do Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Shut Down Louisiana Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:13:37 EST The United States has sued Larry Carnell Dixon Sr., seeking to bar him and his business, Dixon’s Tax Service, from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Colorado Resident Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Investors in Texas Real Estate Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:07:33 EST Thomas B. Evans, 47, of Centennial, Colo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine M. Arguello in Denver to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:20:18 EST "I am especially grateful for the opportunity to salute the important work that you are doing here – to provide a place of learning, healing, and advocacy; to shed light on our nation’s long – and ongoing – struggle for equal justice; and to bring attention to the suffering of millions – all around the world – who remain enslaved," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
do Federal Court Shuts Down Alabama Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:21:24 EST A federal court has permanently barred Lakeisha Pearson from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Dover Chemical Corporation in Ohio to Pay $1.4 Million for Unauthorized Production of Chemical Substances By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:00:43 EST Dover Chemical Corporation has agreed to pay $1.4 million in civil penalties for the unauthorized manufacture of chemical substances at facilities in Dover, Ohio, and Hammond, Ind. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Wife of Former Army Major Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Role in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Related to Dod Contracts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:29:29 EST Eurica Pressley, 39, was sentenced today in Birmingham, Ala., to 72 months in prison for her participation in a bribery and money laundering scheme related to bribes paid for contracts awarded in support of the Iraq war. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Federal Officials Announce Nationwide Crackdown on Black Market Rhino Trade By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:08:48 EST Seven people have been arrested on charges of trafficking in endangered black rhinoceros horn over the past week in Los Angeles, Newark, N.J., and New York. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Dallas Doctor Arrested for Alleged Role in Nearly $375 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:43:36 EST A physician and the office manager of his medical practice, along with five owners of home health agencies, were arrested today on charges related to their alleged participation in a nearly $375 million health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent claims for home health services. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Readout of Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary Janet Napolitano’s Trip to Ottawa, Canada By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 16:10:43 EST U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today visited Ottawa, Canada to participate in the Cross-Border Crime Forum with Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General Rob Nicholson, and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews. Secretary Napolitano, Attorney General Holder and Minister Toews also signed a memorandum of understanding to better prevent and combat human smuggling and trafficking. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Manager for Violent Fraudulent Document Ring Sentenced to Two Life Sentences for Murdering Rival Vendor By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 19:10:19 EST Edy Oliverez-Jiminez, aka “Daniel,” Erasmo,” “Ulysses” and “Jesus,” 25, of Virginia Beach, Va., was sentenced today to two consecutive life terms on prison, after having been convicted by a jury for racketeering, murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to produce and transfer false identification documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Federal Court in Illinois Shuts Down Nationwide “Employee Benefit Plan” Tax Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 09:29:43 EST A federal court has permanently barred Tracy L. Sunderlage, Linda Sunderlage and four companies from operating an alleged scheme to help high-income individuals attempt to avoid income taxes by funneling money through purported employee benefit plans, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Reminds Employers of Eligibility Verification Rules for Salvadoran Workers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 17:45:27 EST The Justice Department announced today the launch of an educational video reminding employers that Salvadorans with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may continue working beyond the March 9, 2012, expiration date of their Employment Authorization Documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Richmond Cell Manager of Sophisticated, Violent Fraudulent Document Ring Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 19:11:02 EST Armando Gonzalez-Medina, 35, of Richmond, Va., was sentenced today to 84 months in prison, after pleading guilty to participating in a racketeering conspiracy and conspiring to possess, produce and transfer fraudulent identification documents. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do United Kingdom Citizen and Two Americans Charged in Alabama for Allegedly Conspiring to Defraud United States Government By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:43:58 EDT United Kingdom citizen Ahmed Sarchil Kazzaz and his company, Leadstay Company, were charged in an indictment unsealed today in the Northern District of Alabama for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay kickbacks in exchange for receiving subcontracts for a Department of Defense program in Iraq. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer Speaks at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:05:53 EDT "The Fair Sentencing Act is just one example, albeit a very important one, of many I could give you where Criminal Division lawyers and others in the department have worked hard to advance needed legislation and reform an aspect of the criminal justice system in need of repair," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. Full Article Speech
do Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Funeral for Congressman Donald M. Payne Sr. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:48:21 EDT "Although we have come together in a time of loss, it is clear that we are bound by more than grief. We are united by our gratitude – for Congressman Payne’s enduring contributions, his many sacrifices, and his inspiring achievement," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
do Former Army Contractor Sentenced to 39 Months in Prison for Role in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Related to DoD Contracts By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:34:00 EDT Terry Hall, 45, was sentenced today in Birmingham, Ala., to 39 months in prison for his participation in a bribery and money laundering scheme related to bribes paid for contracts awarded in support of the Iraq war. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Mississippi Tax Return Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:51:33 EDT The United States has asked a federal court to bar Cynthia H. Carter from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Three Brandon, Miss., Men Plead Guilty for Their Roles in the Racially Motivated Assault and Murder of an African-American Man By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:39:23 EDT Deryl Paul Dedmon, John Aaron Rice and Dylan Wade Butler, all from Brandon, Miss., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Jackson to federal hate crime charges in connection with an assault culminating in the death of James Craig Anderson. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Settles Document Abuse Claim Against Ross Stores Inc. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:28:08 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Ross Stores Inc., resolving allegations that the company had engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on citizenship status while verifying employment eligibility at its store in San Ysidro, Calif. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Former Caesars Palace Nightclub Owner, Head Doorman Plead Guilty to Tax Crimes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:48:13 EDT Steve Davidovici, formerly a part-owner and manager of the Pure Nightclub located within the Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of filing a false federal income tax return for the 2006 tax year, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Texas Tax Return Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:01:33 EDT The United States has sued tax preparer Joseph Rivas, seeking to bar him from preparing any federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Five South Florida Tax Return Preparers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:06:38 EDT The United States has sued to shut down five Florida tax return preparers, the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do U.S. Pharmaceutical Company Merck Sharp & Dohme Sentenced in Connection with Unlawful Promotion of Vioxx By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:03:06 EDT American pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp & Dohme was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris in Boston to pay a criminal fine in the amount of $321,636,000 in connection with its guilty plea related to its promotion and marketing of the painkiller Vioxx (rofecoxib), the Justice Department announced today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Shut Down Three Philadelphia-area Tax Preparers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:36:12 EDT The United States has asked a federal court to bar three Philadelphia-area tax preparers from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. According to the government complaint in the civil injunction suit, defendants Deron Joe, Edmund Dassin and James Tokpawhiea are Liberian nationals who are legal permanent residents of the United States. The suit alleges that most of the customers of their business, Urban Tax Professionals, are also from Liberia and were referred to the defendants by family or friends. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do U.S. Attorney General Holder and Dominican Prosecutor General Jiménez Pena Sign Permanent Agreement to Share Forfeited Assets By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:44:04 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder and Dominican Prosecutor General Radhamés Jiménez Peña met today in Washington, D.C., to sign a permanent agreement to share forfeited assets between the governments of the United States and the Dominican Republic. The permanent sharing agreement acknowledges the consistent forfeiture-related cooperation that United States authorities have received from the Dominican Republic and creates a more efficient process for sharing assets with the Dominican Republic. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Federal Courts Order Seizure of 36 Website Domains Involved in Selling Stolen Credit Card Numbers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:41:10 EDT The seizures are the result of Operation Wreaking hAVoC, an FBI and Justice Department operation targeting the sale of stolen credit card numbers via the Internet. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do President of Costa Rican Company Convicted in Half a Billion Dollar Fraud Scheme with Thousands of Victims Worldwide By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:37:36 EDT The president of a Costa Rican company that sold reinsurance bonds to life settlement companies was found guilty by a federal jury in Richmond, Va., today for carrying out a half-billion-dollar fraud scheme that affected more than 2,000 victims throughout the United States and abroad. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Colorado Man and Co-defendant Found Guilty for Scheme to File Approximately $22 Million in False Claims with the Irs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 1 May 2012 17:23:01 EDT Curtis Morris, 43, of Elizabeth, Colo., and Richard Kellogg Armstrong, 77, of Prescott, Ariz., were found guilty on April 30, 2012, by a jury for mail fraud, filing false claims against the United States and conspiracy to file false claims against the United States, announced the Justice Department’s Tax Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and IRS-Criminal Investigation. In addition to these counts, Armstrong was also found guilty of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from the mail fraud. The guilty verdicts were the result of a three week trial before U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn. Morris and Armstrong are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10, 2012. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Vidor, Texas, Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Atascosa County, Texas, Murder By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 2 May 2012 18:00:09 EDT Michael Dewayne Smith, 31, aka “Bucky,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in the Western District of Texas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Health Care Fraud Takedown Press Conference By www.justice.gov Published On :: "As of today, as part of a coordinated, nationwide takedown, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force – a joint initiative led by the Departments of Justice and HHS that’s comprised of federal, state, and local investigators and law enforcement officials from across the country – has charged 107 defendants in seven different cities for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $452 million in false billings. This is the highest amount of alleged false Medicare billings involved in a single takedown in the Strike Force’s 5-year history," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
do Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer Speaks at the Health Care Fraud Takedown Press Conference By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 2 May 2012 13:52:30 EDT "From Los Angeles, to Chicago, to Miami, these defendants allegedly submitted over $450 million in fraudulent claims to the Medicare program. This represents the largest Medicare fraud takedown in Department history, as measured by the amount of alleged fraudulent billings," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. Full Article Speech
do Hyosung Corporation Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty to Obstruction of Justice for Submitting False Documents in an ATM Merger Investigation By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 May 2012 10:54:41 EDT An executive of South Korean-based Hyosung Corporation has agreed to plead guilty and to serve time in a U.S. prison for obstruction of justice charges in connection with an automated teller machine (ATM) merger investigation conducted by the Antitrust Division. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Federal Court Shuts Down Texas Tax Return Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 May 2012 10:49:19 EDT A federal court in Dallas has permanently barred Joseph Rivas of DeSoto, Texas, from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. The civil injunction order, to which Rivas consented without admitting the allegations against him, was signed by Judge Sidney Fitzwater of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do U.S. and State of Ohio Reach $5.5 Million Settlement for Damages from Hazardous Releases in Lower Ashtabula River and Harbor By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 May 2012 14:53:23 EDT consent decree, valued at approximately $5.5 million, was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Man Pleads Guilty to Odometer Tampering Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 May 2012 17:41:49 EDT Beau Michael Guidry of Baton Rouge, La., pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana to three counts of odometer tampering. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Detroit NAACP Centennial Celebration 57th Annual Fight for Freedom Dinner By www.justice.gov Published On :: Sun, 6 May 2012 20:40:10 EDT "Across the Administration, we’re working in a range of other innovative ways to achieve fairness and expand opportunity – from successfully advocating for the reduction of the unfair and unjust 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses – to launching a new, Department-wide Diversity Management Initiative. And our determination to build on these efforts has, quite simply, never been stronger," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
do Justice Department Settles Document Abuse Claim Against Imagine Schools in Ohio By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 May 2012 16:58:45 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Imagine Schools Inc., resolving allegations that the company discriminated under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, when it fired an employee at its Imagine School in Groveport, Ohio, in connection with a “reverification” of his employment eligibility. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Doctor and Home Health Agency Owner Plead Guilty in Connection with Detroit Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 May 2012 16:57:14 EDT Detroit-area residents Zahir Yousafzai and Dr. Dwight Smith pleaded guilty yesterday for their roles in a $13.8 million home health care fraud and money laundering scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Leaders of Multi-million Dollar Fraud Ring That Used Stolen Information of Medicaid Recipients Each Sentenced to Over 25 Years in Prison By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 8 May 2012 17:47:47 EDT Veronica Dale and Alchico Grant, who jointly ran a stolen identity refund fraud ring that attempted to defraud the United States of millions of dollars over several years, were sentenced to federal prison today, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Veronica Dale, of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced to 334 months and Alchico Grant of Lowndes County, Ala., was sentenced to 310 months in prison. In addition, Dale and Grant were both ordered to pay over $2.8 million in restitution to the IRS. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Colorado-Based QEP Field Services Agrees to Pay $4 Million and Install Pollution Controls to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Clean Air Act By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 16 May 2012 15:59:40 EDT The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with QEP Field Services Co. (QEPFS), formerly Questar Gas Management Co., to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at five natural gas compressor stations on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Northeastern Utah. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down San Antonio Tax Return Preparers By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 17 May 2012 10:02:56 EDT The United States has sued Pete Gutierrez and Jeanette Gutierrez, who do business as Fast Cash Refund Express and Fast Cash Refund Express Electronic Services, seeking to bar them and their companies from preparing any federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. In addition to the Gutierrezes, the civil injunction suit also named FCRE Inc., and Fast Cash Refund Express Electronic Tax Service LLC, as defendants. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Romanian National Extradited to U.S. to Face Charges for Allegedly Participating in Multimillion Dollar Scheme to Hack into and Steal Credit Card Data from U.S. Merchants By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 May 2012 18:16:05 EDT Adrian-Tiberiu Oprea, 28, of Constanta, Romania, was extradited to the United States and appeared in federal court in New Hampshire today, to face federal charges relating to his alleged participation in an international multimillion dollar scheme to remotely hack into and steal payment card data from hundreds of U.S. merchants’ “point of sale” computer systems. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Las Vegas Casino for Unfair Documentary Practices By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 31 May 2012 16:33:36 EDT The Justice Department announced today that it filed a lawsuit against Tuscany Hotel and Casino LLC in Las Vegas, alleging that the company engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination in the employment eligibility verification and re-verification process. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires employers to treat all authorized workers equally during the hiring, firing and employment eligibility verification process, regardless of their national origin or citizenship status. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Doctors, Therapist and Recruiters from Miami-Area Mental Health Care Corporation Convicted for Participating in $205 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 19:43:15 EDT A federal jury today convicted two Miami-area doctors, one Miami-area therapist and two others for their participation in a Medicare fraud scheme involving more than $205 million in fraudulent billings by American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC), a mental health care corporation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez Speaks at the American Civil Liberties Union’s Plyler v. Doe 30th Anniversary Event By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:50:02 EDT "The benefits of Plyler are felt by all of us, wherever we or our ancestors were born. Three decades after Plyler, immigrant students have made and continue to make vast and deep contributions to America’s cultural, civic, and economic landscape," said Assistant Attorney General Perez. Full Article Speech
do Brooklyn Doctor Convicted for Role in Medicare and Private Insurance Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 17:23:40 EDT A Brooklyn board-certified colorectal surgeon, who owned and operated a New York medical clinic, was convicted for his role in a fraud scheme that billed Medicare and numerous private insurance companies for surgeries and other complex medical procedures that were never performed. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the Twin Cities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, and Local Utility Companies Alleging Religious Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 17:07:13 EDT The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the town of Colorado City, Ariz.; the city of Hildale, Utah; Twin City Water Authority; and Twin City Power alleging a pattern or practice of police misconduct and violations of federal civil rights laws. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Barclays Bank PLC Admits Misconduct Related to Submissions for the London Interbank Offered Rate and the Euro Interbank Offered Rate and Agrees to Pay $160 Million Penalty By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 27 Jun 2012 08:34:16 EDT Barclays Bank PLC, a financial institution headquartered in London, has entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice to pay a $160 million penalty to resolve violations arising from Barclays’s submissions for the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR), which are benchmark interest rates used in financial markets around the world. Full Article OPA Press Releases
do Federal Court Shuts Down South Florida Tax Return Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:09:54 EDT A federal court in Miami has permanently barred Kenia Marrero of Miami, and her company, Kenia Immigration Services, from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. The civil injunction order, to which Marrero consented without admitting the allegations against her, was signed by Judge José E. Martinez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Full Article OPA Press Releases