District Not Recorded
The source did not name an office we could identify. These records remain unassigned rather than guessed.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un franquiciado de Domino’s Pizza que resuelve unas acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a acuerdo conciliatorio con Treacy Enterprises Inc., con sede en Maryland y dueño y operador de varias franquicias de Domino’s Pizza (Treacy Enterprises). El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que Treacy Enterprises vulneró la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) al requerir que un trabajador no ciudadano de los EE. UU. proporcionara más documentos de los necesarios para demostrar su permiso para trabajar, aunque ya había presentado suficiente documentación.
«Mientras que los empleadores deben verificar el permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos de cada persona recién contratada, no pueden requerir documentos innecesarios o discriminar durante el proceso con base en el estatus de ciudadanía o la nacionalidad de origen de uno», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles seguirá luchando por quitar las barreras discriminatorias al empleo».
La investigación del Departamento comenzó cuando un trabajador que es residente permanente legal se quejó que Treacy Enterprises estaba requiriendo que entregara documentación adicional e innecesaria para demostrar su permiso para trabajar en vez de aceptar la documentación válida que ya había presentado. El Departamento determinó que Treacy Enterprises había discriminado al trabajador al (1) exigir documentación adicional para demostrar que él podía trabajar en vez de aceptar los documentos válidos que el trabajador ya había entregado y (2) requerir que el trabajador demostrara su estatus de ciudadanía al presentar una Tarjeta de Residente Permanente (también conocida como «tarjeta verde»). Las leyes federales permiten a los trabajadores elegir los documentos válidos y legalmente aceptables que desean presentar para demostrar su identidad y permiso para trabajar, independientemente de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen. Los empleadores no pueden exigir documentos específicos o adicionales a los que son necesarios como parte de su proceso.
Conforme el acuerdo, Treacy Enterprises pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos. Asimismo, el acuerdo requiere que la compañía capacite a su personal de recursos humanos en cuanto a los requisitos de la INA, que revise sus políticas de empleo y que se someta a los requisitos de supervisión y declaración del Departamento.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación.
Para aprender más sobre la labor de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda, vea este vídeo corto. Hay información disponible en el sitio web de la IER sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación a la hora de verificar el permiso para trabajar. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio, ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés o español. Inscríbase para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER por correo electrónico. Haga clic aquí para visualizar este comunicado de prensa en inglés.
Chief Compliance Officer Convicted of $50M Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Florida man today for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven King, 45, of Miramar, was the chief compliance officer of a pharmacy holding company that fraudulently billed Medicare over $50 million for dispensing lidocaine and diabetic testing supplies that Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want. King and his co-conspirators operated A1C Holdings LLC, which held pharmacies in various states, including All American Medical Pharmacy in Warren, Michigan. When A1C secured prescriptions and refills on behalf of its pharmacies for medically unnecessary lidocaine and diabetic testing supplies, it violated Medicare and pharmacy benefit manager rules.
King and his co-conspirators took several steps to conceal their scheme, including enrolling their mail order pharmacies as brick-and-mortar retail locations to evade more rigorous oversight, shipping prescription refills for high-reimbursing medications and supplies without patient consent, concealing the ownership of A1C Holdings LLC and its pharmacies, and transferring patients among pharmacies without patient consent. King and his co-conspirators took each of these steps to ensure that Medicare continued to be billed for profitable medications and supplies. As chief compliance officer, King was in a unique position to prevent and report the fraudulent scheme, but he used his position to defraud Medicare instead.
The jury convicted King of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 14 and he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine King’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI Detroit Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Shankar Ramamurthy and Acting Assistant Chief Andrew Barras of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Statement from Director Rachel Rossi of the Office for Access to Justice on the Adoption of the Equal Access to Justice Resolution at the United Nations Crime CommissionRead the Press Release
The Office for Access to Justice today issued the following statement from Director Rachel Rossi following the adoption of the “Equal Access to Justice for All” resolution at the 32nd Session of United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, Austria:
“The Office for Access to Justice is pleased to have played a role in the recent adoption by consensus of the first UN-CCPCJ resolution on access to justice. This resolution recognizes that when access to justice is limited or restricted in criminal justice systems, the rule of law is undermined. The resolution emphasizes the importance of United Nations Member States taking ‘all necessary steps to provide fair, transparent, effective, non-discriminatory and accountable services that promote access to justice for all;’ notes the importance of cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder partnerships; promotes efforts that reduce inequities in justice systems; and requests that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime hold a first-ever convening of experts on enhancing equal access to justice for all. The adoption of this resolution is a significant step forward, as it establishes goals that reflect the same work and mission our Office has undertaken here in the United States.”
Justice Department Co-Hosts Second Meeting of the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum in NorwayRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (State CT) co-hosted the second annual meeting of the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum (CTLEF) with the Government of Norway in Oslo from June 6 to 7. The CTLEF, which focuses on countering the global threat of racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE), brought together law enforcement, prosecutors, and other criminal justice practitioners from Europe and North and South America, as well as specialists from INTERPOL, Europol, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law and other multilateral organizations to discuss how to effectively address and counter REMVE threats.
Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division provided opening remarks with U.S. Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ian Moss and Norway’s Minster of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl. AAG Olsen noted that the United States remains committed to addressing REMVE extremism in conjunction with foreign partners. The complex challenges posed by REMVE actors require a coordinated international response that sees countries work together to understand and address REMVE recruiting, financing and attack-planning. Coordinated action by rule of law practitioners worldwide is a key strategy to degrading REMVE activities.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) and Counselor for International Affairs Bruce Swartz, along with a Norwegian counterpart, delivered closing remarks after the first day of CTLEF meetings. DAAG Swartz noted that this meeting continued the important work that began at last year’s first ever CTLEF and encouraged all participants to continue their ongoing efforts in preventing and addressing terrorism and REMVE threats.
OPDAT Director Faye Ehrenstamm, along with State CT’s Bureau and a Norwegian counterpart delivered the closing remarks at the end of the CTLEF. Director Ehrenstamm first thanked the delegations for attending and participating in this important initiative. She further emphasized the importance of international cooperation to learn about and address REMVE threats and pointed out participants had shared many important insights with each other during the forum. She concluded by emphasizing that the experiences exchanged and lessons learned at the year’s CTLEF illustrates the importance of working together on this critical threat.
The Governments of the United States and Germany co-hosted the inaugural meeting of the CTLEF in Berlin in May 2022. The initial meeting increased government’s focus, awareness and understanding about REMVE activity globally and focused on the strengthening of international cooperation to counter this terrorist threat. The June 2023 meeting built on the 2022 meeting and continued to increase international knowledge of this terrorist threat, as well as focusing on strengthening mechanisms and international cooperation to counter this threat. A more robust shared understanding and picture of REMVE global activity, including the overlap with anti-government and conspiracy theorist movements, will be critical in the years ahead as REMVE threats continue to build their transnational ties. This forum serves as a locale to begin building lines of communication between like-minded law enforcement and other partners and practitioners around the world who are working on this problem set. The CTLEF will convene again in the spring of 2024.
Officials from the U.S. Departments of State, Justice, and Treasury, as well as representatives from over 40 countries and various international and multilateral organizations, also participated in this meeting.
Please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-opdat for more information about OPDAT’s capacity building efforts around the world.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 63 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Alexander Greene, 27 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Greene was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on February 22, 2022, the Indiana State Police responded to a vehicle crash and spoke with Greene. From Greene’s possession, a trooper recovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device attached. The machinegun conversion device made the pistol capable of firing multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger. Greene’s criminal history revealed he has prior felony convictions for aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm and possession of a stolen vehicle, and as such, is prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Indiana State Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel L. Mathur and Kevin F. Wolff.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Former Texas Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Sentenced for Using Unlawful Force on an InmateRead the Press Release
A former Van Zandt County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office jail sergeant was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for violating a jail detainee’s civil rights by using unlawful force against him.
According to court documents, David Yager, 30, previously pleaded guilty and admitted that on or about Feb. 28, 2021, while he was serving in his official capacity, he repeatedly punched detainee M.H. in the chest with a taser with the trigger held down, even though M.H. did not pose a threat to anyone. Yager admitted that the detainee was confined to a restraint chair at the time Yager used unlawful force against him. Yager also admitted that his acts caused bodily injury to the detainee, and that he used force on the detainee despite knowing that there was no legitimate, law enforcement need to use force.
“This defendant abused his authority as a jail sergeant to assault and injure a fully restrained detainee,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable detention officers and others who use unlawful force against detainees.”
“As members of law enforcement, we take an oath to support and defend the Constitution and uphold our nation’s laws,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “A crime like this betrays that sacred duty and the badge with which the defendant was entrusted. When officers violate the civil rights of citizens in the Eastern District of Texas through unreasonable and unjustified violence, they will be prosecuted and held accountable.”
“Law enforcement is bound by an oath to serve all citizens with equal compassion, professionalism, dignity and respect. The defendant failed this oath by using unlawful force against someone entrusted to his custody,” said Special Agent in Charge B. Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Dallas Field Office. “When law enforcement fails to fulfill its duty to protect and serve its citizens, it erodes the trust that citizens have in us. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to hold accountable any official that abuses their authority because no one is above or beyond the law.”
The FBI Dallas Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson for the Eastern District of Texas and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Pharmacist Sentenced for $1M Prescription Drug Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Virginia man was sentenced today to two years in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare of over $1 million in prescription drug benefits.
According to court documents, Ronald A. Beasley II, 33, of Portsmouth, was the pharmacist in charge at NH Pharma, a pharmacy located in Lake Mary, Florida. Through NH Pharma, Beasley and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for expensive compound drug creams that they never actually purchased or dispensed, instead providing Medicare patients an inexpensive compound drug cream that Medicare did not cover. In fact, NH Pharma did not buy enough of the expensive prescription drugs to fill all the prescriptions NH Pharma billed to Medicare. In total, Beasley and his co-conspirators received more than $1 million in fraudulent Medicare proceeds.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge David Walker of the FBI Tampa Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Darren C. Halverson of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Readout of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Trip to MississippiRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division traveled to Lexington, Jackson, Indianola, and Clarksdale, Mississippi, on June 1 and June 2 to continue the division’s tour to engage with stakeholders in underserved communities and reaffirm the department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.
On Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi met with community leaders and stakeholders in Lexington at the Holmes County Circuit Court Complex. Holmes County is ranked as one of the poorest counties in the nation. In her remarks, Assistant Attorney General Clarke discussed the Justice Department’s commitment to address civil rights issues, including enforcing federal school desegregation orders, addressing jail and prison conditions and prosecuting hate crimes. The meeting focused on civil rights issues, like law enforcement accountability.
In the afternoon, Assistant Attorney General Clarke met with staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. She thanked the office’s leadership and staff for their service and commitment to protecting civil rights. After the meeting, she toured the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
In the evening, Assistant Attorney General Clarke participated in a community conversation at Jackson State University that was opened by NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson. The Mississippi Center for Justice’s President and CEO Vangela Wade moderated a conversation with Assistant Attorney General Clarke, who discussed her career as a civil rights attorney and the department’s efforts to protect the right to vote and to achieve economic justice, among others After the moderated discussion, local stakeholders raised concerns about local civil rights issues, including law enforcement accountability.
On Friday, Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi traveled to Indianola. There, she toured Lockard Elementary School, a majority-Black public school, and visited Indianola Academy, a majority-white charter school, with State Representative Otis Anthony. The school tours were followed by a community meeting at the Mississippi Center for Justice’s Indianola office. During the meeting, community leaders and educators discussed efforts to advance equitable educational experiences throughout the state.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke ended the day at the Clarksdale City Hall for a community meeting with Mayor Chuck Espy, U.S. Attorney Joyner and local stakeholders. She reiterated the Justice Department’s commitment to work with state and local partners to address civil rights and racial equity issues.
In the upcoming weeks, Assistant Attorney General Clarke will travel to South Carolina to meet with stakeholders in underserved communities.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney LaMarca speak to community members in Lexington. Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S Attorney LaMarca with the staff for the Southern District of Mississippi. Assistant Attorney General Clarke at the Mississippi Center for Justice. Assistant Attorney General Clarke and Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy. Assistant Attorney General Clarke at the Mississippi Civil Rights MuseumJustice Department Honors Law Enforcement Officers in Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 15 jurisdictions across the country.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn rank-and-file officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing. This year, the Department received nominations for almost 200 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. Nominations came from 49 states, representing state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.
“Every day, law enforcement officers across the country are asked to respond to some of the most difficult, most dangerous, and most traumatic moments that our communities face,” said Attorney General Garland. “Today’s awardees exemplify the very best of the noble profession of policing.”
The work being honored this year ranges from individuals who created and run creative programs geared to marginalized youth and senior citizens; officers whose diligent and dedicated efforts solved cold cases after many years; and law enforcement who peacefully resolved situations that could have resulted in great harm to others, were it not for their heroic efforts.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing is made possible through the Department’s work with national law enforcement stakeholder groups, who play a vital role in the review process. The various components throughout the Department also play a critical role, providing the review process with a depth of knowledge and experience that is inherent across the Department. The result is this annual awards program, which allows the Department to highlight a group of officers whose commitment to their communities is obvious through their exceptional efforts.
A list of award winners can be found here. Complete information on the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found here.
Connecticut Woman Faces up to 20 Years for Fentanyl and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Connecticut woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to possessing fentanyl and cocaine base with the intent to distribute.
According to court records, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into the suspected trafficking of illegal narcotics from an Avon residence. In July 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant and found Chrissie LaForge, 42, inside the residence. Law enforcement seized approximately $1,200 in cash from LaForge and found 44.9 grams of fentanyl and 12.65 grams of cocaine base in her purse.
LaForge faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
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Physician Sentenced for Stealing Approximately $250K from COVID-19 Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
A Colorado physician was sentenced today to two and a half years in prison for fraudulently obtaining and misappropriating approximately $250,000 from two separate COVID-19 relief programs.
According to court documents, Dr. Francis F. Joseph, 58, of Highlands Ranch, was the supervisory physician at Springs Medical Associates, a medical clinic with three offices in Colorado. From March through June 2020, Joseph applied for and received government funds for COVID-19 relief from the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program and the Paycheck Protection Program. Both programs were designed to provide emergency financial assistance to medical providers and small businesses who were suffering economic effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, Joseph received approximately $250,000 from these programs and used the money to pay for his personal expenses.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Curt Muller of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Kansas City Region; and Special Agent in Charge Weston King of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Western Region made the announcement.
The HHS-OIG and SBA-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and John J. Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with respect to the resources made available by Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for programs including the Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and the Provider Relief Fund. Since the CARES Act passed, Fraud Section attorneys have prosecuted more than 210 defendants in more than 140 criminal cases related to CARES Act programs and funds. The Fraud Section has also seized more than $80 million in cash proceeds derived from CARES Act-related fraud schemes, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/cares-act-fraud.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Motel Manager Pleads Guilty to Coercing Labor and Sex Acts by Female VictimRead the Press Release
A hotel manager in Georgia pleaded guilty today to trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude or forced labor.
According to court documents, Shreesh Tiwari, 70, an Indian national and legal U.S. permanent resident, began managing the Budgetel Motel in Cartersville, Georgia, in 2020. Tiwari hired the victim to work as a house cleaner at the motel. Tiwari knew that, prior to arriving at the Budgetel, the victim had experienced homelessness, struggled with a heroin addiction and lost custody of her young child. Tiwari promised the victim that he would help her regain custody of her child by providing her with pay, an apartment, and an attorney.
Instead of following through with his promises, Tiwari monitored the victim’s interactions with motel guests and employees and forbade her from speaking to them. Tiwari also made numerous sexual overtures to the victim. When Tiwari became angry at the victim, he threatened to evict her from the room he offered her at the Budgetel, knowing that she would become homeless as a result. Tiwari also threatened to report the victim’s drug use to law enforcement or child welfare agencies whenever he was angry at her. Eventually, Tiwari began to regularly “evict” the victim from her motel room, and even locked her out of her room at night without warning. Tiwari later required the victim to perform oral sex on him to stay at the motel. If she did not, Tiwari removed her from the property, causing her to be homeless.
“Human trafficking is an abhorrent crime in which traffickers specifically identify and target the most vulnerable members of our society, often using fraudulent promises to offer hope to someone in need,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This conviction demonstrates that the Justice Department is committed to prosecuting motel operators and other landlords who misuse and abuse their position of power over tenants to compel them to engage in commercial sex acts.”
“Victims of sex trafficking crimes are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities and they are targeted by traffickers as a result,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “We refuse to tolerate human trafficking of any kind and this conviction reinforces our commitment to protecting all victims of crime in our community – regardless of their status.”
“Prosecuting human traffickers and rescuing human trafficking victims is a top priority of this office and the Department of Homeland Security,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta Field Office. “This guilty plea highlights that commitment and serves as a warning to other predators that law enforcement is determined to find, arrest and punish those involved in this heinous crime.”
Sentencing is set for Sept. 6. Tiwari faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea agreement, Tiwari agreed to pay slightly over $40,000 in mandatory restitution to the victims of offense. A federal judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Buchanan and Acting Special Agent in Charge Pickard made the announcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Dalton Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne Marek and Annalise Peters for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Kate Hill of the Justice Department’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Two Nigerian Nationals Previously Extradited from the United Kingdom Plead Guilty to International Fraud Scheme that Defrauded Elderly U.S. VictimsRead the Press Release
Two Nigerian nationals who were extradited to the United States from the United Kingdom pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Jerry Chucks Ozor, 43, and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham, 44, were part of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States, falsely claiming that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died years before in Spain. Victims were told that before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Victims sent money to the defendants through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims. The defendants convinced these former victims to receive money from new victims and then forward the fraud proceeds to others (thereby serving as so-called “money mules”). In pleading guilty, the defendants admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.
“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will pursue, prosecute, and secure the convictions of transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located. I thank the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency for its extensive efforts in helping to ensure that these defendants are held accountable here in the United States,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to bring to justice criminals who attempt to defraud U.S. victims from outside the United States.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has a long tradition of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice,” said Postal Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the USPIS Miami Division. “These guilty pleas are a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to protect our citizens from these scams.”
“These guilty pleas are a result of the unwavering commitment and countless hours spent by HSI and our law enforcement partners to ensure that this investigation led the extradition of the two Nigerian nationals,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of HSI Arizona. “Operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that targets the elderly is not only morally reprehensible, it also undermines the financial systems we use and depend upon. I thank everyone who worked on this case. These two defendants are one step closer to facing much-deserved prison time.”
On May 18, Ozor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Abraham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud earlier today. Ozor is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams on July 27. Judge Williams will sentence Abraham on Aug. 9. Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The Consumer Protection Branch, USPIS, and HSI are investigating the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the U.K., Spain, and Portugal all provided critical assistance.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Justice Department Secures over $3 Million Redlining Settlement Involving ESSA Bank & Trust in PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that ESSA Bank & Trust (ESSA) has agreed to pay over $3 million to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by redlining majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in and around Philadelphia. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in communities of color because of the race, color or national origin of the residents in those communities.
The complaint filed in federal court today alleges that from at least 2017 to 2021, ESSA failed to provide mortgage lending services and did not serve the credit needs of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
“For too long, residents of communities of color have been unlawfully denied equal access to credit and shut out of economic opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When banks engage in redlining, they perpetuate existing patterns of segregation and widen the racial wealth gap in our country. This resolution makes clear our commitment to holding banks and financial institutions accountable for modern day redlining while ensuring access to fair lending in communities of color.”
“Accessing the American dream of owning your own home is possible only when there is equality for all in their opportunities to access lending in the residential mortgage markets,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Redlining in Greater Philadelphia has deep roots; it’s led to decades of disinvestment in communities of color. We appreciate ESSA’s prompt cooperation with the department’s investigation and their efforts that will aim to infuse lending resources and help build wealth in neighborhoods of color.”
Under the proposed consent order, which is subject to court approval, ESSA has agreed to invest at least $2.92 million in a loan subsidy fund to increase access to credit for home mortgage, improvement and refinance loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit, in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the bank’s lending area. ESSA has also agreed to spend an additional $125,000 on community partnerships and $250,000 on advertising, outreach, consumer financial education and credit counseling, in an effort to expand the bank’s services in majority-Black and Hispanic communities. The consent order also requires the bank to hire two new mortgage loan officers to serve its existing branches in West Philadelphia and conduct a research-based market study to help identify the needs for financial services in communities of color.
The department opened its investigation into ESSA’s lending practices after receiving a referral from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. ESSA fully cooperated with the department’s investigation and worked expeditiously to resolve these allegations.
In October 2021, the department launched its Combating Redlining Initiative as a coordinated enforcement effort to address this persistent form of discrimination against communities of color. Since the initiative was launched, the department has announced seven redlining cases and settlements and secured $87 million in relief for communities of color that have been victims of lending discrimination across the country.
More information about the department’s fair lending enforcement can be found at www.justice.gov/fairhousing. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291 or submitting a report online.
Former Texas Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Sentenced for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
A former Van Zandt County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy was sentenced today to 44 months in prison for violating an arrestee’s civil rights by using excessive force against him.
According to court documents, Steven “Craig” Shelton, 62, previously pleaded guilty and admitted that on or about Sept. 21, 2021, while acting as the Chief Deputy and second-in-command of the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, he repeatedly struck a handcuffed and compliant arrestee in the face. Shelton admitted that his acts, which occurred in front of several other officers in the Rolling Oaks area of Wills Point, Texas, caused bodily injury to the arrestee. Shelton admitted that he hit the arrestee because Shelton was frustrated, even though Shelton knew that there was no legitimate, law enforcement need to use force against the arrestee.
“This defendant abused his authority as a law enforcement officer by violently assaulting and injuring a handcuffed arrestee, violating the victim’s civil rights and the public’s trust,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those officers who abuse their authority, wherever such abuses occur.”
“It is an unacceptable abuse of authority for a police officer to strike a handcuffed arrestee who poses no threat,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “Public trust in law enforcement is eroded when officers do not follow the laws they are sworn to enforce. While recognizing that a vast majority of law enforcement officers protect the constitutional rights of individuals on a daily basis, the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting the public from officers who violate those rights.”
“The FBI regards the protection of civil rights as one of our most solemn responsibilities,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “We will continue to investigate any law enforcement officer who violates these rights, and pursue justice for victims.”
The FBI Dallas Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson for the Eastern District of Texas and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Detroit Medical Center, Vanguard Health Systems, and Tenet Healthcare Corporation Agree to Pay over $29 Million to Settle False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
VHS of Michigan Inc., doing business as, The Detroit Medical Center Inc. (DMC), Vanguard Health Systems Inc. (Vanguard), and Tenet Healthcare Corporation (Tenet), has agreed to pay $29,744,065 to the government to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by providing kickbacks to certain referring physicians.
DMC operates hospitals in and around Detroit, including Sinai Grace Hospital and Harper University Hospital. In October 2013, Tenet acquired Vanguard owned-and-operated hospitals and outpatient facilities, including DMC.
The settlement announced today resolves the government’s allegations that DMC, Vanguard, and Tenet caused the submission of false or fraudulent claims to Medicare. Specifically, the government alleged that from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2017, Sinai Grace Hospital and Harper University Hospital provided the services of DMC-employed mid-level practitioners to 13 physicians at no cost or below fair market value in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The government further alleged that the physicians were selected because of their large number of patient referrals to Sinai Grace Hospital and Harper University Hospital and that the purpose of these arrangements was to induce the physicians to refer additional Medicare patients to DMC facilities.
The AKS prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare and other federally funded programs. The statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.
“The Justice Department will pursue improper arrangements that have the potential to compromise physicians’ medical judgment,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael D. Granston of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Physicians should evaluate where to send patients for medical services based on the quality of care the patients will receive, not the financial benefits that the physicians will reap.”
“This outcome makes clear that when doctors refer patients for care at hospitals, they must do so based on their own professional judgment and the medical needs of their patients, not personal financial benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Our office stands ready to scrutinize even the most complicated financial arrangements and to pursue justice wherever appropriate.”
“Paying and accepting kickbacks encourages providers to put personal financial gain before the needs of their patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As this case demonstrates, those who enter into such improper arrangements and put the safety of their patients at risk will be held accountable.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Dr. Jay Meythaler, a former employee of Wayne State University Medical School, which is affiliated with DMC. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, Dr. Meythaler will receive $5,205,211.37 as part of the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Meythaler v. Detroit Medical Center, Inc., et al., No. 5:15-cv-12333 (E.D. Mich.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the HHS-OIG and the FBI.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
Trial Attorney Kristen Murphy of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Gentner for the Eastern District of Michigan handled the case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Court Permanently Bars Five Defendants from Promoting Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
On May 23, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri permanently barred Rhonda Eickhoff from organizing, promoting, selling or marketing a tax scheme involving the use of charitable remainder annuity trusts (CRATs).
On May 17, the court likewise permanently barred John Eickhoff Jr. and Hoffman Associates LLC from organizing, promoting, selling or marketing a tax scheme involving the use of CRATs. In addition, the court ordered Hoffman Associates LLC, the company allegedly used to promote the scheme, to disgorge $1.1 million and John Eickhoff Jr. to disgorge $400,000. The court previously entered injunctions against defendants John William Gray II and Damon Thomas Eisma stemming from their roles in this scheme. Each defendant agreed to the court orders. The case against two additional defendants for their roles in this scheme remains pending.
According to the United States’ amended complaint, defendants falsely claimed that customers following their CRAT scheme could sell property in a way that eliminated the federal income tax on the gain generated from the sale. The government alleged each defendant took part in one or more of the following steps involved in the scheme: (1) recruiting customers to contribute property to a CRAT (usually real property that has gained value over time); (2) unlawfully inflating (stepping-up) the cost basis in the property on tax documents; (3) selling the property and using the proceeds to purchase an annuity; and (4) falsely reporting the annuity payments received by the customers as tax-free distributions from the CRAT. The government alleged that the defendants promoted, sold, or established at least 70 CRATs, resulting in an estimated $40 million of unreported taxable income.
Abusive arrangements using Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts remain a concern of the IRS, which recently warned taxpayers about the misuse of this trust arrangement as part of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen series.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS offers tips on how to accurately file returns and how to choose a tax return preparer, as well as steps taxpayers can take to get a jumpstart on filing. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information. Taxpayers seeking assistance can access the IRS’s free directory of federal tax preparers.
In the past decade, the Justice Department's Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers and promoters. 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.
Justice Department Highlights Initiatives to Prevent and Address Gender-Based ViolenceRead the Press Release
This week, the Justice Department highlighted a series of initiatives aimed at preventing and addressing sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV). With its strong, longstanding commitment to upholding justice and pursuing equality for all, the Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government and communities nationwide to prioritize the safety of all survivors of GBV and lauds the White House’s recent release of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action.
“Gender-based violence violates fundamental human rights, destroys communities, and fosters social inequities,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Identifying and preventing these crimes is a top department priority, underscored by this first-ever national plan and the government’s collective commitment to this cause. The Justice Department, with our federal partners, will continue to spotlight the repercussions of these crimes on society and applauds those who support survivors in restoring their sense of safety and well-being.”
GBV affects individuals from all walks of life and spans all ages, representing a significant public safety crisis. It pervades every sphere of human interaction, be it public or private. In our ever-connected world, this form of violence impacts communities nationwide and can often escalate under disaster, conflict or crisis conditions, including global health emergencies such as a pandemic.
During the Launch of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, Acting Director Allison Randall of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) delivered remarks and facilitated a roundtable discussion with leaders, advocates, and survivors. “Sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking are serious violent crimes that make our nation less equal and less just,” said Acting Director Randall. “Only a comprehensive response that is deeply informed by survivors and historically marginalized communities can end gender-based violence. Today we uplift the ongoing work of the Department of Justice and stand with colleagues across the federal government and with communities across the United States.”
The Justice Department’s work to respond to GBV is a whole-of-agency effort to provide comprehensive services for survivors and hold offenders accountable by enforcing the nation’s laws against these crimes. The department’s unwavering commitment to addressing GBV spans across funding, research, policy, technical assistance, training, and guidance that includes, but is not limited, to the following:
Funding
The OVW and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) administer grants to prevent, address and coordinate community responses across the nation to address gender-based violence. Funding helps to strengthen the criminal justice system’s response, expand victim services, support community-based efforts and bolster prevention.
Of note, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) includes numerous improvements to legal tools and expansions to OVW grant programs addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Also, each year, OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers hundreds of millions of dollars to all states and territories for crime victim assistance and compensation, including for survivors of gender-based violence.
Policies and Guidance
- In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines address the responsibilities of department employees when working with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect during criminal justice proceedings. The Guidelines address the myriad needs of survivors of gender-based violence.
- On May 23, the department released the National Protocol for Intimate Partner Violence Medical Forensic Examinations to guide the clinical practice of conducting comprehensive assessments for patients experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) that prioritize the patient’s health and well-being.
- In April 2022, the department issued Federal Workplace Responses to Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking, an agency policy that aims to improve safety in the workplace for employees and contractors who could potentially be victims of such crimes.
- In May 2022, the department released updated guidance in Improving Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence by Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias aimed at enhancing law enforcement's approach to handling sexual assault and domestic violence cases by identifying and preventing gender bias.
Projects and Initiatives
- In April 2023, the Civil Rights Division’s Coordinating Committee to Combat Sexual Misconduct released a fact sheet showcasing its achievements in combatting sexual misconduct throughout the preceding year.
- In September 2022, OVC funded Restoring Youth: Supporting Sexual Abuse Survivors in Youth Detention, a program aimed at expanding services for sexual abuse survivors in youth detention. The project will build the capacity of four selected grantee partnership sites, comprised of youth detention facilities and community-based sexual abuse survivor service providers, to establish services for youth that are rooted in racial equity and accessible to survivors from traditionally underserved communities.
- OVC funded several initiatives to prevent Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C) including a Support Line for Survivors of FGM/C, an End FGM/C Network Resources Page, and a Voices to End FGM/C Digital Storytelling Project. They also funded two national trainings for maternal healthcare providers to address FGM/C in May of 2023.
- OVC funded the Youth Collaboratory to implement projects to prevent and reduce the victimization of Black girls vulnerable to sex trafficking by increasing the capacity of program providers and other stakeholders working to prevent the trafficking of Black girls. The projects included a three-part video series that amplified voices from the field-direct service professionals, researchers, youth and young adults with lived expertise, and multidisciplinary providers. Additionally, the Girls Action Board (GAB), a national leadership opportunity for youth and young adults (ages 18-24) with lived expertise, wrote and performed a collaborative poetry piece about the importance of centering Black girls.
Addressing Crimes Against American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
- In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating the priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates impacting indigenous women and girls reported missing or murdered. The memorandum directed each U.S. Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction – along with their law enforcement partners at the Justice Department – to update and develop new plans for addressing missing and murdered persons crisis.
- On Aug. 8-10, the OVW will hold the 18th Annual OVW Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here.
- In December 2022, the OVC held its Tribal Nation’s Conference in Palm Springs, California, bringing together thousands of Tribal leaders, victim service providers, and criminal justice practitioners to address crime victimization in Indian Country, including all aspects of gender-based violence.
- In April 2022, OVW issued an interim final rule governing the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Reimbursement Program, a new program authorized under VAWA 2022 to reimburse Tribal governments for expenses incurred in exercising STCJ over non-Native individuals who commit certain covered crimes on tribal lands.
- OVC administers the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside, which provides non-competitive grant funding to support victim services, including gender-based violence. Tribal set-aside awards support activities such as shelters, child advocacy centers, sexual assault services, community outreach and education; and other activities needed to address survivors in tribal communities.
Research and Data
- In May 2022, OVW released the FY 2023 Research and Evaluation Initiative to conduct research that facilitates researcher-practitioner partnerships and studies interventions that address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
- In March 2023, the Department’s National Institute of Justice released a solicitation to conduct research and evaluation projects examining a broad range of topics, including the crimes of domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence, rape, sex trafficking, sexual assault, stalking, and teen dating violence, also known as adolescent relationship abuse, along with the associated criminal justice system response, procedures, and policies.
- The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) maintains a collection of data that support efforts to address gender-based violence. These measures are collected on several BJS data collections, although the approach to measurement can vary depending on the collection and the year of administration: National Crime Victimization Survey, National Inmate Survey, National Survey of Youth in Custody, and Survey of Prison Inmates.
Two Utah Men Charged with Federal Hate Crime OffenseRead the Press Release
Two Utah men were charged with a federal hate crime April 26 following the return of an indictment by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah.
According to the indictment, Nathan Thomas, 22, and Sebastian West, 22, both of Payson, allegedly assaulted a person identified by the initials D.J. because of D.J.’s actual and perceived race.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah and Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Drew Yeates and Andrea Martinez for the District of Utah and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Departments of Justice and Education Release Resource on Confronting Racial Discrimination in Student DisciplineRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) jointly released a Resource on Confronting Racial Discrimination in Student Discipline. The departments recognize and appreciate school administrators, teachers and educational staff across the nation who work to administer student discipline fairly, and to provide a safe, positive and nondiscriminatory educational environment for all students, teachers and other educators.
The Resource demonstrates the departments’ ongoing commitment to the vigorous enforcement of laws that protect students from discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in student discipline. The Resource provides examples of the departments’ investigations over the last 10 years, reflecting the long-standing approach and continuity in the departments’ enforcement practices over time and the continuing urgency of assuring nondiscrimination in student discipline in our nation’s schools.
“Discrimination in school discipline can have devastating long-term consequences on students and their future opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department Civil Rights Division uses our federal civil rights laws to protect students from discriminatory discipline, including discrimination in suspensions and expulsions, law enforcement referrals and school-based arrests. The investigations that we describe demonstrate how students may experience discrimination based on multiple facets of their identities and reflect our joint commitment to fully protect all students.”
“OCR remains committed to ensuring nondiscrimination in disciplinary practices,” said Assistant Secretary Catherine E. Lhamon of the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. “I look forward to ongoing work in, and with, schools to ensure that no student experiences unlawful discrimination, including with respect to discipline.”
The Resource describes how the departments resolved investigations of 14 school districts in 10 states nationwide – Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah. These investigations, conducted under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its regulations and Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, involved concerns about discrimination in schools’ use of out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, school-based arrests, referrals to law enforcement, involuntary discipline transfers, informal removals and other disciplinary actions against Black, Latino and Native American students.
The Resource demonstrates ways school districts can take steps to proactively improve their administration of student discipline.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for tax evasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Darren Lee Joy of Matthews did not file individual income tax returns for most of the past two decades, even though he was required to do so based on the amount of income he earned. Joy evaded taxes by submitting and maintaining with his employers Forms W-4 and state tax forms that falsely claimed he was exempt from federal and state income tax withholding. As a result, taxes were not withheld from his wages and little to no taxes were paid to the IRS. In total, Joy earned more than $1.8 million in income and owed more than $380,000 in state and federal income taxes.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Frank D. Whitney ordered Joy to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $359,859 in restitution to the United States and $23,058 in restitution to the State of California.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina and Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Brian Flanagan of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley for the Western District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.
Michigan Vascular Surgeon Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison for Health Care Fraud Conviction and Agrees to Pay up to $43.419 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Vasso Godiali, a vascular surgeon from Bay City, Michigan, was sentenced on May 3 to 80 months in prison for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud health care programs by submitting claims for the placement of vascular stents and for thrombectomies that he did not perform and was ordered to pay $19.5 million in restitution collectively to Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). Additionally, Godiali agreed to pay the United States up to $43,419,000 to resolve related civil allegations that his fraudulent billings to federal health care programs violated the False Claims Act (FCA).
According to a plea agreement that Godiali entered on Feb. 8, 2022, Godiali began to knowingly defraud medical insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, in approximately 2009. Godiali billed for the placement of multiple vascular stents in the same blood vessel and prepared medical records purporting to document the medical necessity justifying that billing. In fact, however, Godiali did not place those stents and admitted to billing for services never rendered while preparing materially inaccurate medical records to justify the fraudulent billings.
Godiali also billed for arterial thrombectomies and created medical records that stated he encountered occluded arteries that would justify the performance of the procedures. However, he admitted that he often encountered no such occlusions, performed no such thrombectomies, and thus billed insurers for services never rendered while preparing false medical records to justify the fraudulent claims. Godiali’s fraudulent practices resulted in $14,473,000 in damages to the federal government, and a total of $19.5 million across Medicare, Medicaid, and BCBSM, which he agreed to repay as restitution as part of his plea agreement.
In the related FCA action, in addition to alleging that Godiali submitted false claims for procedures that he never performed, the United States alleged that Godiali improperly used Modifier 59 to “unbundle” services that should have been billed together in a single claim to increase his reimbursements from federal health care programs.
A civil forfeiture case resulted in the seizure of approximately $39.9 million from financial accounts controlled by Godiali. Except for $7.5 million, which will be released to Godiali’s wife pursuant to an agreement with the United States, all of the seized funds will be used to pay the criminal judgment or the FCA settlement.
“We will not tolerate the use of federal health care programs as a source of personal enrichment,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting the integrity of those programs and the taxpayer funds used to support them.”
“A priority of my office is protecting our district against unscrupulous health care providers.” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Dr. Godiali stole an enormous amount of money from both public and private health insurers over a number of years, and falsified medical records to cover up his scheme to defraud. We hope that today’s sentence and substantial civil recovery deter any other physicians likewise inclined to line their pockets at the expense of the public.”
“This provider egregiously stole millions of dollars from taxpayers by billing federal health care programs for services that were neither medically necessary nor rendered to his patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As this case demonstrates, HHS-OIG and our partners remain committed to ensuring that vital taxpayer dollars are used lawfully and for their intended purposes, not for the illegitimate financial gain of an individual provider.”
“The scope of Godiali’s fraud is truly stunning,” said Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “This investigation proves the collective resources of law enforcement and the private sector can successfully combat fraud in our health care system.”
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Innovative Solutions Consulting, LLC. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. As part of the civil resolution, Innovative Solutions will receive up to $4,341,900. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Innovative Solutions Consulting LLC v. Vasso Godziachvili Godiali, M.D., Case No. 1:15-cv-14150-TLL-PTM (E.D. Mich.).
The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Neal, Philip Ross, and Craig Wininger for the Eastern District of Michigan. The FCA matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Sarah Arni of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Postulka for the Eastern District of Michigan. The civil forfeiture action was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Ross for the Eastern District of Michigan. These matters received assistance from HHS-OIG, the FBI, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Except as to conduct admitted in connection with the criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
LaVista Man Sentenced for Selling Firearm to a FelonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Bryon S. Bruckner, 34, of LaVista, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for selling a firearm to a felon. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Bruckner to 18 months’ imprisonment, consecutive to his April 19, 2022, Nebraska state sentence of 12 to 14 years for Attempted 1st Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. There is no parole in the federal system. After his federal sentence is complete, Bruckner will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On March 3, 2022, Bruckner, while awaiting sentencing in his state case, sold a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confidential source (and convicted felon) a Walther 9mm handgun. The illegal sale occurred in the driveway of Bruckner’s residence in LaVista. The confidential source told Bruckner that he/she was a felon before Bruckner sold the confidential source the gun and yet Bruckner still made the sale. The sale was audio and video recorded.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Omaha Police Department and was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Justice Department Announces 10 Additional Steps on the One-Year Anniversary of Executive Order 14074 on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public SafetyRead the Press Release
To highlight the one-year anniversary of the May 25, 2022 Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety, three years after the murder of George Floyd, the Justice Department today is releasing a series of 10 new reports and guidance documents as part of its ongoing efforts to implement the Executive Order.
The steps being announced today include updated guidance prohibiting racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies, accreditation standards to encourage adoption of policies in the Executive Order by state, Tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) law enforcement agencies, a report on the Department’s efforts to implement the First Step Act, and guidance on officer wellness, investigating in-custody deaths, and responses to individuals in crisis, among others.
“While our work is not done, we are proud of the important changes we have made over this past year to update our internal policies and better provide our state and local partners with the resources and support they need to keep communities safe from violent crime, advance transparency, and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As we remember the life of George Floyd on the third anniversary of his death, the Justice Department renews our commitment to advancing accountability in law enforcement and safeguarding the civil rights of all Americans. We recognize that we have a responsibility to lead by example.”
Over the past year, the Department has worked tirelessly on more than 90 Executive Order steps, including robust and substantive engagement with stakeholders from civil rights, law enforcement, and community groups, as well as our federal agency partners.
“The Justice Department’s law enforcement partners are integral to our efforts to protect the American people from violent crime and a wide range of security threats,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Law enforcement officers are on the front lines every day, across the country, and they deserve our continued support as we work together to ensure equal justice for all. I am proud of the work the Department has done to implement the Executive Order, and in particular the priority it places on officer safety and mental health, to foster a culture of wellness within law enforcement agencies.”
“Public safety requires police-community trust and fair criminal justice policies. The Justice Department has worked hard over the last twelve months to implement the over 90 deliverables from Executive Order 14074, including a focus on mental health, use of force, data collection, officer wellness, reentry, and much more,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In making progress in all these areas, we have relied on the extensive engagement of our law enforcement and civil rights partners every step of the way. We remain committed to using all of our tools to strengthen trust and build healthy and safe communities.”
In addition to the steps announced today, the Department’s work under the Executive Order includes prohibiting the transfer of or use of federal grant funds to purchase military-style weapons and equipment for STLT law enforcement agencies, awarding grants in a manner that supports and promotes the adoption of the Executive Order’s policies, and working to establish a National Law Enforcement Accountability Database.
All of this work is part of the Department’s abiding commitment to the Attorney General’s three co-equal priorities: upholding the rule of law, protecting civil rights, and keeping our country safe.
Overview of the Justice Department’s Implementation of Executive Order 14074
As part of an all-of-government strategy set forth in the May 2022 Executive Order, the Department is using all of its tools to advance public safety and build police-community trust, while advancing thoughtful, evidence-informed initiatives and reforms throughout the criminal justice system. As the Executive Order makes clear, system-wide change requires funding and support that only Congress can authorize. The mandates of the Executive Order apply only to federal law enforcement agencies.
- To raise the standards of federal law enforcement agencies, the Executive Order requires all federal law enforcement agencies to adopt policies equivalent to the Department’s policies on using force, chokeholds and carotid restraints, no-knock entries, and proper body-worn camera use.
- To promote adoption of the Executive Order’s policies by STLT law enforcement agencies and encourage best practices, the Department is awarding discretionary grants in a manner that supports and promotes adoption of the Order’s policies and has created first-of-their-kind accreditation standards to further encourage adoption. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, also published guidance on best practices for responding to calls and interacting with persons in behavioral or mental health crisis or with a disability, and published a report on supporting officer wellness.
- To improve conditions of confinement and promote better outcomes for individuals who are incarcerated or under supervision, the Department published a report on the use of restrictive housing in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and BOP’s efforts to reduce its use, a report outlining steps BOP and the U.S. Marshals Service are taking to improve conditions of confinement for individuals in their custody, and a report on the Department’s efforts to fully implement the First Step Act.
- To improve data collection and analysis to help better inform the public, government leaders, and policymakers, the Department is providing training and technical assistance to federal and STLT law enforcement agencies to increase reporting to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force data collection program, the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) data collection program, the Death in Custody Report Act, and the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
- The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, updated the Guidance on the Use of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, National Origin, Religion, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies. The updated guidance prohibiting racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies sets forth limited circumstances when federal law enforcement agents or officers may consider a protected characteristic, adds disability as a protected characteristic, expands application of the guidance beyond law enforcement officers to all federal law enforcement personnel engaged in or supporting federal law enforcement activities, and sets benchmarks and timelines for the development and implementation of training, data collection, and accountability provisions.
- Last month, the Department released a Strategic Plan outlining actions to safely reduce criminal justice system interactions, support rehabilitation during incarceration, and facilitate reentry for people with criminal records.
In the months and years to come, the Department will continue to operationalize and build upon its implementation of the Executive Order to keep communities safe, support law enforcement, and advance effective, fair policing.
The Department’s reports and guidance documents are available here.
The Department’s Fact Sheet on efforts to implement the Executive Order is available here.
Chalmette Pharmacist Sentenced to 72 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEITH WILKINSON, a pharmacist who owned and operated Wilkinson Family Pharmacy located in St. Bernard Parish, was sentenced to serve 72 months in custody for his role in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering.
According to the bill of information, beginning prior to 2014 and continuing until the filing of the bill of information on September 14, 2018, WILKINSON and others conspired to dispense, outside the scope of his professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, quantities of controlled substances. WILKINSON also committed money laundering using criminally derived proceeds.
At his sentencing on Wednesday May 24, 2023, WILKINSON was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
This prosecution was part of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn McHugh of the Financial Crimes Unit.
New Jersey Prison Corrections Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation After Facilitating Assaults on InmatesRead the Press Release
A corrections officer at Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, New Jersey, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and required to pay a $10,000 fine for agreeing with others to physically assault inmates for actual, perceived and fabricated violations of the prison’s rules and customs in a manner that resulted in injury to the inmates.
John Makos, 42, of Millville, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to conspiring with others to deprive inmates of their right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.
“This jail official was complicit in a series of violent assaults on inmates, turning a blind eye as the assaults were carried out as punishment for alleged violations of prison rules,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentencing demonstrates that correctional officers who abuse their authority and violate the civil rights of inmates under their custody and control will be held accountable for their actions. The Justice Department is committed to protecting the civil rights of all people, including those held inside our jails and prisons.”
“Corrections officers are responsible for protecting the civil rights of the people in their custody,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Incarcerated persons may have broken the law, but equal treatment is one of our country’s founding principles, and civil rights do not cease to exist at a prison’s gates. This defendant allowed incarcerated persons under his care to be brutalized and abused his authority as a law enforcement officer. Today’s sentence is another reminder that civil rights violations by law enforcement officials will not be tolerated.”
“The defendant sentenced today misused his position of power and permitted the brutal assault of inmates in his custody,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI remains dedicated to uncovering any violation of civil rights and pursuing justice for victims in these cases.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least April 2019 through December 2019, while working as a corrections officer, Makos and others at Bayside State Prison agreed to physically assault certain victim-inmates for actual, perceived, and fabricated violations of the prison’s rules and customs. The assaults caused physical injury and pain to the victim-inmates. These assaults took place while the victim-inmates were under Makos’ supervision and in areas of the prison’s kitchen that were out of sight of institutional surveillance cameras. For example, on Dec. 7, 2019, Makos watched and did not attempt to intervene when multiple inmates pinned a victim-inmate to the floor and, while the inmates restrained the victim-inmate, punched the victim-inmate approximately 25 times. Makos did not report this assault to his supervisors or medical personnel, despite knowing he was required to do so.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Sellinger and FBI Assistant Director Quesada made the announcement.
The FBI Newark Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari B. Fontecchio and Sara Merin of the Special Prosecutions Division for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Shan Patel formerly of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Justice Department Observes National Missing Children’s DayRead the Press Release
As part of the 40th annual commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day, the Justice Department today honored nine individuals in Washington, D.C. for their extraordinary efforts to recover and help missing children and to hold those who commit child sexual abuse and crimes against children legally responsible for their actions.
“Whether a child has been abducted, or has just wandered away, the terror felt by a parent when their child has disappeared is overwhelming,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I have great respect for the brave, resourceful, and dedicated professionals who work every day to protect children from harm, reunite missing children with their families, and provide support in the aftermath of a traumatic event. There is no cause more worthy of honor. The Department of Justice is proud to stand with them.”
The Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention leads the nation in observing Missing Children’s Day, which was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 in memory of six-year-old Etan Patz, who was abducted while walking to his bus stop in Manhattan on May 25, 1979. National Missing Children’s Day honors his memory and those children who are still missing. Etan’s killer was convicted in February 2017, but the case remains active because his body was never found.
“It is difficult to even imagine all of the emotions — panic, fear, heartbreak — when a child goes missing,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The Justice Department commemorates National Missing Children’s Day not only to remember the solemn impact that missing children have on parents and caregivers, families and communities, but also to honor the individuals, organizations, and agencies that have made extraordinary efforts to find and rescue missing and exploited children.”
“On this day, we remember that some 460,000 children go missing from the United States every year – and we take this opportunity to remind ourselves of both the scope of the challenge before us and the depth of our collective commitment to the safety and welfare of America’s youth,” said Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs. “The incredible people we honor today – and so many dedicated professionals across the country – deserve our deep appreciation and gratitude for all they do to protect children and our communities.”
This year’s recipients are honored with the following awards:
Attorney General’s Special Commendation: This commendation recognizes the extraordinary efforts of an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, an affiliate agency or an individual assigned to an ICAC task force or affiliate agency for making a significant investigative or program contribution to the ICAC task force program.
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Recipients: The following members from the North Texas ICAC task force – Lieutenant Cyrus Zafrani, Task Force Commander; Sergeant Kellie Renfro, Deputy Task Force Commander; Detective Tony Godwin; Detective Chris Meehan; Texas Ranger Bruce Sherman; Detective Jeffrey Rich; and Community Outreach Officer Anthony Newsom – all received the Attorney General’s Special Commendation for their actions in processing more than 22,000 tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, resulting in more than 500 arrests and the rescue of more than 50 children between Nov. 1, 2021, and Oct. 31, 2022.
Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to the safety of children.
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Recipient: Detective Agnes Watson from the Rialto Police Department in Rialto, California, received the Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award for her actions in investigating a 23-year-old man who had abducted and assaulted a 17-year-old girl with the intention of taking her to Puerto Rico and trafficking her.
Missing Children’s Child Protection Award: This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of child protective service agency personnel, law enforcement officers, or other professionals who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to protecting children from abuse or victimization.
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Recipient: Detective Mike Myerson from the Palatine, Illinois, Police Department received the Missing Children’s Child Protection Award for investigating the disappearance of a 14-year-old who was in contact with an adult male who wanted to engage in sexual acts with the teen. Myerson apprehended the suspect and charged him with traveling to meet a minor, which is a felony.
The Department also named Ayoub Alsaidi, a 5th grader from P.S. 251 in Brooklyn, New York, the winner of the 2023 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest. The contest creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement and child advocates to discuss the issue of child safety with youth and their parents.
“Through their resourcefulness, their exceptional savvy and, most of all, their tenacious commitment to the health and safety of our nation’s young people, these award recipients have saved and protected hundreds of children from abduction, exploitation and further harm,” said Administrator Liz Ryan of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. “We are honored to recognize them for their extraordinary efforts to secure a bright future for our youngest generation.”
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland honoring nine individuals in for their extraordinary efforts to recover and help missing children and to hold those who commit child sexual abuse and crimes against children legally responsible for their actions. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta delivers remarks at National Missing Children's Day.-
Departments of Justice and State Host First-of-its-Kind Regional Symposium on Women in Law Enforcement and Security in AsiaRead the Press Release
Given the critical role that women play in the security sector, combating organized crime, terrorism, and violent extremism, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of State joined forces the week of May 22 to 26, 2023, to host an Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium on Women in Law Enforcement in Denpasar, Indonesia. Increasing women’s participation in law enforcement bolsters operational effectiveness and expands police institutions’ ability to engage in local communities.
Baltimore County Police Department Chief (Ret) Melissa Hyatt providing keynote address on “Reframing Challenges” to attendees of 2023 Women in Law Enforcement Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium.The event, which is being attended by approximately 70 law enforcement professionals from eight nations around the globe, amplifies regional and strategic objectives in empowering women as meaningful, essential contributors to security, law enforcement, and counterterrorism. The symposium also provides a forum for participants to undertake career-development training, engage in networking opportunities, and bolster the advancement of women in law enforcement. The symposium includes participants from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
“We are educating ourselves and our partners on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in law enforcement; it’s time to focus on intentional strategies to change norms and power structures hampering progress toward greater equality,” said Director Gregory Ducot of the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP). “We hope the connections made this week will advance women in this field and provide them with the resources needed to assist with their career development, ultimately moving the counterterrorism mission forward.”
“The Engaging Multinational Policewomen on Equality and Rights (EMPoWER) program is so incredibly valuable in identifying those who can be agents of change in their institutions and societies,” said Ambassador Tina Kaidanow, the Department of State’s Special Representative for Guantanamo Affairs. “Their ability to be not only professionally curious but also introspective means that they can use the training and best practices provided, apply those lessons to their own environment, and use those tools to help them advance further in their respective organizations. There is no question that in promoting the integration of women into the senior ranks of law enforcement and counterterrorism, we are expanding inclusivity of all groups and promoting a diverse force that can react credibly to communal needs – thereby helping to prevent the growth of radicalism wherever it may take root.”
In addition, the symposium provides opportunities for senior men and women in U.S. and international security careers to have meaningful interactions with women in the security professions in multiple Asia-Pacific countries.
Breakout session of Indonesia law enforcement discussing leadership styles and the importance of understanding emotional intelligence.Symposium presenters include:
- Special Representative for Guantanamo Affairs Ambassador Tina Kaidanow;
- FBI International Operations Division Section Chief Ashley Johnson;
- Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Kate Rebholz; and
- Chief (Ret.) Melissa Hyatt, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore, Maryland
Discussion highlights include:
- Executive panels focused on “What Makes a Great Leader” and “Women in Security;”
- Leadership training, highlighting change management, emotional intelligence, and leadership styles; and
- Presentations on Global Terrorism Trends and Emerging Threats in Asia, Corrections and Intelligence Development, and Social Media to Counter Violent Extremism.
The Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium on Women in Law Enforcement was organized by: The U.S. Department of Justice’s ICITAP and its EMPoWER program, the Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT), and the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
The EMPoWER program, a partnership between the Departments of Justice and State, builds the capacity of women to combat terrorism by supporting them through the provision of leadership and technical training and mentorship. Previous EMPoWER-led regional symposiums were held in March 2022 in Opatija, Croatia, and in June 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.
To learn more about ICITAP’s capacity building programs around the world, visit www.justice.gov/criminal-icitap.
Justice Department Secures Agreements with Ten Employers for Posting Discriminatory Job Advertisements on a College Recruiting PlatformRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured another 10 settlements with companies that used a college recruiting platform to post job advertisements that unlawfully excluded non-U.S. citizens. These agreements add to the department’s recent settlements with 20 other companies resolving similar claims – 16 in June 2022 and another four in September 2022 – and bring the total civil penalty amount for all 30 employers to over $1.6 million.
“The Justice Department has now held 30 companies accountable for using a college recruitment platform to post discriminatory job advertisements that locked non-U.S. citizen students out of job opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These settlements should make clear our commitment to enforcing federal civil rights laws to ensure that all applicants have a fair and equal chance to compete for jobs.”
The department’s involvement in these matters began after a Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) student, who was a lawful permanent resident at the time, filed a discrimination complaint with the Civil Rights Division. The student alleged that a bank’s advertisement on a Georgia Tech job recruitment platform restricted the posted internship opportunity to U.S. citizens only. On investigation, the department discovered many other discriminatory advertisements on Georgia Tech’s job recruiting platform, as well as platforms operated by other colleges across the United States.
The department found that each of the ten employers with which it is now settling posted on an online job recruitment platform operated by Georgia Tech at least one job announcement excluding non-U.S. citizens. The department determined that the advertisements deterred qualified students from applying for jobs because of their citizenship status, and in many cases the citizenship status restrictions also blocked students from applying or even meeting with company recruiters.
The new settlements, like the 20 before them, require each company to pay a civil penalty. The amount of each employer’s penalty is based on the number of discriminatory advertisements it posted:
Employer
Penalty Amount
1.
Asurion LLC
$13,395
2.
Black & Veatch Corporation
$8,930
3.
Deluxe Corporation
$183,065
4.
Freese & Nichols Inc.
$4,465
5.
Grey Orange Inc.
$13,395
6.
Honeywell International Inc.
$191,995
7.
Procter & Gamble
$8,930
8.
Georgia Tech Research Institute
$31,255
9.
Stryker Employment Company LLC
$4,465
10.
Wiley Bros.
$4,465
TOTAL
$464,360
In addition to paying civil penalties, the employers’ recruiting staff must undergo training on the Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA) anti-discrimination provision and refrain from including specific citizenship or immigration status designations in their campus job postings unless the restrictions are required by law.
The INA generally prohibits employers and recruiters from limiting jobs based on citizenship or immigration status unless required by a law, regulation, executive order or government contract. The INA protects asylees, refugees, recent lawful permanent residents, U.S. citizens, and U.S. nationals from citizenship status discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment or referral for a fee.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. IER’s website has more information on how employers can avoid discriminating based on citizenship status when hiring and recruiting. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
Spanish version
INTERPOL Washington Director Michael A. Hughes Delivers Remarks at "INTERPOL at 100: Celebrating a Century of Transnational Police Cooperation"Read the Press Release
Yesterday, INTERPOL Washington hosted a celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the world’s largest police organization. The ceremony included remarks from Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock, and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John Tien, reflecting on the challenges, successes, and future of international law enforcement.
Video of the event can be viewed here: Celebrating One Hundred Years of Interpol
INTERPOL Washington Director Michael A. Hughes's remarks as prepared for delivery:
Thank you, Secretary General Stock, for being with us here today. During your time as Secretary General, you have brought INTERPOL to new heights and better equipped our 195 member countries with the means and abilities to detect and interdict crimes around the globe. And, thank you Deputy Attorney General Monaco for your leadership here at the Department of Justice and to you, Deputy Secretary Tien for all of your work at the Department of Homeland Security. You both have been steadfast supporters of our INTERPOL mission, and it is your support and confidence that we are able to have so much success.
Acting Assistant Attorney General, and former INTERPOL Executive Committee member Jolene Lauria, your ongoing commitment to INTERPOL is invaluable and has added much value to our domestic and international missions. There are so many important people in this room who have made a positive impact on our INTERPOL work, that we would be here all day if I called you all out. So I will say thank you to everyone for being here today to celebrate 100 years of INTERPOL.
It is an honor to address this distinguished audience on such a momentous occasion. It is an even greater honor to represent the men and women of INTERPOL Washington, who stand watch each day to keep our country safe and build a better world. As Director of INTERPOL Washington and as one of the 13 elected INTERPOL Executive committee members, I see the great work being done each day by the INTERPOL organization in fighting all forms of transnational crime and terrorism.
Since its founding in 1923, INTERPOL has been instrumental in promoting global law enforcement cooperation and fighting transnational crime. But today’s criminals have since evolved. They are increasingly anonymous, increasingly transnational, and increasingly dangerous. Thanks to INTERPOL, 100 years later, information on the worst of the worst transnational criminals and terrorists from anywhere in the world can be shared directly with frontline police officers, investigators, and border security agents in any one of our over 18,000+ police agencies across the United States.
And, as part of INTERPOL’s network, we have direct communication with all of the other member countries, to exchange vital information that is crucial to our public safety and national security. At INTERPOL Washington, we are proud to be at the forefront of this effort.
Our team of dedicated professionals work tirelessly every day to support our partners across the United States and around the world, leveraging cutting-edge technology and intelligence-sharing to disrupt transnational crime and protect our communities. The United States realizes the value of the INTERPOL network and, as such, continues with our strong engagement in various INTERPOL projects. You have heard many examples of INTERPOL successes in combatting transnational crimes, but the secret to the organization’s success is our ability to compile and exchange actionable information in all our INTERPOL 195 member countries.
Realizing this, the United States has been leading many member country capacity building projects with INTERPOL. For instance, through Project Terminus and Project Gemini, we are helping to extend INTERPOL’s I-24/7 secure global police communications system to high-risk areas around the world.
This helps deliver solid, actionable criminal intelligence in a secure manner to countries where it’s needed most.
These programs provide certain member country National Central Bureaus with updated equipment to access INTERPOL data and, our personnel provide training to our partners to assist them to effectively utilize INTERPOL connectivity at border-control points of entry and in other areas. This helps strengthen the ability of law enforcement and border security agencies to detect and interdict the illicit international travel of transnational criminals, as well as Foreign Terrorist Fighters.
This has proven to be quite effective. For instance, in Indonesia, which began as a test case a few years back, has since enabled connectivity to INTERPOL data to and from over 170 of its Ports of Entry. Also, in Nigeria, we were successful in adding over 147,000 critical Nigerian records to the INTERPOL database within the first hour of implementation, and those numbers continue to grow exponentially.
And, following our Project Terminus efforts in the Maldives, we were able to increase their queries of INTERPOL information by nearly 300%, and in Panama, the number of Stolen and Lost Travel Documents entered into INTERPOL holdings increased by nearly 50,000 records. These are significant successes that benefit the United States and all member countries. With information sharing at the heart of INTERPOL, we must continue to ensure connectivity of member countries to combat all transnational crime and terrorism. INTERPOL Washington is one of the Department of Justice’s five law enforcement components, and the key to the success of our agency is our people.
We are very proud of our diverse workforce consisting of extremely talented full-time employees, other agency detailees from across the government, and contractors. This mix of experience and skill make INTERPOL Washington very effective in providing top-notch service to our many customers and stakeholders across the United States and around the world.
The success of INTERPOL Washington is due to our incredible people, the true backbone of our agency, working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, to ensure our missions are accomplished. I thank all of our INTERPOL Washington personnel, many of whom are here today, and all of our personnel who worked diligently to put together this INTERPOL 100 year commemoration ceremony. Let’s have a round of applause to show them our appreciation. We have made many advances and had many successes throughout INTERPOL’s 100 years.
But, our work is far from done. As transnational criminals and terrorists continue to evolve, we must remain vigilant and adaptable in our law enforcement response. Now, more than ever, we must continue to work together, domestically and internationally, and remain committed to building strong partnerships, harnessing the power of ever-changing technology, and investing in our people to ensure that we can stay ahead of the criminals and terrorists that threaten our communities. We need to ensure that our INTERPOL organization remains faithful to its foundational principles of respect for human rights, the rule of law and neutrality by continuing to strengthen the governance of the organization and ensuring strong leadership that values democracy.
As we sit here in the Great Hall of the Robert F. Kennedy building, I am reminded of his words: “The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.”
Everyone in this room is contributing to making things better - even by celebrating this 100-year INTERPOL milestone. Your presence here builds the bridges, builds the relationships, and builds the partnerships that advance our mission in countless ways. I hope you will walk out of these doors today inspired by what international police partnerships and collaboration do to keep our families, our communities, our country and the world safe.
On behalf of the men and women of INTERPOL Washington, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our all of our partners, both here in the United States and around the world, for your unwavering support and collaboration. Together, we have accomplished so much over the past century, and I am confident that we will continue to make progress in the years to come.
Thank you once again for the privilege of speaking to you today, and for your ongoing dedication to the cause of global security and justice. Happy 100-year Anniversary, INTERPOL!
INTERPOL Washington Deputy Director Marc A. Zimmermann's remarks as prepared for delivery:
Good morning everyone.
Thank you for joining us today in celebration of INTERPOL’s 100th anniversary. Happy Birthday! From my perspective, 100 never looked so good! I am honored to speak with you about INTERPOL and what the organization means to law enforcement.
The International Criminal Police Organization has unparalleled reach, with 195 member countries, it is the largest police organization in the world. INTERPOL has a hand in nearly all facets of law enforcement – from border security and fugitive apprehensions, to child exploitation investigations and efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations. INTERPOL is at the center of so much of what happens in the global law enforcement community and that is no different here in the United States.
Through INTERPOL Washington, the over 18,000 law enforcement agencies here in the US are connected to a global network of law enforcement professionals, each one working to make the world a safer place. INTERPOL Washington provides law enforcement personnel, whether in remote locations or in big cities, with access to data to inform their decision making. This is all of you….federal, state, and local law enforcement working at INTERPOL Washington with partners from around the world, many of whom are represented here today.
While we are here to celebrate 100 years of INTERPOL, we are also celebrating 20 years of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security co-managing INTERPOL Washington. As the senior DHS official at INTEREPOL Washington, I can attest that the DHS commitment to partnership is in fact evident in everything that we do across the INTERPOL network. We partner, domestically and internationally, to share best practices and leverage expertise in our never-ending quest to bring criminals to justice throughout the world and increase the safety and security of the communities we serve.Before we kick off the festivities here today, I want to take a moment to thank the women and men of INTERPOL Washington for the extraordinary work they undertake in support of law enforcement operations. And I want to thank all of you for being here today and for your commitment to INTERPOL. Working together, we can make a difference.
El Departamento de Justicia celebra acuerdos con diez empleadores por publicar anuncios discriminatorios de trabajo en una plataforma de reclutamiento en una universidadRead the Press Release
El Departamento ha conseguido más de $1.6 millones por concepto de sanciones civiles durante el último año
WASHINGTON – El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a otros diez acuerdos con compañías que usaron una plataforma de reclutamiento de una universidad para publicar anuncios de trabajo que, de manera ilícita, excluyeron a no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. Estos acuerdos son una adición a los acuerdos recientes del Departamento con otras 20 compañías que resuelven acusaciones similares, 16 de los que se remontan a junio del 2022 y otros cuatro a septiembre del 2022, lo que lleva a una sanción civil total para los 30 empleadores de más de $1.6 millones.
«EL Departamento de Justicia ya ha hecho a 30 compañías rendir cuentas tras usar una plataforma universitaria de reclutamiento para publicar anuncios de trabajo discriminatorios que excluyeron a estudiantes no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. de oportunidades laborales», afirmó la Fiscal General Auxiliar Kristen Clarke, de la División de Derechos Civiles. «Estos acuerdos deben dejar claro nuestro compromiso a hacer cumplir las leyes de derechos civiles, con el fin de garantizar que todo postulante tenga la igualdad de oportunidades para competir para trabajos».
La intervención del Departamento en estos asuntos comenzó después de que un estudiante de Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), que para aquel entonces era residente permanente legal, presentó una denuncia de discriminación ante la División de Derechos Civiles. El estudiante alegó que el anuncio de un banco en una plataforma de reclutamiento laboral de Gerogia Tech restringió la oportunidad para prácticas laborales que había publicado solamente a ciudadanos de los EE. UU. La investigación del Departamento halló toda una serie de anuncios discriminatorios en la plataforma de reclutamiento laboral de Georgia Tech, así como en otras plataformas operadas por universidades por todo Estados Unidos.
El Departamento encontró que cada uno de los diez empleadores con los que ha llegado a un acuerdo publicaron al menos un anuncio de trabajo que excluyó a no ciudadanos de los EE. UU. en una plataforma de reclutamiento laboral operada por Georgia Tech. El Departamento determinó que los anuncios desalentaban a estudiantes cualificados de solicitar un trabajo debido a su estatus de ciudadanía, y en muchos casos las restricciones relacionadas con el estatus de ciudadanía también impedían que los estudiantes solicitaran un puesto e incluso obstaculizaron la posibilidad de reunirse con reclutadores de la empresa.
Al igual que los 20 que les precedieron, estos nuevos acuerdos requieren que cada compañía pague una sanción civil. El monto total de la sanción de cada empleador se basa en el número de anuncios discriminatorios que publicó.
Empleador
Monto de la
sanción1.
Asurion LLC
$13,395
2.
Black & Veatch Corporation
$8,930
3.
Deluxe Corporation
$183,065
4.
Freese & Nichols Inc.
$4,465
5.
Grey Orange Inc.
$13,395
6.
Honeywell International Inc.
$191,995
7.
Procter & Gamble
$8,930
8.
Georgia Tech Research Institute
$31,255
9.
Stryker Employment Company LLC
$4,465
10.
Wiley Bros.
$4,465
TOTAL
$464,360
Además de pagar las sanciones civiles, el personal de reclutamiento de los empleadores deberá participar en una capacitación sobre la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) y abstenerse de incluir designaciones específicas de estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía en sus anuncios de trabajos en las universidades a menos que tales restricciones sean requeridas por ley.
Por lo general, la INA prohíbe que los empleadores y reclutadores restrinjan puestos de trabajo con base en la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio a menos que así lo requiera una ley, un reglamento, una orden ejecutiva o un contrato gubernamental. Los ciudadanos estadounidenses, nacionales de los EE. UU., refugiados, asilados y residentes permanentes legales están protegidos bajo la INA de discriminación por motivos de su estatus de ciudadanía en los procesos de contratación, despido y reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; prácticas documentales injustas; y represalias e intimidación.
Para aprender más sobre la labor de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda, vea este vídeo corto. El sitio web de la IER tiene información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía en la contratación y el reclutamiento. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio, ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés o español. Inscríbase para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER por correo electrónico.
Attachment(s):
Download Asurion Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download Black & Veatch Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download Deluxe Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download Freese & Nichols Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download GTRI Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download GreyOrange Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download Honeywell Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download Procter & Gamble Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download Stryker Settlement Agreement.pdf
Download Wiley Bros. Settlement Agreement.pdf
Caswell Woman Sentenced to 12 ½ Years on Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Caswell woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possession of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of firearms by an unlawful user of controlled substances
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Nicole McLaughlin, 42, to 150 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on the drug charge and 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on the firearms charge, to be served concurrently.
According to court records, in May 2022, McLaughlin was in a single-vehicle car accident in Presque Isle. Responding officers from the Presque Isle Police Department discovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a handgun in her vehicle. Agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency responded and investigated further. A search of McLaughlin’s residence resulted in the seizure of a large safe containing approximately 92 pounds of methamphetamine, the largest meth bust ever in the state of Maine. The search also uncovered four handguns, including one with an obliterated serial number, and documents bearing McLaughlin’s name.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, with assistance from the Presque Isle Police Department and the Maine State Police. U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee thanked the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office for the consultation and coordination it provided.
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U.S. Law Enforcement Disrupts Networks Used to Transfer Fraud Proceeds, Taking over 4,000 Actions in Fifth CampaignRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and other federal law enforcement agencies announced today the completion of a three-month campaign that disrupted networks used by foreign fraudsters to obtain fraud proceeds. Multiple law enforcement actions addressed conduct by individuals sometimes referred to as “money mules,” who have been providing critical services to fraudsters by receiving money from fraud victims and forwarding the fraud proceeds to the perpetrators (many of whom are based overseas). Some individuals knew they were facilitating fraud, while others first interacted with fraudsters as victims and may have been unaware that their activity furthered criminal activity.
Over approximately the last three months, law enforcement took over 4,000 actions against individuals responsible for facilitating a range of fraud schemes. These schemes included those that targeted consumers, such as lottery fraud and romance scams, as well as those that targeted businesses or pandemic funds.
The thousands of actions taken by law enforcement — which ranged from criminal prosecutions to civil actions, to warning letters — were designed to punish those who knowingly assisted fraudsters and to advise those who may have been unknowingly helping fraudsters that their conduct furthered crime. These actions are intended to deter overseas fraudsters from relying on U.S.-based individuals to facilitate schemes and thereby reduce the harm caused by foreign fraud operations.
This year’s effort marked the fifth U.S. law enforcement campaign disrupting these money transmitting networks. Since the first campaign, during which approximately 400 actions were taken by law enforcement, agencies have collectively taken over 12,000 actions. Investigations have shown that disrupting money transmitting networks has impeded fraudsters’ abilities to receive funds, thereby reducing fraud victimization. These campaigns are part of a global effort to tackle money transmitting networks linked to illegal activity.
“Law enforcement is committed to reducing fraud using every tool at our disposal. Our efforts to disrupt networks used to transfer fraud proceeds, to educate the public about elder fraud, and to prosecute those involved in these schemes have stymied fraudsters,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “This initiative demonstrates what can be achieved through focused efforts and vigorous enforcement.”
“The money mule campaign was an effort to educate the public, disrupt criminal enterprises, and provide feedback to financial institutions who go to great lengths to implement anti-money laundering programs,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI values the partnership of the Justice Department's Consumer Protection Branch, USPIS, and other federal agencies who work together to disrupt criminal enterprises conducting fraud and money laundering schemes.”
“Anyone can be approached to be a money mule, but criminals often target students, those looking for work, and those on dating websites,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the Criminal Investigations Group. “When those individuals use the U.S. Mail to send or receive funds from fraudsters, postal inspectors are quick to step in and put a stop to money mule activities.”
This year’s effort was coordinated by the Justice Department's Consumer Protection Branch, FBI and USPIS, which were joined by Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. Participating agencies collectively served over 4,000 letters warning individuals that their activities are facilitating fraud. These letters outlined the potential consequences for continuing to transmit illegally acquired funds. Participating agencies also filed 12 civil or administrative actions. Additionally, more than 25 individuals were criminally charged for knowingly receiving and forwarding victim funds or otherwise laundering fraud proceeds.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District Massachusetts charged a defendant for using his accounting and “virtual CFO” business as a front to launder the proceeds of internet fraud schemes. As part of the alleged conspiracy, the defendant created dozens of shell companies and used those shell companies to open business bank accounts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, through which the defendant laundered the criminal proceeds for his clients in exchange for fees. In total, since 2019, the defendant is alleged to have opened approximately 80 bank accounts (purportedly on behalf of 65 different companies), laundering approximately $35 million.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina charged an individual for facilitating an international, multimillion-dollar tech support fraud. The indictment alleged that the defendant agreed to obtain payment-processing services in his name to process victim payments and laundered the proceeds domestically and internationally to bank accounts located in India, receiving 3% of the revenue in return.
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The U.S. Attorneys' Offices for the Central District of California and the District of Nebraska charged individuals who, despite warnings from law enforcement, continued facilitating fraud. In the Central District of California, an individual was charged for her role in receiving funds from fraud victims, including victims of business email compromises. According to the charges, the defendant opened 11 bank accounts at seven separate financial institutions in furtherance of the scheme. In the District of Nebraska, two individuals were charged for facilitating a lottery fraud scheme, including by receiving cashier’s checks in the mail.
As in past years, participating agencies are working to raise awareness about how fraudsters recruit and use individuals to assist their fraud operations. Federal agencies conducted outreach to the public and industry, and also expanded partnerships with local, state, and foreign law enforcement agencies. The Commodities Futures Trading Commission released a public awareness message about how fraudsters use and recruit people to facilitate romance fraud and “wrong number” text message scams, where fraudsters strike up conversations touting their wealth and success in trading crypto assets, over-the-counter foreign currency, or gold contracts to try and convince consumers to “invest” in crypto assets.
The agencies involved in this effort urge consumers to be on the lookout for signs someone is trying to recruit them to receive and transmit fraud proceeds. Do not agree to receive money or checks mailed to you or sent to your bank account for someone you have met over the phone or online. Do not open a bank or cryptocurrency account at someone else’s direction. Fraudsters will lie to persuade you to help them. They may falsely tell you that they are helping you get a lottery prize, initiate a purported romantic relationship and then tell you that they need money, or pretend to offer you a job, an opportunity to invest in a business venture, or the chance to help in a charitable effort.
For more information on this initiative, please visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/money-mule-initiative.
Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
Information about the Justice Department's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force is available at www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
A criminal indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Announces National Protocol for Intimate Partner Violence Medical Forensic ExaminationsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the release of the National Protocol for Intimate Partner Violence Medical Forensic Examinations. The protocol will guide the clinical practice of conducting comprehensive assessments for patients experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) that prioritize the patient’s health and well-being. Acting Director Allison Randall of the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women made the announcement at the 2023 Conference on Crimes Against Women in Dallas.
IPV is a significant issue that poses considerable health, social, and legal challenges within the United States. It impacts individuals of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and socioeconomic statuses.
Conducting medical forensic exams within a trauma-informed framework is crucial to our nation’s response to IPV. They play a vital role not just in providing immediate medical attention, but also in supporting the long-term recovery, safety and well-being of victims. These examinations offer prompt and necessary medical care to victims, identifying even non-apparent injuries. They also collect critical evidence that can be used in legal proceedings. During the exam, victims are also given access to essential resources such as counseling and safety planning services. This provides a crucial lifeline of support, aiding their journey toward recovery and safety.
“The protocol helps ensure that victims will be cared for with compassion and respect after an assault,” said Acting Director Randall. “Clinicians have the chance to offer patients experiencing IPV an assortment of choices, empowering them to make the most suitable decisions for their own welfare and that of their loved ones. The evidence collected in the exam can also strengthen criminal cases to hold offenders accountable.”
The protocol, developed in a collaborative effort with the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) and an array of project partners across disciplines – health care, justice, victim advocacy, law enforcement, victim services and leading national entities – provides comprehensive guidance for patient care. It emphasizes delivering trauma-informed, patient-centered care across various health care settings and supports a gender-affirming approach to care. The protocol underscores the crucial role of accessible language and effective communication, and advocates for the use of interpretation and translation services to guarantee equitable access. It outlines protocols for screening IPV patients in all settings and emphasizes the provision of care in different age groups, from adolescents to older adults.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. The protocol serves as an integral tool in bolstering the Justice Department’s endeavor to safeguard survivors of IPV as well as keeping communities nationwide safe.
Justice Department Secures Settlement with New Jersey IT Recruiting Firm to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with Infosoft Solutions Inc., a New Jersey IT recruiting and contracting company operating as KForce Tech LLC. The settlement resolves the department’s determination that Infosoft violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by posting six discriminatory job advertisements that solicited applications only from non-U.S. citizens who needed visa sponsorship and, in one case, also sought applicants only from India.
“When employers advertise jobs only to applicants from a certain country or who need temporary visas, they discourage all other eligible workers and deny them a fair chance to be considered,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will not tolerate national origin or citizenship status discrimination and is committed to knocking down these unlawful discriminatory barriers.”
The department’s investigation determined that between July 2021 and August 2021, Infosoft posted at least six job advertisements inviting applications only from applicants who wanted sponsorship to work in the United States or who already had an employment-based temporary visa. One of the six advertisements also required the candidates to be from India. In doing so, the company deterred workers with permission to work in the United States without sponsorship (such as asylees, refugees, lawful permanent residents, U.S. nationals and U.S. citizens) from applying to the job advertisements and being fairly considered for the employment opportunities. The INA’s anti-discrimination provision generally prohibits employers from recruiting or refusing to hire workers based on their citizenship status or national origin.
Under the settlement, Infosoft will pay $25,500 in civil penalties to the United States. The agreement also requires the company to train its recruiters on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation; and intimidation.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Find more information on how employers can avoid citizenship status discrimination on IER’s website. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER. View the Spanish translation of this press release here.
Spanish version
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con una empresa de reclutamiento en el sector informático con sede en New Jersey que resuelve unas acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigraciónRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con Secureapp Technologies LLC (Secureapp), una compañía de reclutamiento y contratación laboral en el sector informático, cuya sede se encuentra en New Jersey. El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que Secureapp vulneró la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad («INA», por sus siglas en inglés) al publicar anuncios de trabajo que pedían solicitudes únicamente de personas no ciudadanas de los EE. UU. que buscaban un patrocinador para una visa laboral temporal o que tenían un estatus migratorio asociado con ciertas visas temporales basadas en el empleo.
«Cuando los empleadores convocan solicitudes únicamente de candidatos con cierto estatus migratorio, disuaden a otros individuos de presentar una solicitud y les niegan una oportunidad justa de ser considerados para el puesto» afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles está comprometida a eliminar estas barreras discriminatorias ilegales».
La investigación del Departamento determinó que, comenzando en enero del 2019 y durante más de un año después, Secureapp publicó al menos 12 anuncios de trabajo facialmente discriminatorios que buscaban solamente a personas no ciudadanas de los EE. UU. que necesitaban un patrocinador para poder trabajar o que ya poseían una visa laboral. Al hacerlo, Secureapp disuadió a ciudadanos de los EE. UU. y a otros trabajadores con permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos sin patrocinio (entre ellos asilados, refugiados y residentes permanentes legales) de presentar solicitudes a los anuncios de trabajo y de ser considerados de manera justa para las oportunidades de empleo. Por lo general, la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA prohíbe que los empleadores recluten o se nieguen a contratar a trabajadores con base en su estatus migratorio o ciudadanía.
Conforme el acuerdo, Secureapp pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos que asciende a $26,000. Asimismo, el acuerdo requiere que Secureapp capacite a sus reclutadores en cuanto a los requisitos de la INA, que revise sus políticas de empleo y que se someta a los requisitos de supervisión y declaración del Departamento.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación con base en el estatus de ciudadanía y la nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión; las prácticas documentales injustas; las represalias o la intimidación.
Para aprender más sobre la labor de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda, vea este vídeo corto. Aprenda más sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía en el sitio web de la IER. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio, ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés o español. Para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER, inscríbase a GovDelivery.
Readout of Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr.’s Trip to KenyaRead the Press Release
On May 15 to 18, Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to deliver remarks at the first colloquium bringing together 20 African countries to collaborate on pretrial detention issues. The colloquium was sponsored by the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT), the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism and Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and several other partners. He met with OPDAT’s Resident Legal Advisors in the region, numerous foreign law enforcement officials, and U.S. Embassy Nairobi staff to build closer partnerships and further the department’s mission to advance the rule of law and combat transnational crime.
AAG Polite delivers remarks at the Africa Regional Colloquium.On Tuesday, AAG Polite had separate bilateral meetings with the Honorable Chief Justice of the Kenya Supreme Court Martha Koome and Kenya Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji. He also met with Idrissa Nibilma Bado, Chief Judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court of Burkina Faso; Justice Peter Kekemeke, High Court Judge and Chairman of the Remand Decongestion Committee of Federal Republic of Nigeria; Hafid Bahaddou, Chief, Division de la coopération judiciaire internationale, Ministère public of Morocco; and Augustin Yao Kouame, Senior Judge and Director of Civil and Criminal Affairs for the Ministry of Justice of Cote d’Ivoire. AAG Polite thanked foreign officials for their ongoing cooperation and affirmed continued support in extradition matters and mutual legal assistance requests.
AAG Polite stands with participants and other speakers at the Africa Regional Colloquium in Nairobi.On Wednesday, he met with U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, Deputy Chief of Mission Mark Dillard, and embassy personnel from OPDAT, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He also had brief meetings with Senior State Attorney Judith Mwakyusa of Tanzania; Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe of Ghana Court of Appeals; Dr. Moustapha Fall, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Justice of Senegal, as well as Julien Nguan Ndour, Director of Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice of Senegal; and Ibrahim Boukary Sally, President, Judgement Chamber for cases of Terrorism and Transnational Crime of Niger.
AAG Polite and U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman.In his meetings, AAG Polite discussed enhancing cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, including narcotics trafficking, financial fraud schemes, corruption, child sexual exploitation, and counterterrorism.
“Today, more than ever before, the security of each state increasingly depends on the security of all states – and we in the justice sector must therefore supplement national vigilance with international cooperation,” said AAG Polite. “I am committed to furthering our bilateral law enforcement relationships in Africa.”
On Thursday, AAG Polite visited Nairobi National Park with DEA personnel and met members of Kenyan law enforcement. He learned about environmental sustainability and wildlife trafficking and conservation. He concluded his visit by attending a working lunch organized by Kenyan Director of Public Prosecution Haji, along with Directors of Public Prosecution from Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Uganda.
AAG Polite at Nairobi National Park with Criminal Division and DEA personnel and Kenyan law enforcement.AAG Polite is committed to enhancing cooperation between the United States and our judicial and law enforcement counterparts in the region.
Louisiana Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor and Transporting a Minor for Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
A Louisiana man was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for conspiracy to commit forced labor and transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The defendant was also required to pay restitution of $979,800 to the victims.
Between June 2016 and May 2019, Darnell Fulton, 39, of Pineville, used violence, sexual abuse, withholding of food, degradation and intimidation to coerce multiple minors to work for his brownie baking business and provide him the profits. The defendant required the victims to travel to as many as 20 to 30 locations a day, such as plazas, car dealerships, law firms, restaurants and parking lots, to sell brownies. The victims worked late into the night either selling or baking the brownies and sold them during the day. In fact, the victims typically worked seven days a week with very few breaks and had to meet a daily sales quota the defendant set. The defendant regularly assaulted the victims because he was not satisfied with their daily work performance, especially if they did not meet his projected sales daily quota. For example, the defendant frequently required the victims to stay in a push up or plank position for hours, and he often whipped them with a belt if they got out of proper form. The defendant also made the minor victims perform sexual acts with him and transported them across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity with him.
“Forced labor, especially when it involves sexual abuse of children, violence, and mental and physical anguish, is heinous conduct that has no place in our society today. The defendant mercilessly exploited children for his own financial gain and personal gratification, and we will not tolerate it,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentence demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to standing up for the survivors of forced labor schemes. We will not only pursue and prosecute human and child traffickers, but also seek restitution and use those funds to help survivors rebuild and reclaim their lives.”
“The defendant’s actions in this case were deplorable and despicable,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “Forced labor is a form of modern day slavery and we have a duty to protect the most vulnerable of our society. He had no hesitation in torturing and demoralizing these victims, his own children. We are grateful for this sentence and hope that the victims can begin the healing process. This defendant is a danger to society, has no regard for human life, and we believe it is appropriate that he will be spending a long time in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.”
“Mr. Fulton’s guilty plea and the sentencing today should be of great comfort to the victims of his depravity,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “We thank our partners, the Alexandria Police Department, United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for their assistance in this case. We will continue the work of rooting out those who seek to target minors for their own bizarre obsessions.”
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Brown and Special Agent in Charge Williams made the announcement.
The FBI New Orleans Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alexandria Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at https://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Justice Department Statements on District Court Ruling Enjoining American Airlines and JetBlue’s Northeast AllianceRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division issued the following statements today regarding the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts’s ruling in favor of the Justice Department and the Attorneys General of six states and the District of Columbia in their civil antitrust lawsuit to stop the Northeast Alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue:
“Today’s decision is a win for Americans who rely on competition between airlines to travel affordably,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to protect competition and enforce our antitrust laws in the heavily consolidated airline industry and across every industry.”
“We are pleased with the court’s decision. The outcome of this litigation recognizes the value of competition in the airline industry,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We are grateful to our state law enforcement partners and the dedicated and talented Antitrust Division staff that investigated and tried this important case.”
The court’s decision follows a multi-week trial that began in September 2022. The Justice Department sued to stop American Airlines and JetBlue from continuing the Northeast Alliance. The Northeast Alliance is a series of agreements between American Airlines and JetBlue through which the two airlines have consolidated their operations in Boston and New York City. The court ruled that JetBlue and American Airlines’ decision to stop competing in Boston and New York, where they are major players, violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act because it increased fares and reduced choice for American travelers in many domestic markets for scheduled air passenger service.
Justice Department Hosts Ukrainian Prosecutors for Training on Investigating and Prosecuting Environmental CrimesRead the Press Release
This week, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s (ENRD) Environmental Crimes Section hosted eight guests from the Ukraine Prosecutor General’s Office for a series of training and study sessions relating to the investigation and prosecution of environmental crimes, including environmental crimes committed in the wake of Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.
“This training on investigating and prosecuting environmental crimes is just one part of our efforts to hold accountable under law those who bear responsibility for the Russian regime’s brutal crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will work with our Ukrainian partners to hold the Russian regime accountable for the atrocities it is committing in the course of its unjust war in Ukraine.”
The study visit began on Monday and concluded on Wednesday. Attorney General Garland welcomed the group on Wednesday, as the study visit is a part of a broader collaboration between the Justice Department and the Ukraine Prosecutor General’s Office. The two departments entered into a Memorandum of Understanding when the Attorney General and Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin met in Washington in September 2022. The Department and Prosecutor General’s Office committed to cooperate on investigations and prosecutions related to potential war crimes and related criminal offenses committed following or during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Pursuant to that agreement, ENRD has been providing requested assistance to Ukraine as it explores several avenues to hold Russia accountable for the environmental toll of its invasion. During the training, U.S. and Ukrainian prosecutors and experts provided overviews of Ukrainian and U.S. environmental crime statutes and enforcement programs, shared investigative techniques, considered a number of relevant case studies and identified additional areas for collaboration.
Joining ENRD for the training were personnel from the Department’s War Crimes Accountability Team, which is based in the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard. Support was also provided by the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA), which is funded by the U.S. State Department, the European Union, and the Government of the United Kingdom.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland with members of the Ukraine Prosecutor General’s OfficeJustice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Rental Property Owners and OperatorsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Timothy Britton, the owner and operator of rental properties in the Falls Creek, Pennsylvania, area and Britton Enterprises LLC, doing business as “Tim’s Apartments,” which operates the rental properties, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, alleges that Timothy Britton has sexually harassed female tenants since at least 2016. According to the complaint, Britton made repeated and unwelcome sexual comments to female tenants, touched female tenants’ bodies without their permission, requested sexual contact, offered reduced or free rent in exchange for sexual contact and took retaliatory actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances.
“In this day and age, no one should have to endure sexual harassment to keep a roof over their head,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit makes clear that the Justice Department stands ready to hold accountable those landlords and housing providers who unlawfully harass and retaliate against tenants. We encourage survivors to speak out when their rights are violated so that we can vindicate their fair housing rights and secure the relief they deserve.”
“The complaint alleges that Mr. Britton has violated federal fair housing laws through acts of sexual harassment and retaliation,” said Acting U. S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “The harm caused by this type of unlawful behavior is compounded when committed by someone who has control over the place where individuals have the right to feel the most safe – in their homes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting vulnerable members of our community and holding individuals accountable who prey upon them.”
“It is unacceptable and illegal to subject tenants to sexual harassment and retaliation; it must stop. Tenants deserve a safe place to call home,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria L. McCain of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD will continue to work with the Justice Department to hold housing providers accountable and work toward justice for those whose civil rights have been violated.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.
Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Timothy Britton or Britton Enterprises, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, can contact the housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, select 1 for English, and select option number 2, then option number 2 to leave a message. Individuals may also e-mail the Justice Department at [email protected] or submit a report online. Reports also may be made by contacting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
The Justice Department launched its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017. The department’s initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the Department of Justice has filed 32 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $10.8 million for victims of such harassment.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Readout of Justice Department Leadership’s Meeting with Civil Rights Groups to Discuss Key IssuesRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division met with civil rights organizations yesterday at the Justice Department.
Department leadership heard from attending organizations on an array of topics including hate crimes and reporting, educational equity, voting rights, implementation of Executive Order 14074 on policing and criminal justice issues, and reproductive rights.
Some of the Department’s recent work on critical issues includes publishing a Dear Colleague letter on the imposition and enforcement of fines and fees on adults and youth by state and local courts and juvenile justice agencies and the release of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the safety of our communities while advancing thoughtful, evidence-informed initiatives and reforms throughout the criminal justice system, as put forth in the Department's Strategic Plan.
The meeting comes in advance of the three-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd and the one-year anniversary of the May 2022 Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing, and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety.
Department leadership pledged to continue robust civil rights enforcement in line with the Attorney General’s commitment to a department-wide approach to civil rights and to thoughtfully engaging communities on the issues that impact them.
Justice Department Secures Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Missouri LandlordRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement from a St. Louis, Missouri landlord, who has agreed to pay $110,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) when he sexually harassed multiple female tenants.
Under the agreement, subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Nedzad Ukejnovic is required to pay $85,000 to compensate individuals harmed by the harassment and $20,000 to compensate the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council for resources it expended responding to the reported harassment. The defendant is also required to pay a $5,000 civil penalty to the United States.
“Far too often landlords sexually harass and prey on those who are most vulnerable and it is unacceptable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce fair housing laws to hold those who engage in unlawful conduct to account.”
“Multiple tenants complained that Mr. Ukejnovic subjected them to vulgar and disgusting demands for sex, offering to reduce rent or security deposits if they complied,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming for the Eastern District of Missouri. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes allegations like these seriously and seeks to hold all civil rights violators accountable whether civilly or criminally. This agreement not only provides for monetary compensation, but it also prohibits him from contacting these tenants, bars him from his properties when a lease is in effect and requires him to hire an independent property manager to prevent further violations of the civil rights laws. All of these are measures that will help protect current and future tenants.”
“It is abhorrent that a landlord would subject his tenants to sexual harassment and retaliation, robbing them of a safe place to call home,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria L. McCain of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “This settlement sends a strong message that sexual harassment in housing is illegal and that those who violate the Fair Housing Act will be held accountable. HUD applauds today’s action and remains committed to working with DOJ to enforce our nation’s fair housing laws.”
In addition, the consent order requires the defendant to retain an independent property manager to manage his rental properties for the duration of the order, obtain fair housing training and implement non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures to prevent sexual harassment at his properties in the future.
The lawsuit, filed in September 2022, alleged that the defendant subjected multiple female tenants to harassment that included making unwelcome sexual advances, offering to reduce rent or security deposits in exchange for engaging in sex acts, requesting sexually explicit photos, staring at female tenants’ bodies in a sexual way, subjecting female tenants to unwelcome sexual touching, and visiting and entering female tenants’ homes for no legitimate purpose.
The matter was referred to the Justice Department after HUD received two separate complaints alleging that the defendant had violated the Fair Housing Act. The complainants – a former female tenant and the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council, a non-profit organization that helped the tenant file a complaint with HUD and engaged in outreach and education efforts following defendant’s harassment of the tenant – chose to have the matter decided in federal court after HUD investigated their complaints and issued a charge of discrimination. Upon receiving the referral the Justice Department investigated further and identified additional female tenants whom the defendant sexually harassed.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 31 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $10.8 million for victims of such harassment.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting people from sexual misconduct. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
Readout of Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta’s Meeting with Members of European Parliament to Discuss Women’s RightsRead the Press Release
Today, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta participated in a meeting with a delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), alongside attendees from the White House Gender Policy Council and the U.S. Department of State. The convening, which featured representatives from Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany and Spain, was hosted by the State Department.
During the discussion, the Associate Attorney General highlighted how the Justice Department has collaborated with its federal partners to protect reproductive rights and counter gender-based violence. The group discussed how, under Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, the Justice Department established the Reproductive Rights Task Force, chaired by Associate Attorney General Gupta, as a whole-of-department effort to safeguard federal protections of reproductive rights in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Today’s meeting takes place during National Women’s Health Week, which is observed May 14 - 20, and continues the department’s engagement with our international allies on gender-related issues. In early March, the Associate Attorney General hosted a delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). Moving forward, the department remains committed to working closely with our international allies to safeguard and strengthen the rights of all women.
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta (right) with Director Margaret Pollack of the Office for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration’s Office of Multilateral and External Coordination at the U.S. State Department (far left); Senior Advisor Varina Winder for the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (left center); and Director Jennifer Klein of the White House Gender Policy Council (right center) as they discuss relevant issues with members of the European Parliament. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta speaks with representatives from the European Parliament, U.S. Department of State and White House Gender Policy Council.Justice Department Secures Agreement with IT Staffing and Services Company for Posting Discriminatory Job AdvertisementsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with American CyberSystems Inc., a Georgia-based company that provides IT services and staff recruiting nationwide under the name Innova Solutions (formerly ACS Solutions). The settlement resolves the department’s determination that the company violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it recruited for two positions using advertisements that unlawfully excluded certain applicants based on their citizenship statuses.
“Employers cannot unlawfully discriminate against individuals based on their citizenship status when they advertise job opportunities, plain and simple,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement makes clear our commitment to holding employers accountable when they run afoul of the law and discriminate on the basis of citizenship.”
The Civil Rights Division’s new fact sheet adds to the many other department resources available to help employers train their hiring and recruiting staff to avoid the types of discrimination that happened here.
The department’s investigation found that American CyberSystems discriminated against U.S. nationals, refugees and asylees by posting an advertisement recruiting only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. The position advertised involved access to materials subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The ITAR and EAR require employers to seek special authorization from the U.S. government for certain workers if their job requires accessing export-controlled items. Under these regulations, however, U.S. nationals, asylees and refugees are on the same footing as U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and employers do not need authorization to share export-controlled items with these workers. The department concluded that the company had no justification to exclude them from hiring.
The department also found that the company posted a second, unrelated job advertisement that discriminated against immigrant and U.S. citizen workers by specifically seeking workers with temporary work visas.
Under the settlement, American CyberSystems must train its recruiting and human resources staff on the requirements of the INA’s anti-discrimination provision, review its policies to ensure compliance with relevant law and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements. American CyberSystems also must pay a civil penalty as a result of the discriminatory ads.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation. As explained in a new fact sheet the department issued on April 18, employer obligations under this law do not change when complying with export-control laws and regulations. Another department fact sheet is aimed at helping employers avoid discrimination when recruiting using online job ads.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Find more information on how employers can avoid citizenship status discrimination on IER’s website. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a free webinar; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
Spanish version
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Cumberland County Addressing Mental Health Care, Suicide Prevention and Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opiate Withdrawal at the Cumberland County JailRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today filed a complaint and proposed consent decree with Cumberland County, New Jersey and the Cumberland County Department of Corrections to resolve allegations that conditions at the Cumberland County Jail violate the Constitution.
The proposed consent decree resolves the department’s claims that the jail fails to provide adequate mental health care to incarcerated individuals at risk of self-harm and suicide, and fails to provide medication-assisted treatment, where clinically indicated, to incarcerated individuals experiencing unmedicated opiate withdrawal. The proposed consent decree requires the jail to provide adequate mental health care and medication-assisted treatment in those circumstances.
“The Justice Department is committed to protecting the civil rights of everyone in our country, and under our Constitution, jails and prisons must provide adequate medical care to incarcerated individuals,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s proposed consent decree is a significant step toward improving the care of individuals incarcerated in Cumberland County who are struggling with serious mental health disorders, and toward protecting the civil rights that are guaranteed by our Constitution.”
“This consent decree marks a significant milestone in the Justice Department’s efforts to combat discrimination against those with opioid use disorder and to protect the civil rights of people in our jails and prisons,” said Assistant Attorney General for Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Under this agreement, Cumberland County must provide adequate medical and mental health care, including access to life-saving medications, treatment for opiate withdrawal, and protection for those with a heightened risk of self-harm and suicide. We commend Cumberland County for working collaboratively with us to implement the reforms in this decree to protect the safety and constitutional rights of incarcerated people at Cumberland County Jail.”
“The opioid epidemic is a public health emergency that plagues too many communities across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Medications are a critically important tool in combatting the opioid crisis, and they save lives. By providing medication-assisted treatment to incarcerated individuals experiencing opiate withdrawal, officials at jails and prisons can take significant steps to both combat the opioid epidemic and protect the constitutional rights of their populations.”
In June 2018, following suicides at the jail by six incarcerated people denied medication-assisted treatment, the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey initiated the investigation under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. That statute authorizes the Justice Department to address a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights of individuals confined to state or local government-run correctional facilities. In January 2021, the Department found reasonable cause to believe that Cumberland County’s failure to provide medication-assisted treatment to incarcerated people with opioid use disorder, together with its failure to offer adequate mental health and suicide prevention measures, violated the rights of incarcerated individuals. The Department also identified measures necessary to remedy the unlawful conditions.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at https://www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey’s Civil Rights Division is available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement. Individuals with relevant information about compliance with the agreement are encouraged to contact the Department by phone at 833-223-1547, or by email at [email protected].
Justice Department Leadership Honors Service and Sacrifice of Nation’s Law Enforcement for Police WeekRead the Press Release
In recognition of National Police Week, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta joined law enforcement partners to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to our nation.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement community. This year, memorial events ran May 9 - 20.
Today, Attorney General Garland delivered remarks at the 2021-2022 Medal of Valor ceremony hosted by President Joseph R. Biden Jr., at the White House. The Medal of Valor is awarded to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect others from harm. The Deputy and Associate Attorneys General also attended the ceremony.
In his remarks, Attorney General Garland said, “Every day, in communities across the country, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency services officers are asked to respond to our most difficult moments. And every day, without hesitation, you answer that call. You are on the frontlines of our nation’s most pressing public safety challenges. And you are the Justice Department’s indispensable partners in our shared work to keep communities safe. From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of the entire Justice Department – thank you.”
Earlier this week, Attorney General Garland delivered the keynote address at the Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, sponsored by the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary, on the west front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., honoring the officers who recently made the ultimate sacrifice and paying tribute to all the fallen. Deputy Attorney General Monaco and Associate Attorney General Gupta attended the service.
Last week, Attorney General Garland, Deputy Attorney General Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Gupta visited the National Law Enforcement Memorial and laid a wreath in honor of the men and women who have died in the line of duty. To recognize not only Justice Department employees who died in the line of duty but also their surviving family members and friends, Attorney General Garland and Deputy Attorney General Monaco attended memorial services for the Justice Department’s four law enforcement components: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Deputy Attorney General Monaco also delivered remarks at a memorial service to honor fallen federal correctional officers from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), during National Correctional Officers Week, which ran May 7 - May 13.
The Department’s leadership also convened a gathering of 10 law enforcement associations with whom they regularly meet, the four heads of the Justice Department’s law enforcement components, and representatives from other federal agencies to discuss the implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, recruitment and retention of law enforcement, improving access to behavioral health services, and responding to people in crisis. Joined virtually by Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona and in-person by the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Andrea Palm, the discussion focused on whole of government approach federal agencies are taking to combat gun violence and violent crime.
Over the weekend, Attorney General Garland attended the annual candlelight vigil honoring the officers who lost their lives in 2022. Attorney General Garland and other high-ranking government officials, along with officials from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, read the names of the fallen.
According to the FBI’s recent release of statistics, 118 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2022. So far in 2023, 22 law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the line of duty.
A full list of the events attended on behalf of the Department include:
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National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Wreath Laying
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FBI Memorial Service
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ATF Memorial Service
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DEA Memorial Service
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USMS Memorial Service
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BOP Memorial Service
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Law Enforcement Quarterly Meeting and Reception with partners
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National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund 35th Annual Candlelight Vigil
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National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service
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Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony
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El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con una compañía de contratación y servicios informáticos por haber publicado anuncios laborales discriminatoriosRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con American CyberSystems, Inc. una compañía con sede en Georgia que presta personal y servicios informáticos por todo el país bajo el nombre Innova Solutions (previamente conocida como ACS Solutions). El acuerdo resuelve la determinación por parte del Departamento que la compañía vulneró la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) al reclutar para dos puestos mediante anuncios que, de manera ilegal, excluyeron a ciertos postulantes con base en su estatus de ciudadanía.
«Los empleadores simplemente no pueden discriminar, de forma ilícita, a individuos con base en su estatus de ciudadanía a la hora de publicar oportunidades laborales», declaró Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Este acuerdo deja en claro nuestro compromiso de responsabilizar a los empleadores cuando vulneran la ley y discriminan por motivos de ciudadanía.»
«La nueva hoja informativa de la División de Derechos Civiles es un recurso más entre otros muchos recursos departamentales que existen para ayudar a empleadores a capacitar a su personal de contratación y reclutamiento a evitar los tipos de discriminación que ocurrieron en este caso.»
La investigación del División de Derechos Civiles halló que American CyberSystems discriminó a nacionales de los EE. UU., refugiados y asilados al publicar un anuncio que reclutaba únicamente a ciudadanos y residentes permanentes legales de los EE. UU. El puesto publicado involucraba el acceso a materiales que quedan sujetos a los Reglamentos del Tráfico de Armas Internacionales de los Estados Unidos (ITAR, por sus siglas en inglés) y los Reglamentos para la Administración de Exportaciones (EAR, por sus siglas en inglés). Los ITAR y EAR requieren que los empleadores pidan una autorización especial del Gobierno de los EE. UU. para ciertos trabajadores si su puesto requiere que accedan a artículos sometidos a controles a la exportación. No obstante, de acuerdo con estos reglamentos, los nacionales estadounidenses, así como los refugiados y asilados, están en la misma posición como ciudadanos y residentes permanentes legales de los EE. UU., y los empleadores no necesitan autorización para poder compartir artículos sometidos a controles a la exportación con esos trabajadores. El Departamento concluyó que la compañía no tenía motivos fundados para excluirlos de la contratación.
Por otra parte, el Departamento halló que la compañía publicó otro anuncio laboral no relacionado con el primero que discriminó a trabajadores inmigrantes y ciudadanos de los EE. UU. al buscar específicamente a trabajadores con visas temporales.
Conforme el acuerdo, American CyberSystems deberá capacitar a su personal de recursos humanos en cuanto a los requisitos de la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA, revisar sus políticas para garantizar que cumplan con las leyes relevantes y someterse a los requisitos de supervisión y declaración del Departamento. Asimismo, American CyberSystems deberá pagar una sanción civil como resultado de los anuncios discriminatorios.
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. La ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación. Según se explica en una nueva hoja informativa que el Departamento publicó el 18 de abril, las obligaciones del empleador al amparo de esta ley no cambian a la hora de cumplir con los reglamentos y leyes que controlan las exportaciones. Otra hoja informativa tiene como objetivo ayudar a los empleadores a evitar la discriminación cuando reclutan mediante el uso de anuncios laborales en línea.
Para aprender más sobre la labor de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda, vea este vídeo corto. Aprenda más sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía en el sitio web de la IER. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio, ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a [email protected]; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés o español. Inscríbase para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER por correo electrónico.
Walthill Man Sentenced for Transfer of Obscene Material a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Michael Tyndall, Jr., 23, of Walthill, Nebraska, to 18 months’ incarceration for Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor on May 15, 2023. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release, Tyndall will serve a two-year term of supervised release.
In October 2022, Tyndall used Snapchat to send an obscene photograph of his penis to a 13-year-old minor. Tyndall messaged the minor victim questions about sexual history and preferences. The minor victim reported Tyndall’s conduct to a trusted adult, who notified law enforcement.
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 www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Three Lincoln Gang Members Sentenced for RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Edward Dean Williams, Antonio Corell Shannon, and Emmanuel Charles Kuot were all sentenced this morning in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, following their guilty pleas to a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy. Williams was sentenced to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment, Shannon was sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment, and Kuot was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. All three defendants were sentenced to serve a three-year term of supervised release after they complete their prison sentences. There is no parole in the federal system. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard presided over the case. Williams, 21, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty to the offense on December 16, 2022. Shannon, 21, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty on December 15, 2022, and Kuot, 21, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty on January 11, 2023.
The charge to which they pleaded guilty alleges that the three defendants conspired to violate the racketeering laws of the United States. Each defendant was either a member or an associate of the Day One Brothers (or “D1B”) gang in Lincoln. The D1B gang was an enterprise which engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, including acts involving murder or attempted murder, robbery, and the distribution of controlled substances, including marijuana. The gang became the focus of an intensive investigation following an incident on March 26, 2018, when a group of D1B members and associates feuded with a rival gang. The confrontation ended with a D1B member shooting and killing a rival. As the investigation continued, the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered the extent of the gang’s criminal activities.
The defendants in this case were each charged with committing acts in furtherance of the conspiracy. Among those acts, all three defendants were alleged to have participated in a shooting on October 26, 2019, which targeted a rival gang member. On that day, the three defendants were at a residence in the 3400 block of Portia Street in Lincoln, a location which the D1B gang viewed as being under their control. They learned that a rival gang member, who was referred to in the indictment as “Victim 7,” was in a nearby apartment building. Using social media contacts, they attempted to lure him out of the apartment. Williams and Shannon were carrying firearms. As they approached on foot, the three defendants spotted a person near the apartment. Williams and Shannon each fired several shots in the direction of the apartment unit where they suspected Victim 7 was located. Some of the shots penetrated the apartment. People were inside the apartment, but thankfully nobody was hit.
As part of his guilty plea, Williams further admitted to having assaulted people on a couple of occasions who Williams suspected had cooperated with law enforcement and who Williams believed had provided information about D1B members and associates. The gang would use such threats, intimidation, and violence to keep others in fear of the gang. Shannon admitted to having used Snapchat and Facebook to advertise the sale of illegal drugs, mainly marijuana. The sales would often take place within a neighborhood which D1B viewed as under their control. And as part of Kuot’s guilty plea, he admitted to having also participated in an attempted robbery of a UNL fraternity member who was collecting an entry fee to a party in Lincoln.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “The three gang members sentenced today used violence to terrorize and exert control over Lincoln neighborhoods. The FBI is dedicated to disrupting and dismantling the most violent gangs in our community. The FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force in Lincoln will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and apprehend gang members to make our neighborhoods safer.”
This case was primarily investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Marshals also assisted during the investigation of this case.
This case was part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.