping our partners in cities, towns, reservations, and rural areas throughout the Nation."




al

Deputy Attorney General James Cole Appoints Stuart M. Goldberg as Chief of Staff and Lisa O. Monaco as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General

Deputy Attorney General James Cole today announced the appointment of Lisa O. Monaco as the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General and Stuart M. Goldberg as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Attorney General.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Attorney General Holder, Justice Department Officials Meet with Defending Childhood Representatives

Attorney General Eric Holder today met with Defending Childhood representatives from eight communities across the country to discuss local efforts to address children’s exposure to violence.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Statement of Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division Tony West Before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary

"I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the work of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice regarding combating fraud and securing the recovery of monies on behalf of American taxpayers."




al

Statement of Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer Before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary

"Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today about the many ways in which the Department of Justice protects American taxpayer dollars by bringing criminal fraud prosecutions."




al

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division Speaks at the Annual Meeting of the Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association

"Since I became Assistant Attorney General, in April 2009, I have spoken to many audiences about the recent reinvigoration of our criminal enforcement efforts; and in this era of heightened enforcement, I think organizations like WMACCA, which allow business leaders and lawyers to come together and share ideas, serve an especially important function."




al

Attorney General Holder Speaks at the Defending Childhood Initiative Grantee Meeting

"I am grateful for this opportunity to discuss our shared goals – and your front-line efforts – to prevent, reduce, and combat childhood exposure to violence. The issue of children’s exposure to violence has been both a personal and professional concern for decades. As our nation’s Attorney General, and as a parent of three young children, addressing this crisis – and implementing bold, innovative, and collaborative solutions – is a top priority."




al

Federal Court Permanently Bars Joliet, Illinois, Man from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others

A federal court in Chicago has permanently barred Sidney Dove, a tax-return preparer from Joliet, Ill., from preparing federal income tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Two Former Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, Police Officers Convicted of Falsifying Information About Hate Crime

A federal jury in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., has convicted Matthew Nestor and William Moyer of falsifying information related to the investigation into the beating death of Luis Ramirez.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Attorney General Holder Speaks at First Meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women

Attorney General Eric Holder and Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, Susan B. Carbon today opened the first meeting of the re-chartered National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women (NAC).



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Lucas County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Sergeant Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations and Falsifying Written Reports

The Justice Department announced today that former Lucas County Sheriff’s Sergeant John E. Gray was sentenced today by Judge David A. Katz to three years in prison, followed by two years supervised release, for federal civil rights violations and records falsification relating to the in-custody death of a pretrial detainee at the Lucas County Jail.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Federal Officials Close the Investigation into the Death of Trey Joyner

The Justice Department announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against U.S. Park Police detectives involved in the fatal shooting of Trey Joyner.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women Meeting

"As our nation’s Attorney General, and as a parent of two teenage daughters, addressing violence rates – and implementing bold, innovative and collaborative solutions – is a top priority."




al

California Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Engaging in a Child Exploitation Enterprise

Stephen Sims was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Gustave Diamond in the Western District of Pennsylvania to 17 years in prison for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Food Processor to Pay $390,000 Penalty for Illegal Wastewater Discharges into Kansas-Oklahoma River

An Illinois food processing company has agreed to pay a $390,000 civil penalty to the United States to settle allegations that its Baxter Springs, Kan., processing facility overloaded the city’s wastewater treatment system with millions of gallons of industrial wastewater, at times causing pollution along a 22-mile-long section of the Spring River in southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Oracle America to Pay United States $46 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Against Sun Microsystems

Oracle America Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $46 million to settle claims that Sun Microsystems Inc., a corporation that merged with Oracle in 2010, submitted false claims and caused others to submit false claims to the General Services Administration and other federal agencies.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Maxwell Technologies Inc. Resolves Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Investigation and Agrees to Pay $8 Million Criminal Penalty

Maxwell Technologies Inc. has agreed to pay an $8 million criminal penalty to resolve charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for bribing Chinese government officials to secure sales of Maxwell’s products to state-owned manufacturers of electric-utility infrastructure in several Chinese provinces.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Justice Department Sues Cincinnati Landlord for Sexual Harassment

The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against Cincinnati landlord Henry E. Bailey alleging that Bailey sexually harassed female tenants at residential properties he has owned and managed in the Cincinnati metropolitan area.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Third Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime Charge Related to Desecration of Synagogue and Churches in Modesto, California

Andrew Kerber, 22, of Chico, Calif., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill in Fresno, Calif., to violating the civil rights of congregants of Congregation Beth Shalom, a synagogue in Modesto, Calif.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Iranian National Charged with Illegally Exporting Specialized Metals from the United States to Iran

Milad Jafari, 36, a citizen and resident of Iran has been indicted for illegally exporting and attempting to export specialized metals from the United States through companies in Turkey to several entities in Iran, including some entities that have been sanctioned for involvement in ballistic missile activities.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

New York Broker Indicted for Alleged Role in International Stock Fraud Scheme

An indictment unsealed today in Detroit charges stock broker Gregg M. Berger of New York for his role in a wide-ranging fraud scheme to illegally pump-and-dump thinly-traded Chinese and Israeli stocks.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Ohio-Based Managed Care Plan Contractor CareSource & Entities to Pay $26 Million to Resolve False Claims Allegations

CareSource, CareSource Management Group Co. and CareSource USA Holding Co. have agreed to pay the United States and the state of Ohio $26 million to resolve allegations that they caused Medicaid to make payments for assessments and case managements they failed to provide to children and adults.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Meeting

"As part of this fight against human trafficking, specialized Anti-Trafficking Coordination Teams, known as ACTeams, will be convened in a number of pilot districts nationwide," said Attorney General Holder.




al

Employee of U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Convicted of Stealing Nearly $250,000

An employee of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, was found guilty today by a jury in Alexandria, Va., of stealing nearly $250,000 intended for the payment of shipping and customs services for the embassy.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Justice Department Obtains Settlement with Man for FACE Act Violation at Reproductive Health Clinic in Texas

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas ordered that Juan Antonio Gaona must adhere to a 25-foot buffer zone around a Planned Parenthood Reproductive Health Services Clinic in San Antonio, Texas.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination on Basis of Race in Clanton, Alabama

The Justice Department today announced a settlement of its lawsuit alleging that Chandi Biswas, Kenneth R. Scott and Frankie L. Roberson violated the Fair Housing Act by making discriminatory statements against African-American renters at Rolling Oaks Apartments in Clanton, Ala.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Eight Miami-Area Nurses Sentenced to Prison for $18.7 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Home Health Care

Eight Miami-area nurses were sentenced to prison today for their roles in an $18.7 million Medicare fraud scheme involving home health care.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Former Dow Research Scientist Convicted of Stealing Trade Secrets and Perjury

A federal jury in Baton Rouge, La., today convicted a former research scientist of stealing trade secrets from Dow Chemical Company and selling them to companies in the People’s Republic of China, as well as committing perjury.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Federal Court Shuts Down Colorado Tax Preparer

A federal court in Denver has permanently barred Curtis L. Morris of Elizabeth, Colo., from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Justice Department Reaches Settlement with the Carson City, Nevada, School District to Ensure Equal Opportunities for ELL Students

A settlement agreement with the Carson City School District in Nevada has been reached to ensure that all English Language Learner (ELL) students receive sufficient services as required by federal law.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Executive of California Aftermarket Auto Lights Distributor Agrees to Plead Guilty in Price-Fixing Conspiracy

An executive of a U.S. distributor has agreed to plead guilty and serve jail time for his participation in a global conspiracy to fix the prices of aftermarket auto lights.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Five Individuals and One Tennessee Company Charged with Conspiracy to Violate Arms Export Control Act and Related Offenses in International Arms Trafficking Scheme

Five individuals and a Nashville, Tenn., firearms manufacturer have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges relating to international firearms and trafficking violations of the Arms Export Control Act.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez Speaks at the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Luncheon on Redistricting

"The importance of this process can not be overstated – our system of government relies upon giving everyone an equal voice – and the decennial redistricting process ensures integrity in our system."




al

Justice Department Announces Indictment and Six Lawsuits Targeting False Claims for First-time Homebuyer and Earned-income Tax Credits

The United States has filed six lawsuits in five states to stop tax return preparers from fraudulently claiming the first-time homebuyer tax credit and the earned-income tax credit.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Lecture at the University of Montana School of Law Jones-Tamm Lecture Series

"In the spirit of Judge William Jones and Judge Edward Tamm – the visionary namesakes of this lecture series – that’s exactly what today is all about: taking a step back from what we do and what we study to consider what we owe – to our community, to our country, and to our fellow citizens," said Attorney General Holder.




al

Cement Manufacturer to Pay $1.4 Million and Install Emission Controls to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations at Ohio Plant

CEMEX Inc., one of the largest producers of Portland cement in the United States, will spend an estimated $2 million on pollution controls that will reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), pollutants that can lead to childhood asthma, acid rain, smog and impaired visibility in national parks. Under a settlement to resolve Clean Air Act violations at its cement plant in Fairborn, Ohio, CEMEX will also pay a $1.4 million penalty, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.



  • OPA Press Releases

al

Justice Department Sues Nevada Man to Stop Alleged Tax Fraud Scheme

The United States has sued David Champion of Pahrump, Nev., seeking to bar him from promoting an alleged tax fraud scheme designed to assist his customers evade paying federal taxes.



  • OPA Press Releases