ga Virginia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Engaging in a Child Exploitation Enterprise By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:57:34 EST Fred Woolum of Lexington, Va., was sentenced today in the Western District of Pennsylvania to 15 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Secretary Napolitano and Attorney General Holder Form Joint Task Force to Assist Mexico’s Investigation into Yesterday’s Shooting of Two ICE Agents in Mexico By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:09:47 EST Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder today met to discuss the shooting by unknown assailants of two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents in the line of duty yesterday while driving in Mexico. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga More Than 100 Members and Associates of Transnational Organized Crime Groups Charged with Offenses Including Bank Fraud, Kidnapping, Racketeering and Health Care Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:49:53 EST One hundred and two members and associates of transnational organized criminal groups operating in the United States have been charged in indictments unsealed today in Los Angeles; Santa Ana, Calif.; Miami and Denver. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Two Virginia Businessmen Charged with Illegally Reimbursing Senate and Presidential Campaign Contributions By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:05:55 EST A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va., today returned an indictment charging William P. Danielczyk Jr. and Eugene R. Biagi with reimbursing $186,600 in contributions to the Senate and Presidential campaign committees of a candidate for federal office, and obstructing the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the FBI. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga U.S. Government Intervenes in False Claims Lawsuit Against Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:01:19 EST The government has intervened in a lawsuit against Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Alaska-Based Company Pays U.S. More Than $1.5 Million to Settle False Claims Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:18:51 EST General Communication Inc. (GCI) has paid $1,556,075 to settle allegations that Alaska DigiTel LLC, a former Alaska limited liability company now owned by GCI, submitted false claims to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Low Income Support Program, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Statement of the Attorney General on Litigation Involving the Defense of Marriage Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:10:04 EST The Attorney General made a statement today about the Department’s course of action in two lawsuits, Pedersen v. OPM and Windsor v. United States, challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage for federal purposes as only between a man and a woman. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Letter from the Attorney General to Congress on Litigation Involving the Defense of Marriage Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:13:37 EST The Attorney General sent the following letter today to Congressional leadership to inform them of the Department’s course of action in two lawsuits, Pedersen v. OPM and Windsor v. United States, challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage for federal purposes as only between a man and a woman. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Liberian Shipping Company Sentenced to Pay $2.4 Million for Falsifying Oil Record Book and Lying to Cover up Illegal Discharges of Waste By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:40:06 EST Cardiff Marine Inc, a Liberian-registered shipping company, was sentenced today in federal court in Baltimore after pleading guilty to a felony violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Six Alleged Bloods Gang Members and Associates Indicted in Tennessee on Federal Racketeering and Murder Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:04:28 EST A superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Nashville, Tenn., was unsealed today, charging six alleged members of the violent gang known as the Bloods with various racketeering and murder charges. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois to Pay $25 Million to Settle Civil False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:21:33 EDT BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, a division of Health Care Service Corporation, has agreed to pay the United States and the state of Illinois $25 million to settle False Claims Act allegations. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Engaging in a Child Exploitation Enterprise By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:32:09 EST Patrick Carney of Manchester, N.H., was sentenced today in the Western District of Pennsylvania to 15 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Massachusetts Antique Dealer Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Trafficking in Illegally-Imported Narwhal Tusks and Sperm Whale Teeth By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 13:53:09 EST David L. Place, owner of Manor House Antiques Cooperative in Nantucket, Mass., was sentenced to 33 months in prison for illegally importing and trafficking in Narwhal tusks and Sperm Whale teeth. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Oregon Man Pleads Guilty to Operating Illegal Money Transmitting Business That Moved More Than $172 Million Through Shell Corporations in the United States By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 16:53:26 EST Victor Kaganov, who emigrated from Russia and set up numerous shell corporations in Oregon on behalf of Russian clients, pleaded guilty today to charges of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Seven North Carolina MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced to Prison on Racketeering, Murder, Drug and Firearms Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 16:23:45 EST Seven MS-13 members and leaders of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, have been sentenced to prison this week, after being convicted or pleading guilty to criminal charges that include racketeering, murder, attempted murder, assault, cocaine trafficking and numerous related federal firearms offenses. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Michigan Property Owner and Manager Ordered to Pay $82,500 in Civil Penalties in Sexual Harassment Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 17:45:38 EST A federal court in Detroit has ordered Ypsilanti, Mich., property owner and Washtenaw County Commissioner Ronnie Peterson, and his former manager Glen E. Johnson to pay a total of $82,500 in civil penalties in a sexual harassment case. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Las Vegas Woman Pleads Guilty to Acting as the Straw Owner of a Los Angeles Medical Supply Company That Submitted More Than $3.5 Million in False Claims to Medicare By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 19:13:53 EST A Las Vegas woman pleaded guilty today to falsely representing to Medicare that she owned a Los Angeles-area durable medical equipment (DME) company that was actually owned and operated by her brother, and used by her brother and others to submit more than $3.5 million in false claims to Medicare. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Justice Department Obtains $110,000 Settlement in Discrimination Lawsuit Against Apartment Complex Near Seattle By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 11:18:15 EST The owners and operators of Summerhill Place Apartments, a 268 apartment complex in Renton, Wash., have agreed to pay $110,000 in damages and civil penalties to settle a lawsuit alleging that the complex had discriminated against African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Indian Americans and families with children in violation of the Fair Housing Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Justice Department Resolves Citizenship Status Discrimination Charge Against California Employer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 18:06:05 EST American Education and Travel Services Inc. (AETS) in Antioch, Calif., has agreed to pay $10,000 in back pay and compensatory damages to a lawful permanent resident who was denied a residential counselor position because he was not a U.S. citizen or native English speaker. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga State Department Contract Employee Pleads Guilty to Illegally Accessing Confidential Passport Files By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 12:11:45 EST A State Department contract employee pleaded guilty today to illegally accessing confidential passport application files. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga 35 Members and Associates of Barrio Azteca Gang Charged with Racketeering and Other Offenses, Including 10 Charged in U.S. Consulate Murders in Juarez, Mexico By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 15:21:34 EST Thirty-five members and associates of the Barrio Azteca (BA) gang have been charged in a third superseding indictment unsealed today with various counts of racketeering, murder, drug offenses, money laundering and obstruction of justice, announced Attorney General Eric Holder. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Honeywell Pleads Guilty in Illinois to Illegal Storage of Hazardous Waste By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:34:05 EST Honeywell International Inc. pleaded guilty today in federal district court in Benton, Ill., to one felony offense for knowingly storing hazardous waste without a permit in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Kentucky Couple Charged with Lacey Act Crimes Based on the Illegal Harvest of Paddlefish from the Ohio River By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:58:59 EDT A Kentucky couple and their caviar companies were charged today with trafficking in and falsely labeling illegally harvested paddlefish. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the State of California for Violating Inmate’s Right to Practice His Religion By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:16:34 EDT The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the state of California, Governor Jerry Brown and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for violating the right of an inmate to practice his religion. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga United States Files Counterclaims Against KBR Alleging False Claims and Kickbacks By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:31:09 EDT In response to a pending lawsuit from Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc. (KBR) in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Department of Justice has filed counterclaims alleging that KBR managers had received kickbacks from a dining facility subcontractor in violation of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Former Colonial Bank Mortgage Lending Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:28:54 EDT Teresa Kelly, a former operations supervisor in Colonial Bank’s Mortgage Warehouse Lending Division, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit bank, wire and securities fraud for her role in a fraud scheme that contributed to the failures of Colonial Bank and Taylor, Bean & Whitaker. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Department of Justice Releases Investigative Findings Involving the New Orleans Police Department By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:36:47 EDT Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department today announced its findings that the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has engaged in patterns of misconduct that violate the Constitution and federal law. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez at a Press Conference to Announce NOPD Investigation Findings By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:39:48 EDT "The Justice Department opened its investigation of the New Orleans Police Department last year with a single mission: to work with all stakeholders to build a world class police force," said Assistant Attorney General Perez. Full Article Speech
ga Deputy Attorney General James Cole at a Press Conference to Announce NOPD Investigation Findings By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:43:38 EDT "Unfortunately, our conclusions reveal that many NOPD officers have failed to live up to what we rightfully expect from our law enforcement officers," said Deputy Attorney General Cole. Full Article Speech
ga Justice Department Issues Letter Regarding Illegal Exclusion of Individuals with HIV/AIDS from Occupational Training and State Licensing By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:09:57 EDT The Justice Department has issued letters to the attorneys general of all 50 states, as well as U.S. territories to request their assistance in addressing the illegal exclusion of individuals with HIV/AIDS from occupational training and state licensing. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Occidental Oil Companies to Pay $2.05 Million to Resolve Allegations of Royalty Underpayments from Federal Land By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:02:11 EDT Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, and OXY USA Inc. have agreed to pay the United States $2.05 million plus interest to resolve claims that the companies violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying royalties owed on natural gas produced from federal leases. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Justice Department Files Suit Against Winchester, Va., to Protect Employment Rights of U.S. Marine Corps Reservist By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:49:56 EDT The Department of Justice today filed a lawsuit on behalf of Jon Fultz, a U.S. Marine Corps reservist, against the city of Winchester, Va., alleging that it violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) by failing to properly reemploy Fultz in September 2009 when he returned from military service during which he sustained a knee injury. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Nebraska Man Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced to 102 Months in Prison for Engaging in a Child Exploitation Enterprise By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:37:21 EDT Brandon Miller, 23, of Omaha, Neb., was sentenced today to 102 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Susan B. Carbon, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, Speaks at the 4th Annual Army Sexual Harassment / Assault Response Prevention Summit By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:23:19 EDT "As members of the military, you are leaders in our nation. Your communities admire you. Your voices matter. And your voices will make a key difference in changing the national dialogue on sexual assault. We can work together to achieve cultural change to stop sexual assault." Full Article Speech
ga U.S. Government Offers up to $5 Million Reward for Information Regarding Shootings of Two Ice Agents By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:52:10 EDT The Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security today jointly announced a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of individuals allegedly responsible for the murder of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the attempted murder of ICE HSI Special Agent Victor Avila. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission Seek Public Comment on Proposed Statement of Antitrust Enforcement Regarding Accountable Care Organizations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:09:43 EDT The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today issued a joint statement about how the agencies will enforce U.S. antitrust laws in regard to new Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Justice Department Opens Investigation into the Seattle Police Department By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:50:12 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a pattern or practice investigation into allegations of use of excessive force and discriminatory policing by members of the Seattle Police Department (SPD), pursuant to the pattern or practice provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the anti-discrimination provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez of the Civil Rights Divison Speaks on the Justice Department’s Investigation into the Seattle Police Department By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:03:15 EDT "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." Full Article Speech
ga U.S. Files Complaint Against Texas-Based Healthpoint Ltd. Under the False Claims Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 10:48:46 EDT The United States has filed a complaint against Healthpoint Ltd., alleging civil False Claims Act violations arising from the company’s sale of an unapproved prescription drug that was ineligible for payment under Medicaid and Medicare. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Founder and Treasurer of Washington D.C. Labor Union Charged with Stealing Pension Funds for Personal Use, Violating a Court Order and Obstructing Investigation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 16:18:50 EDT The founder and treasurer of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers (NASPSO) was charged today in a superseding indictment with mail fraud, theft from a labor organization, obstruction of justice, criminal contempt and various recordkeeping offenses related to his operation of a pension plan for NASPSO members. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga North Carolina Hospital to Pay U.S. $1.9 Million to Resolve Allegations Related to Kyphoplasty and Other Procedures By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 11:48:29 EDT Rex Healthcare, a 655-bed hospital in Raleigh, N.C., has agreed to pay the United States $1.9 million, plus interest, to settle allegations that it submitted false claims to Medicare. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Two Chinese Nationals Charged with Illegally Attempting to Export Military Satellite Components to the PRC By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 13:31:40 EDT Two Chinese nationals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va., for attempting to obtain radiation-hardened microchips, which are prohibited defense items used in the military and aerospace industry. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Joint Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder and Italian Minister of Justice Angelino Alfano Regarding Continued Cooperation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 18:42:20 EDT 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. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga German Security Company Pays U.S. 6,529,042 Euros to Settle False Claims Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 10:50:29 EDT Securitas GmbH Werkschutz has paid the United States 6,529,042 Euros (approximately $9.1 million) to settle allegations that the German company billed the Army, under contracts to provide security at U.S. Army installations in Germany, for guard hours not actually worked. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Verizon Communications Pays United States $93.5 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 11:06:01 EDT Verizon Communications Inc. has paid the United States $93,525,410.96 in order to resolve allegations that the company overcharged the General Services Administration (GSA) on invoices dealing with government-wide voice and data telecommunications services contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Five Individuals Indicted for Alleged Roles in Scheme to Defraud Program Providing Matching Funds Contributions to Non-Profit Organization By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 16:56:51 EDT A 10-count federal indictment was unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia charging Stephen Bekale, Reynaldo “Christian” Villarroel, Maritza Villarroel, Irma DeMartini and Jamal Ibraheem with conspiring to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga JGC Corporation Resolves Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Investigation and Agrees to Pay a $218.8 Million Criminal Penalty By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 12:58:52 EDT JGC Corporation has agreed to pay a $218.8 million criminal penalty to resolve charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for its participation in a decade-long scheme to bribe Nigerian government officials to obtain engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Tax Defendant Indicted for Filing False Liens for Billions of Dollars Against Federal Law Enforcement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 12:05:09 EDT Mark D. Leitner has been indicted by a grand jury in the Northern District of Florida for filing false liens against federal law enforcement, corruptly endeavoring to impede and impair the Internal Revenue Service, and public disclosure of another’s Social Security number in the commission of illegal activity. Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Justice Department Files Suit Against Woman for FACE Act Violations Against Kansas Physician By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 17:58:57 EDT The Justice Department today filed a civil complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas against Angel Dillard for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act). Full Article OPA Press Releases
ga Justice Department Files Lawsuit in Alaska Against Air Methods Corporation and LifeMed Alaska LLC to Enforce Employment Rights of Army National Guard Member By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 18:48:58 EDT The Justice Department today announced that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that Air Methods Corp. and LifeMed Alaska LLC willfully violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by discriminating against and failing to reemploy Chief Warrant Officer Third Class Jonathon L. Goodwin of Wasilla, Alaska. Full Article OPA Press Releases