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Thursday 28 October 2010
Owner of New Jersey Fishing Company Pleads Guilty to Organizing and Financing Network of High-tech Marijuana Grow Facilities in Four StatesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Philadelphia man has pleaded guilty for his role in organizing and financing a network of high-tech, indoor marijuana grow facilities stretching from Florida to Connecticut, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Special Agent in Charge John J. Bryfonski of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Office.
Anthony Bui, 57, of Philadelphia, the owner of Asian Fish Inc., of Egg Harbor, N.J., pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to conspiracy to manufacture more than 1,000 marijuana plants, conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Bui was indicted on April 8, 2009.
According to court documents, on June 30, 2005, one of Bui’s marijuana grow facilities in Staley, N.C., caught fire. When volunteer firefighters arrived, they discovered that Bui and his associates were in the process of converting a former chicken warehouse into a massive marijuana grow operation. The firefighters then called the Randolph County, N.C., Sheriff’s Department. Deputy sheriffs arrested Bui and two associates, and also seized more than 600 marijuana plants and tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment.
Additional investigation by DEA agents led to the discovery of three additional marijuana grow facilities in Jacksonville, Fla., New Britain, Conn., and Birdsboro, Penn. According to court documents, Bui set up the facility in New Britain for his son, and his son’s friend. According to court documents, each of Bui’s facilities cost up to $100,000 to set up and equip with sophisticated lighting, irrigation and ventilation systems. The facilities were designed to produce millions of dollars worth of marijuana each year.
For example, according to court documents, the facility in Birdsboro was capable of producing 25 pounds of marijuana every few weeks. Each pound of marijuana could be sold for approximately $2,500. On June 25, 2007, DEA special agents executed a search warrant at the Birdsboro house. According to court documents, the entire house had been turned into a marijuana grow facility. The first floor bedroom contained the nursery for the youngest plants, with another room on the first floor serving as a secondary grow room with mid-level plants. The entire basement had been converted into a final grow room for the most mature plants. Each room had been outfitted with specialized lighting and other materials to maximize the plants’ growth.
According to court documents, Bui used the proceeds from his marijuana distribution activities to finance his marijuana manufacturing operations. In addition, Bui used his commercial fishing company, Asian Fish, to disguise the source of the funds for the marijuana grow facilities. Bui invested tens of thousands of dollars from Asian Fish to purchase property and equipment for these and other marijuana grow facilities across the eastern seaboard.
To date, more than a dozen members of Bui’s organization have been successfully prosecuted.
At sentencing, scheduled for Jan. 11, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., Bui faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years on the manufacturing conspiracy charge and on the distribution charge, as well as a fine of up to $4 million per count. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years on the conspiracy to launder monetary instruments charge, as well as a fine of up to $500,000. Each count also carries a possible term of supervised release following his prison term.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Robert J. Livermore of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Section. The case was investigated by special agents from the DEA, with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement; U.S. Customs and Border Patrol; the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department; the Birdsboro Police Department; the New Britain Police Department; the East Hartford, Conn., Police Department; and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Owner and a Former Executive of Indicted Video Relay Services Company Plead Guilty to Defrauding FCC ProgramRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John T.C. Yeh, the owner of Viable Communications Inc., and his brother, Joseph Yeh, the former vice president for corporate strategy and second in charge for Viable, pleaded guilty today to engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Video Relay Service (VRS) program, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and John G. Perren, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
John Yeh, 63, and Joseph Yeh, 65, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton, N.J., to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. John and Joseph Yeh were indicted on Nov. 19, 2009, along with Anthony Mowl, Viable’s former assistant vice president of business development; Donald Tropp, Viable’s former human resources manager; and the Viable corporate entity. The defendants are alleged to have submitted a total of approximately $55 million in VRS claims to the FCC.
In pleading guilty, John and Joseph Yeh admitted that beginning in approximately fall 2007, they conspired with others to pay individuals to make fraudulent VRS phone calls using Viable’s VRS service. According to the pleas, John and Joseph Yeh paid Mowl and Tropp, who then would pay others to make the fraudulent phone calls using Viable’s VRS service. Viable then submitted the fraudulent call minutes to the FCC and was paid approximately $390 per hour for all VRS calls that Viable processed.
According to the indictment, VRS is an online video translation service that allows people with hearing disabilities to communicate with hearing individuals through the use of interpreters and Web cameras. A person with a hearing disability who wants to communicate with a hearing person can do so by contacting a VRS provider through an audio and video Internet connection. The VRS provider, in turn, employs a video interpreter to view and interpret the hearing disabled person’s signed conversation and relay the signed conversation orally to a hearing person. VRS is funded by fees assessed by telecommunications providers to telephone customers, and is provided at no cost to the VRS user.
At sentencing, scheduled for Feb. 9, 2011, John and Joseph Yeh each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and mandatory restitution and forfeiture.
Mowl and Tropp pleaded guilty in January 2010 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Co-defendant Viable is awaiting trial on the charges in the indictment. An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.
In addition to the indictment charging the Yehs, Mowl, Tropp and Viable, five other indictments were unsealed on Nov. 19, 2009, charging an additional 22 people with engaging in a scheme to steal millions of dollars from the FCC’s VRS program. The indictments charge owners and employees of the following six companies with engaging in a scheme to defraud the FCC’s VRS program:
- Viable Communications Inc. of Rockville, Md.;
- Master Communications LLC of Las Vegas;
- KL Communications LLC of Phoenix;
- Mascom LLC of Austin, Texas;
- Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Interpreting Services Inc. (DHIS) of New York and New Jersey;
- Innovative Communication Services for the Deaf Corp. (ICSD) of Miami Lakes, Fla.; and
- Deaf Studio 29 of Huntington Beach, Calif.
These cases are being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Hank Bond Walther and Trial Attorneys Brigham Cannon and Robert Zink of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, with the investigative assistance of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FCC Office of Inspector General.
Four Former Airline Executives Indicted in Conspiracy to Fix Fuel Surcharges on Air Cargo Shipments to South and Central AmericaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A Miami grand jury returned an indictment today against four former airline executives of competing air cargo carriers for participating in a conspiracy to fix surcharges on air cargo shipments from the United States to South and Central America following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Department of Justice announced today.
The one-count indictment, returned today in U.S. District Court in Miami, charges Guillermo "Willy" Cabeza, George Gonzalez, Rodrigo Hernan Hidalgo and Luis Juan Soto with conspiring to suppress and eliminate competition by agreeing to impose an increase to their fuel surcharges on air cargo shipped from the United States to locations in South and Central America. Each former airline executive is charged with participating in the conspiracy beginning in or around late September 2005 until at least November 2005.
According to the indictment, Cabeza, Gonzalez, Hidalgo and Soto, along with co-conspirators, carried out the conspiracy by engaging in discussions, including at a meeting in an office in the area of Miami’s Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, and agreeing to impose an increase to the fuel surcharge applied on flights from the United States to South and Central America. As part of the conspiracy, Cabeza, Gonzalez, Hidalgo, Soto and their co-conspirators engaged in communications to implement and monitor the agreement and accepted payments at collusive and noncompetitive rates.
Cabeza is the former president of a Miami-based air cargo carrier, Gonzalez is the former chief commercial officer of a Peruvian air cargo carrier, Hidalgo is the former vice president of sales and marketing of a Miami-based air cargo carrier and Soto is the former president of a Miami-based air cargo carrier.
Air cargo carriers transport a variety of cargo shipments, such as heavy equipment, perishable commodities and consumer goods, on scheduled international flights.
Cabeza, Gonzalez, Hidalgo and Soto are charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty for each individual of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
A total of 18 airlines and 14 executives, including the four individuals charged today, have been charged in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing in the air transportation industry. To date, more than $1.6 billion in criminal fines have been imposed and four executives have been sentenced to serve prison time. Charges are pending against 10 executives, including the four individuals charged today.
Today’s charge is the result of a joint investigation into the air transportation industry being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section and the Chicago Field Office, the FBI’s field offices in Miami and Washington, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General. Anyone with information concerning price fixing or other anticompetitive conduct in the air transportation industry is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section at 202-307-6694 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm, or call the FBI’s Miami Field Office at 305-654-1918.
Florida Businessman Pleads Guilty to Illegal Trade in Elephant IvoryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joseph Barringer, 55, the owner of a Florida pool cue company, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Orlando to violating the Endangered Species Act in connection with the illegal export of African elephant ivory through an online auction site.
Barringer, the owner of Cue Components, located in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., manufactured custom pool cues and parts, including parts made from elephant ivory. Although his company’s Web page stated that he did not sell oversees because it was illegal, he sold ivory laden pool cues to an undercover police officer of the London Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) who was working in coordination with special agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A search warrant was executed at the offices of Cue Components and the defendant’s home. Federal agents seized 197 pounds of elephant ivory and cut ivory pieces, according to documents filed in court, including 24 elephant tusk tips. Agents also seized more than 1,800 Cuban cigars which are considered smuggled because they are prohibited in the U.S. and can only be brought into the country via clandestine means.
According to the plea agreement, there is not evidence enough to establish whether or not the ivory was illegally smuggled into the United States, although the defendant made a practice to obtain statements from sellers indicating that the ivory he purchased was lawful. However, according to papers filed in court, Barringer sent an email in November 2007 to his customers, including the foreign undercover police officer stating: "We’re loaded up and I do mean loaded up with beautiful Elephant ivory right now. We have 6 pairs of tusks sitting here (actually in storage). We’ve been buying and hoarding it because we don’t know when or where the next ones will come from. And for some reason, we’ve been fortunate in buying a lot of tusks this past year. I think we are to the point where we can now safely sell in some quantity."
Barringer was charged with a misdemeanor violation of the Endangered Species Act for knowingly engaging in trade of ivory specimens, contrary to the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and without a CITES export permit and re-export certificate as a result of his sale of the pool cue containing ivory to the undercover officer in England. The maximum penalty carries a maximum sentence of one year of imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000, or twice the gross gain accruing from the crime.
The African elephant is listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is also protected by the CITES, an international treaty regulating trade on endangered species to which the United States is a party. The global demand for elephant ivory led to devastating declines in the number of these giant animals, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. Despite international efforts to control the ivory trade and stop the decline of elephant populations, prices and demand remain high, thus causing continued elephant poaching and illegal ivory finding its way into international and domestic markets.
The Barringer investigation was conducted by special agents of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from London Metropolitan Police in London. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Richard A. Udell of the U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Ambrose of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division.
Empresario de Florida se declara culpable de comercio ilegal de marfil de elefanteRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joseph Barringer, 55, el propietario de una empresa de tacos de billar de Florida, se declaró culpable hoy en el tribunal federal en Orlando de violación de la Ley de Especies en Extinción en conexión con la exportación ilegal de marfil de elefante africano a través de un portal de subastas en el Internet.
Barringer, el propietario de Cue Components, ubicada en New Smyrna Beach, Fla., fabricaba tacos de billar y piezas personalizadas, incluidas piezas hechas de marfil de elefante. Si bien la página de su empresa en Internet indicaba que no vendía al exterior porque era ilegal, vendió tacos de billar con adornos de marfil a un agente de la policía encubierto de la Policía Metropolitana de Londres (Scotland Yard) quien se encontraba trabajando en coordinación con agentes especiales del Servicio de Peces y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. y el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE.UU.
Se ejecutó una orden de allanamiento en las oficinas de Cue Componentes y el hogar del demandado. Agentes federales confiscaron 197 libras de marfil de elefante y piezas cortadas de marfil, de acuerdo con el expediente judicial, incluidos 24 puntas de colmillos de elefante. Los agentes también confiscaron más de 1,800 cigarros cubanos, los que se consideran contrabandeados, ya que están prohibidos en EE.UU. y solo pueden ser ingresados al país a través de medios clandestinos.
Según el acuerdo de declaración de culpabilidad, no existen pruebas suficientes para establecer si el marfil fue o no contrabandeado ilegalmente a los Estados Unidos, aunque el demandado contaba con declaraciones de los vendedores indicando que el marfil que había comprado era legal. Sin embargo, de acuerdo con el expediente judicial, Barringer envió un mensaje de correo electrónico en noviembre de 2007 a sus clientes, incluido el agente de policía extranjero encubierto, en el que indicaba que: "Estamos repletos, realmente repletos, de bellísimo marfil de elefante en este momento. Tenemos 6 pares de colmillos aquí mismo (en depósito, en realidad). Venimos comprando y almacenando porque no sabemos cuándo o de dónde vendrán los próximos. Y, por algún motivo, tuvimos la suerte de comprar muchos colmillos este año. Creo que llegamos a un punto en el que podemos vender cierta cantidad".
Barringer fue acusado de una violación menor de la Ley de Especies en Extinción por, a sabiendas, dedicarse al comercio de especímenes de marfil, contrario a las disposiciones de la Convención sobre Comercio Internacional de Especies en Extinción de Flora y Fauna Silvestres [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)], y sin un permiso de exportación y certificado de reexportación de CITES como resultado de su venta del taco de billar que contenía marfil al agente encubierto en Inglaterra. La pena máxima conlleva una sentencia máxima de un año en prisión, un año de libertad bajo supervisión y una multa de hasta $100,000 dólares, o el doble de las ganancias brutas recibidas a través del delito.
El elefante africano figura en la lista de especies con peligro de extinción bajo la Ley de Especies en Extinción de EE.UU. y también es protegido por CITES, un tratado internacional que regula el comercio de especies en extinción del que Estados Unidos es parte. La demanda global del marfil de elefante llevó a reducciones devastadores de la cantidad de estos animales gigantes, especialmente en las décadas de 1970 y 1980. A pesar de los esfuerzos internacionales por controlar el comercio del marfil y detener la disminución de las poblaciones de elefantes, los precios y la demanda siguen siendo altos, provocando la caza ilegal de elefantes y el comercio internacional y doméstico del marfil.
La investigación de Barringer fue conducida por agentes especiales del Servicio de Peces y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. y el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE.UU. con asistencia de la Policía Metropolitana de Londres en Londres. Están a cargo de la acusación en el caso el Abogado Litigante Principal Richard A. Udell de la Sección de Delitos Ambientales del Departamento de Justicia de EE.UU. y el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Bruce Ambrose de la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Medio de Florida, División Orlando.
Cuatro ex ejecutivos de compañías aéreas fueron acusados formalmente de conspiración para fijar sobrecargos de combustible en envíos de carga aérea a América del Sur y CentralRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Un gran jurado en Miami emitió un acusación formal hoy contra cuatro ex ejecutivos de compañías aéreas de transportadoras de carga competidoras por participar en una conspiración para fijar sobrecargos en envíos de carga aérea de los Estados Unidos a América del Sur y América Central después de los Huracanes Katrina y Rita, anunció hoy el Departamento de Justicia.
La acusación formal compuesta por un cargo y emitida hoy en el Tribunal Federal de Distrito en Miami, acusa a Guillermo "Willy" Cabeza, George Gonzàlez, Rodrígo Hernàn Hidalgo y Luis Juan Soto de conspiración para contener y eliminar la competencia al acordar un aumento en sus sobrecargos de combustible en carga aérea enviada de los Estados Unidos a localidades de América del Sur y América Central. Se acusa a cada ex ejecutivo de compañía aérea de participar en la conspiración a partir de alrededor de fines de septiembre de 2005 hasta fines de noviembre de 2005.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal, Cabeza, Gonzàlez, Hidalgo y Soto, junto con coconspiradores, llevaron a cabo una conspiración al deliberar al respecto, incluido en una reunión en una oficina en el área del Aeropuerto Ejecutivo Kendall-Tamiami de Miami y acordar imponer un aumento al sobrecargo por combustible aplicado en vuelos de los Estados Unidos a América del Sur y Central. Como parte de la conspiración, Cabeza, Gonzàlez, Hidalgo, Soto y sus coconspiradores llevaron a cabo comunicaciones para implementar y observar el acuerdo y aceptaron pagos a tarifas ilegales y no competitivas.
Cabeza es el ex presidente de una transportadora aérea de carga con sede en Miami, Gonzàlez es el ex director comercial principal de una empresa de transporte de carga aérea peruana, Hidalgo es el ex vicepresidente de ventas y mercadeo de una transportadora de carga aérea con sede en Miami y Soto es el ex presidente de una transportadora de carga aérea con sede en Miami.
Las empresas de transporte aéreo de carga transportan distintos tipos de carga, tales como equipos pesados, productos perecibles y bienes de consumo, en vuelos internacionales programados.
Se acusa a Cabeza, Gonzàlez, Hidalgo y Soto de fijar precios en violación de la Ley Sherman, la que conlleva una sentencia máxima para cada persona de 10 años en prisión y una multa de $1 millón de dólares. La multa máxima puede aumentar al doble de las ganancias originadas en el delito o el doble de las pérdidas sufridas por las víctimas del delito, si cualquiera de dichas sumas es superior a la multa máxima legal.
Un total de 18 compañías aéreas y 14 ejecutivos, incluidas las cuatro personas acusadas hoy, han sido acusados en la investigación en curso del Departamento de Justicia de la fijación de precios en el ramo del transporte aéreo. Hasta la fecha, se han impuesto más de $1.6 billones de dólares en multas criminales y cuatro ejecutivos han sido sentenciados a sentencias en prisión. Existen cargos pendientes contra 10 ejecutivos, incluidas las cuatro personas acusadas hoy.
El cargo de hoy es el resultado de una investigación conjunta del ramo del transporte aéreo realizada por la Sección Nacional de Aplicación Criminal de la División Antimonopolios y la Oficina Local de Chicago, las oficinas locales del FBI en Miami y Washington, la Oficina del Inspector General del Departamento de Transporte y la Oficina del Inspector General del Servicio Postal de EE.UU. Se insta a cualquier persona con información sobre fijación de precios o cualquier otra conducta anticompetitiva en el ramo del transporte aéreo que llame a la Sección Nacional de Aplicación Criminal de la División Antimonopolios al (202) 307-6694 o visite www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm, o llame a la Oficina Local de Miami el FBI al (305) 654-1918.
Cargolux Airline Executives Indicted in Conspiracy to Fix Surcharge Rates on Air Cargo ShipmentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A Miami grand jury returned an indictment today against two executives of Cargolux Airlines International S.A., a Luxembourg-based corporation, for participating in a conspiracy to fix and coordinate certain surcharges on air cargo shipments to and from the United States, the Department of Justice announced today.
The indictment, returned today in U.S. District Court in Miami, charges Ulrich Ogiermann, president and CEO of Cargolux, and Robert Van de Weg, senior vice president of sales and marketing of Cargolux, with conspiring with others to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing and coordinating certain surcharges, including security and fuel surcharges, charged to customers located in the United States and elsewhere for air cargo shipments including to and from the United States. According to the indictment, Ogiermann is charged with participating in the conspiracy from at least as early as October 2001 until at least February 2006. Van de Weg is charged with participating in the conspiracy from at least as early as December 2003 until at least February 2006, said the department.
Air cargo carriers transport a variety of cargo shipments, such as heavy equipment, perishable commodities and consumer goods, on scheduled international flights.
According to the indictment, Ogiermann, Van de Weg and co-conspirators carried out the conspiracy by communicating and agreeing to fix and coordinate certain surcharges to be imposed on cargo shipments to and from the United States, and agreeing not to pay commissions on those surcharges. As part of the conspiracy, Ogiermann, Van de Weg and their co-conspirators monitored the surcharge agreements and accepted payments at collusive and noncompetitive rates.
Ogiermann and Van de Weg are charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
A total of 18 airlines and 14 executives, including Ogiermann and Van de Weg, have been charged in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing in the air transportation industry. To date, more than $1.6 billion in criminal fines have been imposed and four executives have been sentenced to serve prison time. Charges are pending against 10 executives, including Ogiermann and Van de Weg.
Today’s charge is the result of a joint investigation into the air transportation industry being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section and the Atlanta Field Office, the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General. Anyone with information concerning price fixing or other anticompetitive conduct in the air transportation industry is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section at 202-307-6694 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm, or call the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office at 404-679-9000.
Wednesday 27 October 2010
White House Highlights Initiatives of the Department of Justice to Combat Violence Against WomenRead the Press Release
In commemoration of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the White House today highlighted unprecedented coordination and cooperation across the entire government to provide services for and protect victims of domestic and sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable drawing attention to key initiatives of the Department of Justice.
“It has been this administration’s commitment to ensure law enforcement has the resources necessary to combat violence against women and bring offenders to justice,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These crimes devastate lives, families and communities, but I’ve never been more hopeful about our ability to make meaningful progress in ending violence against women.”
“In the 16 years since the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed, we have witnessed a sea change in our nation’s response to domestic violence and countless lives have been saved as a result,” said Susan Carbon, Director of the department’s Office of Violence Against Women. “Today we reaffirm our commitment to building upon this work and ensuring that the needs of victims are met, and offenders are held accountable.”
The White House today highlighted the following initiatives of the Department of Justice:
- The Defending Childhood Initiative was launched by Attorney General Holder on Sept 23, 2010 to protect children from the harmful consequences of experiencing and witnessing violence The goals of the initiative are to prevent children’s exposure to violence as victims and witnesses, mitigate the negative effects experienced by children exposed to violence, and develop knowledge about and increase awareness of this issue.
- The Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Action Research Project, an initiative sponsored by the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice (NIJ), was launched to identify long term solutions to eliminate the ba cklog of untested sexual assault kits that have not yet been submitted to a crime laboratory. The first phase in this effort will be the awarding of up to $200,000 to “action research” teams in up to five jurisdictions that currently have a backlog of 500 or more untested sexual assault kits. The jurisdictions receiving these awards will use the funds to create teams composed of researchers, law enforcement, crime lab directors, prosecutors and victim advocates, who will audit their jurisdiction’s rape kit backlog. The teams will explore the reasons for the backlog and then develop a plan to tackle the problem. In the second phase of the project, NIJ will award up to $4 million for sites to implement their plans.
- Today, in partnership with the Family Violence Prevention Fund and other national organizations, the Office on Violence Against Women is launching a new virtual resource for employers to address the impacts of domestic violence in the workplace. Workplaces Respond to Domestic and Sexual Violence: A National Resource Center provides information, resources, tools, and technical assistance to employers and labor organizations to facilitate and encourage safer and more effective responses to employees who are victims of domestic, sexual and dating violence or stalking. The website launches today at: www.workplacesrespond.org .
- Attorney General Holder announced today that he has re-chartered the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women, as a discretionary federal advisory committee to provide advice and recommendations to the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services on how to improve the nation’s response to violence against women, with a specific focus on successful interventions with children and teens who witness and/or are victimized by domestic violence or sexual assault. The committee includes highly regarded advocates, justice system and child welfare professionals, and researchers.
- Today, the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, in partnership with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, released new tools for communities to improve enforcement of protective orders. Civil Protection Orders: A Guide for Improving Practice will keep victims and their children safe by providing guidance to advocates, attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers and prosecutors to ensure that protective orders are issued, served and enforced throughout the United States. The guide in available online at: www.ncjfcj.org/images/stories/dept/fvd/pdf/cpo_guide.pdf
- Today, the Department of Justice, with assistance from the White House, is launching Access to Justice for Domestic Violence Victims, a pilot project to encourage more commitment from the private bar to provide pro bono legal services to victims of domestic violence. Beginning in New Orleans and Baltimore, private law firms will hire law students who have participated in law school clinics and defer their start dates while they work at domestic violence service providers. The lawyers will help victims secure protective orders, navigate the family courts, and access safe housing. Access to Justice will encourage ongoing pro bono partnerships between private law firms, domestic violence service providers and law school clinics.
- The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is launching a new national campaign to reduce sexual violence in the United States by improving the criminal justice system response, increasing services for victims, and changing attitudes. Today, the White House Council on Women and Girls and the Department of Justice held the first ever national roundtable on sexual violence at the White House. Over the next six months, OVW will hold regional forums around the country to engage the public in their sexual assault reduction campaign. In the 2011 budget, President Obama has proposed doubling funding for VAWA sexual assault program.
Violence is still a significant barrier in many women’s lives, and the Obama administration, including Attorney General Holder, has committed to taking concrete action to reduce domestic violence in this country. One-in-every-four women experiences domestic violence during their lifetimes and more than 20 million women in the U.S. have been victims of rape. Approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence every year. The impact of abuse lingers for years, both for victims and their children. Domestic violence affects people of every race, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. It not only impacts individual victims but entire communities.
White House Highlights Initiatives of the Department of Justice to Combat Violence Against WomenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON— In commemoration of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the White House today highlighted unprecedented coordination and cooperation across the entire government to provide services for and protect victims of domestic and sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable drawing attention to key initiatives of the Department of Justice.
“It has been this administration’s commitment to ensure law enforcement has the resources necessary to combat violence against women and bring offenders to justice,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These crimes devastate lives, families and communities, but I’ve never been more hopeful about our ability to make meaningful progress in ending violence against women.”
“In the 16 years since the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed, we have witnessed a sea change in our nation’s response to domestic violence and countless lives have been saved as a result,” said Susan Carbon, Director of the department’s Office of Violence Against Women. “Today we reaffirm our commitment to building upon this work and ensuring that the needs of victims are met, and offenders are held accountable.”
The White House today highlighted the following initiatives of the Department of Justice:
- The Defending Childhood Initiative was launched by Attorney General Holder on Sept 23, 2010 to protect children from the harmful consequences of experiencing and witnessing violence The goals of the initiative are to prevent children’s exposure to violence as victims and witnesses, mitigate the negative effects experienced by children exposed to violence, and develop knowledge about and increase awareness of this issue.
- The Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Action Research Project, an initiative sponsored by the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice (NIJ), was launched to identify long term solutions to eliminate the ba cklog of untested sexual assault kits that have not yet been submitted to a crime laboratory. The first phase in this effort will be the awarding of up to $200,000 to “action research” teams in up to five jurisdictions that currently have a backlog of 500 or more untested sexual assault kits. The jurisdictions receiving these awards will use the funds to create teams composed of researchers, law enforcement, crime lab directors, prosecutors and victim advocates, who will audit their jurisdiction’s rape kit backlog. The teams will explore the reasons for the backlog and then develop a plan to tackle the problem. In the second phase of the project, NIJ will award up to $4 million for sites to implement their plans.
- Today, in partnership with the Family Violence Prevention Fund and other national organizations, the Office on Violence Against Women is launching a new virtual resource for employers to address the impacts of domestic violence in the workplace. Workplaces Respond to Domestic and Sexual Violence: A National Resource Center provides information, resources, tools, and technical assistance to employers and labor organizations to facilitate and encourage safer and more effective responses to employees who are victims of domestic, sexual and dating violence or stalking. The website launches today at: www.workplacesrespond.org .
- Attorney General Holder announced today that he has re-chartered the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women, as a discretionary federal advisory committee to provide advice and recommendations to the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services on how to improve the nation’s response to violence against women, with a specific focus on successful interventions with children and teens who witness and/or are victimized by domestic violence or sexual assault. The committee includes highly regarded advocates, justice system and child welfare professionals, and researchers.
- Today, the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, in partnership with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, released new tools for communities to improve enforcement of protective orders. Civil Protection Orders: A Guide for Improving Practice will keep victims and their children safe by providing guidance to advocates, attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers and prosecutors to ensure that protective orders are issued, served and enforced throughout the United States. The guide in available online at: www.ncjfcj.org/images/stories/dept/fvd/pdf/cpo_guide.pdf
- Today, the Department of Justice, with assistance from the White House, is launching Access to Justice for Domestic Violence Victims, a pilot project to encourage more commitment from the private bar to provide pro bono legal services to victims of domestic violence. Beginning in New Orleans and Baltimore, private law firms will hire law students who have participated in law school clinics and defer their start dates while they work at domestic violence service providers. The lawyers will help victims secure protective orders, navigate the family courts, and access safe housing. Access to Justice will encourage ongoing pro bono partnerships between private law firms, domestic violence service providers and law school clinics.
- The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is launching a new national campaign to reduce sexual violence in the United States by improving the criminal justice system response, increasing services for victims, and changing attitudes. Today, the White House Council on Women and Girls and the Department of Justice held the first ever national roundtable on sexual violence at the White House. Over the next six months, OVW will hold regional forums around the country to engage the public in their sexual assault reduction campaign. In the 2011 budget, President Obama has proposed doubling funding for VAWA sexual assault program.
Violence is still a significant barrier in many women’s lives, and the Obama administration, including Attorney General Holder, has committed to taking concrete action to reduce domestic violence in this country. One-in-every-four women experiences domestic violence during their lifetimes and more than 20 million women in the U.S. have been victims of rape. Approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence every year. The impact of abuse lingers for years, both for victims and their children. Domestic violence affects people of every race, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. It not only impacts individual victims but entire communities.
Virginia Man Arrested for Plotting Attacks on D.C.-area Metro Stations with People He Believed to Be Al-Qaeda MembersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Farooque Ahmed, 34, of Ashburn, Va., was arrested today for attempting to assist others whom he believed to be members of al-Qaeda in planning multiple bombings at Metrorail stations in the Washington, D.C., area.
David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and John G. Perren, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after Ahmed was taken into custody earlier this morning.
In announcing this arrest, officials emphasized that at no time was the public in danger during this investigation and that the FBI was aware of Ahmed’s activities from before the alleged attempt began and closely monitored his activities until his arrest. The public should be assured that there was no threat against Metrorail or the general public in the Washington, D.C., area.
"Today’s case underscores the need for continued vigilance against terrorist threats and demonstrates how the government can neutralize such threats before they come to fruition," said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. "Farooque Ahmed is accused of plotting with individuals he believed were terrorists to bomb our transit system, but a coordinated law enforcement and intelligence effort was able to thwart his plans."
"It’s chilling that a man from Ashburn is accused of casing rail stations with the goal of killing as many Metro riders as possible through simultaneous bomb attacks," said U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride. "Today’s arrest highlights the terrorism threat that exists in Northern Virginia and our ability to find those seeking to harm U.S. citizens and neutralize them before they can act. We are grateful for the outstanding work of the FBI in detecting and disrupting this plot."
"Just as we ask the public to remain vigilant about possible terrorists among us, the FBI remains committed to rooting out and dismantling those groups and organizations who seek to cause harm to U.S. citizens," said Acting FBI Assistant Director in Charge John G. Perren.
Yesterday, a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va., returned a three-count indictment against Ahmed, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, charging him with attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, collecting information to assist in planning a terrorist attack on a transit facility, and attempting to provide material support to help carry out multiple bombings to cause mass casualties at D.C.-area Metrorail stations. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.
Ahmed was arrested by the FBI early this morning and is scheduled to make his first appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John F. Anderson at 2:00 P.M. EDT at the federal courthouse in Alexandria.
According to the indictment, from April 2010 through Oct. 25, 2010, Ahmed attempted to assist others whom he believed to be members of al-Qaeda in planning multiple bombings to cause mass casualties at Metrorail stations. On April 18, 2010, Ahmed allegedly drove to a hotel in Dulles, Va., and met with a courier he believed to be affiliated with a terrorist organization who provided Ahmed with a document that provided potential locations at which future meetings could be arranged. On or about May 15, 2010, at a hotel in Herndon, Va., Ahmed allegedly agreed to watch and photograph another hotel in Washington, D.C., and a Metrorail station in Arlington, Va., to obtain information about their security and busiest periods.
According to the indictment, Ahmed allegedly participated in surveillance and recorded video images of Metrorail stations in Arlington, Va., on four occasions. On or about July 19, 2010, in a hotel room in Sterling, Va., Ahmed allegedly handed a memory stick containing video images of a Metrorail station in Arlington to an individual whom Ahmed believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda. On that same day, Ahmed allegedly agreed to assess the security of two other Metrorail stations in Arlington as locations of terrorist attacks.
The indictment further alleges that, on or about Sept. 28, 2010, in a hotel room in Herndon, Ahmed handed a USB drive containing images of two Metrorail stations in Arlington to an individual whom Ahmed believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda.
According to the indictment, on or about Sept. 28, 2010, Ahmed provided to an individual whom he believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda diagrams that Ahmed drew of three Metrorail stations in Arlington and provided suggestions as to where explosives should be placed on trains in Metrorail stations in Arlington to kill the most people in simultaneous attacks planned for 2011.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes 35 agencies in the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg and Trial Attorneys Joseph Moreno and Paul Casey of the Counterterrorism Section in the Justice Department’s National Security Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Tres supuestos miembros de la pandilla "Nación Todopoderosa de Reyes y Reinas Latinos" (Latin Kings) fueron acusados en una acusación formal relevante de homicidio, intento de homicidio y otros delitos...Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Un gran jurado federal emitió una acusación formal relevante hoy en la que acusa a los supuestos miembros de la pandilla "Nación Todopoderosa de Reyes y Reinas Latinos" [Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings)] Remy Heath, alias " Remy," "King Remy" y "King Mello," 25; Chinua Shepperdson, alias "Nu," "NuNu" y "King Nu," 27; y Brandon Smith, alias "Little One" y "King Little One," 25, de incendio provocado, homicidio, intento de homicidio y cargos asociados a armas de fuego relacionados con sus supuestas actividades pandilleras. Los tres demandados habían sido acusados anteriormente de conspiración para participar en una empresa de extorsión.
La acusación formal relevante fue anunciada por el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Lanny A. Breuer de la División Criminal y el Fiscal Federal Rod J. Rosenstein para el Distrito de Maryland, junto con asociados de las fuerzas del orden público.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal relevante, los demandados eran miembros de los Latin Kings, una pandilla callejera violenta con miembros que operan en Maryland desde, al menos, 2007. Los Latin Kings tienen una estructura organizativa detallada y uniforme que se detalla – junto con diversas "oraciones", códigos de conducta y rituales – en un "manifiesto" distribuido comúnmente a miembros de todo el país. Los miembros de los Latin Kings también reciben tradicionalmente "nombres de King" o "nombres de Queen", que son nombres distintos a sus nombres legales por los cuales son conocidos por otros miembros de la pandilla y terceros en la calle. A nivel local, los grupos de Latin Kings se organizan en "tribus", entre ellas Royal Lion Tribe, MOG, Sun Tribe y UTL.
La acusación formal relevante alega que desde una fecha desconocida hasta noviembre de 2009, los miembros de Latin Kings conspiraron para cometer homicidio, intentos de homicidio, robos, manipulación de testigos e incendios deliberados para promover su ardid de delincuencia organizada.
Por ejemplo, la acusación formal relevante alega que el 24 de julio de 2007, Shepperdson bombardeó un domicilio ocupado en un complejo de condominios en Langley Park, Md., y que el 14 de diciembre de 2007, Shepperdson y otros miembros y asociados de los Latin Kings participaron en el robo armado de una prostituta en un motel en Laurel, Md. Se alega también que los miembros de Latin Kings buscaron miembros rivales de MS-13 para balearlos y que, el 17 de enero de 2009, supuestamente, Smith disparó contra miembros de la MS-13 en un club nocturno en Queens, N.Y. De acuerdo con la acusación formal relevante, el 3 de febrero de 2009, miembros de los Latin Kings, incluidos Heath y Smith, supuestamente crearon una "lista negra" que contenía nombres de miembros de los Latin Kings de Maryland a quienes pretendían matar.
La acusación formal relevante acusa a Shepperdson de incendio deliberado, y uso y porte de un dispositivo destructivo en conexión con el bombardeo del 24 de julio de 2007 en Langley Park; de robo armado, y uso y porte de arma de fuego en conexión con robos armados el 14 de diciembre de 2007 y el 25 de abril de 2008; y de homicidio para promover delincuencia organizada y homicidio resultante del uso de un arma de fuego durante un delito violento, en conexión con la muerte de la víctima en el robo del 25 de abril de 2008.
La acusación formal relevante también acusa a Smith de dos cargos de uso y porte de un arma de fuego durante un delito violento, en conexión con un tiroteo el 17 de enero de 2009; y un intento de homicidio el 31 de enero de 2009; y dos cargos de intento de homicidio para promover delincuencia organizada asociado a hechos del 31 de enero de 2009 y el 8 de julio de 2009.
Los demandados enfrentan una sentencia máxima de prisión perpetua. Aún no se han programado sus comparecencias ante el juez.
Una acusación formal no es una decisión de culpabilidad. Se supone que una persona acusada en una acusación formal es inocente hasta que se pruebe lo contrario.
Acompañaron al Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Breuer y el Fiscal Federal Rosenstein en el anuncio de la acusación formal relevante la Agente Especial a Cargo Theresa R. Stoop del Buró de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)]; el Jefe J. Thomas Manger del Departamento de Policía del Condado de Montgomery, Md.; el Fiscal Estatal del condado de Montgomery John McCarthy; el Jefe Roberto L. Hylton del Departamento de Policía del Condado de Prince George, Md.; el Fiscal Estatal para el Condado de Prince George, Glenn Ivey; el Jefe Mark P. Sroka del Departamento de Policía de Gaithersburg, Md.; el Alguacil del Condado de Montgomery Raymond M. Kight; el Jefe Larry Brownlee de la Policía de Maryland National Capital Park - División del Condado de Prince George; el Jefe Darien L. Manley de la Policía de Maryland National Capital Park - División del Condado de Montgomery; el Superintendente Terrence Sheridan de la Policía Estatal de Maryland; los Agentes Especiales a Cargo Barbara Golden y Jeffrey Irvine del Servicio Secreto de EE.UU., Divisiones de Baltimore y Washington, respectivamente; y la Agente Especial a Cargo Rebecca Sparkman del Servicio de Impuestos Internos - Investigaciones Criminales, Oficina Local de Washington, D.C.; y el Departamento de Policía de la Ciudad de Nueva York. Los funcionarios también agradecieron a la Fuerza de Tarea de Control Regional Antipandillas [Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement (RAGE)] del ATF y sus miembros por su asistencia en la investigación y formulación de cargos.
Están a cargo de la acusación en el caso los Fiscales Federales Emily Glatfelter y David Salem del Distrito de Maryland, y la Abogada Litigante Lara M. Peirce de la Unidad Antipandillas de la División Criminal.
Three Alleged Latin Kings Members Charged in Superseding Indictment with Murder, Attempted Murder and Other Crimes Related to Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment charging alleged Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) members Remy Heath, aka " Remy," "King Remy" and "King Mello," 25; Chinua Shepperdson, aka "Nu," "NuNu" and "King Nu," 27; and Brandon Smith, aka "Little One" and "King Little One," 25, with arson, murder, attempted murder and firearms charges related to their alleged gang activities. The three defendants were previously charged with conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise.
The superseding indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer for the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein for the District of Maryland, along with law enforcement partners.
According to the superseding indictment, the defendants were members of the Latin Kings, a violent street gang with members operating in Maryland since at least 2007. The Latin Kings have a detailed and uniform organizational structure, which is outlined – along with various "prayers," codes of behavior and rituals – in a written "manifesto" widely distributed to members throughout the country. Members of the Latin Kings are also traditionally given "King Names" or "Queen Names," which are names other than their legal names, by which they are known to members of the gang and to others on the street. At the local level, groups of Latin Kings are organized into "tribes," including the Royal Lion Tribe, MOG, Sun Tribe and UTL.
The superseding indictment alleges that from a date unknown through November 2009, the Latin Kings members conspired to commit murder, attempted murders, robberies, witness tampering and arson to promote their racketeering scheme.
For example, the superseding indictment alleges that on July 24, 2007, Shepperdson firebombed an occupied residence at a condo complex in Langley Park, Md., and that on Dec. 14, 2007, Shepperdson and other Latin King members and associates participated in the armed robbery of a prostitute at a motel in Laurel, Md. Latin Kings members also allegedly hunted for rival MS-13 members to shoot and in Jan. 17, 2009, Smith allegedly fired shots at MS-13 members at a night club in Queens, N.Y. According to the superseding indictment, on Feb. 3, 2009, Latin Kings members, including Heath and Smith, allegedly created a "hit list" containing names of Maryland Latin Kings members.
The superseding indictment charges Shepperdson with arson, and using and carrying a destructive device in connection with the July 24, 2007, firebombing in Langley Park; with armed robbery, and using and carrying a firearm in connection with armed robberies on Dec. 14, 2007, and April 25, 2008; and with murder in aid of racketeering and murder resulting from the use of a firearm during a crime of violence, in connection with the death of the victim in the April 25, 2008, robbery.
The superseding indictment also charges Smith with two counts of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, in connection with a shooting on Jan. 17, 2009, and an attempted murder on Jan. 31, 2009; and with two counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering related to events on Jan. 31, 2009, and July 8, 2009.
The defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Court appearances have not yet been scheduled.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant Attorney General Breuer and U.S. Attorney Rosenstein were joined in announcing the superseding indictment by Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County, Md., Police Department; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; Chief Roberto L. Hylton of the Prince George’s County, Md., Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey; Chief Mark P. Sroka of the Gaithersburg, Md., Police Department; Montgomery County Sheriff Raymond M. Kight; Chief Larry Brownlee of the Maryland National Capital Park Police - Prince George’s County Division; Chief Darien L. Manley of the Maryland National Capital Park Police - Montgomery County Division; Superintendent Terrence Sheridan of the Maryland State Police; Special Agents in Charge Barbara Golden and Jeffrey Irvine of the U.S. Secret Service, Baltimore and Washington Divisions, respectively; and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Sparkman of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C., Field Office; and the New York City Police Department. Officials also thanked the ATF’s RAGE (Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement) Task Force and its members for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Glatfelter and David Salem for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorney Lara M. Peirce of the Criminal Division’s Gang Unit.
Security Zone Established Around Deepwater Horizon Wreckage SiteRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – In response to a motion by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. District Court in New Orleans has ordered the establishment of a security zone extending 750 feet in all directions from the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon wreckage site and its debris field. The security zone extends from the center of the wreckage site, which is located at the precise coordinates N28-5491/W088-22.0293 (in the area known as the Mississippi Canyon 252) from the sea floor of the Gulf of Mexico to the sea surface.
The court found it in the interest of the public to protect the search area and any evidence located in the area against intentional or unintentional loss, the order said. It ordered the United States to inform the public and advise all known parties capable of intruding into the security zone.
In accordance with the order, the Department of Justice has informed those companies known to have the means and equipment to do so not to enter the security zone.
The order will be enforced by the United States using the full range of security assets available, including vessels, aircraft or other appropriate means and equipment.
The security zone will remain in place until Oct. 8, 2011 unless renewed for good cause, the court ordered.
Protecting the Right to Vote and Prosecuting Ballot FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – In anticipation of the upcoming election, the department today provided information about its efforts, through the Civil Rights and Criminal Divisions, to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted, without incidence of discrimination, intimidation or fraud.
Civil Rights Division:
The Civil Rights Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the civil provisions of federal laws that protect the right to vote, and with criminal law prohibiting discriminatory interference with that right.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces civil provisions of federal laws that protect the right to vote including: the Voting Rights Act; the National Voter Registration Act; the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; and the Help America Vote Act. Among other things, these laws prohibit discrimination based on race or membership in a minority language group; prohibit intimidation of voters; provide that voters who need assistance in voting because of disability or illiteracy can obtain assistance from a person of their choice; require minority language election materials and assistance in certain jurisdictions; provide for accessible election machines for voters with disabilities; require provisional ballots for voters who assert they are eligible but whose names do not appear on poll books; provide for absentee ballots for service members and U.S. citizens living abroad; and require states to ensure that citizens can register at driver license offices, public assistance offices and other state agencies; and include requirements regarding maintaining voter registration lists.
The Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion. As it has in the past, on Election Day, Nov. 2, 2010, the Civil Rights Division will implement a comprehensive program to help ensure ballot access that will include the following:
The Civil Rights Division will announce later this week which states will have federal personnel as election monitors and observers at polling places.
Civil Rights Division attorneys in both the Voting and Criminal Sections in Washington, D.C., will be ready to receive election-related complaints of potential violations relating to any of the statutes the Civil Rights Division enforces. Attorneys in the division will take appropriate action and will consult and coordinate with local U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and with other entities within the Department of Justice concerning these complaints on and after Election Day, as appropriate.
Civil Rights Division staff will be available at special toll-free numbers to receive complaints related to ballot access (1-800-253-3931) (TTY line 1-877-267-8971). In addition, individuals can also report complaints, problems or concerns related to voting via the Internet. Forms may be submitted through a link on the department’s Web page: www.justice.gov/crt/election2010contact.php.
Criminal Division and the Department's 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices:
The Department’s Criminal Division oversees the enforcement of federal laws that criminalize voter fraud and protect the integrity of the federal election process.
The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and the Department’s 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are responsible for enforcing the federal criminal laws that prohibit various forms of election fraud, such as vote buying, multiple voting, submission of fraudulent ballots or registrations, destruction of ballots or registrations, voter intimidation, alteration of votes and malfeasance by election officials, as well as federal civil law prohibiting voter intimidation that does not involve discrimination or intimidation on grounds of race or color.
The department’s Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative requires that each of the department’s U.S. Attorneys’ Offices coordinate with state law enforcement and election officials before the federal general elections regarding the handling of election-related matters in their respective districts. In addition, the department provides annual training for the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who serve as District Election Officers (DEOs) in their respective districts, which the department conducted this year on Aug. 31 and Sept.1. DEOs are responsible for overseeing potential election crime matters in their districts and coordinating with the department’s election crime experts in Washington, D.C.
On Nov. 2, 2010, these offices will work together and with the FBI to ensure that complaints from the public involving possible voter fraud are handled appropriately and expeditiously. Specifically:
- Federal prosecutors within the Public Integrity Section, the DEOs in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, FBI officials at headquarters in Washington, D.C., and special agents serving as Election Crime Coordinators in the FBI’s 56 field offices will be on duty while polls are open to receive complaints from the public and take appropriate action.
- Public Integrity Section prosecutors will also be available to consult and coordinate with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI regarding the handling of election crime allegations.
- Voter fraud complaints may be directed to any of the local U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the local FBI offices or the Public Integrity Section (202-514-1412). A list of U.S. Attorneys’ Office can be found at www.justice.gov/usao/offices/index.html and a list of FBI offices can be found at: www.fbi.gov.
Both protecting the right to vote and combating voter fraud are essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our system of government.
Promotores de ardid de eliminación de impuestos fueron sentenciados por fraude tributario en FloridaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Un tribunal federal en Pensacola, Fla., ha sentenciado a los últimos dos promotores de un ardid fraudulento de eliminación de impuestos y deudas a sentencias en prisión por sus papeles en fraude tributario, fraude electrónico y lavado de dinero, anunciaron hoy el Departamento de Justicia y el Servicio de Impuestos Internos [Internal Revenue Service (IRS)]. Otros siete fueron sentenciados en julio y octubre a sentencias en prisión que varían de 18 meses a 12 años.
El tribunal sentenció a Claudia Hirmer a 20 años en prisión y sentenció a Mark Hirmer a 15 años en prisión.
El 31 de marzo de 2010, un jurado federal emitió veredictos de culpabilidad contra ocho personas, después de un juicio que duró un mes en Pensacola, Fla., asociado a la promoción de ardides fraudulentos a través de Pinnacle Quest International, también conocida como PQI y Quest International. La novena persona se declaró culpable y atestiguó contra las otro ocho en el enjuiciamiento.
Según la evidencia presentada durante el juicio, PQI era una organización paraguas para diversos vendedores de ardides de eliminación de impuestos y deudas de tarjetas de crédito. Algunos de los vendedores de PQI, como Southern Oregon Resource Center for Education (SORCE), vendían teorías falsas y estrategias para evadir impuestos. Por tarifas desde $10,000 dólares, SORCE asistía a sus clientes en la creación de una serie de entidades de negocios falsas en los Estados Unidos y Panamá. Otros vendedores relacionados con impuestos de PQI negaban la legitimidad del sistema de impuestos sobre los ingresos basándose en diversas teorías y le brindaban a los clientes una “defensa de fiabilidad” que consistía en documentación escrita de correspondencia frívola que alegaban que el cliente podía usar como evidencia de buena fe si era enjuiciado.
En el juicio, el gobierno estableció que otros vendedores de PQI vendían ardides fraudulentos para eliminar deudas de tarjetas de crédito, entre los cuales el más exitoso fue Financial Solutions. Financial Solutions cobraba miles de dólares a sus clientes por una serie de cartas que debían enviar a empresas de tarjetas de crédito que disputaban la legalidad de la deuda profunda. El producto era enteramente ineficaz y por lo general los clientes eran demandados por sus acreedores y a menudo obligados a declarar la bancarrota.
De acuerdo a las pruebas, otro proveedor de PQI, MYICIS, funcionaba como un complejo “banco de depósito” computarizado. MYICIS era una sola cuenta bancaria en la que los clientes juntaban su dinero. MYICIS era promocionada a los clientes de PQI como un método para ocultar sus bienes al IRS como resultado de la naturaleza conjunta de la cuenta. MYICIS tuvo 3,000 clientes y aproximadamente $100 millones de dólares en depósitos en un período de tres años.
Las pruebas presentadas en el juicio probaron que PQI alegaba vender solo CDs y entradas para conferencias en el exterior. Sin embargo, PQI funcionaba como puerta de entrada para sus vendedores fraudulentos. Los clientes de PQI que buscaban a los vendedores de evasión fiscal y eliminación de deudas solo podían acceder al producto si se unían a PQI primero. El costo de la membresía iba desde $1,350 hasta $18,750 dólares, dependiendo del nivel de acceso. En mayo de 2008, un tribunal federal de distrito emitió un interdicto preliminar contra los promotores de PQI.
"Las largas sentencias en prisión recibidas hoy por los Hirmer transmiten un mensaje fuerte y claro de que los desafiadores tributarios ilegales serán investigados, enjuiciados y sujeto a toda la fuerza de la ley por sus acciones", dijo John A. DiCicco, Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Interino de la División de Impuestos del Departamento de Justicia.
"Como lo han descubierto Claudia y Mark Hirmer, operar fuera de la ley y dejar de pagar impuestos tienen graves consecuencias", dijo Víctor S.O. Song, Jefe, Investigaciones Criminales del IRS. "Las personas que promuevan ardides tributarios abusivos, establezcan empresas fraudulentas en el exterior y evadan impuestos intencionalmente, debilitan la confianza pública en nuestro sistema tributario. Esta sentencia debe servir de elemento de disuasión para quienes contemplen acciones fraudulentas similares".
El Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Interino DiCicco agradeció a los Abogados Litigantes Michael Watling, Adam Hulbig y Jonathan Marx, así como a la asistente legal Iris Wright, por su trabajo arduo en la acusación de este caso. El Sr. DiCicco también agradeció al equipo de Agentes Especiales del IRS que investigaron el caso, especialmente Stephen Walker y Wendy Kilpatrick, por sus esfuerzos.
Operador de empresa de oportunidades comerciales fraudulentas fue sentenciado a 78 meses en prisión.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Donald Williams fue sentenciado hoy en conexión con una serie de empresas de oportunidades comerciales fraudulentas con sede en Costa Rica, anunciaron el Departamento de Justicia y el Servicio de Inspección Postal de EE.UU. La Juez Federal de Distrito Marcia G. Cooke en Miami sentenció a Williams a 78 meses en prisión y cinco años de libertad bajo supervisión. También se le ordenó a Williams que pagara $3.9 millones de dólares en restitución a víctimas del ardid.
Williams se declaró culpable de conspiración para cometer fraude postal y electrónico el 29 de junio de 2010. Fue arrestado en Houston el 7 de mayo de 2010, después de su acusación formal por un gran jurado federal en Miami el 9 de marzo de 2010. La acusación formal alega que Williams y sus codemandados Silvio Carrano, Patrick Williams y Gregory Fleming conspiraron con terceros en Costa Rica para vender oportunidades comerciales fraudulentas de tarjetas de felicitación y bebidas a ciudadanos estadounidenses. Supuestamente, las oportunidades comerciales incluían asistencia para establecer, mantener y operar los negocios.
Los cargos son parte de la iniciativa continua del gobierno contra el fraude de oportunidad comercial en todo el país. Dos coconspiradores que trabajaban con Williams en Costa Rica, Stephen Schultz y Dilraj Mathauda, ya se habían declarado culpables anteriormente en el tribunal federal en Miami y fueron sentenciados en casos relacionados. Siguen pendientes los cargos contra los codemandados de Williams, así como los cargos contra los demandados Jeffrey Pearson y Sirtaj Mathauda, en casos relacionados.
Al declararse culpable, Williams admitió que trabajó para empresas fraudulentas conocidas como USA Beverages Inc., Twin Peaks Gourmet Coffee Inc. y Cards-R-Us Inc. A partir de 2005, USA Beverages comenzó a vender oportunidades comerciales para poseer y operar estantes de exhibición de bebidas de café. USA Beverages alquiló oficinas en Las Cruces, N.M., e hizo parecer a compradores potenciales que las operaciones de USA Beverages estaban plenamente en los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, USA Beverages en realidad operaba desde Costa Rica.
Después de USA Beverages, Williams trabajó en Twin Peaks Gourmet Coffee Inc., una empresa de Florida y Colorado. Twin Peaks también vendía oportunidades comerciales de posesión y operación de estantes de exhibición de bebidas de café. Twin Peaks alquilaba oficinas en Fort Collins, Colo., para que los compradores potenciales pensaran que las operaciones de Twin Peaks estaban integralmente dentro de los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, Twin Peaks en realidad operaba desde Costa Rica.
Luego, Williams trabajó en Cards-R-Us Inc., una empresa de Nevada que vendía oportunidades comerciales de posesión y operación de estantes de exhibición de tarjetas de felicitaciones. Cards-R-Us alquiló oficinas en Reno, Nev., para que los compradores potenciales pensaran que las operaciones de Cards-R-Us estaban plenamente en los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, así como USA Beverages y Twin Peaks, en realidad, Cards-R-Us operaba desde Costa Rica.
Williams admitió que él y sus coconspiradores realizaron numerosas declaraciones falsas a compradores potenciales de las oportunidades comerciales. Williams y otros vendedores dijeron falsamente a los compradores potenciales que las empresas se habían fundado años atrás, tenían un importante número de distribuidores en todo el país y tenían un historial de éxitos. Haciéndose pasar por referencias que supuestamente vivían en diversas ciudades en los Estados Unidos, Williams y los demás conspiradores realizaron declaraciones falsas sobre su éxito como propietarios de oportunidades comerciales. A través de estas y otras declaraciones engañosas, los compradores de las oportunidades comerciales eran llevados a creer por los conspiradores que probablemente recibirían ganancias significativas.
"Los estafadores que se dedican a ardides como éste causan dificultades financieras significativas a consumidores que intentan iniciar un negocio y ganarse la vida honestamente", dijo Tony West, Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar de la División Civil del Departamento de Justicia. "El fraude de oportunidades comerciales es un delito grave que enjuiciaremos enérgicamente, como lo demuestra esta sentencia en prisión".
El Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar West felicitó al Servicio de Inspección Postal por su labor de investigación, especialmente a las oficinas con sede en Miami y Phoenix. El Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar West también felicitó a la Comisión Federal de Comercio, quien había entablado una demanda civil relacionada con anterioridad y realizó un referido criminal. Están a cargo de la acusación en el caso abogados litigantes de la Oficina de Litigios de Consumidores del Departamento de Justicia, Jeffrey Steger y Alan Phelps.
Oficial de contrataciones del ejército en Colorado se declara culpable de soborno asociado a contratosRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – El Mayor del Ejército de EE.UU. Roderick D. Sànchez se declaró culpable hoy de una información criminal compuesta por un cargo de soborno por aceptar dinero y artículos de valor a cambio de influencias en el otorgamiento de contratos del Ejército, anunció el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar de la División Criminal Lanny A. Breuer.
Sànchez, 45, de Pueblo, Colo., se declaró culpable en el Tribunal Federal de Distrito para el Distrito de Colorado. De acuerdo con el expediente judicial, en diversas oportunidades entre aproximadamente 2004 y 2007, Sànchez estuvo empleado por el Ejército de EE.UU. y enviado al exterior a Afganistán, Irak y Kuwait como oficial de contrataciones. Las tareas de Sànchez incluían el análisis de propuestas presentadas por contratistas para contratos del Ejército, y recomendar el otorgamiento de contratos del Ejército a contratistas específicos y finalmente otorgar dichos contratos a contratistas del gobierno. Sànchez admitió que durante dicho periodo aceptó pagos de sobornos de empresas extranjeras que deseaban obtener contratos del Ejército. A cambio, Sànchez utilizó su posición oficial para hacer otorgar contratos del Ejército a dichas empresas. Durante este ardid, Sànchez aceptó relojes Rolex, pagos de dinero en efectivo y otras cosas de valor por un total de más de $200,000 dólares.
Sànchez enfrenta una sentencia máxima de 15 años en prisión, una multa de $250,000 dólares y cinco años de libertad bajo supervisión después de haber cumplido su sentencia en prisión. La lectura de la sentencia de Sànchez está programada para el 19 de enero de 2011; a las 8:30a.m., ante la Juez Federal de Distrito Christine M. Arguello.
Están a cargo de la acusación en este caso el Jefe Adjunto Justin V. Shur y el Abogado Litigante Eric L. Gibson de la Sección de Integridad Pública de la División Criminal. El caso está siendo investigado por el Buró Federal de Investigaciones [Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)], el Comando de Investigaciones Criminales del Ejército, el Servicio de Investigaciones Criminales de Defensa y el Inspector General Especial para la Reconstrucción de Irak.
Los Angeles Patient Recruiter Known as the “Red, White & Blue Man” Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A patient recruiter who sold the personal information of Medicare beneficiaries from San Diego and Los Angeles to fraudulent Los Angeles medical clinics and durable medical equipment (DME) companies was sentenced late yesterday to 21 months in prison in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced.
James Roland Fuquay, 49, was also ordered to pay $556,815 in restitution by U.S. District Judge John F. Walter of the Central District of California. In addition, Fuquay was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
Fuquay pleaded guilty on May 11, 2009, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to court documents, Fuquay was a patient recruiter known as the “Red, White & Blue Man,” which is a reference to the colors on a Medicare card. Fuquay in fact recruited Medicare beneficiaries from homeless shelters in San Diego and Los Angeles using the sales pitch, “Red, white, and blue. Let’s make it do what it do.” Fuquay then paid the beneficiaries to go with him to fraudulent medical clinics and DME supply companies to receive medical services, power wheelchairs, hospital beds and other medical equipment the beneficiaries did not want, need or receive. Fuquay’s network of Medicare beneficiaries and fraudulent DME supply companies was large enough for him to make approximately $220,000 in illegal recruiter fees.
According to court documents, one of the fraudulent DME supply companies that paid Fuquay to recruit beneficiaries was Airport Medical Supply, whose owner, Eli Gichon, pleaded guilty on Sept. 1, 2010, to health care fraud and tax charges. According to court documents, Airport Medical Supply operated out of a dry cleaning business where Gichon directed Fuquay and others to bring beneficiaries so that Gichon could take pictures of them sitting in power wheelchairs or standing next to empty hospital bed boxes. Gichon used these pictures to try to fraudulently prove to Medicare inspectors that he had in fact provided the beneficiaries with power wheelchairs and hospital beds. Gichon’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2011.
The sentencing was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. for the Central District of California; Tony Sidley, Assistant Chief of the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse; Glenn R. Ferry, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Los Angeles Region of the Office of Inspector General for HHS (HHS-OIG); and Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney April Christine of the Central District of California with the assistance of Trial Attorney Jonathan T. Baum of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The case was investigated by FBI and HHS-OIG. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Since their inception in March 2007, Strike Force operations in seven districts have obtained indictments of more than 825 individuals who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $2 billion. In addition, HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov .
La Casa Blanca destaca iniciativas del Departamento de Justicia para combatir la violencia contra la mujerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON— En conmemoración del Mes de Concienciación sobre la Violencia Doméstica, la Casa Blanca destacó hoy coordinación y cooperación sin precedentes en todo el ámbito del gobierno para proveer servicios para y proteger a las víctimas de la violencia doméstica y sexual y hacer pagar a los responsables por sus actos atrayendo atención a iniciativas clave del Departamento de Justicia.
"Ha sido el compromiso de este gobierno asegurar que las fuerzas del orden público tengan los recursos necesarios para combatir la violencia contra las mujeres y llevar a los responsables a enfrentar a la justicia", dijo el Secretario de Justicia de los Estados Unidos Eric Holder. "Estos delitos devastan vidas, familias y comunidades, pero nunca ha sido mayor mi esperanza con respecto a nuestra capacidad de lograr progresos importantes para acabar con la violencia contra las mujeres".
"En los 16 años desde la aprobación de la Ley de Violencia contra la Mujer [Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)], hemos sido testigos de un cambio importante en la respuesta de nuestra nación a la violencia doméstica y, como resultado, se han salvado incontables vidas", dijo Susan Carbón, Directora de la Oficina de Violencia contra la Mujer del Departamento. "Hoy, reafirmamos nuestro compromiso de incrementar este trabajo y asegurar que se satisfagan las necesidades de las víctimas y que los responsables paguen por sus actos".
La Casa Blanca destacó hoy las siguientes iniciativas del Departamento de Justicia:
- La Iniciativa de Defensa de la Niñez fue lanzada por el Secretario de Justicia de los Estados Unidos Holder el 23 de septiembre de 2010 para proteger a los niños contra las consecuencias dañinas de vivir y ser testigos de la violencia. Los objetivos de la iniciativa son evitar la exposición de los niños a la violencia como víctimas y testigos, mitigar los efectos negativos vividos por los niños expuestos a la violencia, y desarrollar conocimientos sobre e incrementar la concienciación sobre este problema.
- El Proyecto de Investigación de Acción contra el Atraso en Equipos de Agresión Sexual, una iniciativa patrocinada por el Instituto Nacional de Justicia [National Institute of Justice (NIJ)] de la Oficina de Programas Judiciales del Departamento de Justicia, fue lanzado para identificar soluciones de largo plazo para eliminar el atraso de equipos de agresión sexual no comprobados que aun no han sido presentados a un laboratorio forense. La primera fase de esta iniciativa será la asignación de hasta $200,000 dólares para equipos de "investigación de acción" en hasta cinco jurisdicciones actualmente con un atraso de 500 o más equipos de agresión sexual no comprobados. Las jurisdicciones que reciban estas asignaciones utilizarán los fondos para crear equipos compuestos por investigadores, miembros de las fuerzas del orden público, directores de laboratorios forenses, fiscales y defensores de víctimas, quienes auditarán el atraso de equipos de violación en sus jurisdicciones. Los equipos explorarán los motivos del atraso y luego elaborarán un plan para resolver el problema. En la segunda fase del proyecto, NIJ asignará hasta $4 millones de dólares para que instalaciones implementen sus planes.
- Hoy, en asociación con el Fondo de Prevención de la Violencia Familiar y otras organizaciones nacionales, la Oficina de Violencia contra la Mujer está lanzando un nuevo recurso virtual para empleadores para tratar de los impactos de la violencia doméstica en el lugar de trabajo. Los lugares de trabajo responden a la violencia doméstica y sexual: Un Centro Nacional de Recursos provee información, recursos, herramientas y asistencia técnica a empleadores y organizaciones de trabajo para facilitar y estimular respuestas más seguras y eficaces a empleados víctimas de violencia doméstica, sexual y en citas o acoso. El portal en el Internet se lanza hoy en: www.workplacesrespond.org.
- El Secretario de Justicia de los Estados Unidos Holder anunció hoy que ha reinstituido al Comité Nacional Asesor sobre la Violencia Contra la Mujer, como un comité asesor federal discrecional para proveer asesoría y recomendaciones al Departamento de Justicia y el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos sobre cómo mejorar la respuesta de la nación a la violencia contra las mujeres, con concentración específica en intervenciones exitosas con niños y adolescentes testigos y/o víctimas de la violencia doméstica o la agresión sexual. El comité incluye defensores de alta reputación, el sistema judicial y profesionales de bienestar de menores, e investigadores.
- Hoy, la Oficina de Violencia contra la Mujer del Departamento de Justicia, en asociación con el Consejo Nacional de Jueces de Tribunales de Menores y Familias, lanzaron nuevas herramientas para que comunidades puedan mejorar la imposición de órdenes de protección. Órdenes de protección civiles: Una guía para mejorar la práctica protegerán a víctimas y sus hijos al proveer orientación a defensores, abogados, jueces, agentes de las fuerzas del orden público y fiscales para asegurar que se emitan, entreguen y hagan valer órdenes de protección en todos los Estados Unidos. La guía está disponible en Internet en: www.ncjfcj.org/images/stories/dept/fvd/pdf/cpo_guide.pdf
- Hoy, el Departamento de Justicia, con la asistencia de la Casa Blanca, está lanzando Acceso a la justicia para víctimas de la violencia doméstica, un piloto proyecto para estimular un mayor compromiso de la asociación privada de abogados para proveer servicios legales gratuito a víctimas de violencia doméstica. Comenzando por Nueva Orleáns y Baltimore, las empresas de abogados privadas contratarán a estudiantes de derecho que hayan participado en clínicas en la facultad de derecho y deferirán sus fechas de inicio mientras trabajen para proveedores de servicios para la violencia doméstica. Los abogados ayudarán a las víctimas a lograr órdenes de protección, navegar por los tribunales de familia y lograr acceso a vivienda segura. Acceso a la Justicia estimulará las asociaciones constantes para trabajo gratuito entre empresas de abogados privadas, proveedores de servicios para la violencia doméstica y clínicas de escuelas de abogados.
- La Oficina de Violencia contra la Mujer [Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)] del Departamento de Justicia está lanzando una nueva campaña nacional para reducir la violencia sexual en los Estados Unidos al mejorar la respuesta del sistema de justicia criminal, aumentar los servicios para víctimas y cambiar actitudes. Hoy, el Consejo sobre Mujeres y Niñas de la Casa Blanca y el Departamento de Justicia realizaron la primerísima mesa redonda nacional sobre la violencia sexual en la Casa Blanca. A lo largo de los próximos seis meses, OVW realizará foros regionales en todo el país para lograr el compromiso del público en su campaña de reducción de la agresión sexual. En el presupuesto de 2011, el Presidente Obama ha propuesto duplicar los fondos para el programa contra la agresión sexual de la VAWA.
La violencia sigue siendo una barrera importante en las vidas de muchas mujeres, y el gobierno de Obama, incluido el Secretario de Justicia de los Estados Unidos Holder, se ha comprometido a tomar acción concreta para reducir la violencia doméstica en este país. Una de cada cuatro mujeres vive violencia doméstica durante su vida y más de 20 millones de mujeres en EE.UU. han sido víctimas de violación. Aproximadamente 15.5 millones de niños son expuestos a la violencia doméstica cada año. El impacto del abuso permanece durante años, tanto para las víctimas como para sus hijos. La violencia doméstica afecta a personas de todas las razas, géneros, orientaciones sexuales y situaciones socioeconómicas. No solo afecta a las víctimas individuales, sino también a comunidades enteras.
Houston-area Patient Recruiter Pleads Guilty in a $5.2 Million Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A patient recruiter for a Houston-based home health care company pleaded guilty today in connection with a $5.2 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).
Sammie Wilson, 69, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Atlas in Houston to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to court documents, Family Healthcare Group (Family Group) purported to provide skilled nursing to Medicare beneficiaries. The owner hired Wilson and other co-conspirators to recruit Medicare beneficiaries for the purposes of filing false claims with Medicare. According to court documents, Family Group used the Medicare beneficiary numbers to submit claims to Medicare for skilled nursing that was medically unnecessary and/or not provided. In return, Wilsonwas paid kickbacks for referring beneficiaries for services that she knew were not medically necessary and/or not rendered.
According to court documents, Wilson herself is a Medicare beneficiary. Family Group billed Medicare for providing the defendant services that were not medically necessary and/or not provided.
At sentencing, scheduled for July 18, 2011, Wilson faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Today’s guilty plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer; U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno of the Southern District of Texas; Special Agent-in-Charge Richard C. Powers of the FBI’s Houston Field Office; Special Agent-in-Charge Mike Fields of the Dallas Regional Office of HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Office of Investigations; and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Charles D. Reed and Sam S. Sheldon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Since their inception in March 2007, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven districts have obtained indictments of more than 825 individuals who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $2 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov
Fugitive Ohio Executive Previously Convicted for Role in $2.8 Billion Fraud Arrested in MexicoRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Former National Century Financial Enterprises (NCFE) executive Rebecca S. Parrett, 62, has been arrested in Mexico, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Carter M. Stewart for the Southern District of Ohio and U.S. Marshal Cathy Jones for the Southern District of Ohio. Parrett fled in March 2008 after a federal jury convicted her on charges stemming from her role in a $2.8 billion fraud that led to NCFE’s collapse.
Mexican authorities arrested Parrett in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico, based on information provided to them by the U.S. Marshals Service in Columbus, Ohio. Parrett was immediately deported according to Mexican immigration laws. Mexican authorities escorted Parrett to Los Angeles where deputy U.S. Marshals arrested her on the warrant issued after her conviction. Parrett will appear before a federal judge in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles today, then will be returned to Columbus.
"Corporate executives found guilty for their fraudulent activity will not be allowed to escape justice by fleeing the United States," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. "Like any defendant convicted by a jury, Ms. Parrett is today facing the consequences of her actions."
"The U.S. Marshals Service has followed all leads and devoted countless hours to the search for Parrett," said U.S. Attorney Stewart. "Their persistence has led to her arrest. Now she will finally face justice."
"The U.S. Marshal Service never wavered or slowed in our commitment to bring Rebecca Parrett to justice," said U.S. Marshal Cathy Jones. "Even fugitives with great financial resources willing to flee the country for years, as she did, will always have to look over their shoulder. The U.S. Marshals Service is world-renowned for having the resources to conduct complicated fugitive investigations, and this arrest again displays our commitment to ensuring the integrity of the criminal justice system."
A jury convicted Parrett, the former vice chairman, secretary, treasurer, director and owner of NCFE, on March 13, 2008, of charges including conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud. Parrett fled after the conviction. She was sentenced on March 27, 2009, to 25 years in prison. She was also ordered to forfeit $1.7 billion in property representing the proceeds of the conspiracy and to pay restitution of $2.3 billion, jointly and severally with other defendants.
NCFE, formerly based in Dublin, Ohio, was one of the largest healthcare finance companies in the United States until it filed for bankruptcy in November 2002. Parrett and other NCFE executives engaged in a scheme from 1995 until the collapse of the company to deceive investors and rating agencies about the company’s financial health and how investors’ money would be used. The court noted that 275 healthcare providers filed bankruptcy in whole or in part because of NCFE’s collapse. Parrett and nine other executives were convicted or pleaded guilty in connection with the fraud that led to the company’s collapse.
The investigation into Parrett’s disappearance generated leads in more than a dozen U.S. states and several foreign countries. Many federal, state and local police agencies assisted the U.S. Marshals Service in Columbus with its pursuit of the fugitive.
The cooperative investigation that led to Parrett’s arrest included assistance from the Southern Ohio Fugitive Task Force (SOFAST); the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; the Columbus Division of Police; the FBI; the Grove City, Ohio, Police Department; the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Ohio Adult Parole Authority; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Officials also expressed their gratitude to Mexican authorities for their significant assistance in this matter.
Fraudulent Business Opportunity Venture Operator Sentenced to 78 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Donald Williams was sentenced today in connection with a series of Costa Rica-based business opportunity fraud ventures, the Justice Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced. U.S. District Court Judge Marcia G. Cooke in Miami sentenced Williams to a term of 78 months in prison and a term of five years of supervised release. Williams also was ordered to pay $3.9 million in restitution to victims of the scheme.
Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud on June 29, 2010. He was arrested in Houston on May 7, 2010, following his indictment by a federal grand jury in Miami on March 9, 2010. The indictment charged that Williams and his co-defendants, Silvio Carrano, Patrick Williams and Gregory Fleming, conspired with others in Costa Rica to fraudulently sell beverage and greeting card business opportunities to U.S. citizens. The business opportunities purportedly included assistance in establishing, maintaining and operating the ventures.
The charges form part of the government’s continued nationwide crackdown on business opportunity fraud. Two co-conspirators who worked with Williams in Costa Rica, Stephen Schultz and Dilraj Mathauda, previously pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami and were sentenced in related cases. Charges against Williams’ co-defendants, as well as those against defendants Jeffrey Pearson and Sirtaj Mathauda in the related cases, remain pending.
In pleading guilty, Williams admitted that he worked for fraudulent companies known as USA Beverages Inc., Twin Peaks Gourmet Coffee Inc. and Cards-R-Us Inc. Beginning in 2005, USA Beverages sold business opportunities to own and operate coffee beverage display racks. USA Beverages rented office space in Las Cruces, N.M., and otherwise made it appear to potential purchasers that USA Beverages’ operations were fully within the United States. However, USA Beverages actually operated from Costa Rica.
After USA Beverages, Williams worked for Twin Peaks Gourmet Coffee Inc., which was a Florida and Colorado corporation. Twin Peaks also sold business opportunities to own and operate coffee beverage sale display racks. Twin Peaks rented office space in Fort Collins, Colo., to make it appear to potential purchasers that Twin Peaks’ operations were fully within the United States. However, Twin Peaks was actually operated from Costa Rica.
Williams later worked for Cards-R-Us Inc., which was a Nevada corporation that sold business opportunities to own and operate greeting card sale display racks. Cards-R-Us rented office space in Reno, Nev., to make it appear to potential purchasers that Cards-R-Us’ operations were fully within the United States. However, like USA Beverages and Twin Peaks Gourmet Coffee, Cards-R-Us was actually operated from Costa Rica.
Williams admitted that he and his co-conspirators made numerous false statements to potential purchasers of the business opportunities. Williams and other salesmen falsely told potential purchasers that the companies were established years earlier, had a significant number of distributors across the country, and had a track record of success. Posing as references purportedly living in various cities in the United States, Williams and other conspirators told false tales of their success as business opportunity owners. Through these and other misrepresentations, the conspirators led purchasers to believe that they likely would earn substantial profits.
"Scam artists who engage in schemes like this one cause major financial hardship for consumers who are trying to start a business and earn an honest living," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. "Business opportunity fraud is a serious crime that we will pursue aggressively, as this prison sentence demonstrates."
Assistant Attorney General West commended the investigative efforts of the Postal Inspection Service, especially the offices based in Miami and Phoenix. Assistant Attorney General West also commended the Federal Trade Commission, which previously brought a related civil suit and made a criminal referral. This matter is being prosecuted by trial attorneys Jeffrey Steger and Alan Phelps in the Justice Department’s Office of Consumer Litigation.
Former HannStar Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty and Serve Jail Time for Participating in Global LCD Price-Fixing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former executive from HannStar Display Corporation has agreed to plead guilty and to serve jail time in the United States for participating in a global conspiracy to fix the price of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, the Department of Justice announced today.
According to a one-count felony charge filed today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Jui Hung "Sam" Wu conspired with others to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the prices of TFT-LCD panels. Wu, a resident of Taiwan and the former executive director of global sales and marketing of HannStar, a Taiwan-based corporation, participated in the conspiracy from as early as Sept. 21, 2001, until on or about Jan. 31, 2006.
Under his plea agreement, which is subject to court approval, Wu has agreed to serve seven months in jail, to pay a $20,000 criminal fine and to assist the department in its ongoing TFT-LCD investigation.
TFT-LCD panels are used in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices. By the end of the conspiracy period, the worldwide market for TFT-LCD panels was valued at $70 billion. Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracy are some of the largest computer and television manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and Hewlett Packard.
The department charged that Wu participated in a conspiracy in which the participants met and agreed to charge prices of TFT-LCD panels at certain predetermined levels. The participants in that conspiracy also issued price quotations in accordance with the agreements reached and exchanged information on the sales of TFT-LCD panels for the purpose of monitoring adherence to the agreed-upon prices, the department said.
As a result of this investigation, to date, more than $890 million in criminal fines have been obtained. Including today’s filing, 21 executives and eight companies have been charged in the department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing in the LCD industry.
Wu is charged with violating the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
Today’s charge is the result of a joint investigation by the Department of Justice Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office and the FBI in San Francisco.
Anyone with information concerning illegal conduct in the TFT-LCD industry is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office at 415-436-6660 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm.
Fact Sheet: Move ActRead the Press Release
About the MOVE Act
Enacted in 1986, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) protects the right of service members to vote in federal elections regardless of where they are stationed. This law requires that states and territories allow members of the U.S. Uniformed Services and merchant marine, their family members and U.S. citizens residing outside the United States to register and vote absentee in elections for federal offices.
UOCAVA was expanded significantly in 2009, when Congress passed the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act to provide greater protections for service members, their families and other overseas citizens. Among other provisions, the MOVE Act requires states to transmit validly-requested absentee ballots to UOCAVA voters no later than 45 days before a federal election, when the request has been received by that date, except where the state has been granted an undue hardship waiver approved by the Department of Defense for that election.
The Department of Defense determines whether to grant waivers to states that are unable to comply with the MOVE Act requirement to mail ballots by the 45th day before a federal election. This year, 12 states applied for waivers.
- Denied Waivers: Alaska, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Wisconsin.
- Approved Waivers: Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Washington.
- Withdrawn Waiver Request: Maryland.
DOJ Enforcement of the MOVE Act
In the past several months, the department has worked to aggressively enforce UOCAVA and the MOVE Act in order to ensure that all military and overseas voters can exercise their right to vote, and have their votes counted, in the upcoming federal election on Nov. 2, 2010. The department has devoted significant resources to ensuring successful implementation of the MOVE Act including forming a team of attorneys to monitor state compliance with the Act’s requirements.
MOVE Act Lawsuits:
The department has filed five lawsuits against states (Wisconsin, Guam, New York, New Mexico and Illinois) to date to compel compliance with the law.
- On Sept. 10, 2010, the department filed a lawsuit against Wisconsin. This lawsuit was resolved by a consent decree and signed by the court on Sept. 15, 2010. The agreement provides additional time, until Nov. 19, 2010, for receipt of absentee ballots to ensure eligible military and overseas voters have sufficient time to cast and return their votes and to have them counted. The agreement also required Wisconsin officials to take certain steps to ensure that all local election offices in the state sent absentee ballots to military and overseas voters by no later than Oct. 1, 2010. Under the agreement, Wisconsin will provide a 49-day window for military and overseas voters to receive, mark and submit their ballots to ensure sufficient time to have their ballots counted.
- On Oct. 6, 2010, the department filed a lawsuit against Guam seeking emergency relief to help ensure that uniformed service voters and other overseas citizens have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming federal elections. This lawsuit was filed because Guam failed to mail ballots to affected voters by the Sept. 18, 2010, deadline. On Oct. 13, 2010, the federal district court in Guam held a hearing and granted the department’s request for permanent injunctive relief.
- On Oct. 12, 2010, the department filed a lawsuit against New York. New York received a waiver to allow it to send ballots by Oct. 1, 2010, but more than 43,000 New York ballots were not sent by this deadline. The lawsuit was resolved by a consent decree, signed by the court on Oct. 19, 2010. The decree provides additional time, until Nov. 24, 2010, for receipt of absentee ballots to ensure eligible military and overseas voters have sufficient time to cast and return their votes and to have them counted.
- On Oct. 12, 2010, the department filed a lawsuit against New Mexico. This lawsuit was resolved by a consent decree that provides additional time for overseas voters whose ballots were mailed late to return those ballots and have them counted. Election officials in six counties (Curry, Los Alamos, McKinley, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Taos) mailed ballots up to four days late; the settlement agreement provides that ballots sent by Election Day and received up to Nov. 6, 2010, four days after Election Day, will be counted. The district court approved the consent decree and entered it as an order of the court on Oct. 14, 2010.
- On Oct. 22, 2010, the department filed a lawsuit against Illinois, accompanied by a consent decree that the court signed that same day. The settlement provides additional time beyond the state’s existing Nov. 16, 2010, deadline – 14 days after Election Day – for receipt of ballots from military and overseas voters in six counties: Boone, Hancock, Jersey, Massac, Schuyler and St. Clair. The settlement would also extend the date by which ballots from those counties must be postmarked from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2, 2010. In addition, the settlement requires that any voters who asked to receive their ballots electronically, but were sent the ballot by mail instead, be transmitted a ballot by the requested electronic method.
MOVE Act Agreements:
The department has reached out-of-court agreements with nine other jurisdictions (Alaska, Colorado, DC, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota and Virgin Islands) to ensure timely receipt of ballots by overseas and military voters. These agreements generally require relief such as mailing out the ballots by the 45th day, an extension of time to count ballots that are received after election day where the ballots were mailed later than the 45th day; express delivery of ballots that were not sent by the 45th day; and notice to affected voters.
- On Sept. 2, 2010, the department reached an agreement with the U.S. Virgin Islands, which committed to sending absentee ballots for federal office (the Virgin Islands’ Delegate to Congress) on or before Sept. 18, 2010, the 45th day before the election.
- On Sept. 15, 2010, the department announced its agreement with Alaska, which expedited the candidate certification procedures for its Aug. 24, 2010, primary election so that it was able to send out an official absentee ballot to all UOCAVA voters no later than Sept. 18, 2010. This date for sending the official ballot is 45 days in advance of the federal general election, thus ensuring that eligible military and overseas voters have sufficient time to receive, cast and return their ballots and to have their votes counted.
- On Sept. 16, 2010, the department reached an agreement with Hawaii. Hawaii’s primary election on Sept. 18, 2010, precluded the state from sending absentee ballots to military and overseas voters by the MOVE Act’s ballot transmittal deadline of Sept. 18, 2010 – the 45th day before the Nov. 2, 2010, federal general election. To ensure that the state’s military and overseas voters have sufficient time to receive, cast and return their ballots in time for them to be counted in the Nov. 2, 2010, election, the department and the state reached an agreement requiring Hawaii to send out ballots by express delivery service no later than Sept. 24, 2010, and to provide voters with the means to return their completed ballots by express delivery free of charge. Earlier this year, Hawaii enacted legislation, effective on Jan. 1, 2011, which moves Hawaii’s primary date to the second Saturday in August in every even-numbered year to help ensure compliance with UOCAVA’s 45-day advance ballot mailing requirement in future federal general elections.
- On Sept. 17, 2010, the department announced its agreement with Colorado, which required the state to ensure that its counties sent an official absentee ballot to UOCAVA voters no later than Sept. 18, 2010, thus ensuring that eligible military and overseas voters have at least 45 days to receive, cast and return their ballots in time for them to be counted in the Nov. 2, 2010, election.
- On Sept. 17, 2010, the department reached an agreement with the District of Columbia, under which the District sent absentee ballots to military and overseas voters no later than Oct. 4, 2010, and will provide additional time -- until Nov. 19, 2010 -- for receipt of absentee ballots. The District passed emergency rules embodying these new deadlines, which will ensure that eligible military and overseas voters have at least 45 days to receive, cast and return their ballots in time for them to be counted in the Nov. 2, 2010, election. Earlier this year, the Council of the District of Columbia adopted a “Sense of the Council Primary Election Timing Resolution of 2010” acknowledging that the District needed to enact legislation to move its primary election for federal offices to a date no later than the first Tuesday of the first full week of August, beginning in 2012.
- On Oct. 8, 2010, the department announced that it reached an agreement with Nevada. Following inquiries from the department, Nevada reported that due to a ballot printing delay, one of its counties, Elko County, did not send absentee ballots by the 45th day before the general election to its UOCAVA voters who had requested ballots by that date. To address this MOVE Act violation and permit these voters to have a 45-day period to receive, mark and return their ballots, the Nevada Secretary of State adopted an emergency regulation to provide an additional six days, until 5:00 P.M. PDT on Nov. 8, 2010, for Elko County’s UOCAVA voters to return their ballots, provided they are executed and sent by Election Day.
- On Oct. 8, 2010, the department reached an agreement with North Dakota to remedy the state’s MOVE Act violations. Following inquiries from the department, North Dakota state officials informed the Department that 13 counties sent ballots by up to six days after the Sept. 18 deadline: Benson, Bottineau, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Grand Forks, Mercer, Mountrail, Pembina, Ransom, Traill and Walsh. To remedy this violation, North Dakota has required canvassing boards in the affected counties to meet to canvass the election results six days after the election, to provide sufficient time for late-mailed ballots to be received, executed and returned.
- On Oct. 15, 2010, the department announced its agreement with Kansas. Following inquires from the department, Kansas state officials reported that seven of its counties failed to send ballots by the Sept. 18, 2010, deadline: Marshall, Finney, Jackson, Hamilton, Wabaunsee, Ellis and Stevens Counties. Under the agreement, the state will take actions to ensure that counties provide at least 45 days for the transmission, execution and return of ballots to all qualified UOCAVA voters who requested absentee ballots on or before Sept. 18, 2010, and will extend the receipt deadlines in those counties as commensurate with the delay in each of those counties in sending ballots.
- On Oct. 15, 2010, the department announced its agreement with Mississippi. Following inquiries from the department, Mississippi state officials reported that the ballots for UOCAVA voters from 22 counties who had requested ballots on or before Sept. 18, 2010, were not sent at least 45 days before the federal general election: Adams, Alcorn, Attala, Clay, Coahoma, Covington, Forrest, Hinds, Jasper, Jones, Lafayette, Lamar, Montgomery, Neshoba, Perry, Pontotoc, Tishomingo, Union, Warren, Washington, Webster and Yazoo. Under the agreement, Mississippi will extend the deadline for the receipt of ballots from military and overseas voters – ballots from eligible voters who requested ballots by Sept. 18, 2010, that are executed and sent by Nov. 2, 2010, and received by 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 8, 2010, will be counted.
The Department of Justice is firmly committed to ensuring that our men and women serving overseas have the opportunity to vote and to have that vote counted. The department is prepared to file suit against states that violate the MOVE Act when necessary to achieve compliance. More information about UOCAVA and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice website at www.justice.gov/crt/voting/misc/activ_uoc.php. Complaints may be reported to the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
Ejecutiva de Ohio fugitiva condenada anteriormente por su papel en un fraude de $2.8 billones de dólares fue arrestada en MéxicoRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – La ex ejecutiva de National Century Financial Enterprises (NCFE) Rebecca S. Parrett, 62, ha sido arrestada en México, anunciaron el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Lanny A. Breuer de la División Criminal, el Fiscal Federal Carter M. Stewart para el Distrito Sur de Ohio y la Alguacil Federal Cathy Jones del Distrito Sur de Ohio. Parrett huyó en marzo de 2008 después de que un jurado federal la condenó por cargos asociados a su papel en un fraude de $2.8 billones de dólares que causó el colapso de NCFE.
Las autoridades mexicanas arrestaron a Parrett en Ajijic, Jalisco, México, con base en información que les fue proporcionada por el Servicio de Alguaciles Federales en Columbus, Ohio. De acuerdo con las leyes de inmigración mexicanas, Parrett fue deportada inmediatamente. Las autoridades mexicanas acompañaron a Parrett a Los Ángeles, donde Alguaciles Federales Adjuntos la arrestaron a partir de la orden de arresto emitida después de su condena. Parrett comparecerá ante un juez federal en el Tribunal de Distrito Federal en Los Ángeles hoy, y luego será enviada a Columbus.
"No se permitirá que ejecutivos de empresas encontrados culpables por actividades fraudulentas escapen a la justicia huyendo de los Estados Unidos", dijo el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Lanny A. Breuer. "Como cualquier demandado condenado por un jurado, la Srta. Parrett enfrenta hoy las consecuencias de sus acciones".
"El Servicio de Alguaciles Federales siguió todas las pistas y dedicó incontables horas a encontrar a Parrett", dijo el Fiscal Federal Stewart. "Su persistencia permitió su arresto. Ahora, finalmente enfrentará a la justicia".
"El Servicio de Alguaciles Federales nunca titubeó ni se detuvo en su compromiso de llevar a Rebecca Parrett ante la justicia", dijo la Alguacil Federal Cathy Jones. "Hasta los fugitivos con fuertes recursos financieros dispuestos a dejar el país por muchos años, como lo hizo ella, siempre tendrán que mirar por arriba de sus hombros. El Servicio de Alguaciles Federales es conocido en todo el mundo por contar con los recursos necesarios para conducir investigaciones complejas de fugitivos, y este arresto nuevamente demuestra nuestro compromiso de asegurar la integridad del sistema de justicia criminal".
Un jurado condenó a Parrett, la ex vicepresidente del directorio, secretaria, tesorera, directora y propietaria de NCFE, el 13 de marzo de 2008, por cargos que incluyen conspiración, fraude de valores y fraude electrónico. Después de su condena, Parrett huyó. El 27 de marzo de 2009 había sido sentenciada a 25 años en prisión. También se le había ordenado entregar $1.7 billones en propiedad representativa del producto de la conspiración y pagar restituciones de $2.3 billones de dólares, individual y mancomunadamente con otros demandados.
NCFE, basada en la época en Dublin, Ohio, era una de las principales empresas financieras de servicios médicos en los Estados Unidos hasta que presentó la quiebra en noviembre de 2002. Parrett y otros ejecutivos de NCFE realizaron un ardid desde 1995 hasta el colapso de la empresa para defraudar a inversionistas y agencias de clasificación sobre la salud financiera de la empresa y cómo se utilizaría el dinero de los inversionistas. El tribunal observó que 275 proveedores de salud presentaron la quiebra parcial o totalmente debido al colapso de NCFE. Parrett y otros nueve ejecutivos fueron condenados o se declararon culpables en conexión con el fraude que llevó al colapso de la empresa.
La investigación de la desaparición de Parrett generó pistas en más de una docena de estados de EE.UU. y varios países extranjeros. Muchas agencias policiales federales, estatales y locales asistieron al Servicio de Alguaciles Federales en Columbus en la búsqueda de la fugitiva.
La investigación conjunta que permitió el arresto de Parrett incluyó asistencia de la Fuerza de Tarea de Fugitivos del Sur de Ohio [Southern Ohio Fugitive Task Force (SOFAST)]; el Departamento de Estado de EE.UU., el Servicio de Seguridad Diplomática; el Servicio de Impuestos Internos - División de Investigaciones Criminales; la División de Policía de Columbus, el Buró Federal de Investigaciones [Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)]; el Departamento de Policía de Grove City, Ohio; el Buró de Identificación e Investigación Criminal de Ohio; la Administración de Control de Drogas; el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE.UU.; la Autoridad de Libertad bajo Palabra de Adultos de Ohio; y el Servicio de Inspección Postal de EE.UU. Los funcionarios también expresaron su gratitud a las autoridades mexicanas por su importante asistencia en este asunto.
Clinic Owners and Patient Recruiters Plead Guilty in Detroit-area Diagnostic Testing Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Miami-area residents Emilio and Maria Haber and Detroit-area residents Genna Yates and Darryl Nichols pleaded guilty yesterday for their roles in a Detroit-area diagnostic testing fraud scheme, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced
Emilio Haber, 51; Maria Haber, 44; Genna Yates, 30; and Darryl Nichols, 51, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Duggan of the Eastern District of Michigan. At sentencing, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to plea documents, Emilio Haber conceived and oversaw fraud schemes at two clinics, Ritecare LLC and CompleteHealth LLC. Emilio Haber incorporated and opened Ritecare and CompleteHealth in the state of Michigan in 2007. CompleteHealth merged into Ritecare in July 2008. According to court documents, while operating CompleteHealth and Ritecare, Emilio Haber and his co-conspirators billed Medicare for medically unnecessary tests and services, including, but not limited to, nerve conduction studies. Emilio Haber obtained patients for the clinics through the payment of kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries and patient recruiters. Emilio Haber admitted that he and other co-conspirators paid patient recruiters $100-$150 per patient obtained, with $50-$75 to go to the patient in exchange for visiting Ritecare and subjecting themselves to medically unnecessary tests.
To justify the medically unnecessary tests, Emilio Haber admitted that he and other co-conspirators told patient recruiters to instruct the patients to feign certain symptoms. Emilio Haber and other co-conspirators also directly instructed patients to feign symptoms. The kickbacks paid to the recruiters and the patients were contingent upon the Medicare beneficiaries identifying the symptoms necessary to justify medically unnecessary tests. Consequently, the patients’ medical records contained false or fabricated symptoms allowing Ritecare to deceive Medicare as to the legitimacy and medical necessity of the tests it performed.
Between approximately August 2007 and approximately October 2009, Haber and his co-conspirators at CompleteHealth and Ritecare submitted and/or caused to be submitted approximately $8.5 million in fraudulent claims to the Medicare program for medical and testing services that were medically unnecessary and procured through the payment of kickbacks. Medicare paid approximately $6.3 million of those claims.
According to plea documents, Maria Haber, Emilio’s wife, admitted that she incorporated CompleteHealth on Sept. 20, 2007. Maria Haber further admitted that she and her co-conspirators, including her husband, billed Medicare for medically unnecessary tests and services at CompleteHealth. Maria Haber also admitted that she obtained patients for the CompleteHealth scheme through the payment of kickbacks to recruiters.
Darryl Nichols and Genna Yates, both patient recruiters, admitted in plea documents to recruiting Medicare beneficiaries to Ritecare and CompleteHealth by paying kickbacks to the beneficiaries. Nichols and Yates also admitted that they received from the owners and employees of Ritecare $75 to $150 per patient they recruited; that they paid the beneficiaries a portion of the kickbacks and kept the rest for themselves; and that they coached patients to feign symptoms at the direction of the owners and employees of Ritecare and CompleteHealth.
Yates caused the submission of approximately $840,565 in fraudulent billings by Ritecare, as well as several other health care companies. Medicare paid approximately $630,506 of those claims. Nichols caused the submission of approximately $581,211 in fraudulent billings by Ritecare, as well as several other clinics. Medicare paid approximately $383,610 of those claims.
The guilty pleas were announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan; Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the HHS Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant Chief John K. Neal and Trial Attorney Gejaa T. Gobena of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Since their inception in March 2007, Strike Force operations in seven districts have obtained indictments of more than 825 individuals who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $2 billion. In addition, HHS’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
Attorney General Holder Recognizes DOJ Employees and Others for Their Service at Annual Awards CeremonyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder recognizes 303 Department of Justice employees for their distinguished public service today at the 58th Annual Attorney General Awards Ceremony. Fifty-five other individuals outside of the department are also honored for their work. Held at DAR Constitution Hall, this annual ceremony recognizes both department employees and others for their dedication to carrying out the Department of Justice’s mission.
“ It is my pleasure to congratulate this year’s Attorney General Award winners and to recognize their extraordinary contributions,” Attorney General Holder said. “Not only is their service to our nation inspiring, it is strengthening the work of the Justice Department at every level and making a powerful difference for people across our country, and far beyond. This year’s awardees exemplify the department’s finest traditions, and I am privileged, and grateful, to count them as colleagues.”
Attorney General Holder and Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler presented the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service – the department’s highest award – to two teams this year. The awards are given to teams involved in the investigation and prosecution of the largest healthcare fraud settlement ever obtained by the department involving Pfizer Inc., and the investigation and prosecution of those involved in an al-Qaeda plot against the New York City subway system.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service is presented to a team for its exceptional determination and coordination in the investigation and prosecution of off-label promotion and kickbacks by Pfizer Inc. and its employees. The $2.3 billion civil and criminal resolution was the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice, and the $1.3 billion criminal fine is the single largest ever paid.
From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, recipients include: Sara Miron Bloom,Chief of Affirmative Litigation; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan M. Poswistilo and Zachary A. Cunha; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Deputy Chief for Affirmative Matters Marilyn May, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlene Keller Fullmer; from the Eastern District of Kentucky,Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robin Gwinn and Cheryl D. Morgan; from the Department of Justice Civil Division Commercial Litigation Branch, Patricia L. Hanower and Sanjay M. Bhambhani, Senior Trial Counsels; and Colin M. Huntley, Trial Attorney; from the Civil Division’s Office of Consumer Litigation, Jill P. Furman,Assistant Branch Director and Mark L. Josephs,Trial Attorney; from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administrative and Civil Remedies Branch, Senior Counsels Mary Riordan and Nicole Hall; and from the HHS Food & Drug Administration, Anne K. Walsh, Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service is also presented to a team who dedicated themselves to preserving the safety of the United States and its citizens by preventing an al-Qaeda plot to attack the New York City subway system. From the Department of Justice National Security Division (NSD) Office of Intelligence, Operations Section, recipients include Gabriel R. Sanz-Rexach,Section Chief; Stuart J. Evans, Deputy Section Chief; Alexandra Doumas, Counterterrorism Unit Chief; and Caren E. Somerwitz, Kimberly M. Schmid and Stephen C. Eglin,Attorney-Advisors; from the NSD’s Office of Intelligence, Litigation Section, Nancy J. Newcomb,Section Chief; from the NSD’s Counterterrorism Section, Sharon E. Lever,Deputy Chief; and William M. Narus,Trial Attorney; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York Violent Crimes and Terrorism Section, John Ross, Investigator; Berit W. Berger and James P. Loonam, Assistant U.S. Attorneys; Jeffrey H. Knox,Chief; and David M. Bitkower,Deputy Chief; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, Timothy R. Neff, Greg Holloway and David Gaouette,Assistant U.S. Attorneys; from the FBI’s Denver Field Office, Steve W. Olson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge; Special Agents Eric C. Jergenson, J. Alexander Ferguson, A. Za Smith-Berthe, F. Rhion Hiller and Garrett V. Anderson; and Intelligence Analyst Collin Husic; from the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, Special Agent Micheal J.L. Copeland; from the FBI’s New York Field Office, Donald F. Borelli,Assistant Special Agent in Charge; Special Agents Farbod Azad, John W. Tinning, Garrett M. Zito and Stephanie M. Buhl; Geralyn Custode, Supervisory Intelligence Analyst; and James B. Dowling,Intelligence Analyst; from the FBI’s Newark, N.J., Field Office, Unit Chief Jay S. Tabb Jr. and Assistant Section Chief William F. Sweeney Jr.; from the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul M. Abbate and Supervisory Special Agent Tyrone Power; from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, C. Bryan Paarmann,Assistant Section Chief; Tara A. Bloesch, Supervisory Special Agent; and Special Agent Henry C. Heim; from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Supervisory Special Agent Matthew L. Goard; and Intelligence Analysts Elizabeth Nagel, David Ring, Sandra Wenglikowski and Frederick Marcks; from the FBI’s National Security Branch, Intelligence Analyst Natalie Pathwick-Paszyc; from the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence, Section Chief Jennifer E. Ley and Lauren B. O’Brien, Intelligence Analyst; from the FBI Office of General Counsel, Assistant General Counsels Christopher N. Hamilton and Kathleen Adams Veneri; and Alan Ciammaichella, Task Force Officer; from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Special Agent Robert Norman Marten and Task Force Officers Jason Cassidy and Travis F. McFarren; from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Transportation Safety Administration, Michael C. Neener,Federal Air Marshal; and from the New York Police Department, Task Force Officers Michael Carney, Angel Luis Maysonet and Jody Allan Almodovar.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism recognizes an extraordinary act of courage and voluntary risk of life during the performance of official duties. Two awards are presented this year.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism goes to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Foreign-deployed Advisory Support Team agents, along with their Afghan National Police counterparts, who participated in a joint operation with American and coalition forces in Badghis Province, Afghanistan, to execute an Afghan search warrant at Darreh-ye Bazaar.
Award recipients include: Group Supervisor Patrick J. McDarby, and Special Agents Forrest N. Leamon (posthumous), Chad L. Michael (posthumous), Michael E. Weston (posthumous), Andrew P. Harris, David L. Claassen and David L. King. During the mission, one of the military helicopters crashed, claiming the lives of Special Agents Leamon, Michael and Weston and seven U.S. military personnel. In disregard to their own safety, Group Supervisor McDarby and Special Agents Harris, King and Claassen displayed extraordinary heroism at the crash site by evacuating, providing aid, protecting their injured colleagues and recovering the remains of their fallen comrades.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism also goes to James N. Chios who, while in Afghanistan, saved the life of two wounded soldiers by providing urgent medical care when the military unit in which he was embedded was ambushed by a superior enemy force attacking from multiple elevated positions. He then risked his life by leaving the protection of cover and engaging the enemy.
The Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity pays tribute to the memory and achievements of former Attorney General Edward H. Levi, whose career as an attorney, law professor and dean, and public servant exemplified these qualities in the best traditions of the department. This year, the award is presented to Michael F. Hertz,Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Commercial Litigation Branch for the Civil Division.
Hertz has shaped the way the False Claims Act and qui tam provisions are interpreted and used, and has been instrumental in defending the constitutionality of the provisions themselves. He is a relentless advocate of the government's interest, and exhibits uncompromising professionalism, integrity, and judgment in a manner that serves as an example to attorneys and support staff. His distinguished career has exemplified the ideals of public service for more than 33 years.
The Mary C. Lawton Lifetime Service Award recognizes employees who have served at least 20 years in the department and have demonstrated high standards of excellence and dedication throughout their careers. This year’s award is presented to William L. Taylor,Judicial Security Inspector for the Southern District of Ohio of the U.S. Marshals Service. Taylor is honored for his exceptional leadership and sustained role on the U.S. Marshals Service Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). During his involvement with CIRT for the past two decades, Taylor has provided outstanding aid to his fellow employees during times of national disasters and personal crisis.
The William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement is an honorary award granted to recognize state and local law enforcement officials who have made significant contributions to cooperative law enforcement endeavors. This year’s award is presented to Jeff Rich ,Detective for thePlano, Texas, Police Department for his exceptional work to combat sexual exploitation crimes against children. His work includes sustained and significant contributions to promote cooperation and coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as his training initiatives which have reached a national audience.
The William French Smith Award also goes to partners of the U.S. Marshals Service of the Northern District of Ohio. Recipients include: Michael McGrath,Chief of the Cleveland Police Department; Bob Reid,Sheriff of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office; James Repicky,Chief of the Euclid Police Department; Timothy Malley, Chief of the Lakewood Police Department; Andres Gonzalez, Chief of the Cuyahoga Municipal Housing Authority Police Department; Richard Walling,Chief of the Westlake Police Department; James Brosius,Chief of the Chagrin Falls Police Department; Sara Andrews, Deputy Director of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority; Augustus Hall,Chief of the Akron Police Department; Patrick Berarducci,Chief of the Medina Police Department; Drew Alexander,Sheriff of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office; Duane Whitely,Chief of the Elyria Police Department; Cel Rivera,Chief of the Lorain Police Department; Philip Messer,Chief of the Mansfield Police Department; J. Steve Sheldon,Sheriff of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office; Charles Roub,Chief of the Shelby Police Department; Peter Tobin,Superintendent of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; Bruce Birr,Deputy Sheriff of the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office; Michael Navarre,Chief of the Toledo Police Department; Jack Nichols,Chief of the Boardman Township Police Department; Timothy Bowers,Chief of the Warren Police Department; and Jimmy Hughes,Chief of the Youngstown Police Department.
As partners of the U.S. Marshals Service-led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), the recipients have served as an inspiration to other federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. Under the team’s leadership, NOVFTF closed more than 6,300 felony warrants and apprehended more than 4,600 felony fugitives in the Northern District of Ohio.
The Attorney General’s Award for Meritorious Public Service is the top public service award granted by the Department of Justice, and is designed to recognize the most significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the department in the accomplishment of its mission and objectives. This year’s award is presented to Kevin Brown, Executive Director of the Trinity Christian Community in New Orleans. Brown receives the award for his work in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans where, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he incorporated efforts to rebuild the city into his organization’s mission.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the Justice Department’s second highest award for employee performance. The recipients of this award exemplify the highest commitment to the department’s mission. Fifteen awards are presented this year to individuals and teams.
One award is presented to Robert L. Wilson, Supervisory Correctional Officer of the Federal Correctional Institution of Cumberland, Md. Wilson displayed the highest level of bravery and dedication to duty during an institutional disturbance on Sept. 5, 2009, at the Cumberland facility. Wilson’s bravery, compassion, and commitment are a reflection of dedication and professional correctional excellence.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is also presented to a team recognized for its extraordinary work in achieving a resolution of the Cobell v. Salazar litigation that is fair to the plaintiffs, and encourages a better relationship between the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the hundreds of thousands of Native Americans with whom it has a trust relationship. Recipients of the award include members of the Department of Justice Civil Division Corporate/Financial Litigation Section: Michael F. Hertz,Deputy Assistant Attorney General; J. Christopher Kohn,Director; Robert Kirschman, Deputy Branch Director; John T. Stemplewicz,Special Litigation Counsel; and Michael J. Quinn,Trial Attorney.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is also presented to a team for directing the largest and most successful identity theft and hacking investigation and prosecution ever conducted in the United States. The team’s work resulted in the identification of an international hacking and credit card theft ring; their apprehension in the United States, Middle East, and Asia; and their conviction before American and foreign courts. From the department Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, members include: Howard Cox ,Assistant Deputy Chief; Kimberly Kiefer Peretti,formerSenior Counsel; and Trial Attorneys Evan C. Williams and Jenny C. Ellickson; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts Stephen P. Heymann,Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, William Campos, Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section, Erez Liebermann,Chief; and Seth B. Kosto,Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, Timothy C. Rank,Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, Orlando Gutierrez,Assistant U.S. Attorney; and from the U.S. Secret Service, Special Agents Peter Gannon, Andrew J. Bonillo Jr., Jeremy J. Ehrhardt, Stuart K. Van Buren and Richard K. LaTulip.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service also goes to a team recognized for exemplary and highly effective work in U.S. v. Roy Belfast Jr., aka “Chuckie Taylor.” This groundbreaking case - the first use of a 1994 federal statute making torture under color of law by a U.S. citizen a crime - brought justice to civilian victims who suffered horrific abuse during Liberia’s recent civil war. Team members include from the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section John-Alex Romano, Trial Attorney; formerly of the Criminal Division’s former Domestic Security Section Christopher Graveline, Trial Attorney; and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Caroline Heck Miller and Karen Rochlin,Assistant U.S. Attorneys.
Also being awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service are members from the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) Environmental Enforcement Section, Robert E. Maher Jr.,Assistant Chief; David L. Dain,Senior Attorney; Eric D. Albert,Trial Attorney; and National Bankruptcy Coordinator Alan S. Tenenbaum. This team led the government effort in the Asarco bankruptcy case to recover more than $1.7 billion to fund environmental cleanup and natural resource restoration under a reorganization plan in the largest environmental bankruptcy case in U.S. history. The team organized and directed the work of more than 50 ENRD lawyers and paralegals, who collectively labored more than 50,000 hours on the case.
Also being awarded with the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for their outstanding and historic achievement in successfully negotiating a resolution in State of Washington v. Steven Chu and the U.S. Dept. of Energy are ENRD Environmental Defense Section Senior Attorney David J. Kaplan and Assistant Chief Russell M. Young. In thatlawsuit, the states of Washington and Oregon alleged that the Department of Energy (DOE) had failed to meet deadlines for cleaning up radioactive and chemically hazardous wastes at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. As a result of the team’s work, DOE and the states reached a settlement that addressed the complex technical challenges involved, while requiring DOE to clean up the waste as quickly as possible to prevent further harm to the environment.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is also presented to a team for its exceptional work in United States v. Mendez, and its underlying investigation, Operation Latina Libre. The recipients from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee include Stephen C. Parker, Assistant U.S Attorney; from the department Civil Rights Division Criminal Section Jonathan Skrmetti, Trial Attorney; from the FBI Memphis Field Office, Tracey L. Harris,Special Agent; and ICE Special Agent Greg Swearngin.
Also awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service are members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for their extraordinary work in the Chrysler LLC bankruptcy proceedings. The recipients successfully litigated the motion to approve the government-financed sale of Chrysler LLC assets to a new company owned in part by Fiat, the United States and Canada. From the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, team members include: Jeannette A. Vargas, Chief of the Tax and Bankruptcy Unit; and Sean H. Lane, Tara M. LaMorte and Li Yu, Assistant U.S. Attorneys; from OSG, Malcolm L. Stewart, Deputy Solicitor General; and Trial Attorney William M. Jay.
Also receiving the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the team recognized for its exemplary performance in Operation Phish Phry, a complex and sophisticated international computer intrusion, identity theft, and money laundering investigation. Operation Phish Phry signified the first successful joint cyber crime investigation conducted with law enforcement officials outside of the United States. Nearly 100 multi-national cyber criminals were charged in this landmark case.
Award recipients from the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office include: Supervisory Special Agents Jason N. Smolanoff, Cameron Malin and Ramyar Tabatabaian; Special Agents Todd Munoz and Timothy L. Swec; and Dana J. Lind,Intelligence Analyst; from the FBI’s Bedford, N.H., Resident Agency Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Kieran L. Ramsey; from the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office, Special Agent John T. Bestor; from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Ammar Y. Barghouty,Assistant Legal Attaché; and Kiffa Shirley, Special Agent; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Ronald L. Cheng and Mark C. Krause,Assistant U. S. Attorneys; formerly of the Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations Elisa Castrolugo, Trial Attorney; from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, then-Department of Justice Attaché, Jeffrey Cole; and from the Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sally L. Meloch.
Another Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is presented to the team involved with the relentless efforts in the investigation and prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. While billed as the largest Muslim charity in the United States, the Holy Land Foundation was actually the U.S.-based fundraising arm of the terrorist group Hamas. The team demonstrated unparalleled dedication and teamwork for more than eight years, despite being uprooted from their families and the disappointment of an initial mistrial. The team’s ability resulted in the unraveling of an international conspiracy and one of the most successful terrorism financing cases in the department’s history.
Award recipients from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks; Nathan Garrett, Former Assistant U.S. Attorney; and Sherien Fatkin and Ofelia C. Perez,Paralegal Specialists; from the NSD Counterterrorism Section, Barry Jonas,Trial Attorney; and Laura B. Shuey,Paralegal Specialist; from the NSD Office of Intelligence, Julie L. Hamilton, Former AttorneyAdvisor; and Heidi P. Bauer,AttorneyAdvisor; from the Civil Division Federal Programs Branch, Elizabeth J. Shapiro,Deputy Branch Director; from the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, James S. Lewis,Supervisory Special Agent; Special Agents Lara L. Burns, Robert Miranda, Carrie C. Ward and David Kamel; Atef A. Shafik,Language Specialist; from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Anne E. Armstrong, Financial Analyst; and from the Department of Defense (DOD) Department of the Army, Task Force Officer Eric Michael Wood.
Among those awarded with the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the Attorney General’s Chief of Staff and Counselor, Kevin A. Ohlson.For more than 20 years, Ohlson has provided exemplary leadership and service to the Department of Justice and the nation. As Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Attorney General, Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Attorney General, he has played a central role in and greatly advanced the programs of the department. As an adjudicator and prosecutor, Ohlson consistently performs in an outstanding fashion in his service to the nation.
Another employee being honored with the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is Associate Deputy Attorney General Scott N. Schools. Schools is honored for his exemplary performance in senior positions through the department over the course of more than 17 years. In his distinguished career, Schools has performed his duties in each position of increased responsibility in such an admirable manner that it serves as a model for excellence within the department. His tenure as Associate Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Attorney, General Counsel and First Assistant U.S. Attorney has been characterized by extraordinary skill and judgment, outstanding professionalism, unyielding devotion to duty and inspired leadership.
Seventeen individuals were awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for their significant contribution to the review of Guantanamo detainees conducted last year by the Guantanamo Review Task Force. In various leadership roles, the recipients were responsible for directing, guiding, and supporting the review effort to ensure that the task force collected and analyzed all relevant information, and provided informed and reasoned recommendations to senior officials.
Recipients from the Guantanamo Review Task Force include: Matthew G. Olsen,Executive Director; from the NSD Litigation Section, Jay I. Bratt,FormerChief; from the NSD Foreign Investment Review Staff, Tyrone A. Brown,Attorney-Advisor; from the NSD Office of Intelligence, Operations Section, Robert J. Lloyd,Deputy Unit Chief; John T. Gibbs,Trial Attorney; Tracy P. Heckler,Program Specialist; NSD Former Chief of Staff Charles M. Steele; NSD Former Counsels to the Assistant Attorney General Andrew H. Tannenbaum and Kimberley E. Raleigh; and NSD Former Counsel for Law and Policy, Bradley T. Smith; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Rachel C. Lieber,Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, William E. Fitzpatrick,Deputy U.S. Attorney; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Serrin A. Turner, Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Stephen M. Campbell,Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the department’s Justice Management Division (JMD) Office of the Controller Jolene A. Lauria Sullens,Deputy Assistant Attorney General/Controller; and Maureen E. Lyons, Confidential Assistant; and from the Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs, Dean Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist.
Awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service are members of the OIG for their outstanding work in conducting a review of the department’s involvement in the President’s Surveillance Program (PSP). The data collection exercise pursued under the PSP, and under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments of 2008, involved unprecedented intelligence collection activities. The team’s 407-page report describes the department’s role in analyzing and certifying the legality of the PSP and the FBI’s use of the PSP for derived intelligence in its counterterrorism efforts. Team members include: M. Sean O’Neill and Jonathan A. Marks,Investigative Counsels; Daniel C. Beckhard,Deputy Assistant Inspector General; Kevin F. Becks, Senior Program Analyst; and Paralegal Specialist Dominic N. Russoli.
The final team to receive the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service goes to members of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) who quickly and effectively implemented provisions of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act signed by President Obama. The act provided $2.7 billion of additional grant funding to OJP to support a broad range of crime prevention, law enforcement, and victim assistance activities throughout the nation. Under the team’s leadership, 99.5 percent of the funding was obligated by the end of the fiscal year, the highest rate among all of the federal cabinet agencies.
From the Office of Audit, Assessment, and Management’s Grants Management Division, award recipients include: Maureen A. Henneberg,Director; and Amy E. Callaghan,Deputy Director; from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Pamela J. Cammarata,Associate Deputy Director; and Carol C. Poole,Acting Deputy Director; from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Katherine Darke Schmitt and Maria Swineford,Deputy Associate Administrators; from the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Beth McGarry, Deputy Assistant Attorney General; and Brecht C. Donoghue,Policy Advisor; from the Office of Communications, Summer Duncan,Deputy Director; and Angella C. LaTour,Congressional Affairs Specialist; from the Office for Victims of Crime, DeLano A. Foster,Lead Victim Justice Program Specialist; and Richard T. Greenough,Victim Justice Program Specialist; from the Management, Planning, and Performance Branch, Sean A. Lovitt,Chief; from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Larry Hailes, Associate Chief Financial Officer; from the Office of the General Counsel, Charles T. Moses III,Deputy General Counsel; and Ingrid R. Sausjord,Attorney-Advisor; from the Systems Engineering & Operations Branch, Victor T. Pham,Chief; and from the Office of the Chief Information Officer’s Enterprise Application Development Division, Director Bruce W. Whitlock.
The Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement recognizes outstanding professional achievements by law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice. There are two recipients of the award this year.
The Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement is presented tothe team who conducted a four year Attorney General’s Exempted Operation, known as Operation Beanpot, targeting five high-level drug trafficking and money laundering groups in the United States and Colombia. This operation led to a total of 78 arrests, the seizure of $9.65 million in U.S. currency, the seizure of 4,837 kilograms of cocaine and the seizure of 7.2 kilograms of heroin . Team members include: from the DEA’s New England Field Division Jeffrey Larocque,Group Supervisor; and Special Agents Dennis Barton, John Grella and Brian Tomasetta; from the DEA’s Bogotá Country Office, John S. Gazzara,Assistant Regional Director; Sean A. McDonough,Group Supervisor; and John P. Hegarty,Special Agent; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Zachary R. Hafer, Assistant U.S. Attorney; from the U.S. Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Ryan Talbot,Special Agent; and from the Waltham, Massachusetts Police Department, Detective Lucas Hernandez.
Another Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement is presented to the U.S. Marshals Service Mexico City Foreign Field Office’s Jose Chavarria, Chief Inspector, for his outstanding work, dedication, and exceptional service in the apprehension of more than 500 international fugitives during fiscal years 2008 and 2009, and the extradition and deportation of more than 660 international fugitives. These accomplishments represent record highs for the U.S. Marshals Service. Since Chavarria’s assignment to Mexico City, he has managed the investigations and directed the arrests of 43 high profile felons.
The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in Indian Country recognizes extraordinary efforts by department employees that demonstrate the department’s commitment to fight crime in Indian Country. This award is being presented to the Executive Office for U.S. Attorney’s (EOUSA) Leslie A. Hagen,National Indian Country Training Coordinator, for her sustained commitment to improving the public safety of Native Americans. Hagen has developed training for federal, state, and tribal criminal justice and social service personnel on issues related to federal prosecution of violent crime in Indian Country. Most recently, she was involved in the development of the Attorney General’s Tribal Nations Listening Conference and Indian Country Initiative.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management recognizes outstanding administrative or managerial achievements that have significantly improved operations and productivity, or reduced costs. Two of these awards are presented this year.
Cherie L. Rogers,ENRD’s Assistant Chief of the Environmental Defense Section, is awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management for her outstanding performance as the Assistant Chief for Administration and Training. Rogers works closely with various trial teams, masterfully handling all of the trial support logistics and financial planning for the attorneys, support staff, contractors, and experts. Also presented the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management for her leadership is Robin C. Ashton, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for Management from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia. Her oversight and direction have guided successful efforts to improve compliance and efficiency in the administrative processes throughout the office, which has affected employees of both District Court and Superior Court.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology recognizes outstanding achievements in applying information technology to improve operations and productivity, reduce or avoid costs, and solve problems. This award is presented to two teams this year.
The first team awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology leads ENRD’s E-discovery Workgroup and advises ENRD attorneys on E-discovery matters in civil and criminal cases. They also lead civil and criminal E-discovery initiatives across the department and other federal agencies, and develop and conduct numerous training programs for various federal attorneys. From the EOUSA, Andrew D. Goldsmith, National Criminal Discovery Coordinator; from the ENRD Law and Policy Section, James O. Payne Jr.,Senior Counsel; ENRD Senior Attorney Sarah D. Himmelhoch; ENRD Trial Attorney Daniel S. Smith; from the ENRD Environmental Enforcement Section, Bethanne Walinskas,Program Specialist; and from the ENRD Office of Litigation Support, Director Richard D. Sutton.
Also receiving the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Information Technology is a team honored for its outstanding achievement in collaboratively developing and implementing an information technology (IT) solution that greatly improves the department=s national security classified information processing capabilities to support terrorism prosecutions and related national security classified matters. The team’s dedicated work under tight deadlines provided the department with a high speed IT classified litigation support solution that meets the needs of complex national security prosecutions.
From the NSD Executive Office, recipients include: David E. Borcherding,Supervisory Information Technology Specialist; and Information Technology Matthew P. Harvey and Robert L. Marshall; from the NSD Counterterrorism Section, Michael J. Keegan,Principal Deputy Chief; and Gregory A. Miller,Counterterrorism Specialist; from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, Tucker Greer,Litigation Support Specialist; from the Information Systems Security Staff, Edward L. Shelkey, Chief Information Security Officer; and Daniel D. Hurd,Information Technology Specialist; from the EOUSA Office Automation Staff, Rick W. Sumrall,Information System Security Officer; and David N. Atkins Sr. and Glenn K. Shrieves, Information Technology Specialists; and from the JMD Office of the Chief Information Officer Enterprise Solutions Staff, Jeffrey L. Cotter , Director; and Dale Long and Peter D. Omberg, Deputy Directors.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions towards protecting U.S. national security. Two awards are presented this year.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security is presented to the team that handled more than 240 appeals involving the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. In handling the lead cases, the team members worked closely with the senior leadership of the department, as well as with the Departments of Defense and State, and the CIA. Working under enormous pressure, they produced key briefs and memoranda, briefed high-level department officials, made critical strategic decisions, and produced tremendous results.
From the Civil Division Appellate Staff, team members include: Thomas M. Bondy, Assistant Branch Director; Douglas N. Letter, Appellate Litigation Counsel; Robert M. Loeb,Appellate Counsel; and Trial Attorneys Matthew M. Collette, Sharon M. Swingle, August E. Flentje, Anne M. Murphy, Sydney A. Foster, Henry C. Whitaker, Catherine Y. Hancock,and Michael P. Abate; from the Civil Division Federal Programs Branch, Terry M. Henry; James J. Gilligan,Assistant Branch Directors; Andrew I. Warden, Trial Attorney; from the Civil Division Commercial Litigation Branch, Phyllis Jo Baunach,Senior Trial Counsel; and from NSD Attorney Paul Ahern.
Another team receiving the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security is a team that spearheaded Operation Render Safe, an investigation that led to the indictment, arrest, and conviction of more than 35 individuals and entities implicated in the provision of sensitive, military and dual use goods to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The team’s work has improved our national security, and serves as a model for related investigative and prosecutorial strategies.
Award recipients from U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida include: Melissa Damian Visconti, Assistant U.S. Attorney; and Angel Martinez,Senior Intelligence Specialist; from the NSD Counterespionage Section, Steven W. Pelak ,Deputy Chief; and Ryan P. Fayhee,Trial Attorney; from the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement, Michael Johnson,Special Agent in Charge; and Special Agents Michael Bollinger, Lauren Nieland and John Johnson; from DHS Senior Special Agents Dean Lang and Eric Caron; and from the DOD Defense Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent Blake Schnitker.
The Attorney General’s Award for Equal Employment Opportunity is the department’s highest award for performance in support of the Equal Employment Opportunity Program. This year’s recipient is FBI’s Deirdre Mignon Emmes,Supervisory Special Agent for the Criminal Investigative Division for her outstanding leadership and exemplary performance as the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Special Emphasis Program Coordinator for the Los Angeles Field Office. In an effort to embrace the ideals that the FBI represents, she resolved to create one of the most ground-breaking and proactive programs in the nation.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of legal support to attorneys by paralegal specialists and other legal assistants. The recipient in the Paralegal Category for this year is Julia P. Wilson,Supervisory Paralegal Specialist for the Federal Programs Branch of the Civil Division. Wilson receives the award for her outstanding leadership in providing litigation support for the past two years to a team of 50 attorneys litigating more than 200 habeas cases brought by detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support in the Legal Support Category goes to Rita L. Mierzwa, Legal Clerk for the U.S. Trustee Program of the Office of the U.S. Trustee in the Chicago Executive Office for U.S. Trustees (EOUST). Mierzwa has demonstrated exceptional professionalism since joining the Region 11 staff in the immediate aftermath of the enactment of bankruptcy reform legislation. Her efforts led to sanctions against attorneys, debtors and others who abuse the bankruptcy system.
The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support recognizes outstanding performance in administrative or managerial support by an administrative employee or secretary. This year, the award goes to four recipients including, Margaret A. Fenlon-Gore,Case Management Specialist for the Environmental Enforcement Section of ENRD; Deborah M. Chase,Administrative Officer for the U.S. Trustee Program in EOUST’s New Orleans Office; Laurene Aragon MacDonald,Support Staff Supervisor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California; and Karen Hamilton, Data Management Specialist for the Tax Division Civil Trial Section in the Northern Region.
The Claudia J. Flynn Award for Professional Responsibility recognizes a Department of Justice attorney who has made significant contributions in the area of professional responsibility by successfully handling a sensitive and challenging professional responsibility issue in an exemplary fashion and/or leading efforts to ensure that department attorneys carry out their duties in accordance with the rules of professional conduct. This year, John C. (Jack) Keeney ,former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, is being honored with this award. Mr. Keeney was a key leader of the department for nearly 60 years. He was a charter member of the Senior Executive Service, and is recognized for the exemplary professionalism and integrity with which he managed the department’s public corruption and electronic surveillance efforts.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act Administration recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. This year’s recipient is Unit Chief for the Records Management Division of the FBI, Julia E. Eichhorst.Under Eichhorst’s leadership, the FBI Service Request Unit has successfully negotiated with requesters, ensuring that they receive the specific information they request while reducing the number of processed pages so that resources are not misused.
The Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to prevent, investigate and prosecute fraud, white-collar crimes and official corruption. Awards are presented to two teams this year.
An award is presented to the team who spearheaded the Antitrust Division’s work to help protect Recovery Act funds from procurement fraud by assisting federal, state, and local agencies in ensuring that measures are in place to insulate procurement and program funding processes from bid rigging and other procurement fraud. Antitrust Division members include John F. Terzaken III, Assistant Chief for the National Criminal Enforcement Section and E. Kate Patchen, Trial Attorney for the San Francisco Field Office. Patchen and Terzaken served as the co-chairs of the Antitrust Division’s Recovery Act Initiative aimed at training government officials to prevent, detect, and report efforts by individuals to unlawfully profit from the stimulus awards. As a result of the team’s resourcefulness and planning, the division was able to offer training to procurement officials, auditors, and investigators within weeks of the passage of the Recovery Act.
Also receiving the Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention is the team who led the prosecution of United States v. BAE Systems (BAES). Years of detailed investigation and intense negotiations resulted in BAES’s guilty plea. The successful conclusion of this matter exemplifies the United States’ continued leadership in combating international corruption, and affirms the department’s willingness to investigate and appropriately resolve the most challenging of criminal cases. Team members from the Criminal Division Fraud Section include: Mark F. Mendelsohn, Deputy Chief; and Nathaniel B. Edmonds, Senior Litigation Counsel; from the FBI’s Northern Virginia Resident Agency Travis G. Wiehn,Special Agent; from the NSD Counterespionage Section, Patrick T. Murphy,Trial Attorney; from the General Services Administration Office of the Inspector General Nacieve Owens, Special Agent; from ICE, Theodore Schmitz,Special Agent; and from the DOD Defense Criminal Investigative Service James Hitchcock,Special Agent.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Partnerships for Public Safety recognizes outstanding achievement in the development and support of community partnerships designed to address public safety within a community. The award recognizes the significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the department in the accomplishment of these programs. This year’s award recipient is Tyrone Parker,Executive Director for the Alliance of Concerned Men. Parker receives the award for his dedication to deterring gang violence and empowering young men to reach their potential.
The Cubby Dorsey Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Wage Grade System Employee recognizes extraordinary performance and contributions by wage grade system employees, including laborers, mechanics, and skilled craft workers. One award is presented this year to Henry R. Mills,Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanical Supervisor for the Federal Correctional Institution Williamsburg in Salters, S.C., of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Mills’ initiative and diligence in investigating more efficient means of cooling 18 ice machines in use at the Federal Corrections Institution Williamsburg was exemplary. Through his efforts, the institution was able to reduce its environmental impact via a reduction of more than 2.5 million gallons of water annually, resulting in a savings to the institution of more than $100,000.
The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee recognizes exceptional performance and notable accomplishments towards the department’s mission by an employee with fewer than five years of federal career service. Recipients include: Magdeline Amaro,Secretary for the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami of the BOP; Eric Fleisig-Greene, Trial Attorney for the Civil Division Appellate Staff; and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, Joseph M. Tripi,Assistant U.S. Attorney.
The John Marshall Awards are the Department of Justice’s highest awards offered to attorneys, for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. Fourteen awards in nine categories are presented this year.
The John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation is presented to attorneys from the Department of Justice Civil Division Commercial Litigation Branch for the team’s exceptional representation of the United States in three hearings before an international tribunal, regarding state-to-state disputes between the United States and Canada. The team’s ability to absorb a new set of litigation skills and use them to great effect against Canada’s very capable private counsel reflects well upon the department. Recipients include: Patricia M. McCarthy,Assistant Branch Director; Senior Trial Counsels Claudia Burke and Gregg M. Schwind; and Trial Attorneys, Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, Antonia R. Soares and Stephen C. Tosini.
The John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation is also presented to Laura R. Bach, John G. Giovannelli and Sean P. Tonolli, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Columbia,for their involvementwith the investigation and prosecution of a violent Washington, D.C., gang known as “22nd Street.” The trial lasted more than nine months and included more than 75 motions, 70 witnesses, and introduced approximately 500 exhibits into evidence.
The John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation was awarded to members of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section. Award recipients include Timothy J. Moran,Deputy Chief; and Trial Attorneys Christopher J. Fregiato, Andrea K. Steinacker, Julie J. Allen, R. Tamar Hagler, Lucy G. Carlson and Jennifer L. Maranzano.This team is honored for its exceptional work in litigating United States v. Sterling, a major Fair Housing Act case alleging that the defendants unlawfully discriminated against African Americans, Hispanics and families with children at apartment buildings they owned and managed in Los Angeles County. The result required the defendants to pay a record $2.7 million in damages and civil penalties, the largest monetary payment ever obtained in the settlement of a case alleging housing discrimination.
Another John Marshall Award for Participation in Litigation is awarded to an attorney from the Department of Justice Tax Division for his outstanding work as lead counsel for the government in AT&T Inc. v. United States. Grover Hartt III,Senior Level Trial Attorney for the Civil Trial Section of the Southwestern Region, assembled and guided the government’s excellent trial team, developed its litigating strategy, oversaw an exceptionally complex and demanding discovery process – conducting crucial portions of it himself – and authored the briefs that resolved the case in the government’s favor.
The John Marshall Award for Support of Litigation is presented to the Criminal Division Office of International Affairs’ Randy Toledo,Deputy Director, and Kenneth J. Harris,Associate Director. This team is recognized for its outstanding contributions in the conception, negotiation, ratification, and implementation of the historic Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties with the European Union (EU). This effort, led at its inception by the late Mark Richard, the department’s Counselor to the European Union in Brussels, spanned eight years and also involved the negotiation of 54 separate and complex implementing agreements with the individual EU member states. The treaties were the first law enforcement treaties entered into by the United States with the EU.
The John Marshall Award for the Handling of Appeals is presented to Charles W. Scarborough,Trial Attorney for the Appellate Staff of the Civil Division, and Judith A. Hagley,Attorney for the Appellate Section of the Tax Division.
Scarborough secured major victories under the False Claims Act that have enhanced the government=s ability to ensure integrity in areas such as Medicare and student loan programs. He successfully defended a variety of statutes and regulations against constitutional challenges, and his perseverance in his defense of the Child On-Line Protection Act over his decade in the department.
Hagley is honored for her exceptional skill and success in briefing and arguing the most influential and high-profile tax shelter cases to reach the Appellate Section. Her personal accomplishments in handling this sensitive, difficult, and complex litigation have laid the groundwork for success in the Tax Division and the IRS.
This year’s John Marshall Award for Providing Legal Advice is presented to Jonathan J. Wroblewski,Director for the Criminal Division’s Office of Policy and Legislation, for his exemplary and sustained role in leading the development of crime policy for the department. Wroblewski has also been an effective advocate on sentencing and criminal discovery issues, and has represented the department with the Judiciary, the White House, Congress and the public.
Also receiving this year’s John Marshall Award for Providing Legal Advice is the team who provided invaluable counsel to the White House, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Departments of Transportation and Justice in the formulation of the groundbreaking joint rulemaking by EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles. Team members from the ENRD Appellate Section include: Lisa E. Jones ,Assistant Chief; and David C. Shilton,Trial Attorney; from the ENRD Environmental Defense Section, Christopher S. Vaden,Deputy Chief; Thomas A. Lorenzen,Assistant Chief; and Jon M. Lipshultz,Senior Counsel for Appellate Matters; from the Civil Division Appellate Staff, Henry Thomas Byron III, Trial Attorney; and Mark B. Stern,Appellate Litigation Counsel; and from the Office of the Associate Attorney General, Deputy Associate Attorney General A. Marisa Chun.
The John Marshall Award for Preparation or Handling of Legislation is awarded to a team for its outstanding performance in developing and advocating the department’s position on critical hate crimes legislation, entitled the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. This landmark legislation strengthened and expanded federal laws prohibiting hate crimes by allowing prosecution of violence motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation, gender or disability. Team members from the Office of Legal Policy include: Rajesh De ,Deputy Assistant Attorney General; and Paul R. Almanza,Chief of Staff; from the Civil Rights Division Criminal Section, Mark J. Kappelhoff,Chief; Barbara K. Bosserman,Senior Legal Counsel; from the Civil Rights Division Policy and Strategy Section, Acting Chief Karen L. Stevens; and from the Office of Legislative Affairs Deputy Assistant Attorney General Judith C. Appelbaum.
The John Marshall Award for Asset Forfeiture is presented to members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their extraordinary work in forfeiting assets on behalf of victims of the massive securities fraud executed by Marc Dreier. In addition to securing a preliminary forfeiture order that imposed a $746.7 million judgment against Dreier and ordered the forfeiture of Dreier’s interest in 177 properties worth more than $80 million, the team helped pioneer a model for handling simultaneous collateral litigation of forfeiture, bankruptcy and securities enforcement actions. Award recipients include: Sharon Cohen Levin, Chief for the Asset Forfeiture Unit; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Alberts, Anna E. Arreola, Matthew L. Schwartz, Amy Lester and Jonathan R. Streeter.
The John Marshall Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution recipients are members of the Department of Justice Civil Division Commercial Litigation Branch. Shalom Brilliant, Senior Trial Counsel, and Kenneth S. Kessler, Trial Attorney, are honored for their achievements in utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to settle more than 260 breach of contract lawsuits brought by owners of more than 780 federally-subsidized low-income rental apartment projects throughout the country. They utilized ADR to creatively reach a solution that avoided risks, and potentially saved the government hundreds of millions of dollars.
Also awarded the John Marshall Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution are members of ENRD. Award recipients include: David W. Harder,Trial Attorney for the Indian Resources Section; Stephen M. Macfarlane,Attorney for the Natural Resources Section; and Stacy R. Stoller, Attorney for the Law and Policy Section, for their analysis, incisive legal advice, and tireless negotiations in connection with the global settlement regarding the fish, water, and hydropower resources of the Klamath River Basin in Oregon and California. The team’s work with clients such as the Departments of Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture led to two historic agreements, the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and the Klamath Hydropower Settlement Agreement.
The John Marshall Interagency Cooperation in Support of Litigation Award is presented to the following team for their extraordinary efforts in defending the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2008 biological opinion, and in working with the administration to develop and defend its new Adaptive Management Implementation Plan for the 2008 biological opinion. From ENRD Wildlife and Marine Resources Section, recipients include: Seth M. Barsky,Acting Chief; and Trial Attorneys Carter H. (Coby) Howell and Bridget K. McNeil;from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office of Counsel of the Northwest Division, Gayle Lear, Assistant Division Counsel; from the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Office of the Northwest Regional Counsel, Mark Eames,Attorney-Advisor; from the DOI Office of the Regional Solicitor Pacific Northwest Region, Duane Mecham, Attorney-Advisor; and from the Bonneville Power Administration, Deputy General Counsel for the Office of General Counsel Paul Majkut.
Army Contracting Officer from Colorado Pleads Guilty to Bribery Related to ContractsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Army Major Roderick D. Sanchez pleaded guilty today to a one-count criminal information charging him with bribery for accepting money and items of value in return for being influenced in the awarding of Army contracts, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.
Sanchez, 45, of Pueblo, Colo., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. According to court documents, at various times from approximately 2004 through 2007, Sanchez was employed by the U.S. Army and deployed overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait as a contracting officer. Sanchez’s duties included reviewing bids submitted by contractors for Army contracts, recommending the award of Army contracts to specific contractors, and ultimately awarding those contracts to government contractors. Sanchez admitted that during that time period he accepted illicit bribe payments from foreign companies seeking to secure Army contracts. In return, Sanchez used his official position to steer Army contracts to these companies. During the course of this criminal scheme, Sanchez accepted Rolex watches, cash payments and other things of value totaling more than $200,000.
Sanchez faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, a fine of $250,000 and five years of supervised release following his prison term. Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 19, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Christine M. Arguello.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Justin V. Shur and Trial Attorney Eric L. Gibson of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. The case is being investigated by the FBI, Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Supuesto miembro adicional de la pandilla "Nación Todopoderosa de Reyes y Reinas Latinos" (Almighty Latin Kings and Queen Nation) acusado en Hammond, Ind., de conspiración para cometer de lincuencia organi...Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Un supuesto miembro adicional de la pandilla "Nación Todopoderosa de Reyes y Reinas Latinos" (Latin Kings) ha sido acusado formalmente de su supuesto papel en una conspiración para cometer delitos organizados en Hammond, Ind., y otros lugares, anunciaron el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Lanny A. Breuer de la División Criminal y el Fiscal Federal David Capp del Distrito Norte de Indiana.
La acusación formal, emitida por un gran jurado federal el 22 de octubre de 2010, y revelada ayer en Hammond, acusa a Martín Anaya, alias "Lefty", 40, de Chicago, de conspiración para participar en actividades de delincuencia organizada. Los siguientes fueron acusados anteriormente en la conspiración: Alexander Vargas, alias "Pacman," 33, de Highland, Ind.; Sisto Bernal, alias "Cisco," alias "Shug," 44, de Chicago; Jason Ortiz, alias "Creeper," 27, de Chicago; y Brandon Clay, alias "Cheddar," alias "Swiss," alias "Slick," 23, de Chicago.
Se acusa a Anaya, además, en la acusación formal relevante de un cargo de homicidio y un cargo de utilizar y portar un arma de fuego para cometer homicidio durante y en relación con un delito violento. Además, la acusación formal relevante alega nuevos cargos contra Vargas, Ortiz y Clay por homicidio para promover la delincuencia organizada, y homicidio resultante del uso de un arma de fuego. Ortiz y Clay también fueron acusados anteriormente en la acusación formal original de asesinato para promover delincuencia organizada, homicidio resultante del uso de un arma de fuego, posesión de arma de fuego después de haber sido condenado por un delito mayor y posesión de armas de fuego robadas.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal relevante, la región sudeste de Latin Kings es responsable por al menos 15 homicidios. La acusación formal relevante alega específicamente que Vargas, Ortiz, Clay y otros miembros de los Latin Kings participaron en el asesinato de los miembros de pandillas rivales James Walsh y Gonzalo Díaz en la puerta de un bar en Griffith, Ind., en la mañana del 25 de febrero de 2007. La acusación formal relevante también alega que Ortiz, Clay y Anaya participaron en el asesinato de Christiana Campos el 22 de abril de 2009. Además, la acusación formal relevante alega que Clay participó con otros miembros de los Latin Kings en el homicidio de Edward Delatorre el 26 de noviembre de 2006. Además de los delitos violentos, la acusación formal relevante alega que los Latin Kings también distribuyeron más de 150 kilos de cocaína y 1,000 kilos de marihuana.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal relevante, Latin Kings es una pandilla con alcance nacional originada en Chicago y con sucursales por todos los Estados Unidos. Latin Kings es una pandilla callejera bien organizada con liderazgo específico y que está compuesta por regiones que incluyen capítulos múltiples. Los Latin Kings hacen valer sus reglas y promueven la disciplina entre sus miembros, candidatos a miembros y asociados a través del homicidio, intento de homicidio, conspiración para cometer homicidio, agresiones y amenazas contra quienes violen las reglas y representen una amenaza para los Latin Kings. Los miembros deben seguir las órdenes de miembros de jerarquía más alta, incluido aceptar tareas conocidas como "misiones".
El cargo de conspiración para cometer delincuencia organizada conlleva una sentencia máxima de prisión perpetua. Los cargos asociados a homicidio conllevan sentencia máximas de presión perpetua o pena de muerte. Los cargos de delincuente mayor en posesión de un arma de fuego y posesión de armas de fuego robadas conllevan cada uno una sentencia máxima de 10 años en prisión.
Anaya realizó su comparecencia inicial ayer ante el Juez Magistrado Federal Andrew Rodovich. Se formularán cargos contra los demás demandados ante el Juez Rodovich el 2 de noviembre de 2010, a la 1p.m.
Este caso está siendo investigado por el Buró Federal de Investigaciones [Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)]; el Buró de Control de Bebidas Alcohólicas, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos; la Administración de Control de Drogas, el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE.UU.; el Centro Nacional de Combate, Control y Coordinación contra Pandillas [National Gang Targeting, Enforcement & Coordination Center (GangTECC)]; el Centro Nacional de Inteligencia de Pandillas; el Departamento de Policía de Chicago; el Departamento de Policía de Griffith; el Departamento de Policía de Highland, Ind.; el Departamento de Policía de Hammon; y el Departamento de Policía de Houston.
Están a cargo de la acusación en el caso el Abogado Litigante Joseph A. Cooley de la Unidad de Pandillas de la División Criminal y el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar David Nozick de la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Norte de Indiana.
Una acusación formal no es prueba de culpabilidad. Se supone que todos los demandados son inocentes, a no ser que se compruebe su culpabilidad más allá de la duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia.
Justice Department Enters Agreement to Make Kerrville, Texas, Cailloux Theater Accessible to Persons with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the city of Kerrville, Texas, and Playhouse 2000 to bring the Cailloux Theater into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The settlement agreement resolves an investigation following a complaint filed by a person with a disability against the theater. The theater underwent significant alterations in 2003. The ADA requires that alterations to the theater should have been done so that that it is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Under the agreement, the city of Kerrville, which owns the theater, and Playhouse 2000, which manages and operates the theater, will take the following steps to improve access to the theater, including:
- Provide a choice of accessible wheelchair seating locations with a choice of ticket prices;
- Provide fixed companion seats for all wheelchair seating locations;
- Provide accessible routes throughout the theater;
- Provide ADA-compliant signage;
- Implement an ADA-compliant reservations policy; and
- Pay $2,500 in damages to the complainant.
"Everyone should be able to enjoy the cultural experience of attending live theater, including persons with disabilities. We are pleased that the city of Kerrville and Playhouse 2000 are taking steps to ensure that individuals with disabilities are guaranteed full access to the Cailloux theater," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in all activities of state and local government entities, and from being denied an equal opportunity to participate in or benefit from the goods and services of public accommodations. For more information about the ADA call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
GlaxoSmithKline to Plead Guilty & Pay $750 Million to Resolve Criminal and Civil Liability Regarding Manufacturing Deficiencies at Puerto Rico PlantRead the Press Release
BOSTON – SB Pharmco Puerto Rico Inc., a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline, PLC (GSK), has agreed to plead guilty to charges relating to the manufacture and distribution of certain adulterated drugs made at GSK’s now-closed Cidra, Puerto Rico, manufacturing facility, the Justice Department announced today. The resolution includes a criminal fine and forfeiture totaling $150 million and a civil settlement under the False Claims Act and related state claims for $600 million.
The drugs, manufactured at the plant between 2001and 2005, are Kytril, Bactroban, Paxil CR and Avandamet. Kytril is a sterile anti-nausea medication. Bactroban is a topical anti-infection ointment commonly used to treat skin infections. Paxil CR is the controlled release formulation of the popular anti-depressant drug, Paxil, and Avandamet is a combination Type II diabetes drug.
The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) prohibits the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of any drug that is adulterated. Under the FDCA, a drug is deemed adulterated if the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, its manufacturing, processing, packing or holding did not conform to or were not operated or administered in conformity with current good manufacturing practice to assure that such drug met the requirements as to safety and had the identity and strength, and met the quality and purity characteristics, which it purported or was represented to possess.
The criminal information filed today alleges that SB Pharmco’s manufacturing operations failed to ensure that Kytril and Bactroban finished products were free of contamination from microorganisms. The criminal information further alleges that SB Pharmco’s manufacturing process caused Paxil CR two-layer tablets to split. The splitting, which the company itself called a "critical defect," caused the potential distribution of tablets that did not have any therapeutic effect and tablets that did not contain any controlled release mechanism.
The criminal information also alleges that Avandamet tablets manufactured by SB Pharmco did not always have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved mix of active ingredients, and, as a result, potentially contained too much or too little of the ingredient with the therapeutic effect. Finally, the criminal information alleges that SB Pharmco’s Cidra facility suffered from longstanding problems of product mix-ups, which caused tablets of one drug type and strength to be commingled with tablets of another drug type and/or strength in the same bottle.
SB Pharmco has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal felony for releasing into interstate commerce adulterated Kytril, Bactroban, Paxil CR and Avandamet, in violation of the FDCA. Under the plea agreement, the company will pay a criminal fine of $150 million, which includes forfeiting assets of $10 million. The guilty plea and sentence is not final until accepted by the U.S. District Court in Boston.
Under the civil settlement, GSK has agreed to pay an additional $600 million to the federal government and the states to resolve claims that it caused false claims to be submitted to government health care programs for certain quantities of adulterated Kytril, Bactroban, Paxil CR and Avandamet. The United States contends that GSK sold certain batches, lots or portions of lots of drugs, the strength of which differed materially from, or the purity or quality of which fell materially below, the strength, purity or quality specified in the drugs’ FDA applications or related documents. GSK thereby knowingly caused false and/or fraudulent claims to be submitted to, or caused purchases by, Medicaid and the other federal health care programs.
The federal share of the civil settlement amount is $436,440,000, and GSK will pay up to $163,560,000 to states that participate in the agreement.
"Adulterated drugs undermine the integrity of the FDA’s approval process, can introduce substandard or ineffective drugs on to the market and, in the worst cases, can potentially put patients’ health at risk," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for this type of conduct and protect taxpayers from fraud, waste, and abuse."
"The industry has an obligation to ensure that all rules, regulations and laws are complied with," said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz. "To do less erodes public confidence and compromises patient safety. As this investigation demonstrates, we will not tolerate corporate attempts to profit at the expense of the ill and needy in our society - or those who cut corners that result in potentially dangerous consequences to consumers."
“In fiscal year 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) realized nearly $2.3 billion in settlements and judgments against the pharmaceutical industry,” said Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. “If all pharmaceutical manufacturers complied with the law, there would be no need for such massive settlements and judgments. But until they stop stealing from taxpayers and threatening the health and lives of Americans – as is alleged here today – HHS-OIG will continue to vigorously pursue these corporations and their executives.”
"FDA’s manufacturing standards are designed to ensure the safety and quality of drugs distributed to American consumers," said Mark Dragonetti, Special Agent in Charge, FDA New York Field Office. "FDA expects pharmaceutical companies to abide by these manufacturing standards and correct deficiencies in an expedited manner. FDA and its law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those companies that place the public health at risk by distributing products that do not comply with all FDA requirements."
"This settlement demonstrates that the government will not stand for sub-standard drug product. As a result of this extensive investigation, millions of dollars will be returned to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Pharmaceutical Supply Fund for the direct benefit of our Nation’s veterans," said Jeffrey G. Hughes, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"Federal employees deserve health care providers and suppliers, including drug manufacturers, that meet the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior," said Patrick E. McFarland, Inspector General of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. "Today's settlement reminds the pharmaceutical industry that they must observe those standards and reflects the commitment of Federal law enforcement organizations to pursue improper and illegal conduct that places health care consumers at risk."
The civil settlement resolves one lawsuit filed in federal court in the District of Massachusetts under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens to bring civil actions on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. As part of today’s resolution, the whistleblower - Cheryl Eckard - will receive approximately $96 million from the federal share of the settlement amount.
The criminal case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and the Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Litigation. The civil settlement was negotiated by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts and the Civil Division's Commercial Litigation Branch. The HHS Office of Counsel to the Inspector General, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, FDA's Office of Chief Counsel, and the National Association of Medicaid Control Units provided assistance.
The case was investigated by agents from the FBI, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, HHS-IG, the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Office of the Inspector General for the Office of Personnel Management.
This settlement is part of the government's emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is the False Claims Act, which the Justice Department has used to recover approximately $4.2 billion since January 2009 in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs. The Justice Department's total recoveries in False Claims Act cases since January 2009 have topped $5.4 billion.
GlaxoSmithKline se declarará culpable y pagará $750 millones de dólares en resolución de demanda de responsabilidad civil y criminal con respecto a deficiencias de manufactura en planta de Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
BOSTON – SB Pharmco Puerto Rico Inc., una subsidiaria de GlaxoSmithKline, PLC (GSK), ha aceptado declararse culpable de cargos asociados a la manufactura y distribución de ciertos medicamentos adulterados fabricados en las instalaciones de GSK en Cidra, Puerto Rico, actualmente cerradas, anunció hoy el Departamento de Justicia. La resolución incluye una multa criminal y confiscación por un total de $150 millones de dólares y un acuerdo conciliatorio civil bajo la Ley de Reclamos Falsos y reclamos estatales asociados por $600 millones de dólares.
Los medicamentos, fabricados en la planta entre 2001 y 2005, son Kytril, Bactroban, Paxil CR y Avandamet. Kytril es un medicamento estéril contra las náuseas. Bactroban es un ungüento tópico contra las infecciones, comúnmente utilizado para el tratamiento de infecciones de la piel. Paxil CR es la fórmula con liberación controlada del medicamento antidepresivo popular Paxil, y Avandamet es un medicamento combinado para la diabetes del Tipo II.
La Ley de Alimentos, Medicamentos y Cosméticos [Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA)] prohíbe la introducción o entrega para introducción en comercio interestatal de cualquier medicamento adulterado. Según la FDCA, se considera adulterado un medicamento si los métodos utilizados en, o las instalaciones o controles utilizados para, su manufactura, procesamiento, empaque o mantenimiento no eran compatibles o no se utilizaron o administraron de acuerdo con las buenas prácticas de manufactura actuales, para asegurar que dicho medicamento cumpliera con los requisitos de seguridad y contara con la identidad y fuerza, y las características de calidad y pureza, que alegaba o declaraba poseer.
La información criminal presentada hoy alega que las operaciones de manufactura de SB Pharmco dejaron de asegurar que los productos finales Kytril y Bactroban estuvieran libres de contaminación proveniente de microorganismos. Asimismo, la información criminal alega que el proceso de manufactura de SB Pharmco causó que se partieran las tabletas de dos capas de Paxil CR. El hecho de que se partieran, lo que la empresa misma llamó un "defecto crítico", causó la distribución potencial de tabletas sin ningún efecto terapéutico y tabletas que no contenían ningún mecanismo de liberación controlada.
La información criminal también alega que las tabletas de Avandamet manufacturadas por SB Pharmco no siempre contuvieron la mezcla de ingredientes activos aprobada por la Administración de Medicamentos y Alimentos de los EE.UU. [Food and Drug Administration (FDA)] y, como resultado, contenían potencialmente demasiado o demasiado poco ingrediente con efecto terapéutico. Finalmente, la información criminal alega que las instalaciones de Cidra de SB Pharmco sufrieron problemas de larga duración de mezclas de productos en los que tabletas de un tipo de medicamento y concentración fueron mezcladas con tabletas de otro tipo de medicamento y/o concentración en el mismo frasco.
SB Pharmco ha acordado declararse culpable de un delito mayor por lanzar al comercio interestatal Kytril, Bactroban, Paxil CR y Avandamet adulterados, en violación de la FDCA. Según el acuerdo de declaración de culpabilidad, la empresa pagará una multa criminal de $150 millones de dólares, lo que incluye la confiscación de $10 millones de dólares en activos. La declaración de culpabilidad y la sentencia no son finales hasta que no sean aceptadas por el Tribunal Federal de Distrito en Boston.
Según el acuerdo conciliatorio civil, GSK ha acordado pagar $600 millones de dólares adicionales al gobierno federal y los estados en resolución de alegatos de que causó la presentación de reclamos falsos a programas de salud gubernamentales por ciertas cantidades de Kytril, Bactroban, Paxil CR y Avandamet adulterados. Los Estados Unidos sostienen que GSK vendió ciertos lotes o porciones de lotes de medicamentos, cuya concentración difería materialmente de, o cuya pureza o calidad resultó materialmente por debajo de la concentración, pureza o calidad especificadas en las solicitudes presentadas a la FDA para los medicamentos o documentos relacionados. Por lo tanto, a sabiendas, GSK causó la presentación de reclamos falsos y/o fraudulentos, o causó compras por Medicaid y los demás programas de salud federales.
La parte federal del acuerdo conciliatorio civil es de $436,440,000 dólares y GSK pagará hasta $163,560,000 dólares a los estados que participan en el acuerdo.
"Los medicamentos adulterados debilitan la integridad del proceso de aprobación de la FDA, pueden introducir medicamentos subestándar o ineficaces en el mercado y, en los peores casos, pueden potencialmente poner en riesgo la salud de los pacientes", dijo Tony West, Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar de la División Civil del Departamento de Justicia. "Seguiremos trabajando con nuestros asociados de las fuerzas del orden público para hacer pagar a las empresas farmacéuticas por este tipo de conducta y proteger a los contribuyentes contra el fraude, el desperdicio y el abuso".
"La industria tiene la obligación de asegurar que todas las reglas, normas y leyes se cumplan", dijo la Fiscal Federal Carmen Ortiz. "Hacer menos que eso hace perder la confianza pública y compromete la seguridad del paciente. Como demuestra esta investigación, no toleraremos intentos corporativos de obtener ganancias a expensas de los enfermos y necesitados en nuestra sociedad - ni toleraremos que se tomen atajos que resulten en consecuencias potencialmente peligrosas para los consumidores".
"En el año fiscal 2010, la Oficina del Inspector General del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS-OIG) lograron casi $2.3 billones de dólares en acuerdos conciliatorios y fallos contra la industria farmacéutica", dijo Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos. "Si todos los fabricantes farmacéuticos cumplieran la ley, no habría necesidad de tales acuerdos conciliatorios y fallos masivos. Sin embargo, hasta que dejen de robarles a los contribuyentes y poner en peligro la salud y las vidas de los ciudadanos estadounidenses - como se alega aquí hoy - la HHS-OIG seguirá enjuiciando enérgicamente a estas empresas y sus ejecutivos".
"Los estándares de manufactura de la FDA fueron diseñados para garantizar la seguridad y la calidad de los medicamentos distribuidos a los consumidores estadounidenses", dijo Mark Dragonetti, Agente Especial a Cargo, Oficina Local de Nueva York de la FDA. "La FDA espera que las empresas farmacéuticas cumplan con estas normas de manufactura y corrijan las deficiencias con prontitud. La FDA y sus asociados de las fuerzas del orden público seguirán enjuiciando enérgicamente a las compañías que pongan en riesgo a la salud pública al distribuir productos que no cumplan con todas las exigencias de la FDA".
"Este acuerdo conciliatorio demuestra que el gobierno no tolerará los productos farmacéuticos subestándar. Como resultado de esta amplia investigación, se devolverán millones de dólares al Fondo de Provisión Farmacéutica del Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos en beneficio directo de los veteranos de nuestro país", dijo Jeffrey G. Hughes, Agente Especial a Cargo, Oficina del Inspector General del Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos.
"Los empleados federales merecen proveedores de servicios médicos, entre ellos fabricantes de medicamentos, que cumplan con los estándares más altos de conducta ética y profesional", dijo Patrick E. McFarland, Inspector General de la Oficina de Administración de Personal de los EE.UU. "El acuerdo conciliatorio de hoy hace recordar a la industria farmacéutica que debe cumplir con esos estándares y refleja el compromiso de las organizaciones federales de las fuerzas del orden público de enjuiciar conducta incorrecta e ilegal que ponga en riesgo la servicios médicos de los consumidores".
El acuerdo conciliatorio civil resuelve una demanda entablada en el tribunal federal en el Distrito de Massachusetts bajo las disposiciones qui tam, o de denunciante, de la Ley de Reclamos Falsos, que permiten que los ciudadanos privados entablen acciones civiles de parte de los Estados Unidos y participen de cualquier recuperación lograda. Como parte de la resolución de hoy, la denunciante, Cheryl Eckard, recibirá aproximadamente $96 millones de dólares de la parte federal del acuerdo conciliatorio.
Están a cargo de la acusación en el caso la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito de Massachusetts y la Oficina de Litigio del Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia. El acuerdo conciliatorio civil fue negociado por la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito de Massachusetts y la Sección de Litigio Comercial de la División Civil. La Oficina de Asesoría al Inspector General del HHS, el Centro para Servicios de Medicare y Medicaid, la Oficina del Asesor Principal de la FDA, y la Asociación Nacional de Unidad de Control de Medicaid brindaron asistencia.
El caso fue investigado por agentes del Buró Federal de Investigaciones [Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)], el Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos, la Oficina del Inspector General, HHS-IG, la Oficina de Investigaciones Criminales de la FDA, el Servicio de Investigaciones Criminales de Defensa y la Oficina del Inspector General para la Oficina de Administración de Personal.
Este acuerdo conciliatorio es parte del énfasis puesto por el gobierno en la lucha contra el fraude de servicios médicos. Una de las herramientas más poderosas en dicha iniciativa es la Ley de Reclamos Falsos, utilizada por el Departamento de Justicia para recuperar aproximadamente $4.2 billones de dólares desde enero de 2009 en casos asociados al fraude contra los programas de salud federales. Las recuperaciones totales del Departamento de Justicia en casos asociados a la Ley de Reclamos Falsos desde enero de 2009 han superado los $5.4 billones de dólares.
Attorney General Holder Unveils Valor Initiative to Protect Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Addressing the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in Orlando, Fla., Attorney General Eric Holder today unveiled the Department of Justice’s new Preventing Violence Against Law Enforcement and Ensuring Officer Resilience and Survivability (VALOR) initiative. The VALOR initiative was created to reduce and prevent law enforcement officer line of duty injuries and deaths by training officers in techniques for approaching violence encounters.
Under the VALOR initiative, the department allocated $800,000 for the initial development of a nationwide training and technical assistance program. A key aspect of the VALOR training will include how to anticipate and survive a violent encounter, with training based on the “The Deadly Mix” framework (officer, offender, and circumstances that brought them together). In addition, officers will learn techniques for identifying concealed weapons and armed gunmen, and be trained for high-risk tactical situations that may involve active shooters or hostages. Officers will also learn techniques to confront specific threat groups, including domestic and international terrorists and other violent criminals and extremists.
“Since last October, 163 officers have been killed in the line of duty nationwide , with more than a third of them killed by gunfire,” Attorney General Holder said. “These losses of mothers and fathers, spouses and siblings, children and colleagues represent an alarming increase in police officer fatalities. The Justice Department is committed to turning back this rising tide; to meeting increased violence with renewed vigilance; and to doing everything within our power – and using every tool at our disposal – to keep law enforcement officers safe.”
In addition to the VALOR initiative grant, the Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded $467,312 to IACP to launch the Center for the Prevention of Violence Against the Police, which is designed to serve as a clearinghouse for information and analysis about injury and violence against law enforcement officers in order to reduce the number of felonious assaults on officers, reduce costs to governments, and increase community safety. All together, the Department of Justice has committed more than $40 million for officer safety programs in Fiscal Year 2010. This includes more than $30 million to reimburse law enforcement agencies for the purchase of body armor, respond to line of duty deaths, enhance deconfliction efforts and boost technology development.
Attorney General Holder also announced the expansion of the Smart Policing program to six new sites. The Smart Policing program, which started in 2009, is focused on evidence-based practices that target a specific crime problem that can be replicated by law enforcement agencies across the country. Each agency receiving a grant enlists the assistance of a research partner to analyze data, test interventions, and measure the results. The six new Fiscal Year 2010 grants bring to 16 the number of law enforcement agencies participating in this program. The six grantees in Baltimore; Cincinnati; Indio, Calif.; Joliet, Ill.; Lowell, Mass. and San Diego will focus on gun crime, street gangs, drug markets and robberies, among other crime issues.
Alabama Tax Preparer Charged with Tax Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An Elmore County, Ala., tax return preparer was indicted in the Middle District of Alabama for tax fraud and identity theft, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Sharon D. Thurman, who owned and operated "Sharon’s Tax Services," was charged with 14 counts of making false claims for tax refunds, two counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of theft of government money.
According to the indictment, Thurman knowingly used the name and Social Security number of individuals to steal tax refunds from the IRS. The indictment further alleges that Thurman sought at least $53,548 in fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS during the 2007 tax year.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Thurman faces a maximum of 94 years in prison and a maximum fine of $4 million.
The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Tax Division Trial Attorney Justin K. Gelfand and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Stump.
More information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at www.usdoj.gov/tax/.
Additional Alleged Member of the Almighty Latin Kings and Queen Nation Charged in Hammond, Ind., with Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Multiple MurdersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An additional alleged member of the Almighty Latin Kings and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) has been indicted for his alleged role in a racketeering conspiracy in Hammond, Ind., and elsewhere, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David Capp of the Northern District of Indiana.
The superseding indictment, returned by the federal grand jury on Oct. 22, 2010, and unsealed yesterday in Hammond charges Martin Anaya, aka "Lefty," 40, of Chicago, with conspiracy to engage in a racketeering activity. Previously charged in the conspiracy are: Alexander Vargas, aka "Pacman," 33, of Highland, Ind.; Sisto Bernal, aka "Cisco," aka "Shug," 44, of Chicago; Jason Ortiz, aka "Creeper," 27, of Chicago; and Brandon Clay, aka "Cheddar," aka "Swiss," aka "Slick," 23, of Chicago.
Anaya is charged also in the superseding indictment with one count of murder and one count of using and carrying a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence. In addition, the superseding indictment alleges new charges against Vargas, Ortiz and Clay for murder in aid of racketeering, and murder resulting from the use of a firearm. Ortiz and Clay were also charged previously in the original indictment with murder in aid of racketeering, murder resulting from the use of a firearm, possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony and possessing stolen firearms.
According to the superseding indictment, the southeast region of the Latin Kings is responsible for at least 15 murders. The superseding indictment specifically alleges that Vargas, Ortiz, Clay and other Latin King members participated in the murder of rival gang members James Walsh and Gonzalo Diaz outside of a bar in Griffith, Ind., in the early morning of Feb. 25, 2007. The superseding indictment also alleges that Ortiz, Clay and Anaya participated in the murder of Christiana Campos on April 22, 2009. In addition, the superseding indictment alleges that Clay participated with other Latin King members in the murder of Edward Delatorre on Nov. 26, 2006. In addition to the violent crimes, the superseding indictment alleges that the Latin Kings also distributed more than 150 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.
According to the superseding indictment, the Latin Kings is nationwide gang that originated in Chicago and has branches throughout the United States. The Latin Kings is a well organized street gang that has specific leadership and is comprised of regions that include multiple chapters. The Latin Kings enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the Latin Kings. Members are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, including taking on assignments often referred to as "missions."
The racketeering conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. The murder-related charges carry maximum penalties of life in prison or the death penalty. The felon in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen firearms charges each carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Anaya made his initial appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich. The remaining defendants will be arraigned before Judge Rodovich on Nov. 2, 2010, at 1 p.m.
This case is being investigated by the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration, Customs and Enforcement; the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement & Coordination Center; the National Gang Intelligence Center; the Chicago Police Department, the Griffith Police Department; the Highland, Ind., Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; and the Houston Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joseph A. Cooley of the Criminal Division’s Gang Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nozick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana.
The indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Monday 25 October 2010
Polk County, Florida, Agrees to Pay $400,000 to Settle Disability Discrimination LawsuitRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that Polk County, Fla., has agreed to pay $400,000 in monetary damages and civil penalties to settle a lawsuit alleging that it violated the Fair Housing Act when it denied New Life Outreach Ministries the right to operate a faith-based transitional residency program in Lakeland, Fla., for homeless men with disabilities, including those in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. This lawsuit is part of the Justice Department’s continuing effort to enforce civil rights laws that require states and municipalities to end discrimination against, and unnecessary segregation of, persons with disabilities.
Under the consent decree, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the county agreed to pay $280,000 to New Life, up to $80,000 to individuals who were forced to relocate from New Life’s property on Pipkin Road as a result of the county’s conduct and $40,000 to the government. The consent decree also prohibits the county from further discrimination and requires county employees who have responsibilities related to zoning and land-use to receive fair-housing training.
"Equal access to housing is a basic necessity and a civil right, and the Fair Housing Act guarantees that all individuals can access that right free from discrimination," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "This settlement will ensure that the equal housing opportunities required by law are available to all citizens of Polk County and send a message to other states and municipalities that we have no tolerance for discrimination against persons with any type of disability."
The complaint in this case, which was filed by the Justice Department on Sept. 30, 2010, alleges that the county twice approved, in writing, New Life’s proposed use and affirmed that the use was legal under the county’s land development code. The complaint also alleges that New Life purchased the property on Pipkin Road in reliance on this written approval and that the county reversed itself only after community opposition arose because of the disabilities of New Life’s residents.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status (having children under 18 years old) and disability.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces can be found at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line 1-800-896-7743, email the Justice Department at [email protected] or contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777.
Justice Department Sues Return Preparers in Florida and Missouri Who Allegedly Claimed More Than $70 Million in Fraudulent Tax RefundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The United States has sued Iliana Sorensen of Hialeah, Fla., and Gerald A. Poynter II of Kansas City, Mo., seeking to bar them from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Sorensen and Poynter are both alleged to prepare tax returns claiming fictitious withholding on their customers’ returns in an attempt to claim large tax refunds.
The government’s civil injunction complaints allege that Sorensen and Poynter have prepared federal income tax returns for customers claiming more than $70 million in fraudulent tax refunds that are based on fake withholding reported on Forms 1099-OID. While the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) detects and stops most fraudulent refund claims, the complaints allege that Poynter’s and Sorensen’s fraudulent tax return preparation has resulted in more than $7 million in erroneous refunds to their customers.
According to the complaints, the scheme Poynter and Sorensen employ is part of a trend among tax defiers to file frivolous tax returns and forms in an attempt to escape their federal tax obligations and steal from the U.S. Treasury.
Customers who participate in tax fraud schemes of the type alleged in the complaints may be subject to sizeable penalties for filing returns with excessive refund claims —including a penalty equal to 20 percent of the amount improperly claimed. The penalty applies even if, as usually happens, the IRS detects the false claim and blocks a tax refund. Thus a taxpayer improperly claiming a $2 million refund could be liable for a $400,000 penalty as well as other penalties and possible criminal prosecution.
Courts have barred preparers who used similar schemes in California , South Carolina , Georgia, and Tennessee from preparing tax returns for others.
In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained hundreds of injunctions against tax fraud promoters and dishonest tax return preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line over ADA ViolationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today sought the federal court’s approval of a consent decree with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) to resolve a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on behalf of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals who use wheelchairs, who took NCL cruises of the Hawaiian Islands.
Under the proposed consent decree, NCL will ensure that individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing get the auxiliary aids and services they need, such as a sign language interpreter or a written transcript of the emergency drill, to fully participate in the activities on the ship and in the shore excursions. NCL will also ensure that individuals who use wheelchairs get accessible bus transportation between the airport, cruise ship and hotels, and on shore excursions. In addition, NCL will pay $100,000 in damages to nine individuals with disabilities and will also pay $40,000 in civil penalties to the United States.
"People with disabilities who need sign language interpreters or accessible ground transportation should be able to go on vacation and enjoy the activities of a cruise like everyone else," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. "It is essential that NCL and the cruise industry comply with the ADA’s requirements for auxiliary aids and services and accessible transportation."
"The ADA applies to cruise ships, just as it does to hotels and other entities that offer services to the public," said Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. "Discrimination against people with disabilities, on land or at sea, will not be tolerated."
After an extensive investigation, the Justice Department determined that five deaf individuals on NCL cruises around Hawaii did not receive interpreters and other auxiliary aids, or a closed caption TV, and thus were unable to enjoy the activities on board the ship or the shore excursions because they could not understand what was going on and communicate effectively. The Justice Department also determined that four individuals who use wheelchairs did not get accessible buses between the airport, ship and hotel, and on shore excursions; had to wait hours for an accessible bus at times; were unable to go on shore excursions because of the lack of an accessible bus; were charged extra for accessible transportation; and/or were not allowed to get on and off the bus during a shore excursion even though the bus was accessible.
The relief in the consent decree specifically includes:
- An access desk to handle requests for reasonable accommodations from guests with disabilities pre-cruise;
- Access officers on board the ship to handle requests for reasonable accommodations from guests with disabilities during the cruise;
- NCL shall respond in writing to a request for a reasonable accommodation within one week, when the request is made at least three weeks prior to sailing;
- ADA training for NCL staff;
- Pagers for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing to use while on the cruise, through which safety and other important announcements will be transmitted;
- TTY communication devices for guests;
- Visual tactile alert systems in staterooms for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing (i.e., visual or tactile alert to door knock, telephone ringing, alarm ringing and smoke detection);
- Closed caption televisions in staterooms and common areas;
- Written transcripts of the emergency drill; and
- Accessible over-the-road buses, shuttle buses, and vans for transportation between the airport, ship, and hotels and on shore excursions, with no extra wait times for accessible transportation.
Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities by public accommodations and private entities offering specified public transportation. It requires that public accommodations offer their programs and services in a manner that does not discriminate against people with disabilities. The Justice Department may bring lawsuits to enforce Title III seeking as relief injunctive remedies, monetary damages for complainants, and civil penalties.
People interested in finding out more about the ADA or this Consent Decree can call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
Saturday 23 October 2010
Jury Convicts Armed Career Criminal of Illegal Weapons PossessionRead the Press Release
October 23, 2010BOSTON – A former Springfield man was convicted yesterday by a jury in U.S. District Court in Springfield of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Luis Colon, 30, was convicted following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor of possessing a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.
On September 7, 2010, the defendant sold a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol with 14 rounds of Remington 9mm ammunition to a man working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 2, 2014. Because Colon has multiple convictions that make him an armed career criminal, he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison and five years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Hampden County District Attorney Mark Mastroianni; Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief William Fitchett of the Springfield Police Department, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.
Friday 22 October 2010
Virginia Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Defrauding the U.S. Department of Defense of More Than $450,000Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A Virginia man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Defense of more than $450,000, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Jonathan Feeney Sr., 28, of Woodbridge, Va., was also ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Leonie M. Brinkema to pay restitution of $464,819 to the Department of Defense and $11,604 to BAE Systems Training Services Inc. (BAE). In addition, Judge Brinkema ordered Feeney to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Feeney pleaded guilty on July 28, 2010, to a one-count criminal information charging him with using the U.S. mails to execute a scheme involving fraudulent invoices submitted to the Department of Defense through BAE, Feeney’s former employer.
According to court documents, BAE maintained a procurement contract with the Department of Defense during 2005 and 2006. Under the terms of the contract, BAE would purchase surveillance equipment and subsequently bill the U.S. government for those purchases. Feeney worked as a logistics engineer at BAE and was responsible for purchasing the items needed under the contract.
In his plea, Feeney admitted that he started making secret purchases in BAE’s name beginning in August 2005. He admitted that he used his position to authorize the purchase of camera lenses and video equipment, intending all the while to resell the equipment for personal gain despite billing BAE for the purchases. Feeney’s actions would cause BAE, in turn, to use the mail to bill those purchases to the United States. Between Aug. 6, 2005, and June 30, 2006, Feeney admitted that he made 15 illicit purchases totaling $476,424 in fraudulent charges, of which $464,819 was billed to the U.S. government. Feeney also admitted that he subsequently sold many of the purchases on an Internet auction site for profit.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Liam Brennan and Ryan S. Faulconer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The investigation was conducted by the
Defense Criminal Investigative Service and members of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force (NPFTF).Virginia Couple Charged with Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Newport News, Va., federal grand jury has indicted a married couple for conspiring to defraud the United States, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The grand jury indicted Kathryn Charles Miles and John Scott Miles of Mathews County, Va. In addition, Kathryn Miles is charged with filing false tax returns, and John Miles is charged with failing to file tax returns. The court has not yet set a trial date.
According to the indictment, Kathryn and John Miles jointly operated a construction business called "Scotts Construction" and "KCM Construction & Design," out of their residence. Kathryn Miles, a nurse, filed six false tax returns for tax years 2000 through 2005 and attached false documents to each tax return. Additionally, according to the indictment, John Miles did not timely file tax returns with the IRS for tax years 2004 and 2005. In 2001, Kathryn Miles and John Miles paid $200 to American Rights Litigators, a business that sold and promoted tax defiance schemes. An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Kathryn Miles faces a maximum of 23 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1.75 million. If convicted, John Miles faces a maximum of seven years in prison and a maximum fine of $350,000.
The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Samuels and Tax Division Trial Attorney Justin K. Gelfand.
More information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at www.usdoj.gov/tax/.
Tennessee Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Commit Murders of African-AmericansRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced that Daniel Cowart was sentenced today to 14 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to murder dozens of African-Americans, including then-Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama, because of their race.
On March 29, 2010, Cowart pleaded guilty to conspiracy, threatening to kill and inflict bodily harm upon a major candidate for the office of President of the United States, interstate transportation of a short-barreled shotgun, interstate transportation of a firearm for the purpose of committing a felony, unlicensed transportation of an unauthorized short-barreled shotgun, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, intentional damage to religious real property and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Cowart, 22, of Bells, Tenn., admitted to conspiring with Paul Schlesselman of West Helena, Ark., to engage in a killing spree specifically targeting African-Americans. He further acknowledged that he intended to culminate these attacks by assassinating President Obama, a U.S. Senator and presidential candidate at the time of the conspiracy.
Cowart admitted that he and Schlesselman also conspired to burglarize a federally-licensed firearms dealer to obtain additional weapons for their scheme. He also admitted to transporting a sawed-off shotgun from Arkansas to Tennessee for the purpose of committing felonies. Cowart additionally admitted to shooting the window of the Allen Baptist Church in Brownsville, Tenn.
Under the plea agreement, Cowart agreed that an appropriate sentence would be between twelve and eighteen years. The charges to which he pleaded guilty carried a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison.
"Threats of violence fueled by bigotry and hate have no place in the United States of America, and they will not be tolerated," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "Although the heroic intervention of law enforcement spared us from a tragedy, this conspiracy and its associated crimes demanded a severe sentence. The sentence imposed constitutes serious punishment for a serious crime."
"Thankfully, the defendants were not able to execute their violent scheme. Nevertheless, this is a grave matter and Judge Breen’s sentence reflects that crimes of this magnitude demand stiff penalties," said Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. "I would like to recognize the extraordinary diligence of the Crockett County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S Secret Service, and the FBI."
Cowart’s co-defendant, Paul Schlesselman, pleaded guilty on Jan. 14, 2010, to one count of conspiracy, one count of threatening to kill and inflict bodily harm upon a presidential candidate, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Schlesselman was sentenced to 10 years in prison on April 15, 2010.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Secret Service; the FBI; and the Crockett County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Larry Laurenzi and James Powell and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Jonathan Skrmetti.
San Diego County, California, Attorney Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Craig Shaber, a practicing attorney from San Diego County, Calif., pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony J. Battaglia to one count of tax evasion for the 2000 tax year, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.
According to the indictment and other documents filed in San Diego federal court, between the years 1999 and 2002, Shaber and Steven Wright, an accountant who pleaded guilty to tax evasion in August 2009, fraudulently acquired control of numerous public shell companies. They acquired control of the companies by, among other things, installing nominee officers and directors and submitting false registration statements and reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Association of Securities Dealers, now known as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Shaber and Wright earned millions of dollars from the sale of these public shell companies and deposited the proceeds into a bank account in the name of Bonaventure Capital Ltd., and one of Shaber’s client trust bank accounts. In 2002, Shaber and Wright received $260,000 in cash from the sale of one of these companies. In 2003, the SEC filed a complaint related to Shaber’s and Wright’s conduct selling these public shell companies.
According to the indictment and other documents filed in the case, Shaber and Wright then evaded taxes on the millions of dollars earned from the sale of the public shell companies. They withdrew these proceeds for their own personal benefit and concealed their receipt of the income. Shaber and Wright disbursed these funds to various bank accounts in the names of nominee entities that they controlled and used accounts in the names of nominee entities to pay for personal expenses.
Shaber used the proceeds from the shell company scheme to purchase numerous luxury items, including his personal residence in Coronado, Calif., a McDonnell Douglas helicopter, a World-War-II-era Tigercat airplane, a Plymouth Prowler, a Porsche 996 Turbo and art work. Wright also purchased significant assets, including property in Poway, Calif., a condominium in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., a BMW X5 and art work.
Shaber’s sentencing is set for Jan. 21, 2011, and Wright’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28, 2011.
These cases are being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and are being prosecuted by Tax Division Trial Attorneys Christopher J. Maietta and Timothy J. Stockwell.
More information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at www.usdoj.gov/tax/.
Nigerian National Sentenced to 102 Months in Prison for Role in Airline Ticket ScamRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ademola Ismaila Adegoke, 43, of Accra, Ghana, was sentenced today to 102months in prison for using stolen credit card numbers to steal more than $400,000 from U.S. citizens, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride for the Eastern District of Virginia; Todd Brown, Special Agent in Charge of Diplomatic Security’s Washington Field Office; Jeffrey Irvine, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office; and Stephen L. Holl, Chief of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department.
U.S. District Court Judge Liam O’Grady also ordered Adegoke to serve twoyears of supervised release following his prison term. The defendant has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $696,026. Adegokepleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on July 30, 2010.
According to court documents, Adegoke is a Nigerian national who was living in Accra. Adegoke used local Internet cafes in Accra to access e-mail accounts and Voice over IP (VOIP) services, which made it appear that he was calling from the United States even though he was physically in Ghana. He used e-mail and VOIP to purchase stolen credit card information online and then used those numbers to purchase airline tickets from travel agencies in the United States and Canada, as well as directly from airlines.
Adegoke sent e-mail or faxed copies of fraudulent passports and drivers licenses as well as images of credit cards with the stolen credit card number transposed over a blank card to the travel agency or airline. According to court documents, if he was able to convince the travel agency or airline to issue a ticket, he would call back, speak to the same agent, and purchase additional tickets for customers who would pay him a fraction of the cost of the full fare. In all, Adegoke purchased more than 5,000 stolen credit card numbers and was responsible for more than $400,000 in losses as a result of this scheme.
On May 5, 2010, the Ghanaian Police, in cooperation with U.S. law enforcement, arrested Adegoke in Accra. Adegoke was extradited from Ghana to the United States, where he arrived on June 28, 2010.
This case was investigated by the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Secret Service and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority. Michael Stawasz, Senior Counsel in the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Eisinger prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter.
Miembro de los Latin Kings fue sentenciado a más de 15 años en prisión por conspiración de delincuencia organizada asociada a sus actividades pandillerasRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON- Nelson Santos, alias “Nelly” y “King Nelly,” 27, de Silver Spring, Md., fue sentenciado hoy por el Juez Federal de Distrito Alexander Williams Jr. a 190 meses en prisión por conspiración para participar en una empresa de delincuencia organizada y ser un delincuente mayor en posesión de un arma de fuego, en conexión con sus actividades pandilleras como miembro de la pandilla "Nación Todopoderosa de Reyes y Reinas Latinos" (Latin Kings). También se le ordenó a Santos cumplir cinco años de libertad bajo supervisión después de haber cumplido con su sentencia en prisión.
La sentencia fue anunciada por el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Lanny A. Breuer de la División Criminal; el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; la Agente Especial a Cargo Theresa R. Stoop de la División Local en Baltimore del Buró de Control de Bebidas Alcohólicas, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)]; el Jefe J. Thomas Manger del Departamento de Policía del Condado de Montgomery; el Fiscal Estatal del Condado de Montgomery John McCarthy; el Jefe Roberto L. Hylton del Departamento de Policía del Condado de Prince George; y el Fiscal Estatal del Condado de Prince George Glenn F. Ivey.
Según el acuerdo de declaración de culpabilidad de Santos, Latin Kings es una pandilla callejera violenta con miles de miembros en todos los Estados Unidos y el extranjero. Los Latin Kings tienen una estructura organizativa detallada y uniforme que se detalla – junto con diversas "oraciones", códigos de conducta y rituales – en un "manifiesto" escrito distribuido comúnmente a miembros de todo el país. Los miembros de los Latin Kings también reciben tradicionalmente "nombres de King" o "nombres de Queen", que son nombres distintos a sus nombres legales por los cuales son conocidos por otros miembros de la pandilla y terceros en la calle. A nivel local, los grupos de Latin Kings se organizan en "tribus", entre ellas Royal Lion Tribe, MOG, Sun Tribe y UTL.
Según el acuerdo de culpabilidad, Santos se hizo miembro del Royal Lion Tribe en Maryland en 2007. Santos admitió que participó en misiones sancionadas por los Latin Kings, incluido el robo armado de una prostituta en un motel en Laurel, Md., el 14 de diciembre de 2007. De acuerdo con la declaración de los hechos, Santos y otros miembros y asociados de los Latin Kings viajaron en dos vehículos separados al motel, donde entraron a la fuerza a la habitación que sabían estar ocupada por una prostituta. Santos y los demás miembros y asociados de los Latin Kings estaban armados con una pistola y una cuchilla. Obligaron a la prostituta a desnudarse y acostarse en la cama, mientras los Latin Kings saquearon su habitación y robaron dinero en efectivo, un X-Box, juegos de video, un teléfono celular, una laptop y otros artículos. Le dieron un culatazo con la pistola en la cabeza y mantuvieron cautivo en el baño al hombre que se encontraba en la habitación con la prostituta.
Según el acuerdo de declaración de culpabilidad, el 28 de abril de 2009, en Wheaton, Md., Santos, un delincuente anteriormente condenado que estaba prohibido de poseer armas de fuego y municiones, a sabiendas, poseía una pistola Leinad 9mm Mac-11 con un número de serie borrado y cargada con 27 municiones de 9mm.
Los codemandados Miguel Cruz, alias “Skibee” y “King Skibee,” 45, de Bronx, N.Y., uno de los fundadores del tribu de Maryland de los Latin Kings, y Andrés Echevarria, alias "B-Boy" y "King B-Boy", 23, de Brooklyn, N.Y., se declararon culpables de conspiración para cometer delincuencia organizada en conexión con sus actividades pandilleras y fueron sentenciados a 87 meses en prisión y 19 años en prisión, respectivamente. Francisco Ortiz, alias, “Francis Gabriel Ortiz,” “Pone,” y “King Pone,” 26, de Rockville, Md., también se declaró culpable de conspiración para cometer delincuencia organizada y su sentencia está programada para el 1º de diciembre de 2010, a las 9:30a.m. Todos permanecen bajo custodia federal, como Santos.
Además del ATF - División Local de Baltimore, el Departamento de Policía del Condado de Montgomery; la Fiscalía Estatal del Condado de Montgomery; el Departamento de Policía del Condado de Prince George; la Fiscalía Estatal del Condado de Prince George; y el Departamento de Policía de la Ciudad de Nueva York; proveyeron asistencia el Departamento de Policía de Gaithersburg, Md.; la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Montgomery; la Policía de Parques Nacionales de Maryland de la División del Condado de Prince George; la Policía Estatal de Maryland; el Departamento de Policía de Nueva York; el Servicio Secreto de los EE.UU.; la División de Investigaciones Criminales de Servicio de Impuestos Internos; y el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de los EE.UU.
Estuvieron a cargo de la acusación en el caso los Fiscales Federales Emily Glatfelter y David Salem, y la Abogada Litigante Lara M. Peirce de la Unidad de Pandillas de la División Criminal.
Middleboro Resident Indicted on Child Coercion ChargesRead the Press Release
Octuber 22, 2010BOSTON – Keith Gage, 42, of Middleboro was indicted on two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor.
If convicted, Gage faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years supervised release on each of the charges, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Kevin Niland, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspector Services; Colonel Timothy P. Alben of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Allan A. Krajcik of the Easton Police Department, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Ortiz's Major Crimes Unit.Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Spy for the People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Glenn Duffie Shriver, 28, of Detroit, Mich., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Liam O’Grady to conspiring to provide national defense information to intelligence officers of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The guilty plea was announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and John G. Perren, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office.
Shriver pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging him with conspiracy to communicate national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it. In a plea agreement, the defense and government jointly recommended a prison sentence of 48 months. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2011.
"This defendant attempted to gain access to classified U.S. national defense information by securing a position within the U.S. government under false pretenses, with the ultimate goal of providing that information to intelligence officers of the People’s Republic of China," said Assistant Attorney General Kris. "Through the diligent work of the agents, analysts, and prosecutors assigned to this matter, the defendant’s scheme was detected and neutralized."
"Mr. Shriver betrayed his country and took repeated steps toward spying for another government," said U.S. Attorney MacBride. "We remain vigilant against threats to our national security and will do everything in our power to find and punish those who seek to betray our country."
"Mr. Shriver threw away his education, his career and his future when he chose to position himself to spy for the PRC," said John G. Perren, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. "He failed to appreciate that the PRC simply created a ‘friendship’ with him to use him. It’s a valuable lesson to others who might be tempted to do the same."
According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Shriver is proficient in Mandarin Chinese and lived in the PRC both as an undergraduate student and after graduation. While living in Shanghai in October 2004, Shriver developed a relationship with three individuals whom he came to learn were PRC intelligence officers. At the request of these foreign agents, Shriver agreed to return to the United States and apply for positions in U.S. intelligence agencies or law enforcement organizations.
Shriver admitted in court that he knew that his ultimate objective was to obtain a position with a federal department or agency that would afford him access to classified national defense information, which he would then transmit to the PRC officers in return for cash payments.
From 2005 to 2010, Shriver attempted to gain employment as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State and as a clandestine service officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. Shriver admitted that, during this time, he maintained frequent contact with the PRC intelligence officers and received more than $70,000 in three separate cash payments for what the officers called his "friendship."
In December 2009, Shriver received notice that he was to report to Washington, D.C., in May 2010 for final employment processing activities with the CIA. Shriver admitted that he communicated with a PRC intelligence officer that he was "making some progress" in obtaining a position with the CIA and that he would not be free to travel to PRC for another meeting because it could raise suspicion with federal agents conducting his background investigation.
Shriver admitted that he made false statements on the CIA questionnaire required for employment stating that he had not had any contact with a foreign government or its representative during the last seven years, when in fact he had met in person with one or more of the officers approximately 20 times since 2004. He also deliberately omitted his travel to PRC in 2007 when he received a $40,000 cash payment from the PRC for applying to the CIA. In addition, Shriver made false statements during a series of final screening interviews at the CIA, and he admitted he made each of the false statements to conceal his illicit relationship with the PRC intelligence officers.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Campbell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Brandon L. Van Grack of the Counterespionage Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case.
Latin Kings Member Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for a Racketeering Conspiracy Related to His Gang ActivitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON- Nelson Santos, aka “Nelly” and “King Nelly,” 27, of Silver Spring, Md., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams Jr. to 190 months in prison for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in connection with his gang activities as a member of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings). Santos was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
The sentence was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Theresa R. Stoop of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - Baltimore Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; Chief Roberto L. Hylton of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey.
According to Santos’ plea agreement, the Latin Kings is a violent street gang with thousands of members across the country and overseas. The Latin Kings have a detailed and uniform organizational structure, which is outlined – along with various “prayers,” codes of behavior and rituals – in a written “manifesto” widely distributed to members throughout the country. Members of the Latin Kings are also traditionally given “King Names” or “Queen Names,” which are names other than their legal names, by which they are known to members of the gang and to others on the street. At the local level, groups of Latin Kings are organized into “tribes,” including, but not limited to, the Royal Lion Tribe, MOG, Sun Tribe and UTL.
According to the plea agreement, Santos became a member of the Royal Lion Tribe in Maryland in 2007. Santos admitted that he participated in Latin King-sanctioned missions, including the armed robbery of a prostitute at a motel in Laurel, Md., on Dec. 14, 2007. According to the statement of facts, Santos and other Latin King members and associates drove in two separate vehicles to the motel, where they forced their way into a motel room, which they knew to be occupied by a prostitute. Santos and the other Latin King members and associates were armed with a gun and a knife. The prostitute was forced to strip naked on the bed, while the Latin Kings ransacked her room and stole cash, an X-Box, video games, a cell phone, a laptop and other items. The man who was in the room with the prostitute was held captive in the bathroom and pistol-whipped on the head.
Also according to the plea agreement, on April 28, 2009, in Wheaton, Md., Santos, a previously convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, knowingly possessed a Leinad 9mm Mac-11 machine pistol with an obliterated serial number, which was loaded with 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Co-defendants Miguel Cruz, aka “Skibee” and “King Skibee,” 45, of the Bronx, N.Y., one of the founders of the Maryland tribe of the Latin Kings, and Andres Echevarria, aka “B-Boy” and “King B-Boy,” 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy in connection with their gang activities and were sentenced to 87 months in prison and 19 years in prison, respectively. Francisco Ortiz, aka “Francis Gabriel Ortiz,” “Pone,” and “King Pone,” 26, of Rockville, Md., also pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 1, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. All remain in federal custody, as does Santos.
In addition to the ATF - Baltimore Field Division; Montgomery County Police Department; Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office; Prince George’s County Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office; and New York City Police Department, assistance was provided by the Gaithersburg Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland National Capital Park Police - Prince George’s County Division, the Maryland State Police, the New York Police Department; the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Glatfelter and David Salem, and Trial Attorney Lara M. Peirce with the Criminal Division’s Gang Unit.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement to Protect Rights of Military and Overseas Voters in IllinoisRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that it has reached an agreement with Illinois officials to help ensure that military service members and other U.S. citizens living overseas have an opportunity to participate fully in the Nov. 2, 2010, federal general election. The agreement was necessary to ensure Illinois’s compliance with the 2009 Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act).
The agreement, which must be approved by the federal district court in Chicago, was filed in conjunction with a lawsuit alleging the state violated federal law when numerous election authorities in Illinois counties failed to transmit ballots by Sept. 18, 2010, to military and overseas voters who requested absentee ballots, and in some counties failed to transmit ballots electronically to voters who had made such requests.
The agreement provides additional time beyond the state’s existing Nov. 16, 2010, deadline – 14 days after election day – for receipt of ballots from military and overseas voters in six counties: Boone, Hancock, Jersey, Massac, Schuyler and St. Clair. The agreement also extends the date by which ballots from those counties must be postmarked from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2, 2010. In addition, the agreement requires that any voters who asked to receive their ballots electronically, but were sent the ballot by mail instead, will be transmitted a ballot by the requested electronic method.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires states to allow uniformed service voters, serving both overseas and within the United States, and their families and overseas citizens to register to vote and to vote absentee for all elections for federal office. In 2009, Congress enacted the MOVE Act, which made broad amendments to UOCAVA. Among those changes was a requirement that states transmit absentee ballots to voters covered under UOCAVA, by mail or electronically at the voter’s option, no later than 45 days before federal elections.
"The Justice Department is committed to vigorous enforcement of the MOVE Act so that members of the uniformed services, their families and other citizens living overseas are able to exercise their right to vote and know their votes will be counted," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "I am pleased that we are able to reach this agreement with Illinois officials, which will ensure that the state’s military and overseas voters can participate in the upcoming federal elections."
As part of the agreement, the state will take steps to investigate the cause of the late mailing of ballots and failure to transmit ballots electronically and to ensure compliance in future federal elections and provide a report to the Department of Justice on those efforts.
The department previously reached agreements with Alaska, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and filed lawsuits against New York, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Guam seeking relief to help ensure that military service members and other U.S. citizens living overseas have the opportunity to participate fully in the upcoming election. Consent decrees were reached with New York, New Mexico and Wisconsin, and a court-entered injunction was issued in the Guam case. More information about UOCAVA and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice website at www.justice.gov/crt/voting/misc/activ_uoc.php . Complaints may be reported to the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
Justice Department Obtains $120,000 Settlement in Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Against Indiana Condominium AssociationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that a Munster, Ind., condominium association and its three member board of directors have agreed to pay $120,000 to resolve allegations that they refused to approve the sale of a condominium to an African-American couple because of their race and because they had children. The settlement must still be approved by U.S. Senior District Judge Philip P. Simon.
“Our nation will not tolerate someone being denied the right to purchase a home because of their race or because they have children”, said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “This settlement should serve as a message to condominium boards and other housing providers that they must comply with the Fair Housing Act, and that the Justice Department will take aggressive action when they do not.”
“Denying a family the opportunity to buy a home because of their race or because they have children is illegal and unacceptable,” said Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasvina. “HUD and the Justice Department are committed to vigorously working to eliminate housing discrimination whenever and wherever we find it.”
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department on July 14, 2008, against the Autumn Ridge Condominium Association and the three members of its Board of Directors, Richard Archie, Ronald Patterson and James Reed. The United States alleged that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act when, in 2006, they refused to approve the sale of a condominium at Autumn Ridge to an African-American man who intended to reside there with his fiancé, who is also African-American, and her two mino r children. The United States alleged that the defendants refused to approve the sale because the couple was African-American and because they had children. The condominium rules for Autumn Ridge then in effect prohibited the sale of a unit to persons with minor children. The couple, the owner who had attempted to sell them the condominium and the four real estate agents involved in the transaction filed complaints with the HUD. After an investigation, HUD determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that the defendants had violated the Fair Housing Act and referred the matter to the Justice Department.
The settlement requires the defendants to pay $106,500 to the couple and the real estate agents, and to pay $13,500 in civil penalties to the United States. The settlement also requires Autumn Ridge to revise its rules to remove any restriction on occupancy by families with children, requires Autumn Ridge to obtain training in the Fair Housing Act for its board members and requires the president of the Board of Directors for Autumn Ridge, Richard Archie, to resign permanently from the board.
Fighting illegal housing discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status (having one or more children under 18), national origin and disability.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt/. Persons who believe they have experienced or witnessed unlawful housing discrimination may call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at [email protected], or contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777. More information about the Fair Housing Act can also be found at www.justice.gov/crt/housing or www.hud.gov/fairhousing.