x

Attorney General Holder Hosts Summit Focused on Prevention, Deterrence and Interdiction of Child Sexual Exploitation

Attorney General Eric Holder today convened a panel of experts from Facebook, Microsoft and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to discuss concrete ways to prevent and deter child sexual exploitation at a national summit entitled, “A Call to Action: Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation.”



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Montgomery, Alabama, Woman Pleads Guilty to Two Tax Fraud and Identity Theft Conspiracies

Veronica Dale, a resident of Montgomery, Ala., pleaded guilty today to two tax fraud and identity theft conspiracies.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Summit on Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation

"To more effectively prevent and combat child exploitation and abuse, we need greater engagement – and not just from our traditional law enforcement, advocacy and government partners," said Attorney General Holder.




x

Federal Court Bars Newark, N.J., Man from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

A federal court in New Jersey has permanently barred Luvander Hollaway from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Baytown, Texas, Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Atascosa County, Texas Murder

Jim Flint McIntyre, aka “Q-Ball,” 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in the Western District of Texas.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Sixth Guilty Plea in Connection with Scheme to Fraudulently Control Condominium Homeowners’ Associations

Edward Lugo, 47, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lloyd D. George in the District of Nevada to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Texas Resident Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-Import Bank

Gilberto Baez-Garcia, 35, was also sentenced by Judge Kathleen Cardone in U.S. District Court in El Paso to five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $ 3,614,594 in restitution and $ 3,614,977 in forfeiture.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Justice Department Sues U.S. FDA Employee and Former N.Y. Corrections Official to Block Alleged Tax-Fraud Scheme

The United States has sued Rodney Chestnut and Nafeesah Hines to bar them from promoting an alleged tax fraud scheme.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Virginia Woman Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Role in Extortion Scheme Involving Staged Kidnapping in Guatemala

Sheena Flores, 34, of Manassas, Va., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee in the Eastern District of Virginia.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Arlington, Texas, Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Federal Prison for Arson at an Islamic Center

Henry Clay Glaspell, 34, of Arlington, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means to 14 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in February 2011 to a hate crime charge stemming from an arson of a children’s playground at the Dar El-Eman Islamic Center in Arlington in July 2010.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Five Individuals Indicted in a Fraud Conspiracy Involving Exports to Iran of U.S. Components Later Found in Bombs in Iraq

Five individuals and four of their companies have been indicted as part of a conspiracy to defraud the United States that allegedly caused thousands of radio frequency modules to be illegally exported from the United States to Iran, at least 16 of which were later found in unexploded improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Executive Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Scheme to Bribe Officials at State-Owned Telecommunications Company in Haiti

Joel Esquenazi, 52, of Miami, and Carlos Rodriguez, 55, of Davie, Fla., were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez in the Southern District of Florida.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Disability Discrimination in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Justice Department today announced a settlement of its lawsuit alleging that Equity Homes Inc, PBR LLC, BBR LLC and Shane Hartung violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by failing to provide features that would make their multi-family housing developments in Sioux Falls accessible to people with disabilities as required by the Fair Housing Act.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Federal Court Permanently Bars Two Louisiana Tax Preparers

A federal court in the Middle District of Louisiana has permanently barred Cynthia Peters and Melissa Edwards from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Detroit Tax Return Preparer

The United States has asked a federal court in Detroit to bar Carlos Brown from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Justice Department, Six Cities Work to Prevent Youth Violence

“The work we are doing is sending an unmistakable message: that, in this country, we will not give up on our children when it comes to combating youth violence,” Attorney General Eric Holder said.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Dolton, Ill., Police Officer Arrested on Federal Civil Rights and Obstruction Charges Involving Alleged Use of Excessive Force

Kevin Fletcher, 34, of Dolton, was indicted on two counts of violating the victims’ civil right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a person acting under color of law and one count of obstruction of justice.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Racial and Familial Status Discrimination in Apartment Complexes in Massillon, Ohio

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the owners of Yorkshire Apartments, Thackeray Ledges and Wales Ridge Apartments in Massillon, Ohio, for discriminating on the basis of race and familial status when renting their apartments in violation of the Fair Housing Act.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Owner of Miami Company Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Export-Import Bank

Guillermo O. Mondino, 48, was sentenced by Judge Ricardo M. Urbina in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Federal Court Bars Oregon Man from Promoting Tax-Fraud Schemes

A federal court has permanently barred Robert Pendell from promoting any scheme that assists or advises customers to attempt to violate the tax laws.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Alabama Return Preparers Found Guilty of Tax Crimes

James E. Moss and Avada L. Jenkins were found guilty today of tax crimes relating to “Flash Tax,” a Montgomery, Ala., tax preparation business owned by Moss.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Former Lincoln County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office Detective Indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse

Former Lincoln County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office Detective Scott Edwards, 49, of Troy, Mo. was indicted on civil rights charges for violating the constitutional rights of five women through acts of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual contact.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Former Airline Executive Pleads Guilty in Schemes to Defraud Illinois-Based Ryan International Airlines

A former executive of Ryan International Airlines, a charter airline company located in Rockford, Ill., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, Fla., to participating in kickback schemes to defraud Ryan.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Federal Court Orders Iowa Construction Company to Pay Employment Taxes

A federal court has ordered Advanced Underground Construction LLC and William David Ward II to begin paying employment taxes to the United States on a timely basis.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Self-Proclaimed “Governor” of Alabama and Wife Convicted of Tax Fraud

A federal jury in Montgomery, Ala., today convicted Monty Ervin and Patricia Ervin of conspiracy to defraud the United States and three counts of tax evasion.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Federal Court Shuts Down Tax Return Preparer Siblings in Southern California

A federal court has permanently barred Karen Berry, Carla Berry and their tax preparation business, N.C.K. Services Inc., from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Justice Department to Monitor Elections in California, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas

The Justice Department announced today that the Civil Rights Division will monitor elections on Nov. 8, 2011, in Alameda County, Calif.; Springfield, Mass.; Humphreys, Leflore, Panola and Wilkinson Counties, Miss.; Lorain County, Ohio; and Jasper, Texas.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Member of Barrio Azteca Gang Pleads Guilty in El Paso, Texas, to Racketeering Conspiracy

Jorge Diaz, 33, aka “Payaso,” and “Narizon,” of El Paso, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norbert J. Garney in the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division, to racketeering conspiracy.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Hawaiian Firearms Business Owner Convicted of Federal Tax Offenses

Arthur Lee Ong of Honolulu was convicted by a federal jury Monday of conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax evasion.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Federal Court Bars Eastern Pennsylvania Woman from Preparing Tax Returns

A federal court in Philadelphia has permanently barred Dorthea Alexander from preparing federal tax returns for others



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Shut Down South Florida Tax Preparer

The United States has sued Kenia Marrero seeking to bar her and her business, Kenia Immigration Services, from preparing federal tax returns for others.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Alabama Tax Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Using Stolen Identities to Obtain Tax Refunds

Marsha Elmore of Wetumpka, Ala., the owner of a tax preparation business called Community Tax, pleaded guilty today to charges related to her use of stolen identities to fraudulently obtain tax refunds.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

HSBC India Client Indicted for Tax Evasion and Failing to Report Foreign Bank Accounts

A federal grand jury in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday indicted Ashvin Desai of San Jose on three counts of tax evasion, two counts of willfully aiding the preparation of materially false tax returns and three counts of failing to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Florida-Based Sea Star Line LLC Agrees to Plead Guilty and Its Former President Is Indicted for Price Fixing on Coastal Freight Services Between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico

Sea Star Line LLC has agreed today to plead guilty and to pay a $14.2 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the coastal water freight transportation industry. Additionally, a federal grand jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico, returned an indictment against Frank Peake, the former president of Sea Star Line, for his role in the same conspiracy.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Former Executive Director of the American Samoa Special Services Commission Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal More Than $325,000 in Americorps Grant Funds

Mine S. Pase, 62, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Alabama Return Preparer Sentenced to 18 Months for Preparing False Income Tax Returns

Chiquita Q. Broadnax, a resident of Montgomery County, Ala., was sentenced today to 18 months in prison by Judge Mark Fuller of the Middle District of Alabama for her involvement in a fraudulent tax return perpetration scheme.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Former Washington, D.C., Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Three Years for Preparing False Returns

Onuoha “Iggy” Nwokoro was sentenced today in federal district court in Washington, D.C., for willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return for 2004.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Justice Department Signs Agreement with Upshur County, Texas, to Ensure Civic Access for Persons with Disabilities

The Justice Department today announced an agreement with Upshur County, Texas, to improve access to all aspects of civic life for people with disabilities.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Hungarian Citizen Pleads Guilty to Hacking into Marriott Computers and Extorting Employment from the Company

Attila Nemeth, 26, pleaded guilty in the District of Maryland before U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Attorney General Holder Holds Public Hearing on Children Exposed to Violence

Attorney General Eric Holder’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence convened its first of four public hearings to gather expert and community testimony on the epidemic of children’s exposure to violence.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Taiwan Aftermarket Auto Lights Manufacturer and Its Chairman Indicted for Participation in Price-Fixing Conspiracy

A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned a superseding indictment yesterday against a Taiwan aftermarket auto lights manufacturer, its U.S.-based subsidiary distributor and its chairman for participating in an international conspiracy to fix the prices of aftermarket auto lights.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Former Executive of Peruvian Airline Pleads Guilty to Fixing Fuel Surcharge Rates on Air Cargo Shipments Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

A former executive of a Peruvian airline pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to fix surcharges on air cargo shipments from the United States to South and Central America following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Ohio Insurance Salesman Arrested on Tax Charges

William A. Herder of Mifflin Township, Ohio, was arrested today on federal tax charges.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Member of Aryan Brotherhood Sentenced to 450 Months in Prison in Connection with Hate Crime Involving Church Arson and Attempted Murder of Disabled African-American in Texas

Steven Scott Cantrell, 26, of Crane, Texas, was sentenced today for hate crime charges stemming from a series of racially-motivated arsons in December 2010, including the arson of a historic African-American church as part of an effort to murder a disabled African-American man.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Barrio Azteca Gang Associates Plead Guilty in El Paso, Texas, to Racketeering Conspiracy

Yesterday, Fabian Rodriguez, 35, aka “Shamoo,” of El Paso, Texas, and today Mexican national Juan Manuel Viscaino Amaro, 41, aka “Porky,” pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norbert J. Garney in the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division, to racketeering conspiracy.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Alabama Doctor Pleads Guilty; Husband Convicted of Tax Fraud

William Paul, formerly of Montgomery, Ala., was convicted today by a federal jury in Montgomery on four counts of tax evasion for the tax years 2004 through 2007, and of one count of failing to file a tax return.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Former Indianapolis City-County Councilman Sentenced for Soliciting a Bribe and Attempted Extortion

Former Indianapolis and Marion County, Ind., City-County Councilman Lincoln Plowman was sentenced today to 40 months in prison, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Hogsett of the Southern District of Indiana.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Maryland-Based Viable Communications, Its Owner and a Former Executive Sentenced for Roles in $20 Million Fraud Scheme

The owner and the former vice president for corporate strategy of Viable Communications Inc. were each sentenced yesterday to 108 months and 55 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a scheme that defrauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of at least $20 million.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Member Convicted of Federal Racketeering and Firearms Charges Related to Jefferson County, Texas, Shooting

John Oliver Manning, aka “Fish,” 52, of Pasadena, Texas, was charged by a federal grand jury on Mar. 17, 2011, with violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity.



  • OPA Press Releases

x

Alpha Natural Resources Inc. and Department of Justice Reach $209 Million Agreement Related to Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion

“The tragedy at Upper Big Branch will never be forgotten, and the families affected by it will never be made completely whole again. Today’s agreement represents the largest-ever resolution in a criminal investigation of a mine disaster and will ensure appropriate steps are taken to improve mine safety now and will fund research to enhance mine safety in the future,” said Attorney General Holder.



  • OPA Press Releases