re Florida Woman Sentenced to Serve 72 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Prescription Drugs Over the Internet By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:28:16 EDT Lina Rodriguez, 34, was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to serve 72 months in prison, followed by 24 months of supervised release, for operating and facilitating the operation of an Internet-pharmacy business that illegally shipped over $1.5 million of pharmaceuticals since July 2007 to U.S. and overseas purchasers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Former Owner of Los Angeles Medical Equipment Supply Company Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Medicare By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:00:43 EDT A former owner of a Los Angeles-area medical equipment supply company pleaded guilty today to conspiring with others to defraud Medicare. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Former North Las Vegas Corrections Officer Indicted on Excessive Force and Obstruction Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:15:49 EDT The Department of Justice today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Las Vegas has indicted a former North Las Vegas corrections officer on federal civil rights and obstruction of justice charges. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Justice Department Releases Updated Protocol to Improve Standards for Responding to Rape and Sexual Assault By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:35:51 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder today announced a revised version of the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations (SAFE Protocol, 2d.) The SAFE Protocol is a voluntary best practices guide to conducting sexual assault medical forensic examinations protocols. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Detroit Home Health Company Employee Pleads Guilty for Role in Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:36:25 EDT An employee of Detroit medical service companies that fabricated patient visit notes and other documents as part of a $24 million home health care fraud scheme pleaded guilty today for her role in the conspiracy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Alabama Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:45:53 EDT Kenneth Jerome Blackmon Jr., a resident of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced today to 51 months in prison, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary Speaks at the Release of the Framework of Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services Final Report By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:42:15 EDT "The goal of Vision 21 is to create a framework to address these enduring and emerging challenges – in short, to re-define the role of victim services in the 21st century," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Leary Full Article Speech
re Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary Speaks at the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:08:07 EDT "We’re doubling down on our support for victims because the challenges they and their advocates face continue to be significant, and they’re growing," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Leary. Full Article Speech
re Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:10:17 EDT "I’m very pleased that two of the awards this year are going to tribal victim service providers. Many of you know – and some of you know intimately – that tribal members are disproportionately victimized. Native women, in particular, encounter violence at alarming levels," said Acting Associate Attorney General West. Full Article Speech
re Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:12:49 EDT "Although none of our awardees sought special recognition for their actions, all of them richly deserve it. And all should be commended for their dedication to helping others, and their determination – even under the most difficult circumstances – to make a positive difference," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
re Southern California Physician and Two Co-Conspirators Found Guilty for Roles in $1.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:10:39 EDT A Southern California physician, a durable medical equipment (DME) supply company employee and a health care professional were found guilty late yesterday by a federal jury in Los Angeles for their roles in a $1.5 million Medicare fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Indiana School District to Provide a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment for All Students By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:54:27 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it reached a settlement agreement with the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township, Ind., to prevent and respond to peer on peer harassment in schools. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Former Town Creek, Ala., Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Assaulting an Arrestee By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:07:32 EDT Brandon Shane Mundy, a former police officer of numerous law enforcement agencies, the most recent being the Town Creek, Ala., Police Department, pleaded guilty today to violating the civil rights of a man during the course of an arrest. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Supervisor of $63 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme Convicted By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:11:38 EDT A federal jury today convicted a Miami-area supervisor of a mental health care company, Health Care Solutions Network (HCSN), for helping to orchestrate a fraud scheme that crossed state lines and that resulted in the submission of more than $63 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Florida Medicaid. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Justice Department Reaches Agreement with City of Falls Church, Va., on Bailout Under the Voting Rights Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:23:43 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with the city of Falls Church, Va., that will allow for the city, a covered jurisdiction under the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act, to bail out from coverage under these provisions. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Alabama Residents Indicted for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:35:34 EDT Several residents of Montgomery, Ala., were indicted by a federal grand jury for their involvement in a conspiracy to receive fraudulent tax refunds into their bank accounts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Justice Department Returned $1.5 Billion to Victims of Crime since January 2012 By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:13:57 EDT As the United States concludes its recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman announced that the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program has returned more than $1.5 billion in forfeited assets to more than 400,000 crime victims since January 2012. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re United States Files Complaint Against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. for Allegedly Paying Kickbacks to Doctors in Exchange for Prescribing Its Drugs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:19:31 EDT The Justice Department announced today that the United States has filed a second civil false claims lawsuit against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. involving alleged kickbacks paid by the company to health care providers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Alabama Man Indicted for Multi-Million Dollar Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme Using Prisoner Identities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:55:59 EDT A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., returned an indictment charging Harvey James for using stolen identities to file false tax returns. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Court Authorizes Service of John Doe Summons Seeking the Identities of U.S. Taxpayers with Offshore Accounts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s FirstCaribbean International Bank By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:09:39 EDT The Justice Department announced that late yesterday a federal court in San Francisco entered an order authorizing the Internal Revenue Service to serve a John Doe summons seeking information about U.S. taxpayers who may hold offshore accounts at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce FirstCaribbean International Bank. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re New York Man Pleads Guilty in Massachusetts to Theft of Government Property and Money Laundering in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:58:08 EDT Odalis Castillo-Lopez, a citizen of the Dominican Republic and a resident of New York, pleaded guilty today to theft of government property and money laundering in connection with a scheme to cash U.S. Treasury tax refund checks fraudulently obtained using the stolen identities of Puerto Rican residents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Alabama Woman Indicted for Cashing Fraudulently Obtained Tax Refund Checks By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:05:09 EDT A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Shatoubrioune Hare George, a.k.a. “Tobie,” with conspiring to cash fraudulently obtained federal tax refund checks. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Alabama Resident Indicted in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:07:10 EDT Bridgette Rivers, a resident of Montgomery, Ala., was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy and theft of government funds related to her participation in a scheme to use stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Departments of Justice and Housing and Urban Development Release New Guidance on “Design and Construction” Requirements Under the Fair Housing Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:09:00 EDT New guidance released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Justice reinforces the Fair Housing Act requirement that multifamily housing be designed and constructed so as to be accessible to persons with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re New York Woman Sentenced for Scheme to Defraud Consumer Product Manufacturers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:41:58 EDT A New York woman was sentenced to 19 months in prison today for her role in a scheme to defraud consumer product manufacturers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Federal Court in California Shuts Down Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:14:36 EDT A federal court in Los Angeles has entered an order permanently barring John Trunzo from preparing federal income tax returns and other tax-related documents for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Montana Hospitals Agree to Pay $3.95 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act and Stark Law Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 1 May 2013 09:45:28 EDT St. Vincent Healthcare, a hospital located in Billings, Mont., and Holy Rosary Healthcare, a hospital located in Miles City, Mont., have agreed to pay $3.95 million plus interest to resolve allegations that they violated the Stark Law and the False Claims Act by improperly providing incentive pay to physicians that made referrals to the hospitals. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Former Executive of French Power Company Subsidiary Charged in Connection with Foreign Bribery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 1 May 2013 11:36:47 EDT A former executive of the U.S. subsidiary of a French power and transportation company was charged in a superseding indictment for his alleged participation in a scheme to pay bribes to foreign government officials. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Three Men Arrested in Connection with Boston Marathon Bombing Investigation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 1 May 2013 14:58:47 EDT Three men were arrested and charged today in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings investigation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West Speaks at the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys 2013 Annual Conference By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 2 May 2013 14:06:33 EDT "We know this work is not easy. But we also know that so many elder Americans are depending on us – especially those who are among the most vulnerable; who so often cannot speak for themselves – they are depending on us to do this work and to do it well. And I know we will not let them down," said Acting Associate Attorney General West. Full Article Speech
re Federal Court in California Shuts Down Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 3 May 2013 09:29:18 EDT A federal court in Los Angeles has entered an order permanently barring Simon Jenkins from preparing federal income tax returns and other tax-related documents for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Justice Department Expands Its Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative with Settlement with Burke Health and Rehabilitation Center in Burke, Virginia By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 3 May 2013 15:20:49 EDT The Justice Department announced today that, as part of its Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, it has reached a settlement agreement with another health care provider, Medical Facilities of America XXIX Limited Partnership, t/a Burke Health and Rehabilitation Center in Burke, Va., to ensure that they provide effective communication to people who are deaf or have hearing loss. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Leader of $29.1 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty in Detroit By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 3 May 2013 16:22:39 EDT The mastermind of a $29.1 million Medicare fraud scheme involving approximately 30 purported medical clinics pleaded guilty today in Detroit for his role in the scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Former Consultant for Willbros International Sentenced in Connection with Foreign Bribery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 3 May 2013 17:56:22 EDT A former consultant for Willbros International Inc. (Willbros International), a subsidiary of Houston-based Willbros Group Inc. (Willbros), was sentenced today for his role in a conspiracy to pay more than $6 million in bribes to government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and officials from a Nigerian political party. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Adventist Health Pays United States and State of California $14.1 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 3 May 2013 18:07:21 EDT Adventist Health System/West, dba Adventist Health, and its affiliated hospital White Memorial Medical Center have agreed to pay the United States and the state of California $14.1 million to settle claims that they violated the False Claims Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Patient Recruiter of Miami Home Health Company Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Role in $20 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 6 May 2013 17:12:14 EDT A patient recruiter for a Miami health care company was sentenced today to serve 37 months in prison for his participation in a $20 million Medicare fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Health Care Clinic Director Pleads Guilty in Miami for Role in $63 Million Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 7 May 2013 11:04:45 EDT A former health care clinic director and licensed clinical psychologist pleaded guilty today in connection with a health care fraud scheme involving defunct health provider Health Care Solutions Network Inc. (HCSN). Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Romanian National Pleads Guilty to Participating in Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Steal Payment Card Data from Hundreds of U.S. Merchants By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 7 May 2013 16:31:09 EDT A Romanian national pleaded guilty today to participating in an international, multimillion-dollar scheme to remotely hack into and steal payment card data from hundreds of U.S. merchants’ computers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Department of Justice Reaches Settlement to Resolve Complaints of Religious Harassment at Charter School in DeKalb County, Georgia By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 7 May 2013 16:46:23 EDT The Justice Department reached a settlement agreement today with DeKalb County, Ga., school district to resolve the department’s investigation into allegations of religious and national origin harassment of a Sikh middle school student. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Assistant Attorney General Ignacia S. Moreno Announces Departure from Department of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 8 May 2013 09:20:43 EDT Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, announced today that she will be leaving the Department of Justice on June 7, 2013. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Golden Corral Restaurant for Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 8 May 2013 12:33:55 EDT The Department of Justice announced today the settlement of its lawsuit against the Golden Corral restaurant in Westland, Mich., which alleged that the owners and operators of the Golden Corral violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying service to a mother and her minor children based on the appearance of the children’s skin due to a genetic skin disorder. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Georgia Men Plead Guilty to Receiving Bribes in Transportation Scheme at Local Military Base By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 8 May 2013 12:52:09 EDT Two former employees at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany (MCLB-Albany) have pleaded guilty to receiving bribes related to a scheme to funnel freight hauling business to a local transportation company resulting in the loss of millions of dollars to the United States government. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Clinic Owners Sentenced for Roles in $13.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 8 May 2013 15:49:50 EDT Miami residents Raymond Arias, 42, and his wife, Emelitza Arias, 25, have been sentenced in Detroit to 100 months and 12 months in prison, respectively, for their participation in a $13.3 million Medicare fraud scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Northern California Real Estate Investor Indicted on Additional Charge By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 8 May 2013 17:12:13 EDT A federal grand jury in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento today returned a superseding indictment charging Andrew B. Katakis, of Danville, Calif., with obstruction of justice related to a federal investigation into conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions held in San Joaquin County, Calif. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Justice Department Announces Fair Housing Settlement with Oregon Developer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 8 May 2013 16:56:36 EDT The Justice Department announced today that Oregon developer David Montagne and others affiliated with him have agreed to pay $80,000 and remove accessibility barriers at Gateway Village, a 275 unit apartment complex in Salem, Oregon, to settle a lawsuit alleging that they had violated the Fair Housing Act by building the complex with steps and other features that made it inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Jenny A. Durkan Testifies Before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 8 May 2013 09:44:39 EDT "The Department’s approach to 21st Century cyber threats is rooted in three interests: 1) deterring, disrupting, and dismantling the threat; 2) holding bad actors accountable; and 3) protecting our national security, economic interests, and individual privacy," said U.S. Attorney Durkan. Full Article Speech
re Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Missouri Tax Return Preparers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 9 May 2013 10:18:57 EDT The United States has asked a federal court in St. Louis, Mo., to permanently bar Joseph Burns, d/b/a Electronic Tax Service, Joseph Thomas and International Tax Service Inc. (Thomas’s business), from preparing federal tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Departments of Justice and Education Reach Settlement to Address and Prevent Sexual Assault and Harassment of Students at the University of Montana in Missoula By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 9 May 2013 13:23:30 EDT The Department of Justice and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights obtained a comprehensive resolution agreement today with the University of Montana-Missoula in Missoula, Mont., to ensure that it responds swiftly and effectively to allegations of sexual assault and harassment by students. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Former President of Port Arthur Company Guilty of Federal Crimes Related to Employee Deaths By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 9 May 2013 15:24:17 EDT The former president of Port Arthur Chemical and Environmental Services, LLC (PACES) has pleaded guilty in federal court to occupational safety crimes which resulted in the death of an employee. Full Article OPA Press Releases
re Justice Department Signs Agreement with Stewart County, Georgia, to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 9 May 2013 16:33:05 EDT The Justice Department today announced an agreement with Stewart County, Ga., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases