District Not Recorded
The source did not name an office we could identify. These records remain unassigned rather than guessed.
Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Release Quarterly Alien Incarceration Report Highlighting the Negative Effects of Illegal Immigration and the Need for Border SecurityRead the Press Release
President Trump’s Executive Order on Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect relevant data and provide quarterly reports on data collection efforts. On June 7, 2018 DOJ and DHS released the FY 2018 1st Quarter Alien Incarceration Report, complying with this order.[1] The report found that more than one-in-five of all persons in Bureau of Prisons custody were known or suspected aliens, and 93 percent of confirmed aliens in DOJ custody were in the United States unlawfully.
"The illegal immigrant crime rate in this country should be zero," said Attorney General Sessions. "Every crime committed by an illegal alien is, by definition, a crime that should have been prevented. It is outrageous that tens of thousands of Americans are dying every year because of the drugs and violence brought over our borders illegally and that taxpayers have been forced, year after year, to pay millions of dollars to incarcerate tens of thousands of illegal aliens. That is another reason why the Department of Justice under President Trump's leadership has instituted a zero tolerance policy for illegal entry on our Southwest border. Today's report is yet another reminder that we must continue this policy and help fulfill President Trump's goals of restoring lawfulness to our immigration system and ensure that immigration serves the good of this country."
“Bad actors know well our legal loopholes which act as a magnet for illegal immigration,” said Secretary Nielsen. “As DHS continues to carry out President Trump’s immigration priorities to keep America safe, Congress must urgently act to close dangerous loopholes that attract criminal aliens and also inhibit our ability to remove them.”
Section 16 of the Executive Order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to collect relevant data and provide quarterly reports regarding: (a) the immigration status of all aliens incarcerated under the supervision of the Federal Bureau of Prisons; (b) the immigration status of all aliens incarcerated as federal pretrial detainees under the supervision of the United States Marshals Service; and (c) the immigration status of all convicted aliens in state prisons and local detention centers throughout the United States.
A total of 57,820 known or suspected aliens were in in DOJ custody at the end of FY 2018 Q1, including 38,132 persons in BOP custody and 19,688 in USMS custody. Of this total, 42,284 people had been confirmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be aliens (i.e., non-citizens and non-nationals), while 15,536 aliens were still under investigation by ICE to determine alienage and/or removability.
Among the 42,284 confirmed aliens, 39,413 people (93 percent) were unlawfully present. These numbers include a 62 percent unlawful rate among 38,132 known or suspected aliens in BOP custody and a 78 percent unlawful rate among 19,688 confirmed aliens in USMS custody.
Approximately 16,233 aliens in USMS custody required housing in state, local, and private facilities, which cost $1,458,372.72 a day.
For the first time, the Quarterly Alien Incarceration Report included examples of newly sentenced or incarcerated aliens in BOP custody. These examples include, but are not limited to:
- Anibel Rondolpho Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Honduras who was residing in Freeport, NY, was sentenced to 45 years in prison after he pled guilty to racketeering charges, two murder conspiracies, two attempted murders, and threatening to commit assault.
- Eduardo Martinez, an illegal alien who was residing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced to 324 months in prison after he pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin, distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm.
- Pedro Quintero-Enriques, an illegal alien from Mexico who was residing in Summerdale, Alabama, was sentenced to 108 months in prison after he pled guilty to illegal reentry after deportation and felon in possession of firearms.
This report does not include data on the alien populations in state prisons and local jails because state and local facilities do not routinely provide DHS or DOJ with comprehensive information about their inmates and detainees—which account for approximately 90 percent of the total U.S. incarcerated population.
Information Regarding Immigration Status of Aliens Incarcerated Under the Supervision of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has an operational process for maintaining data regarding foreign-born inmates in its custody. On a quarterly basis, BOP supplies this information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE, in turn, analyzes that information to determine the immigration status of each inmate and provides that information back to BOP.
Out of the 183,058 inmates in BOP custody, 38,132 (twenty-one percent) were reported by BOP as known or suspected aliens. Further details regarding these 38,132 known or suspected aliens are as follows:
- 20,976 (55 percent) were unauthorized aliens who are subject to a final order of removal;
- 11,698 (31 percent) remain under ICE investigation;
- 2,850 (seven percent) were unlawfully present and now in removal proceedings;
- 2,484 (approximately seven percent) were lawfully present aliens but are now in removal proceedings; and
- 124 were aliens who have been granted relief or protection from removal.
Information Regarding the Immigration Status of Aliens Incarcerated as Federal Pretrial Detainees
USMS identified 19,688 confirmed aliens under ICE investigation detained at USMS facilities. Further details regarding these 19,688 confirmed aliens are as follows:
- 13,858 (70 percent) were aliens who are subject to a final order of removal;
- 3,838 (19 percent) remain under ICE investigation;
- 1,560 (7.9 percent) were unlawfully present and now in removal proceedings;
- 387 (approximately two percent) were lawfully present but are now in removal proceedings; and
- 45 were aliens who have been granted relief or protection from removal.
Pending Charges Against Confirmed Aliens in USMS Custody
Of the 19,688 confirmed aliens in USMS custody, 10,971 (56 percent) were in custody for an immigration related offense. Additionally, 4,665 (nearly 24 percent) aliens were in custody for drug related offenses. Further details regarding the related charges of these inmates are as follows:
- 974 (approximately five percent) were in custody for supervision violations;
- 889 (approximately five percent) were in custody for property offenses;
- 391 (approximately five percent) were in custody for weapons violations;
- 378 (approximately two percent) were in custody for violent crimes;
- 745 (approximately four percent) in custody were material witnesses.
Immigration Status of All Convicted Aliens Incarcerated in State Prisons and Local Detention Centers Throughout the United States
Some state and local jurisdictions already take proactive measures to make this data available to the public. For example, the Texas Department of Public Safety publishes data online regarding criminal alien arrests and convictions. These data do not account for all aliens in the Texas criminal justice system, as they are limited to criminal alien arrestees who have had prior interaction with DHS resulting in the collection of their fingerprints.
As reported by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), 251,000 criminal aliens have been booked into local Texas jails between June 1, 2011 and April 30, 2018, according to DHS status indicators. These criminal aliens were charged with:
- More than 663,000 criminal offenses;
- 1,351 homicides;
- 7,156 sexual assaults;
- 9,938 weapons charges;
- 79,049 assaults;
- 18,685 burglaries;
- 79,900 drug charges;
- 815 kidnappings;
- 44,882 thefts;
- 4,292 robberies.
Additional conviction data can be found in the report.
The Departments continue to progress towards establishing data collection of the immigration status of convicted aliens incarcerated in state prisons and local detention centers through the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics.
Department of Justice Announces New DEA Division Office in OmahaRead the Press Release
The Drug Enforcement Administration will establish the Omaha Field Division – its 23rd division office in the United States – on July 8, 2018. The division will include Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
"In January, DEA reorganized its field divisions for the first time in nearly 20 years. Today, just five months later, we are adding another new field division," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "That’s because we are facing a drug threat today the likes of which we have never seen before—but we are rising to the challenge. The Omaha Division will help us address the methamphetamine and opioid threat in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The people of these states can rest assured that, in the face of an unprecedented crisis, we are taking steps to be more effective and put the traffickers and crooked doctors where they belong—behind bars."
“This action converts the existing Omaha District Office into a division in an effort to enhance DEA enforcement efforts within the Great Plain states region and unify drug trafficking investigations under a single Special Agent in Charge,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert W. Patterson.
“DEA anticipates that this change will produce more effective investigations on methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioid trafficking, all of which have a significant impact on the region,” said DEA Omaha’s Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Barden.
The division will also better align DEA with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices districts in those areas, similar to current ATF and FBI offices, and also to the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program.
The Omaha Division will be led by Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Barden, who comes from the St. Louis Division where he served as Associate Special Agent in Charge.Utah Financial Advisor Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion, Securities Fraud and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
A St. George, Utah, financial advisor was sentenced to 72 months in prison on June 4th for his role in selling fraudulent tax-avoidance and investment strategies to his clients, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney John W. Huber for the District of Utah.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Henry Brock, pleaded guilty to tax evasion, securities fraud and wire fraud. Brock founded a financial services company in 2009 and served as the president from 2009 through 2017. As President, he marketed and sold a fraudulent tax scheme, called “IRA Exit Strategy,” to potential investors. Brock promised investors that he could provide a way for them to avoid paying taxes on IRA withdrawals, which would otherwise be subject to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) penalties and taxes. To implement his scheme, Brock caused his business to issue tax forms to his clients falsely representing that they were investors in his business who incurred losses, which served to offset the clients’ tax liabilities. As a result, Brock caused clients to file fraudulent income tax returns claiming a total of approximately $3.8 million in bogus business losses and resulting in a tax loss of over $1.1 million.
During this period, Brock fraudulently raised more than $10.8 million in investments by making false representations to investors regarding the “IRA Exit Strategy,” the financial condition of his company and other matters. On at least one occasion, Brock also transferred $196,323 of a client’s investment funds and used the money for his own personal and business expenses.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart ordered Brock to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $12 million.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Huber thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation and the Utah Division of Securities, who conducted the investigation, and AUSA Trina Higgins and Trial Attorney Matthew Hoffman of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting this case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Springdale Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Federal Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Fayetteville, Arkansas – Duane (DAK) Kees, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Matthew Lee Anglin, age 29, of Springdale, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 96 months in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release on one count of Receipt of Child Pornography. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court records, in December 2016, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in Northwest Arkansas received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user uploaded 166 images of child pornography onto the Google Drive Cloud Storage. An investigation into the email address and associated phone number revealed that the email address used to upload the images belonged to Anglin. In May of 2017, a local business employee contacted HSI investigators and advised that they recovered a cellphone left behind by a customer that contained suspected child pornography. The cellphone was seized by HSI investigators. In August of 2017, investigators conducted a forensic examination of the cellphone and found that it contained 169 images of child pornography, 82 images of child erotica, and 149 images of suspected child pornography. The cellphone number was associated with Anglin’s email address that uploaded images of child pornography onto the Google Drive cloud storage.
A federal grand jury indicted Anglin in October 2017, and he pleaded guilty in January of 2018.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Denis Dean prosecuted the case for the United States.
Justice Department Reaches Settlement Agreement with Syncom Space Services, LLC Resolving USERRA Claims of Louisiana Air National GuardsmanRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with Syncom Space Services, LLC (S3) that resolves allegations that S3 violated the employment rights of Louisiana Air National Guardsman, Jason Cooper, under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA safeguards the rights of uniformed servicemembers, including National Guardsmen, to all benefits of employment following periods of absence due to military service obligations. The benefits of employment protected by USERRA include promotional opportunities.
Cooper worked as a Predictive Testing and Inspection (PT&I) Specialist for S3 at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi. On June 13, 2016, he was deployed on active duty with the Air National Guard. During his deployment, Cooper applied for a vacant PT&I Shoplead position. Although Cooper had the most PT&I experience of all applicants, S3 failed to promote him to the position upon his return from deployment. As a result of the employer’s failure to promote him to a position that he was qualified for, because of his military service, Cooper lost promotional income and benefits.
“Our nation’s national guard and reservists should not have to worry about losing opportunities for promotion or increased benefits in their civilian jobs after they return from active duty military service to our country,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department Justice is committed to ensuring that our servicemembers’ employment rights are protected at home while they defend our rights abroad.”
“The tremendous sacrifice of our National Guard members who are called into active duty should never be a detriment to their lives and every day jobs. We in the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to ensuring that these men and women are honored, not disadvantaged, for their military service,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst. “We will continue to hold employers who violate the rights of our servicemembers accountable. We appreciate S3’s agreement to fulfilling its legal obligation to Mr. Cooper in this matter.”
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, S3 has agreed to pay Cooper $6,812.59 for lost wages, and to make his promotion effective as of the date on which he returned to work from active duty. He began his new position on June 4, 2018. The USERRA claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Cooper initially filed a complaint with the United States Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, which investigated this matter and then referred it to the Justice Department after attempts at resolution failed.
The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Mayberry of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi in collaboration with Andrew Braniff, Assistant Director of the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative, and Alicia Johnson, USERRA/USAO Program Coordinator in the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA may be found on the Justice Department’s website at www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp and www.servicemembers.gov, as well as on the Labor Department’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement to Resolve Americans with Disabilities Act Investigation of Louisiana’s Use of Nursing Facilities to Serve People with Serious Mental IllnessRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that it reached an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Health (Louisiana) to resolve its lawsuit alleging that Louisiana fails to serve people with serious mental illness in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Justice Department’s complaint alleges that Louisiana places undue reliance on providing services in institutionalized settings such as nursing facilities, instead of in the community, for people with serious mental illness.
Under the agreement, Louisiana will create and implement a plan to expand community-based services like mobile crisis, case management, assertive community treatment, and supported housing to meet people’s needs in the community. In addition, Louisiana will assess all existing nursing facility residents with mental illness and all new referrals for admission to determine whether they can be served appropriately in the community.
“The ADA requires public entities to administer services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “We commend Louisiana for committing to take the steps necessary to ensure that people with serious mental illness have the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in their own communities instead of being unnecessarily segregated in nursing facilities.”
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking in Endangered Sperm Whale TeethRead the Press Release
John “Jake” Bell, a resident of Lakeville, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to illegally trafficking teeth from endangered sperm whales. The guilty plea was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
Bell pleaded guilty today in Boston before U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf, for the District of Massachusetts, to one count of wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act. As part of his plea, Bell admitted that in November 2004, while in the Ukraine, he sold approximately 34 sperm whale teeth to a co-conspirator who resided in Nantucket, Massachusetts, for $11,600. Bell shipped the 34 teeth in multiple boxes from the Ukraine to an associate in Connecticut, from where his co-conspirator retrieved them. Bell’s co-conspirator was convicted in 2010, after a jury trial, and sentenced to a 33-month term of imprisonment.
According to the indictment, Bell acquired the teeth and smuggled them into the United States. Bell, who was an artist and scrimshander, carved some of the teeth he sold, but also sold uncarved teeth to customers. According to papers filed in federal court, between July 2005 and June 2006, Bell smuggled in excess of 49 pounds of sperm whale teeth into the United States, valued in excess of $26,000. Also, according to these filings, between June 2007 and April 2008, Bell sold nine carved teeth to customers in the United States, with a total value of $20,300.
“Sperm whale teeth can weigh over two pounds each and are alluring to many collectors. But gone are the days when people can buy, sell and trade parts harvested from protected creatures like the sperm whale. This amazing creature is safeguarded from exploitation by federal laws like the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act as well as international treaties,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that those who attempt to profit from the illegal trade of endangered species will face the consequences for their actions under law.”
“Federal law provides great protection to the marine mammals that live in our waters," said Director James Landon for NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement (OLE). "OLE is dedicated to enforcing those laws and seeing that those who violate them are held accountable for their illegal actions."
The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act protect sperm whales and, among other things, prohibits their parts from being sold in interstate or foreign commerce or imported into the United States without a permit. In addition, the Lacey Act creates penalties for knowingly trafficking or importing wildlife and parts from wildlife like sperm whales, and United States customs laws prohibit importing merchandise like sperm whale parts knowingly in violation of the law or federal regulations.
The investigation was handled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement and the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section. The government is represented by Trial Attorneys Erica Pencak and Gary N. Donner of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division.
California Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Traveling to Thailand and Sexually Abusing Minor BoysRead the Press Release
A Los Angeles resident was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for two child exploitation offenses, including engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places and traveling in foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Macias of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles.
Paul Alan Shapiro, 71, a retired auto dealership employee, pleaded guilty one day before he was set to go on trial on July 24, 2017. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Shapiro will serve 10 years in federal prison, 20 years of supervised release following his prison sentence, and will pay $20,000 total to two victims, both of whom are citizens of the Kingdom of Thailand. U.S. District Court Judge Dolly M. Gee of the Central District of California presided over today’s sentencing.
According to plea documents, Shapiro traveled from Los Angeles to Thailand on numerous occasions over the past 20 years, and engaged in sexual acts with male boys under the age of 16 on multiple occasions. On at least two occasions in September 2012, Shapiro paid minors as young as 13 years old small amounts of local currency in order to engage in various sex acts with them. According to other documents filed in the case, Shapiro photographed these encounters of himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the boys.
HSI conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Austin M. Berry and Ralph Paradiso of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Forced Labor for Compelling Man with Intellectual Disability to Work at RestaurantRead the Press Release
The defendant used violence, threats, isolation, and intimidation to compel victim to work seven days a week without pay at restaurant
Defendant Bobby Paul Edwards, 53, of Conway, South Carolina, pleaded guilty Monday in United States District Court for the District of South Carolina to one count of forced labor, admitting that he used violence, threats, isolation and intimidation to compel a man with an intellectual disability to work for over 100 hours a week without pay, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon of the District of South Carolina.
According to court documents, between 2009 and 2014, Edwards managed a restaurant in Conway, South Carolina, where the victim, identified in court documents as “JCS,” had worked since he was 12 years old. Once Edwards began managing the restaurant in 2009, he increased JCS’s duties, requiring him to work more than 100 hours per week. The defendant stopped paying JCS and began using violence, threats, isolation, and intimidation to compel victim JCS’s continued service. According to court documents and Edward’s admissions, he subjected JCS to abusive language, racial epithets, threats, and acts of violence that included beating JCS with a belt, punching JCS with his fists, hitting JCS with pots and pans, and burning JCS’s bare neck with hot tongs, in order to compel JCS to work faster or to punish JCS for mistakes.
The defendant compelled JCS to continue working under these conditions until October 2014, when authorities removed victim JCS from the premises after receiving complaints about the abuse.
“Human trafficking through forced labor can happen on farms, in homes, and as today’s case shows – in public places, such as restaurants,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore. “Edwards abused an African-American man with intellectual disabilities by coercing him to work long hours in a restaurant without pay. Combatting human trafficking by forced labor is one of the highest priorities of this Justice Department and today’s guilty plea reflects our commitment to seeking justice on behalf of victims of human trafficking.”
“This defendant abused a vulnerable victim, and today’s guilty plea holds the defendant responsible for his criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon for the District of South Carolina.
Edwards faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for forced labor, a $250,000 maximum fine, and mandatory restitution to the victim. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the defendant will also be required to pay restitution to victim JCS in an amount to be determined at the time of sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. The case is being prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Jared Fishman, Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and its Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Leigh Richardson of the District of South Carolina.
Former Fugitive Gang Member Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Racially-Motivated MurderRead the Press Release
An Avenues gang member who was captured last year after more than a decade on the run was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison on federal hate crime and firearms charges that were filed against him in 2004, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division, United States Attorney Nicola T. Hanna of the Central District of California, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul D. Delacourt for the Los Angeles Field Office.
Merced Cambero Jr., 39, who used the gang moniker “Shadow,” pleaded guilty in February to participating, along with other gang members, in a conspiracy to use violence against African-Americans to interfere with their right to live in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Cambero also admitted to participating in the 1999 racially-motivated murder of Kenneth Wilson, an African-American man who was shot and killed in furtherance of that conspiracy. The defendant was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who in 2006 presided over the trial of four co-defendants who were charged along with Cambero in the initial 2004 indictment and a superseding indictment that followed in 2005.
The superseding indictment alleged that Cambero and three of the four co-defendants – Gilbert “Lucky” Saldana, Alejandro “Bird” Martinez, and Fernando “Sneaky” Cazares – shot and killed Mr. Wilson because of his race and because he was using the public streets in Los Angeles, and that they used firearms during and in furtherance of that crime. These defendants were also charged, along with a fourth co-defendant, Porfirio “Dreamer” Avila, with conspiring to use violence to interfere with the federal housing rights of African Americans in Highland Park, including another African-American man, Christopher Bowser, who was shot and killed in 2000. Saldana, Martinez, Cazares, and Avila stood trial in 2006, were convicted on all charges, and were sentenced to life in prison. Although Cambero was charged in the same indictment, he was never arrested or arraigned until he was captured in Mexico last year. He was then returned to the United States to face the charges against him.
At the 2006 trial of the co-defendants, a jury heard testimony from two Avenues gang members who participated in the murder of Kenneth Wilson and implicated Cambero and three co-defendants. The gang-member witnesses also testified about an agreement among Avenues gang members to try to preserve the primarily-Latino make-up of Highland Park by engaging in violence against African Americans. Their testimony was corroborated by numerous African-American residents of the Highland Park neighborhood who described acts of racially-motivated violence directed at them by the defendants and their fellow gang members.
In court filings connected with Cambero’s guilty plea and sentencing, Cambero confirmed the evidence from the earlier trial, admitted that he and his fellow gang members were in a stolen van when they saw Wilson, whom they did not know, and decided to kill him because of his race. Cambero admitted that he and two other gang members then got out of the van and fired guns at Wilson, who was killed by a single gunshot through the neck.
“This Justice Department will not tolerate any act of violence motivated because of another’s race,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore. “The defendant’s egregious actions were unlawful, and as this sentencing demonstrates, will not go without punishment. The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit violent acts of hate.”
“This defendant was part of a reprehensible scheme that targeted an entire class of people simply because of skin color,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna. “The Justice Department is committed to preserving and protecting everyone’s civil rights – particularly when violent acts are used to violate those rights. Mr. Cambero attempted to avoid prosecution for many years, but we persisted to bring him to justice and send a message to the entire community that this type of conduct will not be tolerated and will be punished.”
After hearing from the mothers of two African-American men killed by the gang, Judge Anderson on Monday accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Cambero to 20 years in prison. Among the considerations Judge Anderson cited as influencing his sentence were the defendant’s acceptance of responsibility and the desire of the victims and witnesses to be spared the trauma of another trial.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Chou and Daniel O’Brien of the Central District of California.
Court Shuts Down Georgia Return PreparerRead the Press Release
A federal court in Newnan, Georgia permanently enjoined Lucrezia Finch Henderson from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. The court also ordered Henderson to mail a copy of the injunction order to all customers for whom she prepared a return after January 1, 2015.
According to that complaint, Henderson prepares tax returns at Infinity Tax located at 104 Sage Commercial Drive, Suite B, in Lagrange, Georgia. As alleged in the complaint, Henderson engaged in abusive tax schemes such as reporting fake businesses on her customers’ returns in order to generate losses to lower their tax liabilities. The Court found that Henderson falsely reported on several of her customers’ returns that each had a business that earned no money and had tens of thousands of dollars in expenses. According to the complaint, Henderson used the losses from these fake businesses to offset her customers’ income and claim a larger tax refund than they were entitled to receive.
In addition, the Court found that Henderson falsely reported that her customers had education expenses in support of education credits the customers were not eligible to claim. The complaint alleged that some of these customers did not even attend college that year. According to the complaint, the IRS audited about 110 returns prepared by Henderson for her customers and found that Henderson understated her customers’ tax liabilities by more than $650,000 in the aggregate.
Return preparer fraud was one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2018 and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has some tips on their website for choosing a return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.
In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.
California Resident Convicted of Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A jury in the Northern District of California convicted Jyh-Chau “Henry” Horng, of Saratoga, California and part owner of a home-based international trading business, yesterday on two counts of filing false tax returns and one count of making false statements to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent while under audit, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse for the Northern District of California. The jury acquitted Horng’s wife, Meili Lin, on one count of filing a false tax return and failed to reach a verdict on the second count.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the three-week trial, Horng underreported income on his 2006 and 2007 tax returns. The returns failed to report profits from selling metal products to China while that country was undergoing its economic and infrastructure boom. Horng used these business profits to buy millions of dollars of residential properties, invest over $5 million in a Milpitas shopping center, and purchase a Bentley. Horng also reported annual income of over $1 million on a mortgage application, despite reporting far less than that on the tax returns he filed with the IRS. During an IRS audit of the returns, Horng made numerous false statements, including that neither he nor his wife had any foreign bank accounts.
Horng faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison for each false tax return. He could be sentenced to an additional five years for lying to the IRS auditor. He is also subject to a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and Acting United States Attorney Tse thanked IRS Special Agents Maria Martinez and Cheryl Parker for their work on the investigation, Assistant United States Attorney Michael Pitman and Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani for prosecuting the case, and Paralegal Specialist Jonathan Deville for his assistance during the trial.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Operators of A Mental Health Provider Indicted on Health Care Fraud and Tax Evasion ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury sitting in Greensboro, North Carolina returned an indictment, which was unsealed today, charging the operators of a mental health provider with multiple crimes related to the submission of false claims to Medicaid and tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Catinia Farrington and Haydn Thomas, both formerly of Durham, North Carolina, are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and tax evasion. Thomas is also charged with one count of money laundering.
According to the indictment, Farrington owned Durham County Mental Health and Behavioral Health Services LLC (“DCMBHS”) in Durham, North Carolina. From 2011 through 2015, Farrington, along with Thomas, allegedly submitted thousands of false claims to Medicaid that resulted in Medicaid paying over $4 million to DCMBHS. During the relevant period, Thomas worked as an office manager for an oral surgeon. Thomas and Farrington allegedly obtained the Medicaid numbers of dental patients and then submitted false claims to Medicaid for mental health services that were not performed without the permission of the patients.
The indictment further alleges that Farrington and Thomas diverted millions of dollars from DCMBHS for their own personal use and evaded income taxes by, among other things, transferring money to various business bank accounts and paying personal expenses from the business bank accounts.
If convicted, Farrington and Thomas face a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison for each count of health care fraud, 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, two years in prison for each count of aggravated identity theft, and five years in prison for each count of tax evasion. Farrington and Thomas also face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and United States Attorney Martin commended special agents of the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Office of Inspector General, and the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office (MID), who conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Robert Hamilton, Trial Attorney Mara Strier of the Tax Division, and Special United States Attorney Michael Heavner MID, who are prosecuting the case.
On the 500th Day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Sessions Announces 311 New Assistant United States Attorney PositionsRead the Press Release
Today, on the 500th day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis. In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSA’s will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.
"Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades."
To see more information on the locations of the 311 Assistant United States Attorney positions click here.Justice Department Reaches Agreements with the Ville Platte Police Department and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s OfficeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that it reached an agreement with the City of Ville Platte and a separate agreement with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office (Louisiana) to end the pattern or practice by the Ville Platte Police Department (VPPD) and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) of conducting arrests in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. After a thorough investigation, the United States concluded that it had reasonable cause to believe that these agencies had arrested and held people in jail—sometimes without obtaining a warrant and without probable cause to believe that the detained individuals had committed a crime—in violation of the Fourth Amendment. VPPD and EPSO sometimes used these arrests, called “investigative holds,” as a regular part of their criminal investigations, inducing people to provide information to officers under threat of continued wrongful incarceration.
Under the agreement, VPPD and EPSO will develop policies and provide training and adequate supervision to officers to ensure the pattern or practice of unlawful seizures does not continue. The agencies also will increase transparency by collecting and reporting data on its Fourth Amendment activities.
The Department’s investigation into EPSO and VPPD began in April 2015 and concluded in an investigative findings report, released on Dec. 19, 2016. The Department determined through interviews with command staff, detectives, officers, and a cross-section of community members, as well as review of documents including jail logs, arrest records, and more, that the investigative hold practice was routine at EPSO and VPPD. Both agencies acknowledged that they sometimes used holds to investigate criminal activity for as long as anyone at the agency can remember. Because these “investigative holds” were conducted without probable cause, they violated the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
“Police officers across the country are called upon to protect and safeguard members of their communities by investigating criminal activity. Officers are afforded the authority needed to do so, including the power to arrest and detain individuals when there is proper legal justification,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “It is imperative that officers use that authority within the boundaries of the law. Both agencies cooperated fully throughout this matter, and we are eager to continue to work together with the Ville Platte Police Department, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the local municipalities to help ensure that their officers can protect the public and investigate crime without violating the civil rights of members of the public.”
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of misconduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of federally-protected rights. The Act also allows the Justice Department to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. enforces the Act.
To read the report of the investigation, please click here. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.
Fugitive Lawyer Pleads Guilty for His Escape and Role in $550 Million Social Security Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A former fugitive and social security disability lawyer pleaded guilty in federal court today for his role in scheming to defraud the Social Security Administration (SSA) of more than $550 million, retaliating against an informant and fleeing from the United States.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General’s (SSA-OIG) Philadelphia Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess of the FBI’s Louisville, Kentucky Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Tracey D. Montaño of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Nashville, Tennessee Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Atlanta Regional Office made the announcement.
Eric Christopher Conn, 58, of Pikeville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves of the Eastern District of Kentucky to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to escape and one count of conspiracy to retaliate against an informant. Sentencing is set for Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. ET.
“At the Department of Justice, a key mission is protecting the federal treasury on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Sessions. “In this case, the defendant’s scheme fraudulently obligated the Social Security Administration to pay over half a billion dollars in lifetime disability benefits, and then he fled the country. Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, DOJ lawyers, and our partners with the Social Security Administration, the IRS-CI, HHS-OIG, and our allies in Honduras, this criminal plot did not fully succeed. This case shows yet again that to track down criminals and hold them to account, this Department will cross continents and work with authorities around the globe.”
“The SSA-OIG thanks all of our law enforcement partners for their assistance during the investigation of Mr. Conn’s fraud scheme and subsequent efforts to locate and apprehend Mr. Conn,” said SSA-OIG Special Agent in Charge McGill. “Despite his best efforts to escape justice, Mr. Conn is ultimately being held accountable for defrauding SSA and U.S. taxpayers.”
“Eric Conn preyed upon the sick and vulnerable for his personal gain,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Hess. “Rather than face the consequences of his crimes, he chose to flee and attempted to hide from those he had betrayed. Today’s plea will ensure he is now held accountable.”
“When individuals are approved for certain social security benefits, they automatically became entitled to Medicare and Medicaid,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jackson. “As a result, a large portion of Conn’s fraudulent scheme drained federal health care plans and cheated needy patients out of the limited dollars available for these vital taxpayer-funded programs.”
According to the plea, from October 2004 to December 2017, Conn participated in a scheme with former SSA administrative law judge David Black Daugherty, multiple doctors, including clinical psychologist Alfred Bradley Adkins, and others to submit thousands of falsified medical documents to the SSA to fraudulently obtain disability benefits totaling more than $550 million for thousands of individuals. According to the plea, upon a former SSA employee discovering and providing information about the scheme to federal agents, Conn and former SSA administrative law judge Charlie Paul Andrus conspired and acted to have the former SSA employee terminated in an effort to discredit the employee. Finally, Conn admitted that after pleading guilty in March 2017, and prior to being sentenced on June 2, 2017, he fled the country with the help of Curtis Lee Wyatt by severing the electronic monitoring device from his ankle and fleeing across the Mexican border.
Conn was originally charged in April 2016, along with Daugherty and Adkins, in an 18-count indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and other related offenses in connection with the disability fraud scheme. Conn subsequently pleaded guilty on March 24, 2017, to a two-count information charging him with theft of government money and paying illegal gratuities, and he was sentenced in absentia on July 14, 2017 to 12 years in prison on those charges. After his flight from the United States, Conn was charged, along with Wyatt, in September 2017, in a seven-count indictment with conspiracy to escape, escape and other related offenses. On Dec. 5, 2017, Conn was returned to the United States from Honduras after being apprehended by Honduran authorities. Conn’s plea today is expected to resolve the outstanding charges against him. In addition to the 12 years in prison Conn is currently serving, he now faces an additional 15 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, Conn agreed to recommend to the Court at sentencing that the Court sentence him to the maximum possible sentence, a 15-year sentence, and run that sentence consecutive to the 12-year sentence previously imposed, for a total of 27 years in prison.
Andrus pleaded guilty in June 2016 to a one-count information charging him with conspiracy to retaliate against an informant, and was sentenced Aug. 7, 2017 to six months in prison. Daugherty pleaded guilty in May 2017 to a two-count information charging him with receiving illegal gratuities, and was sentenced on Aug. 25, 2017, to four years in prison. Adkins was found guilty following a six-day trial in June 2017 of one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of making false statements, and was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2017, to 25 years in prison. Wyatt pleaded guilty in March 2018, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29.
The SSA-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Dustin M. Davis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Ann Marie Blaylock and Rebecca Caruso of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are prosecuting the case, with previous co-counsel including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth G. Wright of the District of Maryland and Trey Alford of the Western District of Missouri as well as Investigative Counsel Kristen M. Warden of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General.
North Carolina Tax Return Preparer Indicted for Conspiring to File False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment, which was unsealed today, charging a Winston-Salem resident with conspiring to file false tax returns, aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, and filing a false personal tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G. T. Martin for the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to the indictment, Claudia Lynette Shivers conspired with others to defraud the government by preparing false tax returns. Shivers allegedly co-owned and operated two tax return preparation businesses: Fast Tax of Winston-Salem, Inc. in Winston-Salem and Quick Taxes LLC in Greensboro. The indictment alleges Shivers falsified items on her clients’ tax returns, such as dependents and Schedule A deductions, in order to fraudulently maximize their refunds and allegedly directed her clients to hand-write false information on tax forms and other documents used in the preparation of their returns. The indictment further charges Shivers with aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for several clients, as well as filing a false 2014 tax return for herself on which she is alleged to have failed to report all of her income.
If convicted, Shivers faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy, three years in prison for each count of preparing false tax returns, and three years in prison for the count related to her own tax return. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Martin thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, Tax Division and Trial Attorney Robert J. Boudreau and Criminal Division Chief Clifton T. Barrett of the Middle District of North Carolina, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Kansas Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Holcomb, Kansas tax return preparer was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison for filing a fraudulent income tax return and aiding and assisting in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Stephen R. McAllister for the District of Kansas.
According to documents and information provided to the court, Marcelino Almaraz owned Accounting Services, a business that provided tax preparation services. Almaraz fraudulently sought to obtain refunds for individuals by including false filing statuses such as head of household and adding phony dependents in an effort to trigger and inflate child tax credits. Almaraz also falsified his own income tax returns for 2010 and 2011 by underreporting his income.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Julie A. Robinson ordered Almaraz to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $397,552 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney McAllister commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorney John T. Mulcahy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Alaskan Husband and Wife Plead Guilty to Willful Failure to Pay TaxesRead the Press Release
A husband and wife pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of willfully failing to pay their income taxes, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder for the District of Alaska.
According to court documents, Archie W. Demmert III, 57, and Roseann L. Demmert, 60, both of Klawock, Alaska, held commercial fishing permits and earned six-figure incomes in 2013 and 2014 from commercial fishing, on which they failed to timely pay the required income taxes due. In addition, from 2006 to 2012, the Demmerts also did not timely pay in full the taxes they owed to the Internal Revenue Service. As a result, the total tax loss to the IRS arising from their conduct is more than $300,000.
Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess scheduled sentencing for October 4, 2018. The Demmerts each face a statutory maximum sentence of two years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Schroder thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorney Lori Hendrickson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Steward who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.
Special Counsel’s Office Statement of Expenditures: October 1, 2017 – March 31, 2018Read the Press Release
Please find the link to the Special Counsel’s Office Statement of Expenditures, October 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 HERE. This statement has also been provided to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on the Judiciary, and the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
Today’s statement reflects the Special Counsel’s spending within the approved budget. The Justice Management Division will conduct a similar review every six months. The next Statement of Expenditures will be released after September 30, 2018.Japanese Auto Parts Company Pleads Guilty to Antitrust Conspiracy Involving Steel TubesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Maruyasu Industries Co. Ltd., an automotive parts manufacturer headquartered in the Aichi Prefecture in Japan, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $12 million criminal fine for its role in a criminal conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate customers for automotive steel tubes incorporated into vehicles sold in the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced today.
Automotive steel tubes are used in fuel distribution, braking and other automotive systems and are sometimes divided into two categories – chassis tubes and engine parts. Chassis tubes, such as brake and fuel tubes, tend to be located in the body of a vehicle while engine parts, such as fuel injection rails, oil level tubes and oil strainer tubes, are associated with the function of a vehicle’s engine.
Maruyasu pleaded guilty to a charge contained in an Indictment returned by a grand jury on June 15, 2016, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. According to the plea agreement, Maruyasu participated in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by agreeing to fix prices, allocate customers, and rig bids for automotive steel tubes sold to automobile manufacturers in Japan and incorporated into vehicles sold in the United States, in violation of the Sherman Act.
The Indictment also charged Maruyasu’s wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Curtis-Maruyasu America Inc., and sales executives Tadao Hirade, Kazunori Kobayashi, Satoru Murai, and Yoshihiro Shigematsu. Concurrent with the Court’s imposition of the sentence against Maruyasu, the United States moved to dismiss the Indictment as to Curtis-Maruyasu America Inc., Hirade, Kobayashi, and Shigematsu. The sales executives will be required to cooperate with the government in any future prosecutions related to the charged conspiracy.
“The Antitrust Division’s prosecution of widespread collusion in the auto parts industry has yielded more than $2.9 billion in fines and convictions of 46 corporations and 32 executives,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Division and its law enforcement partners will continue to protect American consumers and the free markets by aggressively prosecuting antitrust crimes.”
“Bid rigging, price fixing and other schemes hurt consumers and undermine our economic system,” said Special Agent in Charge Amy S. Hess of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office. “We will continue our work with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division to uncover schemes aimed at creating an unfair competitive advantage.”
“This plea represents another victory for U.S. consumers and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to partner with the FBI and Department of Justice Antitrust Division in this endeavor,” said Special Agent in Charge Duane Townsend of the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General.
Today’s plea is the result of an investigation conducted by the Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office, the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General’s Denver Field Office, and the FBI’s Louisville Field Office, Covington Resident Agency, with assistance from the FBI headquarters’ International Corruption Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Anyone with information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging, and other anticompetitive conduct should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258, visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html or call the FBI’s Louisville Field Office at 502-263-6000.
Five Men Indicted in Louisiana for Conspiracy to Smuggle BirdsRead the Press Release
Five men have been charged in New Orleans with crimes related to illegally exporting birds protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) from the United States to Taiwan. William McGinness, 59, of Buena Park, California; Paul Tallman, 55, of Destreham, Louisiana; Rene Rizal, 62, of La Mirada, California; Wayne Andrews, 46, of Royal Oaks, California and Alex Madriaga, 76, of Buena Park, California; were each indicted in federal court in the eastern District of Louisiana today.
On May 31, 2018, a five-count indictment was returned charging McGinness, Tallman, Rizal, Andrews and Madriaga with conspiracy to smuggle CITES-protected birds from the United States to Taiwan. McGuinness was also charged with smuggling birds to Taiwan and three counts of making and submitting false records under the Lacey Act, and Tallman was charged with smuggling and one count of making and submitting false records under the Lacey Act.
The indictment alleges, among other things, that McGinness, a resident of California, and his co-conspirators created false statements and submitted them to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in order to illegally export CITES-protected birds from the Port of New Orleans to Taiwan. The shipment included 90 CITES-protected birds, including parrots, macaws, cockatoos and corellas. Several of the birds were in crates that were falsely labeled. The USFWS seized 14 of the birds at the airport in Houston, Texas before they were exported.
The indictments were announced today by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Acting Assistant Director Edward Grace of the Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“These indictments demonstrate our commitment, shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to investigate and prosecute those engaged in illegal trade of protected animals,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood. “We will continue to collaborate with our partners at the federal, state and local levels to prosecute wildlife smuggling.”
"Today’s indictments were the result of a complex investigation into the wildlife trafficking of protected birds,” said Acting Assistant Director Grace. “Wildlife trafficking is a serious crime that is detrimental to species around the world. I am very proud of our special agents and wildlife inspectors who helped bring these defendants to justice."
The United States and approximately 182 other countries are signatories to CITES, which provides a mechanism for regulating international trade in species whose continued survival is threatened by such trade. Species are listed on “appendices,” based on the level of protection necessary to protect the species.
The case was investigated by the USFWS and the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section. The government is represented by Environmental Crimes Section Trial Attorney Mary Dee Carraway.
Ruby J. Ngirmekur Sentenced to Prison for Financial Institution Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant RUBY J. NGIRMEKUR, age 38, was sentenced in District Court today by Designated Judge Ramona V. Manglona to 33 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud. The Court also ordered her to pay $13,090 in restitution and a $100 assessment fee, and to perform 50 hours of community service.
From May 2014 to July 2014, NGIRMEKUR and others participated in an ATM debit-fraud and check-fraud scheme involving Bank of Guam (BOG) funds and checks drawn from other financial institutions. As part of the conspiracy, the defendant deposited fraudulent checks into third party BOG accounts via ATM transactions, and then withdrew funds based upon those checks. For the entire period of the conspiracy, the defendant and her co-conspirators attempted to obtain $95,100 from BOG by depositing over 120 fraudulent checks drawn from closed and nonsufficient funds accounts at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Bank of Hawaii, and Navy Federal Credit Union.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Guam Police Department, and prosecuted by Marivic P. David, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Guam.
Louisiana Woman Sentenced in Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A resident of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for her involvement in a stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Jackie Chaney, also known as Jackie Scott, pleaded guilty on Dec. 28, 2016 to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit theft of public money, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, members of the conspiracy obtained the names and Social Security numbers of individuals for use in filing false tax returns. Chaney and her co-conspirators used this stolen information to prepare false tax returns seeking bogus refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IRS issued the refunds in the form of checks or on to prepaid debit cards and Chaney further conspired with others to convert the proceeds into cash.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan ordered Chaney to serve two years of supervised release and to pay restitution in the amount of $809,605.00.
Chaney’s co-conspirator, Alicia Washington, previously plead guilty in Feb. 2017 and was sentenced earlier this month to 42 months in prison.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Evans commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden Brockett and Tax Division Trial Attorney Lauren Castaldi, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Louisiana Contractor Pleads Guilty to Filing A False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
The owner of general contracting business pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
According to court documents, Wade Ybarzabal, of Mandeville, Louisiana, owned a general contracting business, Ybarzabal Contractors LLC. On his 2012 tax return, Ybarzabal underreported his business’s gross receipts by more than $475,000, resulting in an additional tax liability of more than $160,000. Ybarzabal also underreported his business’ gross receipts on his 2013 and 2014 tax returns. The total tax loss resulting from Ybarzabal’s fraudulent conduct for is less than $250,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2018. Ybarzabal faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison. He also faces a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera and Tax Division Trial Attorney Grace E. Albinson, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Former CEO of Detroit-Based Technology Company Pleads Guilty to BriberyRead the Press Release
The former chief executive officer of FutureNet Group Inc., an information technology company, pleaded guilty today for his role in orchestrating a scheme to bribe an official from the City of Detroit to obtain benefits for FutureNet, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Parimal D. Mehta, 54, of Northville, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of federal program bribery before U.S. District Judge Robert H. Cleland of the Eastern District of Michigan. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 27.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea, from 2009 through August 2016, Mehta hand-delivered more than $6,500 to Charles L. Dodd, the former Director of Detroit’s Office of Departmental Technology Services, including two cash bribes paid in the restroom of a Detroit-area restaurant in 2016. Dodd previously pleaded guilty to bribery on Sept. 27, 2016.
According to the plea agreement, Mehta sought preferential treatment for FutureNet in exchange for the bribes he paid to Dodd. Among other things, Mehta asked Dodd to cause FutureNet to be selected to fill open positions for contract personnel and to implement particular technological projects in various city departments. Mehta also asked Dodd to supply him with confidential information regarding Detroit’s internal operations, including information regarding Detroit’s internal budgets for particular technology projects and personnel, which would benefit FutureNet in its dealings with Detroit.
The FBI’s Detroit Division investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Robert J. Heberle and James I. Pearce of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
District Court Issues Order to Prevent California Individual from Distributing Adulterated Fish or Fishery ProductsRead the Press Release
A federal court enjoined Michel G. Blanchet of Los Angeles, California, from preparing, processing, and distributing adulterated fish or fishery products without first taking required remedial action, the Department of Justice announced today.
The injunction ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California requires Blanchet to implement various consumer safety measures before resuming the preparation, processing or distribution of fish or fishery products. The injunction stems from a complaint the Department filed on Oct. 3, 2017, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Blanchet was the owner and President of a business in Los Angeles, California, that processed and distributed fish or fishery products, including salmon, trout, and sturgeon.
Blanchet agreed to settle the litigation and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. As part of the settlement, Blanchet represented that he is not engaged in receiving, preparing, processing, holding or distributing fish or fishery products. Under the permanent injunction, if Blanchet intends to resume such activity, he must notify FDA in writing in advance, comply with specific remedial measures set forth in the injunction, and allow his facility to be subject to FDA inspection.
“The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that processors and distributors of seafood products comply with laws designed to protect consumers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice continues to work with the FDA to ensure that consumers are protected from potentially unsafe food.”
According to the complaint, FDA inspected Blanchet’s business on numerous occasions, including two times in 2016. The complaint alleged that Blanchet failed to comply with federal regulations by failing to adequately control the risk of Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) and Clostridium botulinum (C bot.) toxin formation in vacuum-packed fish or fishery products. The regulations require every fish and fishery product processor to conduct, or have conducted for it, a hazard analysis to determine whether there are food safety hazards that are reasonably likely to occur during the processing of each kind of fish or fishery product that it processes.
According to the complaint, FDA’s analysis of environmental samples collected during its January-February 2016 inspection revealed the presence of L. mono contamination in multiple locations throughout Blanchet’s business. The complaint also alleged that FDA’s analysis of environmental samples collected during its subsequent inspection in July-August 2016 also revealed the presence of L. mono contamination in multiple locations throughout the business.
The government is represented by Trial Attorney Monica Groat of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, with the assistance of Associate General Counsel for Enforcement Roselle Oberstein of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of General Counsel’s Food and Drug Division.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Justice Department Secures Largest Negotiated Merger Divestiture Ever to Preserve Competition Threatened by Bayer’s Acquisition of MonsantoRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced today that it is requiring Bayer AG to divest businesses and assets collectively worth approximately $9 billion in order to proceed with its proposed $66 billion acquisition of Monsanto Company. The proposed divestiture to BASF, an experienced chemical company with a substantial crop protection business, will fully resolve all horizontal and vertical competition concerns. As a result, American farmers and consumers will continue to benefit from competition in this industry.
“This comprehensive structural solution to significant horizontal and vertical competition concerns—the largest negotiated merger divestiture ever required by the United States—preserves competition in the sale of these critical agricultural products and protects American farmers and consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Antitrust Division. “We commend the parties for working with the Antitrust Division to resolve our concerns on behalf of American consumers.”
The Department’s Antitrust Division today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction while simultaneously filing a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the Department’s competitive concerns.
Bayer, based in Leverkusen, Germany, and Monsanto, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, are two of the largest agricultural companies in the world. They compete to provide farmers with a broad range of seed and crop protection products. Bayer and Monsanto also have been leaders in developing technologies that have allowed farmers to increase significantly crop yields and improve efficiency. Without the agreed-to divestitures, the proposed merger would likely result in higher prices, lower quality, and fewer choices across a wide array of seed and crop protection products. The merger also threatened to stifle the innovation in agricultural technologies that has delivered significant benefits to American farmers and consumers.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Bayer must divest those Bayer businesses that compete with Monsanto today. These include Bayer’s cotton, canola, soybean, and vegetable seed businesses, as well as Bayer’s Liberty herbicide business, a key competitor of Monsanto’s well-known Roundup herbicide.
The settlement also requires structural divestitures to remedy the competitive harm that would result from the vertical integration of certain significant Bayer seed treatment businesses with Monsanto’s leading seed businesses. Additionally, because Bayer and Monsanto currently compete to develop new products and services, the settlement requires the divestiture of certain intellectual property and research capabilities, including “pipeline” R&D projects. Finally, in order to fully prevent competitive harm from the merger, the settlement requires the divestiture of additional complementary assets that are needed to ensure that BASF has the same innovation incentives, capabilities and scale that Bayer would have as an independent competitor including, most notably, Bayer’s nascent “digital agriculture” business.
The settlement also includes, consistent with other settlements in this Administration, several provisions designed to improve the effectiveness of the decree and the Division’s future ability to enforce it.
The Department expressed thanks to its enforcement partners around the world, especially its counterparts at the European Commission, the Canadian Competition Bureau, and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) of Brazil, for their close and constructive collaboration on this matter.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with the Department’s competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days of its publication to Kathleen S. O’Neill, Chief, Transportation, Energy & Agriculture Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 8000, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the court may enter the final judgment upon a finding that it serves the public interest.
NOTE: The original version of this release inadvertently did not include the term 'negotiated' in the title of the release or the Assistant Attorney General's quote.
Attorney General Sessions Meets with Croatian Prime Minister and PresidentRead the Press Release
A Department of Justice official released the following statement at the conclusion of Attorney General Jeff Sessions ' meetings with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović:
"Attorney General Sessions today met with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. The Attorney General thanked President Grabar-Kitarović for Croatia's participation in NATO missions and logistical support in the fight against ISIS. Attorney General Sessions also committed to building the U.S.-Croatia relationship, including through increased law enforcement cooperation. On other defense issues, Attorney General Sessions encouraged President Grabar-Kitarović to announce a credible plan to meet the full intent of the Wales Pledge by 2024, which includes 2 percent of GDP spending on defense and 20 percent of defense spending on major new equipment. The Attorney General expressed the Trump Administration’s support for Croatia’s intended completion of the Croatian Liquefied Natural Gas terminal off the Adriatic Coast, which the Attorney General urged the Prime Minister and President to push forward on, in order to increase regional energy security."
Virginia Pharmacist Indicted for Employment Tax FraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury sitting in the Western District of Virginia returned an indictment today charging a Collinsville, Virginia pharmacist with failing to account for and pay over employment taxes, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen for the Western District of Virginia.
According to the indictment, Jerry R. Harper, Jr., owned and operated Family Discount Pharmacy, Inc. (FDP) in Stanleytown, Virginia, with multiple locations in Stuart, Rocky Mount, Chatham, and Brosville, Virginia. As owner of FDP, Harper was allegedly responsible for collecting and paying over FDP’s employment taxes. The indictment charges that during 2011 to 2014, FDP accrued employment tax liabilities of more than $1.2 million and that Harper withheld those taxes from FDP employees’ wages. He then allegedly failed to fully pay over the amounts withheld to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Instead of providing the employment taxes to the IRS, Harper allegedly caused FDP to pay his personal expenses, including investments in the stock market, payments for his son’s pharmacy school tuition, purchases of real property in Virginia and North Carolina, and purchases of automobiles. The indictment further alleges that in over 15 years Harper only filed one employment tax return with the IRS.
If convicted, Harper faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison on each charge. In addition, he faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Cullen commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorney Daniel McGraw and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlene Day, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Attorney General Sessions Meets with Croatian Interior Minister and Justice MinisterRead the Press Release
A Department of Justice official released the following statement at the conclusion of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' meetings with Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović and Justice Minister Dražen Bošnjaković:
"Attorney General Sessions had productive meetings with Interior Minister Božinović and Justice Minister Bošnjaković, and the Attorney General reiterated his commitment to build on the strong U.S.-Croatia relationship. The Attorney General recognized Croatia's support for the regional Rule of Law training programs in the Western Balkans, for which the ministers have provided more than five years of expertise. Attorney General Sessions also thanked the ministers for their continued collaboration with the Justice Department's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), programs that help police, prosecutors, and judges in the region fight corruption and transnational organized crime. Finally, Attorney General Sessions expressed his support for an updated bilateral extradition treaty to enhance cooperation and reflect the increasingly transnational nature of crime."Please find Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ remarks from the U.S.-Croatia press availability here.
Owner of Queens Karaoke Bar Pleads Guilty to Failure to Pay Employment TaxRead the Press Release
A resident of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty today to failing to collect and pay over employment tax, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to court documents, Kae Wook Lee was the sole owner and chief executive officer of Mona Lisa 7 Corporation, through which he operated a karaoke bar in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens. Between 2011 and 2013, Lee diverted part of his karaoke business’s receipts to bank accounts in the names of shell corporations he created. Lee then withdrew funds from those bank accounts to pay employees’ wages in cash without collecting or paying over employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Lee concealed the cash payroll from his accountant and signed and filed false tax returns that underreported employee wages. The tax loss to the IRS caused by the defendant’s conduct was $612,500.
U.S. District Judge I. Leo Glasser scheduled sentencing for September 6, 2018. Lee faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Mark Kotila and Sean Green, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.
Justice Department Recognizes Maryland Detective for Capturing Pedophile, Identifying 42 VictimsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today honored Detective George R. Higgs of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in La Plata, Maryland, for his investigation that resulted in the arrest of a sexual predator and the identification of 42 adolescent victims.
Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio presented Higgs with the Missing Children’s Child Protection Award during the Justice Department’s National Missing Children’s Day ceremony. The award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who make a significant investigative or program contribution to protect children from abuse or victimization.
“Investigative and preventive law enforcement efforts are critical in the fight to stop child exploitation,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “The Justice Department proudly commends Detective Higgs for his dedication to preventing child victimization and bringing this sex offender to justice.”
Higgs began to investigate in November 2016 after a 16-year-old student complained about receiving sexually suggestive text messages. Higgs determined the messages were coming from an employee for the Charles County Board of Education. A search of the suspect’s home led to the discovery of computers and cell phones containing photos and videos of the suspect sexually assaulting local children in both his residence and at local schools. Interviews with students identified 42 victims—including the original complainant—between the ages of 13 and 17. Higgs’ work with prosecutors resulted in 219 charges of sexual assault, production of child pornography and other charges against the suspect, who was sentenced in federal court in March and in the Circuit Court of Charles County, Maryland, in April.
In addition to Higgs, the Department also recognized other law enforcement officers for their investigative efforts in sexual exploitation of children cases and a private citizen who intervened to rescue an abducted baby. Panuccio also recognized Eden Hoffmann, a fifth grader at Huron Elementary School in Clinton Township, Michigan, as the 19th winner of the National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
Additional information about National Missing Children’s Day is available online.
The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Recognizes Investigative Efforts of Maryland Detective in Missing Girl CaseRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today honored Detective John Witherspoon of the Montgomery County Police Department in Rockville, Maryland, for his investigation into the disappearance of a 15-year-old Gaithersburg girl and his support of Fairfax County, Virginia, police in their efforts to identify and arrest 10 gang members who were charged in the girl’s murder.
Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio presented Witherspoon with the Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award during the Justice Department’s National Missing Children’s Day ceremony. This award recognizes law enforcement officers’ efforts for significant investigative or program contributions to child safety.
Additionally, Witherspoon successfully recovered 166 missing children last year.
“Detective Witherspoon demonstrated unusual tenacity in tracking down the vicious murderers of a teenage girl, and also showed extraordinary compassion in supporting her family through the investigation,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “The Department commends Detective Witherspoon for his remarkable combination of personal and professional commitment in this case.”
For eight weeks, Witherspoon searched throughout the Washington metropolitan region for sightings of the missing girl. He also combed social media sites and accounts and interviewed the girl’s friends and family members. The remains of the girl were found near an industrial area in Fairfax County, and the medical examiner ruled the case a homicide. Witherspoon worked with Fairfax County police to locate 10 members of a local gang who played a role in the girl’s murder. He then helped the victim’s mother arrange a community memorial service, and later coordinated her witness relocation after she received death threats from gang members.
In addition to Witherspoon, the Department also honored the efforts of law enforcement officers in other jurisdictions who investigated crimes against children and arrested the suspects and a private citizen who rescued a missing and abducted child. Panuccio also recognized Eden Hoffmann, a fifth grader at Huron Elementary School in Clinton Township, Michigan, as the 19th winner of the National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
Additional information about National Missing Children’s Day is available online.
The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Recognizes California Man for Role in Safe Recovery of Abducted BabyRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today honored Colin Blevin, a Santa Clara, California, resident, for his actions that led to the recovery of an abducted one-year-old girl and the apprehension of the child’s kidnapper.
Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio presented Blevin with the Missing Children’s Citizen Award during the Justice Department’s National Missing Children’s Day ceremony. This award recognizes private citizens for extraordinary acts that lead to the safe recovery of missing or abducted children.
Blevin received his award for preventing a suspect from escaping with a one-year-old girl in a stolen car and keeping the child safe until police arrived. The offender was sentenced to more than five years in prison for felony child abuse and theft of a vehicle.
“Blevin’s quick actions epitomize courage, selflessness, and vigilance, and brought an innocent child home to safety,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “The Department of Justice commends Blevin for making his community safer, through his successful rescue of the child and assist to law enforcement.”
In addition to Blevin, the Department also honored several law enforcement officers for their investigative efforts in sexual exploitation cases involving children and youth. Panuccio also recognized Eden Hoffmann, a fifth grader at Huron Elementary School in Clinton Township, Michigan, as the 19th winner of the National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
Additional information about National Missing Children’s Day is available online.
The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Observes National Missing Children’s DayRead the Press Release
Department Honors Law Enforcement Officers, Citizen, for Efforts to Rescue Missing and Exploited Children; Poster Contest Winner Announced
The Department of Justice today recognized the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children task force, Detective George R. Higgs of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in La Plata, Maryland, Detective John Witherspoon of the Montgomery County Police Department in Rockville, Maryland, and Colin Blevin, a private citizen from Santa Clara, California, for their efforts to help children.
Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio presented the awards during the Department’s National Missing Children’s Day ceremony. The annual awards ceremony is hosted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).
“The exceptional individuals we recognize today remind us of our responsibility to be vigilant about the safety of our children and to hold accountable those who seek to harm them,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “Because of the diligence, courageousness, and selflessness of the awardees, as well as their commitment to protect the most vulnerable among us, children all over the country are safer in their communities. The Department of Justice is proud to honor these heroes, and I am proud to stand with them today.”
The ceremony included recognition of Eden Hoffmann, a fifth grader at Huron Elementary School in Clinton Township, Michigan, whose poster illustrating the theme, “Bringing Our Missing Children Home,” was chosen as this year’s National Missing Children’s Day poster contest winner.
Acting Associate Attorney General Panuccio presented the following awards:
Attorney General’s Special Commendation: This commendation recognizes the extraordinary efforts of an Internet Crimes Against Children task force or affiliate agency for making significant investigative or program contributions.
Recipients: The Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children task force for their investigation resulting in the arrest of a sexual predator who assaulted at least 26 victims, some dating back to the 1970s, and recorded the sexual abuse. The suspect was charged with multiple sex offenses involving the abuse of a child.
Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of a law enforcement officer who made a significant investigative or program contribution to the safety of children.
Recipient: Detective John Witherspoon of the Montgomery County Police Department in Rockville, Maryland, who tirelessly investigated a runaway child case that ended with the discovery of the child’s murder. Witherspoon worked with local police in another jurisdiction to identify and arrest 10 gang members for their role in the murder. He then coordinated witness relocation for the victim’s mother after she received death threats from gang members.
Missing Children’s Child Protection Award: This award honors the extraordinary efforts of a law enforcement officer who made a significant investigative or program contribution on behalf of missing, abused or victimized children.
Recipient: Detective George R. Higgs of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in La Plata, Maryland, who led an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a suspected sexual predator and the identification of 42 adolescent victims. He also helped prosecutors bring three indictments against the suspect, which led to 219 charges of sexual assault, production of child pornography, and other charges.
Missing Children’s Citizen Award: This award honors the extraordinary efforts of private citizens for their unselfish acts to safely recover missing or abducted children.
Recipient: Colin Blevin, a Santa Clara, California, resident, for his actions to recover an abducted infant and help police apprehend the child’s kidnapper. Blevin prevented the suspect from escaping with a one-year-old child in a stolen car and protected the child until police arrived. The offender was sentenced to more than five years in prison for felony child abuse and vehicle theft.
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, the first National Missing Children’s Day in memory of Etan Patz, a six-year-old boy who disappeared from a New York City street corner on May 25, 1979. Missing Children’s Day honors his memory and the memories of children still missing. Although Etan’s killer was convicted in February 2017 for the 1979 murder, his case remains active with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children because his body was never found.
In 2017, there were 464,324 missing children entries in the FBI’s National Crime Information Center. Additional information about National Missing Children’s Day is available online.
The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Honors Maryland Task Force for Investigation of Child Pornography CaseRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today recognized the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children task force for its investigation and subsequent arrest of a suspected sexual predator who abused local children since the 1970s and created child pornography from those encounters.
Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio presented the Attorney General’s Special Commendation to representatives of the task force during the Department’s National Missing Children’s Day ceremony. The special commendation recognizes Internet Crimes Against Children task forces or affiliate agencies for making significant investigative or program contributions.
“The vigilance exhibited by this task force exemplifies the positive results that cooperation among federal, state, and local authorities can have in bringing perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “The Department applauds their efforts and stands with them as we continue working to improve public safety for America’s children.”
The task force’s investigation also led to the identification of 26 of the suspect’s victims, some of whom were sexually abused as far back as the 1970s. The suspect was charged with multiple counts of sex offenses involving the abuse of a child. The investigation and subsequent warrant on the suspect’s residence was coordinated between the Maryland State Police, the Talbot County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
The Department also recognized two law enforcement officers for their investigations of sexual predators who sexually assaulted local children and youth and a private citizen who intervened to rescue an abducted baby. Panuccio also recognized Eden Hoffmann, a fifth grader at Huron Elementary School in Clinton Township, Michigan, as the 19th winner of the National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
Additional information about National Missing Children’s Day is available online.
The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Justice Department Announces Actions to Disrupt Advanced Persistent Threat 28 Botnet of Infected Routers and Network Storage DevicesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced an effort to disrupt a global botnet of hundreds of thousands of infected home and office (SOHO) routers and other networked devices under the control of a group of actors known as the “Sofacy Group” (also known as “apt28,” “sandworm,” “x-agent,” “pawn storm,” “fancy bear” and “sednit”). The group, which has been operating since at least in or about 2007, targets government, military, security organizations, and other targets of perceived intelligence value.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Assistant Director Scott Smith for the FBI’s Cyber Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Johnson of the Pittsburgh Division and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. LeValley of the Atlanta Division made the announcement.
“The Department of Justice is committed to disrupting, not just watching, national security cyber threats using every tool at our disposal, and today’s effort is another example of our commitment to do that,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “This operation is the first step in the disruption of a botnet that provides the Sofacy actors with an array of capabilities that could be used for a variety of malicious purposes, including intelligence gathering, theft of valuable information, destructive or disruptive attacks, and the misattribution of such activities.”
“The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively fight against threats to our national security by criminals, no matter who they work for” said U.S. Attorney Brady. “This court-ordered seizure will assist in the identification of victim devices and disrupts the ability of these hackers to steal personal and other sensitive information and carry out disruptive cyber attacks. We will be relentless in protecting the people of Western Pennsylvania - from international corporations to local businesses to the elderly - from these threats.”
“Today's announcement highlights the FBI's ability to take swift action in the fight against cybercrime and our commitment to protecting the American people and their devices,” said Assistant Director Scott Smith. “By seizing a domain used by malicious cyber actors in their botnet campaign, the FBI has taken a critical step in minimizing the impact of the malware attack. While this is an important first step, the FBI's work is not done. The FBI, along with our domestic and international partners, will continue our efforts to identify and expose those responsible for this wave of malware.”
“The FBI will not allow malicious cyber actors, regardless of whether they are state-sponsored, to operate freely,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bob Johnson. “These hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities and putting every American’s privacy and network security at risk. Although there is still much to be learned about how this particular threat initially compromises infected routers and other devices, we encourage citizens and businesses to keep their network equipment updated and to change default passwords.”
“This action by the FBI, DOJ, and our partners should send a clear message to our adversaries that the U.S. Government will take action to mitigate the threats posed by them and to protect our citizens and our allies even when the possibility of arrest and prosecution may not be readily available,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. LeValley. “As our adversaries’ technical capabilities evolve, the FBI and its partners will continue to rise to the challenge, placing themselves between the adversaries and their intended victims.”
The botnet, referred to by the FBI and cyber security researchers as “VPNFilter,” targets SOHO routers and network-access storage (NAS) devices, which are hardware devices made up of several hard drives used to store data in a single location that can be accessed by multiple users. The VPNFilter botnet uses several stages of malware. Although the second stage of malware, which has the malicious capabilities described above, can be cleared from a device by rebooting it, the first stage of malware persists through a reboot, making it difficult to prevent reinfection by the second stage.
In order to identify infected devices and facilitate their remediation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania applied for and obtained court orders, authorizing the FBI to seize a domain that is part of the malware’s command-and-control infrastructure. This will redirect attempts by stage one of the malware to reinfect the device to an FBI-controlled server, which will capture the Internet Protocol (IP) address of infected devices, pursuant to legal process. A non-profit partner organization, The Shadowserver Foundation, will disseminate the IP addresses to those who can assist with remediating the VPNFilter botnet, including foreign CERTs and internet service providers (ISPs).
Owners of SOHO and NAS devices that may be infected should reboot their devices as soon as possible, temporarily eliminating the second stage malware and causing the first stage malware on their device to call out for instructions. Although devices will remain vulnerable to reinfection with the second stage malware while connected to the Internet, these efforts maximize opportunities to identify and remediate the infection worldwide in the time available before Sofacy actors learn of the vulnerability in their command-and-control infrastructure.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have also jointly notified trusted ISPs. The Department and the FBI also encourage users and administrators to review the Cisco blog post on VPNFilter, available HERE, for recommendations and to ensure that their devices are updated with the latest patches.
The efforts to disrupt the VPNFilter botnet were led by the FBI’s Pittsburgh and Atlanta Offices; FBI Cyber Division; Trial Attorney Matthew Chang of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Eberle and Soo C. Song of the Western District Pennsylvania. Critical assistance was also provided by Richard Green of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and The Shadowserver Foundation.
Note: The documents filed by the Government as well as the court orders entered in this case are available as attachments below.Joint EU-U.S. Statement Following the EU-U.S. Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial MeetingRead the Press Release
On May 22 and 23, 2018, the EU-U.S. Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs was hosted by the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in Sofia, Bulgaria. The meeting reaffirmed the long-standing, fruitful cooperation between the United States of America and the European Union in the areas of justice and home affairs, as well as the importance of jointly addressing common security threats.
The United States was represented by the U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, and the Acting Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security, Claire Grady.
The European Union, hosting the meeting, was represented by the Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Věra Jourová, the Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King, as well as Bulgarian Minister of Interior Valentin Radev and Minister of Justice Tsetska Tsacheva, together with Austrian Federal Minister for the Interior Herbert Kickl and Federal Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice Josef Moser, on behalf of the current and incoming Presidencies of the Council of the European Union.
The European Union and the United States discussed their shared efforts to combat terrorism, focusing on effective information sharing, preventing radicalization, use of the internet for terrorist purposes, and vigilance with respect to aviation security, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, and explosives, especially in relation to the evolving chemical threats to aviation and in public spaces. With regard to EU-U.S. information sharing on Passenger Name Records (PNR), participants of the meeting emphasized the importance of such sharing, and noted impending developments in the separate EU-Canada PNR discussions. The participants agreed to continue the discussion of PNR, at the next EU-U.S. Ministerial, which will take place in Washington, D.C., in the second half of 2018.
Participants also discussed security and law enforcement cooperation in cyber-space, affirming the importance of allowing swift access to electronic evidence by law enforcement and judicial authorities, while also protecting privacy and civil liberties. Similarly, they stressed the need to maintain a safe, open, and secure cyberspace for the promotion of economic and social development, and exchanged views on how to best address this growing challenge.
The European Union and the United States also exchanged information on developments in the area of migration, border management, and their respective visa policies. The European Union provided an update on migration trends in Europe and ongoing initiatives to enhance the management of its external borders; the European Union and the United States took stock of the continuing progress by the European Union and the United States, including that of the five concerned EU Member States, towards meeting the statutory requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, in order to be considered for designation. Both sides also acknowledged the need for strengthening operational cooperation to effectively prevent and eradicate migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, and also discussed the importance of secure and lawful immigration systems.
Finally, the United States and European Union discussed the importance of ensuring swift exchange of financial information and improving the effectiveness of financial investigations. The European Union and the United States discussed the latest developments in these areas and shared best practices in an effort to step up their common fight against anti-money laundering and terrorism financing.
Underlining the progress made in these vital areas of common interest, and re-emphasizing the fact that common solutions are necessary in order to address global security threats, the European Union and the United States committed to meet again in the second half of 2018 in Washington, D.C.
California Man Claiming to be a Billionaire Financier Convicted in Multimillion-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Following a two-week trial, a federal jury in Denver, Colorado, has convicted a California man of multiple charges for his role in an investment scheme in which he falsely told investors that he was a billionaire who could access certain financing, including hundreds of millions in cash in an overseas bank account, in exchange for up-front fees.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Inspector in Charge Craig Goldberg of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Denver Division and Acting Inspector in Charge Bill Hedrick of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Chicago Division, made the announcement.
Kenneth Brewington, 55, of Corona, California, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of laundering monetary instruments, and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
“Kenneth Brewington and his coconspirators deceived investors by falsely claiming to have hundreds of millions of dollars in cash in an overseas bank account as part of a criminal scheme to steal the investors’ hard earned money,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan. “The Department of Justice is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute people who are involved in fraudulent investment schemes, and to pursuing justice for the victims of those crimes.”
“Fraudsters believe they can maintain this lifestyle on the backs of unsuspecting victims, but this arrest should be a warning to all that law enforcement will not stand for these schemes,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Nicole Davis of U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “Postal Inspectors have made it our mission to protect our customers from exploitation and fraud and we will continue to actively investigate these schemes and pursue convictions of these fraudsters.”
According to evidence presented by the government at trial, beginning in approximately 2009, the defendant told victims that he required millions of dollars in supposed fees in order to access his extraordinary wealth abroad, which in turn could be used for financing. During the scheme, the defendant and his coconspirators sold promissory notes to victims, including through a financial-services marketing company based in Denver called Compass Financial Solutions (CFS). The defendant and his coconspirators falsely represented to their victims that their money would be used to pay for, among other things, bank transaction fees and tax penalties to the IRS. To conceal the nature of their scheme, the defendant and his coconspirators told victims to wire their funds into an attorney-trust account. The funds from that account, however, were then sent to the defendant and his coconspirators and spent on, among other things, repayments to other investors and personal expenses. The evidence presented at trial showed that the defendant was not, in fact, wealthy and instead struggling to pay his personal debts. The defendant’s victims lost over $3 million to his fraud scheme.
The defendant’s sentencing is set for Aug. 17, before U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer, who presided over the trial of the case.
The former corporate counsel for CFS, William E. Dawn, 80, of Denver, Colorado, and the former CEO of CFS, Brian G. Elrod, 61, of Lakewood, Colorado, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for June 19 and June 20, respectively.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Securities and Exchange Commission also provided substantial assistance in this matter. Trial Attorneys Anna G. Kaminska, Kyle C. Hankey, and Jennifer G. Ballantyne and Assistant Chief Henry P. Van Dyck of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.Former Michigan Health Care Consultant Charged with Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of Michigan returned an indictment yesterday charging a former healthcare consultant with wire fraud, mail fraud, corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the internal revenue laws, and tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
According to the indictment, from 2011 through August 2014, Sonja Emery falsely represented her professional status, educational background, and work experience to secure and maintain highly paid consulting positions in the health-care industry. Emery allegedly falsely represented to her employers that she was a registered nurse, had worked in health-care management positions, and had various degrees, including a bachelor of science in nursing, master’s degrees in health administration, and a doctor of philosophy degree. The indictment further alleges that, from 2011 to 2014, Emery earned six-figure salaries, failed to file timely tax returns and failed to pay the substantial income tax due and owing on her income.
If convicted, Emery faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each mail and wire fraud count, five years in prison for each tax evasion count, and three years in prison for corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the Internal Revenue Service. Emery also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Jeff McLellan and Jack Morgan of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Attorney General Sessions Meets with Prime Minister of BulgariaRead the Press Release
A Department of Justice official released the following statement at the conclusion of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov:
"On Tuesday, May 22, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov at the Prime Minister's office at the Council of Ministers in Sofia, Bulgaria. The dialogue focused on the nations' shared commitment to fighting international terrorism, cybersecurity, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. The Attorney General and Prime Minister also discussed other areas of law enforcement cooperation between the two countries, including extradition and mutual legal assistance.”
Sen Sun Sentenced for Harboring Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that on Friday, May 18, 2018, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced defendant SUN SEN for the crime of Harboring Illegal Aliens, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1), for his role in operating an illegal birth-tourism business on Saipan. As part of his operation, the defendant illegally employed dozens of caretakers, or “nannies”, all Chinese nationals who were in the CNMI without work authorization. The judge sentenced SUN to one year and one day of imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, and ordered that the defendant forfeit $33,960 in criminally- derived proceeds to the United States.
United States Attorney Anderson made the following statement: “The Department of Justice will not tolerate abuse of our immigration laws and regulations, particularly by those like Mr. Sun who ran a large and lucrative underground birth-tourism operation. Such businesses jeopardize the island’s legitimate tourist industry, while inviting practices that risk the health of both mother and child. Federal law enforcement will aggressively investigate and prosecute all those who engage in such an unlawful enterprise. We will also eliminate their profit motive through the forfeiture of all money and assets that can be linked to their crimes.”
Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Eric O’Malley, First Assistant United States Attorney for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Médico Del Sur De Texas Acusado De $240 Millones En Fraude Al Sistema De Salud Y Una Estratagema Internacional De Lavado De DineroRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A un médico radicado en el área de McAllen, Texas se le hizo una acusación formal, la cual se hizo pública el día de hoy, por su participación en un fraude de $240 millones al sistema de salud y una estratagema internacional de lavado de dinero.
El Fiscal General Adjunto John P. Cronan de la División Criminal del Departamento de Justicia, el Fiscal de los Estados Unidos Ryan J. Patrick del Distrito del Sur de Texas, el Agente Especial a Cargo C.J. Porter del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los Estados Unidos de la Oficina del Inspector General (HHS-OIG) de la Región de Dallas y el Agente Especial a Cargo Christopher Combs de la Oficina Regional del FBI en San Antonio, emitieron el comunicado.
Jorge Zamora-Quezada, de 61 años, de Mission, Texas, fue acusado de siete cargos en el Distrito del Sur de Texas. Se le acusó de un cargo de asociación ilícita para cometer fraude al sistema de salud, cinco cargos de fraude al sistema de salud y un cargo de asociación ilícita para llevar a cabo el lavado de dinero.
“Jorge Zamora-Quezada presuntamente organizó una estratagema de fraude masivo que puso en peligro la salud y el bienestar de niños inocentes, personas de tercera edad y víctimas con discapacidad,” dijo el Fiscal General Adjunto Cronan. “Las alegaciones de que Zamora-Quezada violó su juramento de no hacer daño, al administrar quimioterapia innecesaria y otros medicamentos tóxicos, a pacientes con enfermedades graves — incluyendo a algunas de las víctimas más vulnerables que se pueda imaginar — son difíciles de entender. La División Criminal está comprometida a combatir el fraude al sistema de salud y de proteger a las víctimas de estratagemas censurables, como la que se alega en este caso.”
“Tomamos alegaciones de esta naturaleza muy en serio,” dijo el Fiscal estadounidense Patrick. “El enjuiciamiento contra el fraude al servicio de salud es una mayor prioridad para el Distrito del Sur de Texas, especialmente cuando sospechamos que pacientes vulnerables han sido presuntamente explotados, diagnosticados erróneamente o que quizá se les ha recetado medicamento que posiblemente sea dañino, como una manera de cometer este fraude.”
“La acusación formal del día de hoy es el primer paso en hacer al Dr. Zamora-Quezada responsable de su presunta conducta atroz y delictiva,” dijo HHS-OIG Agente Especial a Cargo Porter. “Sus pacientes confiaban en él y creían en su integridad; a cambio, presuntamente participó en una estratagema de diagnósticos y tratamientos falsos, y recetó medicamentos innecesarios y dañinos, a fin de obtener una ganancia financiera personal y sin tomar en cuenta el bienestar del paciente. HHS-OIG siempre perseguirá a delincuentes que se hagan pasar por médicos legítimos, los erradicará y les dará el castigo más severo posible, especialmente cuando el daño al paciente está de por medio.”
“El FBI está comprometido a trabajar con nuestros socios de los grupos operativos para combatir el fraude al sistema de salud,” dijo el Agente Especial a Cargo Combs. “Es un delito muy serio que va en aumento y que ha impactado cada ciudad y pueblo de la nación. Esta investigación destaca una inquietud aun mayor que es representante del fraude al sistema de salud, más allá de las pérdidas financieras significativas, es el daño físico y emocional que sufren los pacientes y sus familias. Por esta razón nosotros en el FBI, junto con nuestros socios de los grupos operativos, estamos comprometidos a ofrecerle justicia a las víctimas de los presuntos delitos del Dr. Zamora-Quezada.”
Como expone la acusación formal, desde el año 2000 hasta el día de la presentación de la acusación formal, Zamora-Quezada y sus cómplices diagnosticaron erróneamente a pacientes vulnerables – incluyendo a menores de edad, personas de tercera edad y personas con discapacidad, en el Valle del Río Grande, San Antonio, y en otros lugares – con varias enfermedades degenerativas, incluyendo la artritis reumatoide. Junto a sus cómplices, les administró quimioterapia y otros medicamentos tóxicos a pacientes basados en ese diagnóstico falso. Además de darles diagnósticos falsos a los pacientes, Zamora-Quezada y sus cómplices presuntamente llevaron a cabo una serie de procedimientos médicos fraudulentos, repetitivos y excesivos con los pacientes, a fin de aumentar los ingresos y financiar el estilo de vida lujosa y extravagante de Zamora-Quezada.
La acusación formal alega que Zamora-Quezada y sus cómplices volaban el avión privado de Zamora-Quezada de un millón de dólares o manejaban su Maserati, ambos grabados con sus iniciales, “ZQ”, entre sus oficinas en el Valle del Río Grande y San Antonio a fin de llevar a cabo el fraude. Él, junto a sus cómplices transfirieron el dinero recaudado de su asociación ilícita para comprar aviones privados, vehículos de lujo, ropa de tiendas de calidad superior como Louis Vuitton y propiedades exclusivas en varias partes de los Estados Unidos y México. Él, junto a sus cómplices presuntamente obstruyeron investigaciones al crear expedientes médicos falsos y ficticios, y le ocultaron miles de expedientes médicos a Medicare almacenándolos en establos inseguros y destartalados, ubicados en el Valle del Río Grande.
La acusación formal también alega que Zamora-Quezada y sus cómplices lavaron las ganancias de su estratagema, malgastando, transformando y ocultando la fuente y el lugar de sus ganancias al invertirlas en propiedades comerciales y residenciales en los Estados Unidos y México. Entre las propiedades, él junto a sus cómplices adquirieron dos penthouses en Puerto Vallarta, México; un condominio en Aspen, Colorado; un condominio en Punta Mita, México; y numerosas casas y propiedades comerciales ubicadas en diferentes partes de Texas. Después creó la falsa apariencia de riquezas e ingresos legítimos alquilándole a individuos y a entidades varias propiedades comerciales y residenciales que él había adquirido. Zamora-Quezada y sus cómplices presuntamente lavaron las ganancias en una casa de cambio, enviándolas a varias cuentas que mantenían en instituciones financieras en México.
La acusación formal solicita el decomiso del avión privado, el Maserati y las diferentes propiedades residenciales y comerciales de Zamora-Quezada en los Estados Unidos y México.
Una acusación formal es simplemente una alegación y todo acusado es inocente hasta que se compruebe su culpabilidad más allá de una duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia.
La Oficina Regional de McAllen de HHS-OIG, el Grupo Operativo contra el Fraude al Sistema de Salud de la Oficina Satélite de McAllen en el Valle del Río Grande de la División de San Antonio y el Grupo Operativo de McAllen contra Delitos Financieros están llevando a cabo la investigación de este caso. Estos grupos operativos están compuestos de investigadores del Departamento de Seguros de Texas, del Departamento de Policía de McAllen, del Departamento de Policía de Pharr y de la Comisión de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Texas.
El Abogado Procesalista Kevin Lowell de la Sección de Fraude de la División Criminal y el Fiscal Adjunto de los Estados Unidos Andrew Swartz del Distrito del Sur de Texas, están llevando este caso a juicio.
El FBI está buscando identificar posibles víctimas de Zamora-Quezada y sus cómplices. Si usted fue paciente de Zamora-Quezada entre enero 2000 y mayo 2018 y cree que pudo haber sido afectado por sus presuntos delitos y el de sus cómplices, por favor llame al FBI a su línea directa, 1-833-432-4873, Opción 8 o 9, o si tiene acceso a un correo electrónico, envié su correo al grupo operativo a [email protected]. Por ley el FBI tiene que identificar a las víctimas de los delitos federales que investiga y tiene que proporcionarles a dichas víctimas información, servicios de asistencia y recursos.
La Sección de Fraude lidera el Equipo de Prevención de Fraude al Medicare, el cual forma parte de una iniciativa conjunta entre el Departamento de Justicia y HHS, quienes enfocan sus esfuerzos para prevenir e impedir el fraude e implementan las leyes actuales en contra del fraude en todo el país. El Equipo de Prevención de Fraude al Medicare opera en nueve localidades en toda la nación. Desde su comienzo en marzo del 2007, el Equipo de Prevención de Fraude al Medicare ha presentado cargos a más de 3,500 acusados quienes han colectivamente defraudado al programa de Medicare por más de $12.5 mil millones.
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Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime and Firearm Offenses in Shooting of Two Indian Nationals and Third Man at a BarRead the Press Release
Prosecution and defense jointly request sentence of life imprisonment without parole
Adam W. Purinton, of Olathe, Kansas, pleaded guilty today in federal court to hate crime and firearm charges for shooting Indian nationals Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani and Kansas resident Ian Grillot at Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe February 2017, announced Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio of the Department of Justice, Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Stephen R. McAllister of the District of Kansas. Purinton previously pleaded guilty to state charges for murder and attempted murder arising out of the shooting, and was sentenced to life in state prison.
Purinton admitted in his plea agreement and testified in open court that the following is an accurate recitation of the facts supporting the crimes for which he pleaded guilty.
A few weeks before the shooting, Purinton was sitting by himself in the bar area at Austins Bar & Grill when, coincidentally, Kuchibhotla and Madasani happened to be having a drink on the patio. Noticing the two men, Purinton commented to a regular sitting at the bar, “Did you see the terrorists on the patio?”
On Feb. 22, 2017, Purinton drove to Austins Bar & Grill and sat by himself at a table on the enclosed front patio. Sitting at the table to his left were Ian Grillot and several other patrons. Sitting at the table to his right were Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani.
At approximately 6:40 p.m., Purinton approached Kuchibhotla and Madasani, and demanded to know where they were from and how they entered the country. Purinton poked Kuchibhotla in the chest, called him a “terrorist” and an epithet disparaging persons of Middle Eastern descent, and shouted, “Get out of my country!” Ian Grillot and another patron interceded, told Purinton that he needed to leave, and escorted him out of the bar.
Purinton drove home and retrieved one of his guns: a Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol with serial number TEW13121. To disguise his identity, Purinton changed into a different shirt and grabbed a blue-and-white scarf.
At approximately 7:12 p.m., Purinton returned to Austins Bar & Grill. He wrapped the scarf around his face to disguise his identity and exited his truck carrying his semi-automatic pistol. Purinton walked over to the enclosed front patio, opened the door, aimed his semi-automatic pistol at Kuchibhotla and Madasani, and fired eight rounds—at least four of which struck Kuchibhotla, who died from his injuries, and one of which struck Madasani, who was injured, but survived. Hours after the shooting, Purinton stated over the phone to a friend, and later in person to a bartender, that he had just killed some Iranians.
Purinton admitted that he shot Kuchibhotla and Madasani, attempting to kill both men, because of their race, color, religion, and national origin.
After shooting Kuchibhotla and Madasani, Purinton ran out, and Ian Grillot chased after him. As Grillot caught up to him, Purinton turned around and shot Grillot, who was injured but survived.
Purinton faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, which is the sentence that the prosecution and defense are jointly requesting. Sentencing is scheduled for July 2.
“Hate crimes are acts of evil, and the Department of Justice has prioritized their zealous prosecution,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “In this case, the defendant embarked on a murderous rampage with clear premeditation to kill on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin. It was a hate crime, and he is being brought to justice. While we cannot ameliorate the irreparable harm to the victims and their families, we hope that securing this guilty plea brings them some measure of closure. And this prosecution sends a message across the nation: hate crimes will not be tolerated.”
“Nothing we do can provide complete comfort and solace to the victims of this tragic crime and their families,” said U.S. Attorney McAllister. “But our office hopes that the federal life sentence which Mr. Purinton has agreed to request and accept will give them some measure of closure.”
“Although Purinton has already been convicted of murder in the State of Kansas, and sentenced to life in prison, today’s plea in federal court speaks to his motive,” said FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones. “By his agreement to today’s plea, Purinton acknowledges that his actions were motived by his hatred of the victims’ race, religion, color and national origin. This type of hatred will never be tolerated. I think it’s important for the community to see and understand that the FBI is committed to aggressively protecting and preserving the civil rights of all of our communities.”
This case was investigated jointly by the Olathe (KS) Police Department and the Kansas City Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tris Hunt and David Zabel of the District of Kansas, and Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Justice Department Reaches Settlement Agreement with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau on Behalf of Three Puerto Rico Army National Guard MembersRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced on Friday that it has reached a settlement agreement with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) that resolves allegations that the PRPB violated the employment rights of Puerto Rico Army National Guard Members Second Lieutenant Wilfredo Cruz Rivera, Sergeant Jose R. Bernal Martinez, and Sergeant Angel L. Martinez Toro under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA safeguards the rights of uniformed servicemembers to receive the full benefits of their employment, including promotional opportunities, following the fulfillment of their military service obligations.
According to the allegations in the complaint, also filed on Friday by the Justice Department, the three servicemembers became eligible to take promotional examinations while they were on active duty. The servicemembers took the missed exams upon their return from active duty and scored well enough to be promoted. While the PRPB promoted the servicemembers, it failed to make the promotions effective on the date that the officers would have been promoted but for their military service. Because the PRPB failed to provide the correct effective date for their promotions, the servicemembers lost wages and subsequent promotional opportunities.
“The freedoms we enjoy are dependent on the selfless duties performed by members of our National Guard,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to fully protecting the rights of these men and women when they are deployed, so that they can return to their civilian jobs with the full benefits to which they are entitled, including promotional opportunities.”
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the PRPB has agreed to compensate the servicemembers for their lost wages, collectively about $25,000, and lost benefits; correct the effective dates of their promotions; and change its policy to ensure compliance with USERRA in the future.
This case stems from a referral by the United States Department of Labor (DOL), pursuant to an investigation by DOL’s Veterans’ Employment Training Service.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Established in 2015, the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative cooordinates with Justice Department components and federal and state agencies to build a comprehensive legal support and protection network focused on serving servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Additional information about USERRA, and all of the civil rights statutes enforced by the Department of Justice on behalf of servicemembers, veterans and their families, can be found on the Justice Department’s website at www.usdoj.gov/crt/emp and www.servicemembers.gov, as well as on the Labor Department’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm.
Arlene Hart Sentenced for Mail Fraud Relating to Cw-1 Applications for Foreign WorkersRead the Press Release
SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Arlene Hart was sentenced on by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona for two counts of Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. The convictions were based on the defendant’s participation in a scheme to defraud by submitting fraudulent documents to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) California Service Center in support of CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) applications for workers from the Philippines. Hart forged the signatures of the workers on the contracts of employment submitted to USCIS, and declared that she had non-temporary, full-time work for the workers, which was not true. Defendant Hart was sentenced to eight months in prison plus four months of home confinement, one year of supervised release after incarceration, and 50 hours of community service.
United States Attorney Anderson stated, “The CW program was established to sustain the CNMI’s economy during the transition from the former CNMI foreign worker permit system to the U.S. immigration system. The program supplements the local workforce with qualified foreign workers during this ongoing transition period. However, it was never intended to be a de facto immigration status allowing aliens to seek out their own employment opportunities. Some employers have also been gaming the system by illegally charging workers recruitment fees, and operating illegal manpower agencies by petitioning USCIS for multiple alien workers without having actual jobs available for them. Allocating CW slots to workers without jobs harms the economy by depriving legitimate businesses of the workers they need. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue these cases as they come to our attention.”
Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James Benedetto prosecuted the case.
Wencai Guo Sentenced for Harboring Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Wencai GUO was sentenced today by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona for Harboring Illegal Aliens, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(a). The conviction was based on his role in supervising and concealing from detection illegal workers who had entered the United States to work at the Best Sunshine Hotel and Casino construction site. Defendant GUO was sentenced to 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release after incarceration, and a $5,000.00 fine.
United States Attorney Anderson stated, “The parole system, whereby tourists from the People’s Republic of China may enter the United States without a visa and without participation in a visa-waiver program, has resulted in hundreds, if not thousands, of illegal workers in construction and various other positions of employment in the Northern Mariana Islands. The United States Attorney’s Office will pursue cases of harboring and employment of illegal aliens against employers and others engaging in this unlawful activity. People entering the CNMI under the parole system cannot lawfully work. We will therefore pursue illegal entry charges against workers who enter the United States posing as tourists. Those tourists overstaying their terms under the parole system should depart the CNMI at the earliest opportunity.”
Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James Benedetto prosecuted the case.
Attorney General Sessions Announces Hugh Hurwitz as the Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of PrisonsRead the Press Release
Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced that Hugh Hurwitz will begin serving as the Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons on May 19, 2018, following Former Director Mark Inch’s resignation.
“I am pleased to announce Hugh Hurwitz as the Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Hugh has honorably served the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the American people throughout his distinguished career of federal service.” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “I would also like to thank Mark Inch for proudly serving the Department of Justice as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and wish him luck in his future endeavors.”
Mr. Hurwitz began his career with the Bureau of Prisons as a law clerk in the Office of General Counsel in 1988. In 2003, Mr. Hurwitz was selected as the Chief of Acquisitions and Grants Services at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), later becoming the FDA's Chief of Information Technology Shared Services. In 2007, he was appointed Senior Procurement Executive for the U.S. Department of Education (ED) before being promoted to Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hurwitz joined NASA's Office of Inspector General in 2012 as the Assistant Inspector General for Management. In 2015, he returned to the Bureau of Prisons as the Senior Deputy Assistant Director of the Information, Policy and Public Affairs Division. In 2017, Mr. Hurwitz was named Assistant Director for the Reentry Services Division.
As Assistant Director, Mr. Hurwitz oversaw a wide variety of areas, including mental health and drug treatment, community placement, and the education, vocational and recreation training programs for federal inmates nationwide. Mr. Hurwitz was responsible for coordinating efforts with other disciplines, agencies, and organizations to facilitate the successful reintegration of inmates back to their communities upon release.
In 1987, Mr. Hurwitz received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Rochester. In 1990, he received his Juris Doctor degree from American University, Washington College of Law.Attorney General Jeff Sessions' Opinion in the Matter of Castro-TumRead the Press Release
Attorney General Jeff Sessions today signed his order and opinion in the Matter of Castro-Tum. Please attribute the following statement to Justice Department spokesman Devin O’Malley:
“Starting in 2012, immigration judges began increasingly to rely on administrative closures, which suspended cases indefinitely rather than actually rendering a final decision. Congress never granted such broad authority to immigration judges, nor had the Attorney General delegated it. This process—where immigration court cases were put ‘out of sight, out of mind’—effectively resulted in illegal aliens remaining indefinitely in the United States without any formal legal status. Today’s opinion by Attorney General Sessions promotes the rule of law in the immigration system and eliminates the unfettered use of administrative closures.”
Background:
- On June 17, 2011, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a memo that provided “guidance on the exercise of prosecutorial discretion to ensure that the agency’s immigration enforcement resources are focused on the agency’s enforcement priorities.”
- Two years later, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) issued a memo promoting the use of administrative closures and continuances.
- The ICE memo informed their attorneys that they "may exercise prosecutorial discretion in any immigration removal proceeding before EOIR…”
- From October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2017, 215,285 cases were administratively closed. This represents 76% of the total cases that were administratively closed in the 31-year period between FY80 and FY11.
- On January 4, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to refer its decision in the Matter of Castro-Tum to him for review, an authority provided to the Office of the Attorney General by 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(h)(1)(i).
- The following chart represents the number of cases that have been administratively closed, but have yet to be recalendared. This total is not counted in the total pending caseload, which sits at approximately 690,000.
Key Excerpts:
- “Immigration judges and the Board have come to rely upon administrative closure without thoroughly explaining their authority to do so. Unlike the power to grant continuances, which the regulations expressly confer, immigration judges and the Board lack a general authority to grant administrative closure. No Attorney General has delegated such broad authority, and legal or policy arguments do not justify it. I therefore hold that immigration judges and the Board lack this authority except where a previous regulation or settlement agreement has expressly conferred it.” (Section III; page 9)
- “This certified case demonstrates how administrative closure particularly undermines the INA’s mandate to swiftly adjudicate immigration cases when the respondent fails to appear.” (page 2)
- “The current practice of administrative closure lacks a valid legal foundation, and I do not believe it would be appropriate to delegate such authority.” (Section III.B; page 17)
- “In the other administratively closed cases, immigration judges and the Board ordered administrative closure without the authority to do so. I am cognizant of the need to return these cases to the active docket so that these matters can proceed expeditiously. Requiring recalendaring of all of these cases immediately, however, would likely overwhelm the immigration courts and undercut the efficient administration of immigration law.” (Section IV; page 17)
- “Consequently, I now order that all cases that are currently administratively closed may remain closed unless DHS or the respondent requests recalendaring.” (Section IV; page 17)
Additional EOIR Background:
- If you are reporting on the backlog, you can use the following statement from DOJ spokesman Devin O’Malley: “Many of the policies in recent years have contributed to a three-fold increase of the immigration courts’ pending caseload. This massive increase necessitated the Justice Department’s ‘Strategic Caseload Reduction Plan,’ a series of common-sense reforms that aim to reduce the so-called ‘backlog’ by realigning the agency towards completing cases, increasing both productivity and capacity, and changing policies that lead to inefficiencies and waste.”
- For your background on the Strategic Caseload Reduction Plan:
- A streamlined hiring plan for immigration judges that reduces the hiring time from 762 days to 6-8 months. Under Attorney General Sessions’s leadership, we have already reached a reduction to 10 months, and we are confident we will hit the 6-8 month goal this year.
- Requested—and received—funding that decreases the ratio of judges to clerks from 2:1 to 1:1, which will increase efficiency and productivity.
- EOIR is actively working with GSA to identify new space and to expedite build-outs of existing space.
- EOIR is planning to pilot Video Teleconferencing (VTC) immigration adjudication centers (IACs), where IJs will adjudicate cases from around the country.
- EOIR is working to replace an antiquated paper filing system to an electronic filing system, and a pilot program for that will soon be established.
NOTE: The Attorney General's opinion in the Matter of Castro-Tum is attached here.