x Court Bars Milwaukee Heating Contractor from Making Disbursements Before Paying Federal Payroll Taxes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:19:59 EST A federal court in Milwaukee, Wis., today issued a preliminary injunction ordering a Milwaukee heating contractor and its owner and president to comply with federal employment tax payment requirements. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Housing Discrimination at 11 Multifamily Housing Complexes in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:12:30 EST Under the settlement, which must still be approved by the court, 11 defendants will pay all costs related to making the complexes for which they were responsible accessible to persons with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Federal Court Permanently Enjoins Iowa Tax Preparation Firm By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 14:56:43 EST A federal judge in Sioux City, Iowa, today barred a Humboldt, Iowa, woman, Gayle Lemmon, and her tax preparation business from claiming improper deductions on federal income tax returns. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Justice Department Sues to Close Dallas-area Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 11:01:48 EST The government complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Dallas alleges that Travis Nicholas Stenline of Seagoville, Texas, operates a business he calls Nick Tax or Nick’s Taxes that prepares fraudulent returns for customers. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Former Missouri Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing a Teenage Girl While She Was Detained By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:33:54 EST Steven W. Burgess, a former Jackson County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy, pleaded guilty in federal court today to violating the civil rights of a teenage girl whom he sexually assaulted in his patrol car. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit in Missouri Against Owner and Managers of Federally-Subsidized Property for Race and Sex Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:04:30 EST The department filed a lawsuit today in federal court for the Eastern District of Missouri alleging a pattern or practice of violations of the Fair Housing Act by the owner and managers of Forum Manor Apartments for refusing to rent to African-Americans and males, refusing to allow tenants to have African-American visitors, sexually harassing female tenants and retaliating against tenants who complained about such discrimination. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Justice Department and USDA Set Dates for Workshops to Explore Competition and Regulatory Issues in the Agriculture Industry By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:12:23 EST The all-day workshops, which will begin in March 2010, will be held in Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x New Jersey Man Sentenced on International Sex Tourism and Child Pornography Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:52:31 EST Wayne Nelson Corliss, 60, of Union City, N.J., was sentenced to 235 months in prison today in Newark, N.J., on three charges of traveling in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and a single count each of producing and possessing child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Arizona Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Travel with Intent to Engage in Sex with Minors By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:43:59 EST Richard Hendryx, 79, of Morristown, Ariz., was sentenced today to two years in prison and lifetime supervised release to follow his prison term for travel with intent to engage in sex with minors. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Bexar County, Texas, Corrections Officer Indicted on Civil Rights Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:04:48 EST Daniel Melgoza, a Bexar County, Texas, Corrections Officer, was charged today in a four-count federal indictment with violating the civil rights of two detainees and obstructing justice. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 121 Months in Prison for Her Participation in an Organization That Forced Young Mexican Women into Sexual Slavery in New York By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:19:37 EST Consuelo Carreto Valencia, a member of the Carreto family sex trafficking ring that operated between Mexico and Queens, N.Y., was sentenced to 121 months in prison for benefitting financially from her participation in the organization, which transported young Mexican women to the United States and forced them into prostitution. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Rhode Island Couple Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:31:07 EST Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi sentenced Albert Martin to 51 months in prison and Lorraine Martin to one year and one day in prison. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Twenty-six Charged in Nationwide Scheme to Defraud the FCC’s Video Relay Service Program By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:18:00 EST “The individuals charged in connection with today’s operation are alleged to have stolen tens of millions of dollars from an important government program that is intended to help deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans communicate with hearing persons,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Tennessee Woman Barred from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others; Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:40:02 EST A federal court today issued a preliminary injunction barring Karen Liane Miller of Nashville, Tenn., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Federal Court Shuts Down Los Angeles Area Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:37:33 EST A federal court in Los Angeles has issued permanent injunctions barring a Torrance, Calif., tax preparer, Susan Guan and her company, SRN Financial Services Inc., from preparing tax returns for others Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Former General Manager of Texas Business Arrested for Role in Alleged Scheme to Bribe Officials at Mexican State-Owned Electrical Utility By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:20:31 EST The former general manager of a Sugar Land, Texas-based business was arrested on Nov. 18, 2009, for his alleged role in a conspiracy to bribe Mexican government officials to secure contracts with the Comisión Federal de Electridad (CFE), a Mexican state-owned utility company. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Defrauding the Export-Import Bank of the United States of More Than $1 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:01:20 EST Febe Durango-Rueda, 52, a Colombian national, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2009, to participating in a scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) of more than $1 million. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Federal Court Shuts Down Los Angeles Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:13:26 EST The government complaint in the civil injunction case alleged that Jacqueline Cornejo promoted a tax fraud scheme designed to siphon millions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x California Court Permanently Enjoins Developer of the “Derivium” “90% Loan” Tax Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:36:42 EST The complex tax scheme involved numerous entities located around the globe and sales of over $1.25 billion in securities Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Four Indicted for Conspiring to Support Hizballah; Six Others Charged with Related Crimes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:49:59 EST Ten individuals were indicted today, charged with, among other things, conspiring to export weapons from Philadelphia to the Port of Latakia, Syria. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Six Individuals Sentenced for Multi-Million Dollar E-Mail Stock Fraud Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:48:57 EST Six individuals were sentenced today in federal court in Detroit for their roles in a wide-ranging international stock fraud scheme involving the illegal use of bulk commercial e-mails, or "spamming." Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Former Memphis Police Officer Convicted of Excessive Force By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:40:32 EST Isaac White, formerly an officer with the Memphis Police Department, pleaded guilty today to using excessive force and causing bodily injury. White faces up to 10 years in prison for the civil rights violation. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Federal Court Shuts Down Kansas City Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:22:19 EST A federal court in Kansas City, Kan., has permanently barred Carlos Cruz, also known as Carlos Ruano-Cruz, from preparing tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting a Minor for Illegal Sexual Activity By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:10:45 EST Mack Gordon Harris Sr., 67, of Social Circle, Ga., pleaded guilty today to transporting a minor for illegal sexual activity. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Virginia Investment Firm Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy with Attorney and KPMG Tax Partner in Tax Shelter Case By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 14:53:40 EST Michael Parker of Baltimore, who was the chief operating officer of TransCapital Corporation, a tax-advantaged investments company based in Northen Virginia, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Birmingham Man Sentenced to Prison for False Tax Refund Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 14:02:10 EST Cardale Leon Bates of Birmingham, Ala., was sentenced to 57 months in prison today by U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Tewksbury, Mass., Health Care Provider and Its CEO Permanently Enjoined Relating to Failure to Comply with Federal Employment Tax Requirements By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 18:14:38 EST A federal court in Boston issued a judgment against Excel Home Care Inc. in the amount of $473,510.76 for unpaid federal employment and unemployment taxes after its owner Diane E. Porter consented to the entry of an order of permanent injunction that prohibits her or anyone else from operating this Tewksbury, Mass., home health care provider. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Justice Department Releases Video Explaining Federal Protections Against Immigration-Related Discrimination in the Workplace By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:54:08 EST The Department released a new video aimed at educating employers about worker rights and employer responsibilities under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Two Florida Executives, One Florida Intermediary and Two Former Haitian Government Officials Indicted for Their Alleged Participation in Foreign Bribery Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 16:15:38 EST Two Florida executives of a Miami-Dade County-based telecommunications company, the president of Florida-based Telecom Consulting Services Corp., and two former Haitian government officials were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their alleged roles in a foreign bribery, wire fraud and money laundering scheme. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Taiwan LCD Producer Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $220 Million Fine for Participating in LCD Price-Fixing Conspiracy By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 16:20:54 EST Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracy are some of the largest computer and television manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and HP. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Georgia Couple Charged with Human Trafficking and Immigration Violations for Exploiting Woman from Swaziland By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:55:09 EST A federal grand jury in Atlanta has indicted an Ellenwood, Ga., husband and wife, Juna Gwendolyn Babb, 54, and Michael J. Babb, 53, on charges of conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, which is confiscating someone’s passport and visa, and harboring an alien for financial gain, the Justice Department announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Ft. Worth, Texas, Couple Charged with Holding Nigerian Woman in Domestic Servitude By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:20:13 EST A federal grand jury has indicted a Ft. Worth, Texas, husband and wife, Emmanuel and Ngozi Nnaji, on charges of engaging in a nine-year scheme to compel the labor of a Nigerian victim as their domestic servant. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Former DOD Contracting Officer Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:36:32 EST Tijani Ahmed Saani was also ordered to pay a $1.6 million fine and serve one year of supervised release following his prison term. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x North Dakota Executive Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:07:24 EST Micheal Fisher, a former co-owner of Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. Inc. (FSG) based in Dickinson, N.D., was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Los Angeles Area Tax Preparer Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Violating Injunction By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:07:00 EST James A. Mattatall of Torrance, Calif., was sentenced to six months in prison for violating a permanent injunction. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x University of Phoenix Settles False Claims Act Lawsuit for $67.5 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:03:29 EST University of Phoenix has agreed to pay the United States $67.5 million to resolve allegations that its student recruitment policies violated the False Claims Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Medicare Fraud Strike Force Expands Operations into Brooklyn, N.Y.; Tampa, Fla.; and Baton Rouge, La. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:16:05 EST Thirty people have been charged in three cities for their alleged roles in schemes to submit more than $61 million in false Medicare claims as part of the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Michigan Tax Preparers Permanently Barred from Preparing Returns for Others By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:18:57 EST Chief District Judge Paul L. Maloney has permanently barred Joyce M. Stone and Charles J. Freed, both of Tipton, Mich., from preparing income tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Texas Man Sentenced to 292 Months in Prison for Advertising and Possessing Child Pornography By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:54:49 EST Mark Edwin Cairnes, 51, was sentenced today to 292 months in prison and lifetime supervised release following his prison term for advertising and possessing child pornography. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo Sentenced for Attempted Extortion and Bribery By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:44:23 EST Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe in Albany, N.Y. to 27 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for attempted extortion and bribery, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge John F. Pikus of the FBI’s Albany office announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Duke Energy to Spend Approximately $93 Million to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:48:18 EST “This important settlement resolves lengthy litigation on very favorable terms,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling to the Philippines for Sex Tourism By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:58:14 EST Donald Mathias of Davie, Fla., pleaded guilty today to engaging in sex tourism in the Philippines. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Two Former San Juan Municipal Police Officers Sentenced for Using Excessive Force Resulting in Death By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:57:14 EST Elias Perocier Morales received a sentence of 10 years in prison and Eliezer Rivera Gonzalez received a sentence of six and a half years in prison. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Ohio Attorney Charged with Tax Fraud, Obstruction of Justice for Scheme to Hide Income and Assets Through Trusts and in Foreign Bank Account By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:04:05 EST Aristotle R. Matsa, an attorney in Columbus, Ohio, was charged with tax offenses, obstruction of justice and additional charges in a 20-count indictment unsealed today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Nashville, Tennessee, Woman Sentenced on Sex Trafficking Charges By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:49:43 EST Cristina Andres Perfecto of Nashville, Tenn., was sentenced late yesterday in federal court in Memphis to 190 months in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of a juvenile and conspiracy. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Federal Court Shuts Down Idaho Tax Preparer By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 13:50:15 EST A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction barring Penny Lea Jones of Idaho Falls, Idaho, from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Justice Department Files Six Lawsuits to Enjoin Preparation of Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 14:37:06 EST The United States this week filed five civil injunction lawsuits in Detroit, Cincinnati and Chicago against several individuals and their tax preparation services. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging New Jersey’s Written Civil Service Examination for Promotion to Police Sergeant Discriminates Against African-Americans and Hispanics By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:36:22 EST The Department filed a lawsuit against the state of New Jersey and the New Jersey Civil Service Commission alleging 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
x Former Vice President of Texas Company Pleads Guilty to Environmental Crime By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 16:03:31 EST Michael Sayklay, the former vice president of Economy Cash & Carry Inc., a Texas-based grocery wholesaler, pleaded guilty today in federal court in El Paso, Texas, to a criminal violation of the Plant Protection Act. Full Article OPA Press Releases
x Florida Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Extortion, Making Interstate Threats, Computer Fraud and Identity Theft By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:38:41 EST A Florida man has been sentenced to 90 months in prison for making e-mail and telephone threats, including threats intended to cause a candidate for statewide office in Florida to drop out of an election. Full Article OPA Press Releases