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Wednesday 29 September 2010
Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Augusta, Ga., Tax Return PreparerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The United States has filed suit seeking to permanently enjoin Endia Delores Nipper and her company, TDNS Tax Services, from preparing federal tax returns, the Justice Department announced today. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, alleges that Nipper fabricated or inflated earned income tax credit claims on tax returns that she prepared for her clients. TDNS is located in Augusta, Ga.
According to the government’s complaint, Nipper has prepared close to 4,000 income tax returns each year since 2007, and approximately 50 percent of those returns claimed the earned income tax credit. Audits by the Internal Revenue Service resulted in the disallowance or reduction of the earned income tax credit in nearly 90 percent of the returns audited. The average adjustment on the audited returns was in excess of $4,000.
This civil injunction is part of the Justice Department’s nationwide crackdown on tax scams, including the preparation of fraudulent federal tax returns. Since 2001, the Justice Department has obtained hundreds of injunctions to stop the promotion of tax fraud schemes and the preparation of fraudulent returns. More information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division can be found at www.usdoj.gov/tax.
Former Memphis Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights ViolationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Former Memphis Police Officer Isaac White was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison, two years supervised release and a $4,000 fine, announced Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights; Edward L. Stanton, III , U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee; Larry Godwin, Director, Memphis Police Department; and Amy Hess, FBI Special Agent in Charge.
On Nov. 25, 2009, White pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of Pierre Jefferson. White admitted that in May 2008, after handcuffing Jefferson, he rammed Jefferson’s head into the corner of a building, and struck Jefferson in the face several times, causing him to fall to the ground. White also admitted to kicking Jefferson after he fell to the ground.
“Police officers are entrusted with great power so that they can carry out their critical public safety responsibilities,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice does not tolerate excessive force, and when officers abuse their power by abusing people in their custody, the department will aggressively prosecute.”
“The citizens of the Western District of Tennessee are entitled to know that when dealing with a law enforcement officer the officer is there to protect them, not prey upon them,” said U.S. Attorney Stanton. “Accordingly, this office will pursue these cases vigorously.”
“Again this shows the partnership between the Memphis Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office. Illegal and criminal activity will not be tolerated by the Memphis Police Department,” said Director Godwin.
“The FBI holds as one of its highest priorities the investigation of civil rights violations, and the Memphis Division will pursue those who are entrusted with protecting our citizenry and violate that trust,” said Special Agent Hess. “The FBI will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served.”
The case is a result of the continued joint efforts by the Memphis Police Department, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by the FBI/MPD Joint Task Force and the Organized Crime Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steve Parker and Brian Coleman, and Civil Rights Criminal Section Trial Attorney Jonathan Skrmetti.
Federal Court Orders Another South Florida Tax Preparer to Comply with Homebuyer Credit RulesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal court in Miami has permanently barred Alberto Camejo and his business, ABCY Star Service LLC, from claiming the First-Time Homebuyer Credit on returns they prepare unless ensuring that the taxpayer is entitled to claim the credit, the Justice Department announced today. The civil injunction order, signed by Chief Judge Federico A. Moreno of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, requires Camejo to notify his customers who claimed the Homebuyer Credit of the injunction order.
Congress enacted the First-Time Homebuyer Credit in 2008 to strengthen the real estate market and help the economy. It allowed persons who have not owned a home in the previous three years to claim a credit of up to $8,000 against their federal income taxes if they bought a home after April 8, 2008. The credit was expanded to allow, under certain conditions, current homeowners to claim the credit for a purchase of a new home. But in order for a taxpayer to claim the credit a home must have actually been purchased. The credit is not available to buyers who entered into a contract after April 30, 2010.
The government complaint in the case had alleged that Camejo claimed the credit on customers’ returns even though the customers had not purchased new homes.
This is the latest of several cases the government has filed in Florida to stop preparers who have allegedly abused the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. Last April a federal court in Miami permanently barred a man from preparing returns for others in a case where the Justice Department alleged abuse of the homebuyer credit and other tax law provisions.
Over the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained hundreds of injunctions to stop tax fraud promoters and dishonest tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website.
Federal Court Bars Multi- Million Dollar Tax Fraud Scheme Operating in Southern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A federal court in Los Angeles has permanently barred three Huntington Beach men from preparing federal tax returns for customers, the Justice Department announced today. The civil injunction order, entered by U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz, states that Alexander H. Adams, who does business as Adams Beach Income Tax, and his sons, Brandon A. Adams and Garrett R. Adams, prepare federal income tax returns claiming massive fraudulent tax refunds based on fabricated income tax withholdings.
The court order also bars the Adamses from promoting tax fraud schemes, including the 1099-OID program or "commercial redemption" program. The court held that the Adamses "promote a tax fraud scheme designed to siphon massive fraudulent tax refunds from the U.S. Treasury." The court found that under their scheme, the Adamses prepare various false IRS forms, such as Form 1099-OID, to request fraudulent refunds based on phony claims of large income tax withholding. The court order states that the scheme is based in part on defendants’ absurd claim that secret accounts exist that can be accessed to pay these refund claims.
According to the court order, the Adamses prepared tax returns claiming huge false tax refunds, often exceeding $500,000. Two of the returns, including one for Garrett Adams, included fraudulent claims of $2.5 million. Other courts have enjoined return preparers for promoting the same type scheme.
The court order also requires the Adamses to provide a list of their customers to the United States and to notify their customers of the injunction.
Return preparer fraud and bogus refund claims based on false 1099-OID forms are identified by the IRS two of the 2010 "Dirty Dozen" tax scams. 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.
El tribunal federal ordena a otro preparador de declaraciones de impuestos del sur de Florida cumplir con las reglas de crédito al Compradores de ViviendasRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Un tribunal federal en Miami ha prohibido permanentemente a Alberto Camejo y su empresa, ABCY Star Service LLC, de reclamar el Crédito para Primeros Compradores de Viviendas en declaraciones de impuestos que preparan sin asegurar que el contribuyente tenga derecho a dicho crédito, anunció hoy el Departamento de Justicia. La orden de interdicto civil, firmada por el Juez Principal Federico A. Moreno del Tribunal Federal de Distrito para el Distrito Sur de Florida, exige que Camejo notifique a sus clientes que reclamaron el Crédito para Compradores de Viviendas en la orden de interdicto.
El Congreso aprobó el Crédito para Primeros Compradores de Viviendas en 2008 para fortalecer el mercado de bienes raíces y ayudar a la economía. El mismo permitió que personas que no poseían una vivienda en los tres años anteriores reclamaran un crédito de hasta $8,000 dólares contra sus impuestos sobre ingreso federal, si compraban una vivienda después del 8 de abril de 2008. Se ha ampliado el crédito para permitir, bajo ciertas condiciones, que propietarios de vivienda actuales reclamaran el crédito para la compra de una nueva vivienda. Sin embargo, para que el contribuyente pudiera reclamar el crédito, debía haber efectivamente comprado una vivienda. El crédito no está disponible para compradores que hayan firmado un contrato después del 30 de abril de 2010.
La demanda entablada por el gobierno alega que Camejo reclamaba el crédito en las declaraciones de sus clientes, aunque los clientes no hubieran comprado viviendas nuevas.
Esta es la más reciente de varias demandas entabladas por el gobierno en Florida para detener las acciones de preparadores que, supuestamente, abusaron del Crédito para Primeros Compradores de Viviendas. En abril del año pasado, un tribunal federal en Miami prohibió permanentemente a un hombre la preparación de declaraciones de impuestos para terceros en un caso en que el Departamento de Justicia alegó abuso del crédito para compradores de vivienda y otras disposiciones de la ley tributaria.
En la última década, la División de Impuestos del Departamento de Justicia ha obtenido cientos de interdictos contra preparadores de declaraciones de impuestos fraudulentos y promotores de fraude tributario deshonestos. Se puede encontrar información sobre estos casos en el portal del Departamento de Justicia.
ABB Ltd y dos subsidiarias resuelven una investigación asociada a la Ley de Prácticas Corruptas en el Extranjero y pagarán $19 millones de dólares en multas criminalesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – ABB Ltd, una empresa suiza, y dos de sus subsidiarias han resuelto cargos asociados a violaciones de la Ley de Prácticas Corruptas en el Extranjero [Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)], anunciaron el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar de la División Criminal Lanny A. Breuer; Richard C. Powers, Agente Especial a Cargo de la Oficina Local de Houston del Buró Federal de Investigaciones [Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)]; y Rodney E. Clarke, Agente Especial a Cargo de la Oficina Local de Houston de Investigaciones Criminales del Servicio de Impuestos Internos [Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI)].
En la audiencia de declaración de culpabilidad de hoy ante la Juez Federal de Distrito Lynn N. Hughes del Distrito Sur de Texas, la subsidiaria en EE.UU. de ABB Ltd, ABB Inc., se declaró culpable de una acusación criminal que la acusaba de un cargo de violación de las disposiciones antisoborno de la FCPA y un cargo de conspiración para violar dichas disposiciones de la FCPA. El tribunal impuso una sentencia que incluye una multa criminal de $17.1 millones de dólares.
Como parte de la declaración de culpabilidad de ABB Inc., admitió que una de sus unidades de negocios con sede en Sugar Land, Texas, ABB Network Management (ABB NM), pagó sobornos de 1997 a 2004 por un total de aproximadamente $1.9 millones de dólares a funcionarios de la Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), una empresa estatal mexicana de servicios públicos. La principal actividad de ABB NM era proveer productos y servicios a empresas de servicios de electricidad, muchas de ellas empresas de servicios públicos estatales extranjeras, para la administración de redes en la generación, transmisión y distribución de energía eléctrica. A cambio por los sobornos, de acuerdo con el expediente judicial, ABB NM recibió contratos por más de $81 millones de dólares. ABB Inc. admitió que los pagos de sobornos fueron realizados a través de diversos intermediarios, incluida una empresa mexicana que era representante de ventas de ABB NM en México para sus contratos con CFE. ABB Ltd y ABB Inc. revelaron voluntariamente la conducta indebida al Departamento de Justicia y han cooperado plenamente con la investigación.
Fernando Maya Basurto era un director de la empresa mexicana. Se declaró culpable el 16 de noviembre de 2009 en una acusación criminal de un cargo que lo acusaba de su papel en la conspiración. En su declaración de culpabilidad, Basurto admitió que, mientras fue representante de ventas de ABB NM, conspiró con terceros para realizar pagos corruptos a funcionarios de CFE, ayudó a lavar el dinero de los sobornos, y participó en un encubrimiento para obstruir las investigaciones del Departamento de Justicia y la Comisión de Títulos y Valores de EE.UU. [U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)].
El 16 de noviembre de 2009, John Joseph O’Shea, el ex gerente general de ABB NM, fue acusado en una acusación formal compuesta por 18 cargos de conspiración, violaciones de la FCPA, lavado de dinero internacional y falsificación de registros asociados a su supuesto papel en el ardid de soborno. Una acusación formal es apenas un alegato y O’Shea es considerado inocente hasta que se pruebe su culpabilidad más allá de la duda razonable. Aún no se establecido una fecha para el juicio.
ABB Ltd realizó un acuerdo de aplazamiento de enjuiciamiento hoy y aceptó que se acusara formalmente a su subsidiaria de Jordán, ABB Ltd - Jordàn, de un cargo de conspiración para cometer fraude electrónico y violación de las disposiciones sobre libros y registros de la FCPA, y aceptó pagar una multa criminal de $1.9 millones de dólares.
ABB Ltd admitió que ABB Ltd - Jordàn acordó pagar comisiones ilícitas al ex gobierno Iraquí en conexión con contratos para vender vehículos a Irak bajo el programa Petróleo por Alimentos de N.U. De acuerdo con el expediente judicial, entre 2000 y 2004, ABB Ltd - Jordàn pagó, o hizo que se pagaran, más de $300,000 dólares en comisiones ilícitas al ex gobierno iraquí para obtener contratos con la Compañía General de Producción de Energía Eléctrica, Baghdad Mayoralty, y la Compañía Estatal de Distribución de Electricidad de Baghdad, todas las cuales eran compañías regionales de la Comisión Iraquí de Electricidad, una dependencia gubernamental de Irak. Como resultado, ABB Ltd - Jordàn y su subsidiaria recibieron 11 órdenes de compra por equipos eléctricos y servicios por un valor de más de $5.9 millones de dólares.
Bajo los términos del acuerdo de tres años de duración, ABB acordó cooperar plenamente con las investigaciones realizadas por autoridades estadounidenses y extranjeras acerca de los pagos corruptos y adherir a un conjunto de obligaciones de cumplimiento empresarial y emisión de informes mejoradas, las que incluyen las recomendaciones de un consultor en cumplimiento independiente.
En un caso asociado, ABB Ltd realizó un acuerdo conciliatorio hoy con la SEC con respecto a una demanda, y aceptó pagar más de $39 millones de dólares en devolución, intereses previos al enjuiciamiento y multas civiles.
Estuvo a cargo de la acusación en el caso la Abogada Litigante Nicole J. Mrazek de la Sección de Fraude de la División Criminal. El caso fue investigado por la Oficina Local de Houston del FBI y la Oficina Local de Houston de IRS-CI. El Departamento reconoce y expresa su gratitud por la significativa asistencia brindada por el personal de la SEC en el transcurso de la investigación.
ABB Ltd and Two Subsidiaries Resolve Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Investigation and Will Pay $19 Million in Criminal PenaltiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – ABB Ltd, a Swiss corporation, and two of its subsidiaries have resolved charges related to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; Richard C. Powers, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Houston Field Office; and Rodney E. Clarke, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office.
At the plea hearing today before U.S. District Court Judge Lynn N. Hughes in the Southern District of Texas, ABB Ltd’s U.S. subsidiary, ABB Inc., pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging it with one count of violating the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA and one count of conspiracy to violating these provisions of the FCPA. The court imposed a sentence that included a criminal fine of $17.1 million.
As part of ABB Inc.’s plea, it admitted that one of its business units based in Sugar Land, Texas, ABB Network Management (ABB NM), paid bribes from 1997 to 2004 that totaled approximately $1.9 million to officials at Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), a Mexican state-owned utility company. ABB NM’s primary business was to provide products and services to electrical utilities, many of them foreign state-owned utilities, for network management in power generation, transmission and distribution. In exchange for the bribe payments, according to court documents, ABB NM received contracts worth more than $81 million in revenue. ABB Inc. admitted that the bribe payments were made through various intermediaries, including a Mexican company that served as ABB NM’s sales representative in Mexico on its contracts with CFE. ABB Ltd and ABB Inc. voluntarily disclosed the misconduct to the Department of Justice and have cooperated fully with the investigation.
Fernando Maya Basurto was a principal of the Mexican company. He pleaded guilty on Nov. 16, 2009, to a one-count criminal information charging him for his role in the conspiracy. In his plea, Basurto admitted that while he acted as a sales representative for ABB NM, he conspired with others to make corrupt payments to CFE officials, helped launder the bribe monies, and engaged in a cover up to obstruct the investigations of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
On Nov. 16, 2009, John Joseph O’Shea, ABB NM’s former general manager, was charged in an 18-count indictment with conspiracy, FCPA violations, international money laundering and falsification of records related to his alleged role in the bribery scheme. An indictment is merely an accusation, and O’Shea is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A trial date has not yet been set.
ABB Ltd entered into a deferred prosecution agreement today and agreed to the filing of a criminal information charging its Jordanian subsidiary, ABB Ltd – Jordan, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to violate the books and records provisions of the FCPA, and agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $1.9 million.
ABB Ltd admitted that ABB Ltd - Jordan agreed to pay kickbacks to the former Iraqi government in connection with contracts to sell vehicles to Iraq under the U.N.’s Oil for Food program. According to court documents, from 2000 to 2004, ABB Ltd - Jordan paid, or caused to be paid, more than $300,000 in kickbacks to the former Iraqi government to secure contracts with the General Company for Electricity Energy Production, the Baghdad Mayoralty, and the State Company Baghdad Electricity Distribution, all of which were regional companies of the Iraqi Electricity Commission, an Iraqi government agency. As a result, ABB Ltd - Jordan and its subsidiary received 11 purchase orders for electrical equipment and services worth more than $5.9 million.
Under the terms of the three-year agreement, ABB Ltd agreed to fully cooperate with investigations by U.S. and foreign authorities of the company’s corrupt payments and to adhere to a set of enhanced corporate compliance and reporting obligations, which include the recommendations of an independent compliance consultant.
In a related matter, ABB Ltd reached a settlement today with the SEC on a complaint, and agreed to pay more than $39 million in disgorgement, pre-judgment interest and civil penalties.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Nicola J. Mrazek of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Houston Field Office and the IRS-CI Houston Field Office. The department acknowledges and expresses its appreciation for the significant assistance provided by the staff of the SEC during the course of this investigation.
Tuesday 28 September 2010
Murphy Oil USA to Spend More Than $142 Million Upgrading Pollution Controls at Refineries in Louisiana & WisconsinRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Murphy Oil USA has agreed to spend more than $142 million to install new and upgraded pollution reduction equipment at its two petroleum refineries in Wisconsin and Louisiana as part of a comprehensive Clean Air Act settlement, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. The settlement also requires Murphy to pay a $1.25 million civil penalty and spend an additional $1.5 million on a supplemental environmental project.
The El Dorado, Ark.-based company’s refineries are located in Superior, Wis., and in Meraux, La. The new air pollution control technologies and other measures to be implemented at both refineries will reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by nearly 1,400 tons per year once all controls are installed. The settlement will also reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and carbon monoxide. These pollutants can cause serious respiratory problems and exacerbate cases of childhood asthma, among other adverse health effects.
In addition to the new pollution controls at both refineries, as a supplemental environmental project Murphy will install covers on two wastewater tanks at the Meraux refinery to control volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions, and which will also reduce odors from the tanks. To address additional concerns of citizens living adjacent to the Meraux refinery, Murphy also will be installing and operating an ambient air monitoring station in the community, as well as implementing several other projects, including noise abatement and dust control measures.“The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing our nation’s environmental laws,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Environment and Natural Resource Division Assistant Attorney General. “Nationwide, many refineries are located in economically distressed or disadvantaged communities. Settlements like this one, that require the installation of pollution reduction equipment, result in cleaner, safer environments for affected communities.”
“EPA is committed to reducing toxic air pollution from sources that have an impact on the health of communities,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement, which is the result of cooperative efforts by State and Federal officials in both states, is good news for the residents of communities living near these refineries, who will be able to breathe easier knowing that the air in their communities will be cleaner.”
This settlement is the latest in a series of “global” multi-issue, multi-facility settlements being pursued by EPA in the refining sector. In March of this year, similar settlements were reached with Shell refineries located in Alabama, Louisiana and Puerto Rico. With today’s settlement, 104 refineries operating in 31 states and territories are now covered by global settlements, representing more than 90 percent of the nation’s refining capacity. The first of EPA’s comprehensive refinery settlements was reached in 2000.
Murphy had previously entered into a settlement addressing Clean Air Act violations at its Superior refinery in 2002, after a 10-day trial. Today’s settlement will replace the 2002 settlement.
“We’re pleased that this new consent decree will further reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from the Superior Refinery, which was largely the focus of the earlier contested proceedings,” said John W. Vaudreuil, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. “This agreement is a win-win for the citizens of Superior and the environment.”
The states of Wisconsin and Louisiana actively participated in and are joining in the settlement with Murphy, which was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.
More information on the settlement: www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/murphyoil.html
More information on EPA’s Petroleum Refinery Initiative: www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/oil/ .
Murphy Oil USA invertirá más de $142 millones de dólares en actualizar los controles de contaminación en refinerías en Louisiana y WisconsinRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Murphy Oil USA ha aceptado gastar más de $142 millones de dólares en la instalación de equipos de reducción de contaminación nuevos y actualizados en sus dos refinerías de petróleo en Wisconsin y Louisiana como parte de un acuerdo conciliatorio asociado a la Ley de Aire Limpio, anunciaron hoy el Departamento de Justicia y la Agencia de Protección Ambiental [Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)]. El acuerdo conciliatorio también exige que Murphy pague una multa civil de $1.25 millones de dólares e invierta $1.5 millones de dólares adicionales en un proyecto ambiental complementario.
Las refinerías de la empresa con sede en El Dorado, Ark. están ubicadas en Superior, Wis. y en Meraux, La. Las nuevas tecnologías de control de la contaminación del aire y otras medidas a ser implementadas en ambas refinerías reducirán las emisiones de dióxido de azufre (SO2) y óxido de nitrógeno (NOx) en casi 1,400 toneladas por año, una vez instalados todos los controles. El acuerdo conciliatorio también reducirá las emisiones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles, materia en partículas y monóxido de carbono. Estos contaminantes causan graves problemas respiratorios y agravan los casos de asma infantil, entre otros efectos adversos a la salud.
Además de los nuevos controles de contaminación en ambas refinerías, como proyecto ambiental complementario, Murphy instalará cubiertas en dos tanques de aguas residuales en la refinería de Meraux para controlar las emisiones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COV), las que también reducirán los olores provenientes de los tanques. Para tratar de las inquietudes adicionales de ciudadanos que viven en los alrededores de la refinería de Meraux, Murphy también instalará y colocará en funcionamiento una estación de observación del aire del ambiente en la comunidad, e implementará varios otros proyectos, incluidas medidas de reducción de ruidos y control de polvo."El Departamento de Justicia se empeña en hacer valer enérgicamente las leyes ambientales de nuestra nación", dijo Ignacia S. Moreno, Secretaria de Justicia Auxiliar de la División de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. "En todo el país, muchas refinerías están ubicadas en comunidades con dificultades económicos o en desventaja. Acuerdos como éste, que requieren la instalación de equipos de reducción de la contaminación, resultan en ambientes más limpios y más seguros para las comunidades afectadas".
"La EPA se compromete a reducir la contaminación tóxica del aire de fuentes que afecten la salud de las comunidades", dijo Cynthia Giles, Administradora Auxiliar de la Oficina de Aplicación Legal y Garantía de Cumplimiento. "Este acuerdo conciliatorio, el que es el resultado de la labor conjunta de funcionarios estatales y federales en ambos estados, es una buena noticia para los residentes de comunidades próximas a estas refinerías, quienes podrán respirar mejor sabiendo que el aire en sus comunidades será más limpio".
Este acuerdo conciliatorio es el más reciente de una serie de acuerdos conciliatorios multi-problemáticos, multi-instalaciones "globales" pretendidos por la EPA en el sector de las refinerías. En marzo de este año, se lograron acuerdos conciliatorios similares con refinerías de Shell ubicadas en Alabama, Louisiana y Puerto Rico. Con el acuerdo conciliatorio de hoy, 104 refinerías que operan en 31 estados y territorios están cubiertas actualmente por acuerdos conciliatorios globales, lo que representan más del 90 por ciento de la capacidad de refinería del país. El primer acuerdo conciliatorio integral de la EPA fue realizado en el 2000.
Murphy había realizado anteriormente un acuerdo conciliatorio para la resolución de violaciones de la Ley de Aire Limpio en su refinería de Superior en el 2002, después de un enjuiciamiento de 10 días de duración. El acuerdo conciliatorio de hoy sustituirá el acuerdo realizado en el 2002.
"Nos complace que este nuevo decreto por consentimiento reducirá aun más las emisiones de dióxido de azufre de la Refinería de Superior, la cual fue el foco principal de los procesos disputados anteriormente", señaló John W. Vaudreuil, Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Oeste de Wisconsin. "En este acuerdo, los ciudadanos de Superior y el medio ambiente ganan".
Los estados de Wisconsin y Louisiana participaron activamente y están uniéndose al acuerdo conciliatorio con Murphy, que fue presentado ante el Tribunal Federal de Distrito para el Distrito Oeste de Wisconsin. El acuerdo conciliatorio está sujeto a un período de comentario público de 30 días y a la aprobación del tribunal federal.
Más información sobre el acuerdo conciliatorio: www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/murphyoil.html
Más información sobre la Iniciativa de Refinerías de Petróleo de la EPA: www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/oil/ .
Monday 27 September 2010
Repeat Sex Offender Convicted in Delaware of Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Paul Edward Pavulak, 66, of New Castle, Del., was convicted today by a federal jury in Wilmington of child exploitation offenses, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss.
Pavulak was convicted of one count of attempted production of child pornography, one count of attempted enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity, one count of possession of child pornography, one count of failure to register and update a registration as a sex offender, and one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender. Pavulak was originally indicted on these five counts on April 16, 2009.
According to evidence presented at trial, from September 2008 to January 2009, Pavulak developed an online relationship with a young woman in the Philippines who had a two-year-old daughter. In December 2008, Pavulak traveled to the Philippines and met the woman and her daughter. Using his digital camera, Pavulak produced a sexually explicit movie of himself and the woman, and described the movie as the two-year-old girl’s "training video." Following his return to the United States in January 2009, Pavulak attempted to produce child pornography of the two-year-old girl via a web camera during an online instant chat message exchange with the woman.
On Jan. 19, 2009, the Delaware State Police executed a search warrant at a concrete company’s office in New Castle, where Pavulak had been living and working. During the search, Delaware State Police seized digital media evidence, including computers, a camera and a mobile phone. Upon review of the seized materials, investigators discovered thousands of images depicting the sexual abuse of minors on the computers. These images included depictions of children ranging in age from infancy to mid-teens engaging in sexual acts with adult males. On a mobile phone and a computer, the investigators also found sexually explicit communications between Pavulak and the woman regarding her daughter, in which they discussed having the woman prepare the child to engage in sexual activity with Pavulak when he returned to the Philippines.
Evidence at trial established that Pavulak was convicted in 1998 and 2005 of second degree unlawful sexual contact with minors. As a result of these convictions, federal and state law required Pavulak to register as a sex offender and to provide the registry with the address of his employer and his residence. Between July 2008 and January 2009, Pavulak consistently reported to the Delaware State Police that he was unemployed and that he lived in a motel. Evidence at trial showed that Pavulak worked for a concrete company owned by his children and also resided in a room at the company’s office.
Due to his prior convictions and his commission of these offenses while being required to register as a sex offender, Pavulak faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 45 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. McAndrew of the District of Delaware, and Trial Attorneys Bonnie L. Kane and Andrew McCormack of CEOS. The case was investigated by the Delaware State Police’s Child Predator Task Force and High Technology Crimes Unit, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.
Louisiana Man Indicted for Involvement in Hate Crime at SchoolRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury has indicted Christopher Shane Montgomery, a resident of Bastrop, La., for conspiring to commit a hate crime, tampering with a witness and lying to federal authorities, announced the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. If convicted of these charges, Montgomery faces up to 40 years in prison.
The four-count indictment alleges that on or about Nov. 6, 2007, Shane Montgomery and another person not identified in the indictment tied a noose around the neck of a dead raccoon and hung the raccoon and noose from a flagpole at Beekman Junior High School in Bastrop in order to intimidate African-American students attending the school under a court-ordered busing policy. Montgomery is also charged for lying on two occasions to an FBI agent investigating the hate crime and for tampering with a witness during the investigation.
This case is being investigated by the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kevonne Small of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick of the Western District of Louisiana.
An indictment is only an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Royston, Ga., Public Housing Authority Regarding Race Discrimination in Housing PracticesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that the Housing Authority for the city of Royston, Ga., (RHA) has agreed to pay up to $270,000 to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of discriminating against applicants for housing and tenants based on race. The RHA is a public housing authority that provides housing for persons of low income in Hart County and Franklin County, Ga. Currently the RHA owns and maintains seven housing complexes in Royston.
The settlement was filed today in the U.S. District Court in Athens, Ga., in conjunction with a complaint made by the Justice Department under the Fair Housing Act. The complaint alleges that the RHA maintained racially segregated housing by steering and assigning applicants to vacant units based on race, rather than in order of their placement on the RHA’s waiting list. The complaint also alleges that the RHA subjected African-American tenants to inferior terms and conditions of rental.
"Everyone, including those who seek public assistance, has the right to access housing free from racial discrimination," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "The department will continue its vigorous enforcement of the Fair Housing Act."
"Racial discrimination is both wrong and illegal, and is especially invidious when conducted by an agency acting in a quasi-governmental capacity," said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, G.F. Peterman, III. "This case is important both to those injured by these actions and as an example that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, acting with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, will diligently pursue appropriate remedies when such discrimination is found to exist."
Upon court approval, the settlement, which is in the form of a consent decree, will require the RHA to implement nondiscriminatory policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the Fair Housing Act and to ensure that RHA housing units are made available for rent on an equal basis and on the same terms and conditions for all persons, irrespective of race. The decree also requires that if RHA builds additional units, they are to be located in areas that do not further racial segregation. The RHA will also provide training to employees responsible for making housing decisions on the nondiscriminatory policies and procedures, the consent decree and the Fair Housing Act.
In addition, the RHA will establish a $270,000 fund to compensate individuals who suffered damages as a result of the RHA's conduct. The RHA will develop a process to allow tenants who were assigned to complex on a discriminatory basis to request a transfer to another complex if they desire.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination can 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.
Justice Department Fines Dallas Bus Company $55,000 for Violating the ADARead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department and the Department of Transportation announced $55,000 in fines against Tornado Bus Company Inc., of Dallas, for violating passenger carrier accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition to the fine, a consent agreement reached with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Justice Department requires the bus company to upgrade its fleet to meet ADA requirements by February 2011 or have its operating authority revoked.
An extensive investigation conducted by FMCSA uncovered that Tornado had only one accessible bus in a fleet of 53 buses, while ADA regulations require that at least 50 percent of a carrier’s vehicles must be accessible. The investigation also found the company had purchased new non-accessible buses, failed to train employees on interacting with disabled passengers and failed to establish a wheelchair lift maintenance program. The fine and citations came as a result of FMCSA’s ADA strike force held in May 2010.
"At the foundation of our society is the ability to live independently and move freely," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. "This freedom is no less important to people with disabilities. We are grateful FMCSA takes accessibility requirements seriously and has reached this agreement."
"Adhering to ADA accessibility requirements is not a choice, but a high standard that every commercial bus operator must follow," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "FMCSA will continue to work closely with the Department of Justice to vigorously enforce ADA compliance so that all travelers can enjoy destinations across America by way of commercial bus."
In February 2009, FMCSA and the Justice Department entered into a memorandum of understanding concerning the enforcement of commercial passenger buses. The memorandum between the two agencies was included in the Over-the-Road Bus Transportation Accessibility Act of 2007 and is designed to ensure consistent ADA enforcement nationwide.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at the website www.justice.gov/crt . The consent agreement with Tornado Bus Company can be found at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/news/news-releases/2010/Consent-Agreement-09-10-2010-(FMCSA-DOJ)-508.pdf.
Home Health Agency Manager Pleads Guilty in Connection with Detroit Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Detroit-area resident Hassan Akhtar pleaded guilty today for his role in managing a home health care fraud scheme, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced .
Akhtar, 26, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood of the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, scheduled for Jan. 27, 2011, Akhtar faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to plea documents, Akhtar began working for co-conspirator Muhammad Shahab in April 2008. In June 2008, Shahab asked Akhtar if he wanted to assist Shahab in setting up and operating a new home health agency. Akhtar agreed to the arrangement. Shahab helped finance and establish All American Home Care Inc. located in Oak Park, Mich., which also purported to provide home health services. Akhtar was the office administrator and ran the day-to-day operations at All American.
Akhtar admitted that he and his co-conspirators at All American billed Medicare for home health visits that were medically unnecessary and/or never provided. To deceive the Medicare program, Akhtar and his associates created fictitious therapy files that appeared to document physical therapy services provided to Medicare beneficiaries, when in fact no such services had taken place. Akhtar admitted that he knew the fictitious services reflected in the files were billed to Medicare by All American.
Akhtar also admitted that he knew his co-conspirators paid cash kickbacks and other inducements to Medicare beneficiaries, in exchange for the beneficiaries’ Medicare numbers and signatures on documents falsely indicating that they had received home health services from All American. In addition, Akhtar’s co-conspirators secured physician referrals for home health services through the payment of kickbacks to physicians or individuals associated with physicians. Akhtar and his co-conspirators also employed several physical therapists and physical therapy assistants to sign medical documentation necessary to commence Medicare home health billing processes, including initial payments and payments for each visit to a Medicare beneficiary. Akhtar admitted that he knew the physical therapists and physical therapy assistants were not actually conducting a large majority of the visits or treating a large majority of the patients.
Between approximately June 2008 and October 2009, Akhtar and/or his co-conspirators at All American submitted claims to the Medicare program resulting in approximately $4.65 million for physical and occupational therapy services that were never rendered or were medically unnecessary.
Shahab pleaded guilty in February 2010 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and is awaiting sentencing.
Today’s guilty plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer; 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 810 individuals who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $1.85 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
China Airlines Ltd. Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Air Cargo ShipmentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – China Airlines Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $40 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air transportation industry, the Department of Justice announced today.
According to a one-count felony charge filed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Taiwan-based China Airlines engaged in a conspiracy to fix the cargo rates charged to customers for international air cargo shipments to and from the United States from at least as early as January 2001, until at least Feb. 14, 2006The department said that China Airlines joined an ongoing conspiracy among cargo carriers that began at least as early as Jan. 1, 2000. Under the plea agreement, which is subject to court approval, China Airlines has agreed to cooperate with the department’s ongoing antitrust investigation.
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 charge, China Airlines carried out the conspiracy by agreeing during meetings and other communications on certain components of the cargo rates to be charged for shipments on certain routes to and from the United States and by levying cargo rates in accordance with the agreements reached. As part of the conspiracy, China Airlines monitored and enforced adherence to the agreed-upon cargo rates.
China Airlines is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum fine of $100 million for corporations. 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.
Including today’s charge, as a result of this investigation, a total of 18 airlines and eight executives 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 the remaining four executives.
The airlines that have pleaded guilty, or have agreed to plead guilty, as a result of the department’s ongoing investigation into the air transportation industry are: British Airways Plc, Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd., Qantas Airways Limited, Japan Airlines International Co. Ltd., Martinair Holland N.V., Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, SAS Cargo Group A/S, Société Air France, Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines), EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd., LAN Cargo S.A., Aerolinhas Brasileiras S.A., Cargolux Airlines International S.A., Nippon Cargo Airlines Co. Ltd., Northwest Airlines LLC and Asiana Airlines Inc. Additionally, on Sept. 2, 2010, Polar Air Cargo LLC was charged in this investigation and is scheduled to enter a guilty plea and be sentenced on Oct. 15, 2010.
Airline executives who have pleaded guilty as a result of the investigation are Bruce McCaffrey of Qantas, Keith Packer of British Airways, Franciscus Johannes de Jong of Martinair and Timothy Pfeil of SAS Cargo. On Aug. 12, 2009, Jan Lillieborg, a citizen and resident of Sweden and former vice president of global sales for SAS Cargo, was indicted for participating in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by allocating customers and coordinating surcharge increases for international air shipments to and from the United States. On Aug. 26, 2010, Joo Ahn Kang, former president of Asiana, and Chung Sik Kwak, former vice president of the Americas region of Asiana, both citizens and residents of the Republic of Korea, were indicted for participating in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing passenger airfares for travel between the United States and Korea. On Sept. 21, 2010, Maria Christina "Meta" Ullings, senior vice president of Cargo Sales and Marketing of Martinair Holland N.V., was indicted for participating in a conspiracy to fix and coordinate certain surcharges on air cargo shipments to and from the United States. Trial dates have yet to be scheduled for these individuals.
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, the FBI’s Washington 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 Washington Field Office at 202-278-2000.
Friday 24 September 2010
Tres residentes del área de Miami sentenciados a prisión por participar en un ardid de $22 millones de dólares contra Medicare con agencias de servicios médicos a domicilioRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tres residentes del área de Miami fueron sentenciados a prisión hoy por su participación en un ardid de fraude contra Medicare de $22 millones de dólares realizados a través de dos agencias de servicios médicos a domicilio de Miami, ABC Home Health Care Inc. y Florida Home Health Care Providers Inc., anunciaron el Departamento de Justicia y el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos [Health and Human Services (HHS)]. Una cuarta persona fue sentenciada a detención domiciliaria y libertad bajo supervisión por su participación en el ardid.
Los cuatro demandados fueron sentenciados por el Juez Federal de Distrito Alan S. Gold en Miami.
- Alejandro Hernàndez Quirós, 33, fue sentenciado a 78 meses en prisión y tres años de libertad bajo supervisión;
- Vicenta Tellechea, 64, fue sentenciada a 69 meses en prisión y tres años de libertad bajo supervisión;
- Carlos Castañeda, 44, fue sentenciado a 40 meses en prisión y tres años de libertad bajo supervisión; y
- Javier Zambrana, 25, fue sentenciado a tres años de libertad condicional, que incluyen 12 meses de detención domiciliaria.
Tellechea, Castañeda, Quirós y Zambrana se declararon culpables en 2009 de un cargo de conspiración para cometer fraude de servicios médicos. Además, Tellechea se declaró culpable de un cargo de pagar comisiones ilícitas y Quirós se declaró culpable de tres cargos de pagar comisiones ilícitas.
Según el expediente judicial, Quirós era copropietario de ABC. Quirós admitió que, además de su interés en ABC como propietario, también era reclutador de pacientes para la agencia y aceptó reclutar a beneficiarios de Medicare con el fin de facturar al programa Medicare terapias físicas y servicios médicos a domicilio que no eran necesarios médicamente y/o no se brindaron. Quirós admitió pagar comisiones ilícitas y sobornos a los beneficiarios de Medicare que había reclutado. También admitió que ABS facturó fraudulentamente al programa Medicare más de $17 millones de dólares y que Medicare pagó más de $11 millones de dólares de esos reclamos.
En su audiencia de declaración de culpabilidad, Castañeda admitió haber reclutado beneficiarios de Medicare para ABC y Florida Home Health ofreciendo comisiones ilícitas y sobornos a cambio de la información de los beneficiarios, que se usaba para facturar fraudulentamente al programa Medicare por servicios médicos y terapias a domicilio innecesarios. Castañeda también admitió que durante su participación en el ardid, las facturaciones fraudulentas al programa Medicare ascendieron a un total de más de $5.5 millones de dólares correspondientes a Florida Home Health. Medicare pagó más de $4 millones de dólares de esos reclamos a Florida Home Health.
Según el expediente judicial, Tellechea era copropietaria de Florida Home Health. Fue responsable de aproximadamente $4 millones de dólares de pérdidas intencionales para el programa Medicare. En su audiencia de declaración de culpabilidad, Tellechea admitió que entre octubre de 2007 y marzo de 2009, participó en una conspiración para defraudar a Medicare que incluyó facturar al programa Medicare por servicios médicos y terapias a domicilio médicamente innecesarios y que a menudo no se brindaban. Asimismo, Tellechea admitió haber fundado y controlado Florida Home Health con sus coconspiradores con el fin de defraudar al programa Medicare.
Zambrana fue el propietario nominado de ABC aproximadamente entre enero de 2006 y agosto de 2007. Zambrana admitió haber firmado documentos y solicitudes de proveedores de Medicare para ABC, alegando ser el verdadero propietario de la agencia, cuando en realidad los verdaderos propietarios eran sus padres, Gladys Zambrana y Enrique Pérez. El 13 de noviembre de 2009, Gladys Zambrana y Pérez se declararon culpables por su participación en el ardid. La lectura de su sentencia está programada para el mes próximo.
En conjunto con el caso criminal, el 24 de junio de 2009, la Fiscalía Federal del Distrito Sur de Florida entabló una demanda civil por agravio judicial bajo la ley de agravio por fraude y obtuvo una orden de restricción temporal que congeló los activos de ABC, Florida Home Health, Gladys Zambrana, Javier Zambrana, Pérez, Quirós, Castañeda y Tellechea. Se emitió un fallo final por incomparecencia contra ABC y Florida Home Health en agosto de 2009 y contra los demás individuos en diciembre de 2009.
Las sentencias de hoy fueron anunciadas por el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Lanny A. Breuer de la División Criminal; el Fiscal Federal Wifredo A. Ferrer del Distrito Sur de Florida; John V. Gillies, Agente Especial a Cargo de la Oficina Local de Miami del Buró Federal de Investigaciones [Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)]; y el Agente Especial a Cargo Christopher Dennis de la Oficina de Investigaciones de Miami de la Oficina del Inspector General [Office of the Inspector General (OIG)] del HHS.
Está a cargo de la acusación criminal en el caso el Abogado Litigante N. Nathan Dimock de la Sección de Fraude de la División Criminal. Estuvo a cargo del caso civil el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Ted L. Radway de la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Sur de Florida. El caso fue investigado por el Buró Federal de Investigaciones [Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)] y la Oficina del Inspector General del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los EE.UU.
Desde su creación en marzo de 2007, las operaciones de la Fuerza de Ataque al Fraude contra Medicare en siete distritos obtuvieron las acusaciones formales de más de 810 individuos que, en conjunto, facturaron falsamente al programa Medicare más de $1.85 billones de dólares. Además, los Centros para Servicios de Medicare y Medicaid del HHS, trabajando en conjunto con la HHS-OIG, están tomando medidas para aumentar la responsabilización y reducir la presencia de proveedores fraudulentos.
Para obtener màs información sobre el Equipo de Acción, Prevención y Control de Fraude de Servicios Médicos [Healthcare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT)], visite: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.
Three Miami-area Residents Sentenced to Prison for Participating in $22 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Home Health AgenciesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three Miami-area residents were sentenced to prison today for their participation in a $22 million Medicare fraud scheme operated through two Miami home health agencies, ABC Home Health Care Inc. and Florida Home Health Care Providers Inc., announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS). A fourth individual was sentenced to home detention and supervised release for his participation in the scheme.
All four defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Alan S. Gold in Miami.
- Alejandro Hernandez Quiros, 33, was sentenced to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release;
- Vicenta Tellechea, 64, was sentenced to 69 months in prison and three years of supervised release;
- Carlos Castaneda, 44, was sentenced to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release; and
- Javier Zambrana, 25, was sentenced to three years of probation, including 12 months of home detention.
Tellechea, Castaneda, Quiros and Zambrana each pleaded guilty in 2009 to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition, Tellechea pleaded guilty to one count of paying kickbacks and Quiros pleaded guilty to three counts of paying kickbacks.
According to court documents, Quiros was a part owner of ABC. Quiros admitted that in addition to his ownership interest in ABC, he was also a patient recruiter for the agency and agreed to recruit Medicare beneficiaries for the purpose of billing the Medicare program for physical therapy and home health care services that were not medically necessary and/or were not provided. Quiros admitted to paying kickbacks and bribes to the Medicare beneficiaries whom he recruited. He also admitted that ABC fraudulently billed more than $17 million to the Medicare program and that Medicare paid more than $11 million of those claims.
Castaneda admitted in his plea hearing that he recruited Medicare beneficiaries for ABC and Florida Home Health by offering kickbacks and bribes in return for the beneficiaries’ information, which was used to fraudulently bill the Medicare program for unnecessary home health and therapy services. Castaneda also admitted that during his participation in the scheme, fraudulent billings to the Medicare program totaled more than $5.5 million for Florida Home Health. Medicare paid more than $4 million of those claims to Florida Home Health.
According to court documents, Tellechea was a part owner of Florida Home Health. She was responsible for approximately $4 million in intended losses to the Medicare program. At her plea hearing, Tellechea admitted that from October 2007 through March 2009, she engaged in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare that involved billing the Medicare program for home health and therapy services that were medically unnecessary and often times not provided. Tellechea further admitted that she established and took control of Florida Home Health along with her co-conspirators for the purpose of defrauding the Medicare program.
Zambrana was the nominee owner of ABC from approximately January 2006 through August 2007. Zambrana admitted that he signed documents and Medicare provider applications for ABC, purporting to be the true owner of the agency, when the true owners were in fact his parents, Gladys Zambrana and Enrique Perez. On Nov. 13, 2009, Gladys Zambrana and Perez pleaded guilty for their participation in the scheme and are scheduled to be sentenced next month.
In conjunction with the criminal case, on June 24, 2009, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida filed a civil complaint for injunctive relief under the fraud injunction statute and obtained a temporary restraining order freezing the assets of ABC, Florida Home Health, Gladys Zambrana, Javier Zambrana, Perez, Quiros, Castaneda and Tellechea. A final default judgment was entered against ABC and Florida Home Health in August 2009 and against the other individuals in December 2009.
Today’s sentences were announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Miami field office; and Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Dennis of the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigations Miami office.
The criminal case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney N. Nathan Dimock of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The civil case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Radway of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General.
Since their inception in March 2007, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven districts have obtained indictments of more than 810 individuals who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $1.85 billion. In addition, the 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 .
Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Campaign Contribution SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Paul Magliocchetti, the founder and president of PMA Group Inc., a lobbying firm, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Arlington, Va., to making hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions and making false statements to a federal agency, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Magliocchetti was charged in an indictment unsealed on Aug. 5, 2010. According to the indictment, Magliocchetti orchestrated a scheme to make illegal conduit and corporate federal campaign contributions in an effort to enrich himself and PMA by increasing the firm’s influence, power and prestige among the firm’s current and potential clients as well as among the elected public officials to whom PMA and its lobbyists sought access. The federal campaigns that received these funds were unaware of Magliocchetti’s scheme.
Magliocchetti admitted that, from 2005 through 2008, he used members of his family, friends and PMA lobbyists to make unlawful campaign contributions. Aware of the strict limits on individual federal campaign contributions – and the outright ban on corporate contributions – Magliocchetti admitted that he instructed the conduits to write checks out of their personal checking accounts to specific candidates for federal office and that, for the purpose of making these contributions, Magliocchetti advanced funds to or reimbursed these individuals using personal and corporate monies. Magliocchetti also admitted that, through this scheme, he caused various federal campaign committees to unknowingly create and file false reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regarding the contributions they had received. These reports, which the FEC made available to the public, falsely stated that the conduits had made contributions, when in fact the contributions were made by Magliocchetti or PMA.
"For years, Mr. Magliocchetti, by using conduit contributors, hid the fact that he and his company were donating significant funds to campaigns in violation of the federal election laws. Mr. Magliocchetti, in an effort to cover his tracks, used family, friends and business associates to secretly funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars to political campaigns, all in an effort to enrich himself and increase his power and prestige," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. "This case is an important reminder to all who seek to evade the federal campaign finance laws that they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
"Mr. Magliocchetti is answering for his brazen disregard for the law to achieve political influence and enrich himself," said U.S. Attorney MacBride. "Campaign finance laws give transparency to political contributions, and protect the public’s ability to see who’s really funding a campaign."
"Americans should be confident that elections are not being influenced by illegal campaign contributions. Those who undermine this process and use it to gain power and influence should be punished" said Shawn Henry, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. "I’m proud of the diligent efforts put forth by special agents from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and FBI who investigated this matter."
Magliocchetti pleaded guilty to one count each of making false statements, making illegal conduit contributions and making illegal corporate contributions. The maximum penalty for making false statements to a federal agency and making illegal campaign contributions from a corporation is five years in prison, and a $250,000 fine, to be followed by a term of up to three years of supervised release. The maximum penalty for making illegal campaign contributions in the name of another is five years in prison, a fine of not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and not more than the greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of the amount involved in the violation, and a three year term of supervised release. Magliocchetti is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17, 2010.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Justin V. Shur and Trial Attorneys M. Kendall Day and Kevin O. Driscoll of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark D. Lytle of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Justice Department Requires Six High Tech Companies to Stop Entering into Anticompetitive Employee Solicitation AgreementsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement with six high technology companies – Adobe Systems Inc., Apple Inc., Google Inc., Intel Corp., Intuit Inc. and Pixar – that prevents them from entering into no solicitation agreements for employees. The department said that the agreements eliminated a significant form of competition to attract highly skilled employees, and overall diminished competition to the detriment of affected employees who were likely deprived of competitively important information and access to better job opportunities.
The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division filed a civil antitrust complaint today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, along with a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the lawsuit.
According to the complaint, the six companies entered into agreements that restrained competition between them for highly skilled employees. The agreements between Apple and Google, Apple and Adobe, Apple and Pixar and Google and Intel prevented the companies from directly soliciting each other’s employees. An agreement between Google and Intuit prevented Google from directly soliciting Intuit employees.
“The agreements challenged here restrained competition for affected employees without any procompetitive justification and distorted the competitive process,” said Molly S. Boast, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The proposed settlement resolves the department’s antitrust concerns with regard to these no solicitation agreements.”
In the high technology sector, there is a strong demand for employees with advanced or specialized skills, the department said. One of the principal means by which high tech companies recruit these types of employees is to solicit them directly from other companies in a process referred to as, “cold calling.” This form of competition, when unrestrained, results in better career opportunities, the department said.
According to the complaint, the companies engaged in a practice of agreeing not to cold call any employee at the other company. The complaint indicates that the agreements were formed and actively managed by senior executives of these companies.
The complaint alleges that the companies’ actions reduced their ability to compete for high tech workers and interfered with the proper functioning of the price-setting mechanism that otherwise would have prevailed in competition for employees. None of the agreements was limited by geography, job function, product group or time period. Thus, they were broader than reasonably necessary for any collaboration between the companies, the department said.
The department said in its complaint:
- Beginning no later than 2006, Apple and Google executives agreed not to cold call each other’s employees. Apple placed Google on its internal “Do Not Call List,” which instructed employees not to directly solicit employees from the listed companies. Similarly, Google listed Apple among the companies that had special agreements with Google and were part of the “Do Not Cold Call” list;
- Beginning no later than May 2005, senior Apple and Adobe executives agreed not to cold call each other’s employees. Apple placed Adobe on its internal “Do Not Call List” and similarly, Adobe included Apple in its internal list of “Companies that are off limits”;
- Beginning no later than April 2007, Apple and Pixar executives agreed not to cold call each other’s employees. Apple placed Pixar on its internal “Do Not Call List” and senior executives at Pixar instructed human resources personnel to adhere to the agreement and maintain a paper trail;
- Beginning no later than September 2007, Google and Intel executives agreed not to cold call each other’s employees. In its hiring policies and protocol manual, Google listed Intel among the companies that have special agreements with Google and are part of the “Do Not Cold Call” list. Similarly, Intel instructed its human resources staff about the existence of the agreement; and
- In June 2007, Google and Intuit executives agreed that Google would not cold call any Intuit employee. In its hiring policies and protocol manual, Google also listed Intuit among the companies that have special agreements with Google and are part of the “Do Not Cold Call” list.
The proposed settlement, which if accepted by the court will be in effect for five years, prohibits the companies from engaging in anticompetitive no solicitation agreements. Although the complaint alleges only that the companies agreed to ban cold calling, the proposed settlement more broadly prohibits the companies from entering, maintaining or enforcing any agreement that in any way prevents any person from soliciting, cold calling, recruiting, or otherwise competing for employees. The companies will also implement compliance measures tailored to these practices.
Today’s complaint arose out of a larger investigation by the Antitrust Division into employment practices by high tech firms. The division continues to investigate other similar no solicitation agreements.
Adobe Systems Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in San Jose, Calif., and 2009 revenues of nearly $3 billion. Apple Inc. is a California corporation with its principal place of business in Cupertino, Calif., and 2009 revenues of more than $42 billion. Google Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Mountain View, Calif., and 2009 revenues of more than $23 billion. Intel Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Santa Clara, Calif., and 2009 revenues of more than $35 billion. Intuit Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Mountain View, Calif., and 2009 revenues more than $3 billion. Pixar is a California corporation with its principal place of business in Emeryville, Calif.
The proposed settlement, along with the department’s competitive impact statement, will be published in The Federal Register, as required by the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days of its publication to James J. Tierney, Chief, Networks & Technology Enforcement Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street N.W., Suite 7100, Washington D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the court may enter the final judgment upon a finding that it serves the public interest.
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Georgia-based Multi Family Housing Developer Alleging DiscriminationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced that it filed a lawsuit today against Post Properties Inc., Post Apartment Homes L.P. and Post GP Holdings Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia for failing to provide accessible features required by the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act at multi-family housing developments in six states. The defendants’ principal place of business is in Atlanta.
Since March 13,1991, when the Fair Housing Act first required new multi family housing to contain accessible features, Post has designed, constructed and developed at least 50 multi family apartment complexes in Georgia, Texas, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia, according to the complaint. Nineteen of these properties are in the Atlanta region. All together, the properties constitute more than 17,000 units. At least half of the units have elevators that serve every unit, requiring that each unit comply with the Fair Housing Act’s accessibility requirements. Post operates many of these properties as rentals.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability. According to the complaint, Post designed and constructed many of the complexes without accessible routes leading into and through the apartment buildings. Many entranceways have steps and steep curb ramps making them inaccessible to a person using a wheelchair. In addition, certain housing units have narrow doors and hallways; kitchens and bathrooms that lack accessible clear floor space; and thermostats that are mounted too high to be accessible to a person using a wheelchair.
"Our federal laws guarantee that persons with mobility and other physical disabilities will have the same housing choices as persons without such disabilities," said Thomas Perez, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. "We will continue to pursue vigorously the principle that failing to design and construct multi-family housing with basic features of accessibility violates the law."
"Our office is committed to protecting the rights of citizens with disabilities and ensuring that they are fully integrated in our community, and have the housing choices that the law provides," said Sally Quillian Yates, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, who joins in bringing the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring the defendants to modify the complexes to bring them into compliance with federal laws and prohibiting defendants from engaging in future discrimination. The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages to compensate victims and civil penalties to be paid to the government.
Fighting illegal housing discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of housing discrimination can call the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 ext. 91, or email the Justice Department at [email protected].
The complaint is an allegation of unlawful conduct. The allegations must still be proven in federal court.
Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Bribery in Afghanistan Fuel Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON A former U.S. Army staff sergeant pleaded guilty today to bribery in connection with a fuel theft scheme to solicit more than $400,000 in bribes from a government contractor in Afghanistan, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Stevan Nathan Ringo, 26, of Marrero, La., pleaded guilty today before Judge T.S. Ellis, III in U.S. District Court in Virginia to one count of bribery. Ringo was originally charged in an indictment filed on Aug. 24, 2010. Ringo’s sentencing is set for Jan. 7, 2011.
According to court documents, Ringo was stationed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank, a U.S. Army installation in the Logar Province of Eastern Afghanistan. FOB Shank supports U.S. military operations in Afghanistan in various ways, including through fuel receipt and redistribution. More specifically, the Army stores large quantities of fuel at FOB Shank and redistributes that fuel to installations in the surrounding area through government contractors. Ringo’s responsibilities at FOB Shank included supervision of that fuel redistribution process.
In his guilty plea, Ringo admitted that between December 2009 and February 2010, he accepted more than $400,000 in cash payments from a government contractor in exchange for creating and submitting fraudulent paperwork permitting that contractor to steal fuel from FOB Shank. The total value of the fuel stolen in the course of the scheme was nearly $1.5 million.
At sentencing, Ringo faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000; three times the value of the payments made or solicited; or twice the value gained or lost from the scheme.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ryan S. Faulconer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmund P. Power for the Eastern District of Virginia. Substantial assistance was provided by Trial Attorney Dan E. Stigall of the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs. The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, other military law enforcement at FOB Shank, and members of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force (NPFTF) and the International Contract Corruption Task Force (ICCTF).
The NPFTF, created in October 2006 by the Department of Justice, was designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs. The ICCTF is a joint law enforcement agency task force that seeks to detect, investigate, and dismantle corruption and contract fraud resulting from U.S. Overseas Contingency Operations worldwide, including in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Thursday 23 September 2010
Three Individuals Plead Guilty for Their Roles in a Houston Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Claims of Hurricane Damage to Power WheelchairsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three individuals pleaded guilty today in connection with a Medicare fraud scheme operated out of a Houston-area durable medical equipment (DME) company, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).
Melvin Jean Barnes, 60; Johnnie Lee Andrews, 58; and Monica Renee Perry, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Gray Miller in Houston. In their pleas, Andrews and Perry admitted that they were paid kickbacks in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries to the DME company, Luant & Odera Inc. Luant & Odera submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary DME, including power wheelchairs, wheelchair accessories and motorized scooters. In his plea, Barnes admitted that he was paid kickbacks in exchange for delivering the medically unnecessary DME.
After Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike, Medicare relaxed its normal operating procedures to speed provision of healthcare services to elderly and disabled persons and created the CR Modifier. Under the CR Modifier, DME companies and other healthcare providers that furnished replacement DME in good faith, could be paid by Medicare for services provided, even if the companies could not comply with normal program requirements because of the hurricanes.
According to court documents, Andrews and Perry agreed to refer Medicare beneficiaries to Luant & Odera in exchange for kickbacks. Luant & Odera then used the beneficiaries’ information to bill Medicare under the CR Modifier for DME such as wheelchairs or scooters that were neither destroyed by a hurricane nor medically necessary. According to court documents, Barnes accepted kickbacks in exchange for delivering the DME for Luant & Odera. Andrews, Perry and Barnes admitted that they specifically knew that the DME was not destroyed in a hurricane and not medically necessary. Luant & Odera submitted approximately $3 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare using the CR Modifier for the DME.
At sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 16, 2010, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
In a related case, Helen Etifoh, the former owner of Luant & Odera, and Paula Whitfield, a patient recruiter for Luant & Odera, were both convicted by a federal jury April 16, 2010, of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Whitfield was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay $807,781 in restitution. Etinfoh is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 10, 2010.
Today’s guilty pleas were 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 the Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sam S. Sheldon, Charles Reed and Joseph S. Beemsterboer, with assistance from Assistant Chief John Neal 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 810 individuals who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $1.85 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 Unveils DefendingChildhood InitiativeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder today officially unveiled Defending Childhood, a new Department of Justice initiative focused on addressing children’s exposure to 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.
“For me, the issue of children’s exposure to violence has been both a personal and professional concern for decades. As our nation’s Attorney General and as a parent, it remains a top priority,” said Attorney General Holder. “Through renewing and refocusing our efforts to serve our nation’s most vulnerable and most distressed children we can transform the country we love for the better – one child at a time.”
A key component of the initiative is a multi-year demonstration program. Phase I includes planning grants for eight demonstration sites announced today. In Phase II, up to four communities will be selected from the initial eight to receive funding for further implementation of their plans, based on the availability of funding. This program supports the development of comprehensive community-based strategies to prevent and reduce the impact of children’s exposure to violence in their homes, schools, and communities.
The eight demonstration sites are:
- City of Boston ($160,000)
- City of Portland , Maine ($160,000)
- Chippewa Cree Tribe, Mont. ($153,210)
- City of Grand Forks , N.D. ($159,967)
- Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners, Ohio ($157,873)
- Multnomah County Department of Human Services, Ore. ($159,349)
- Rosebud Sioux Tribe, S.D. ($159,534)
- Shelby County, Tenn. ($159,099).
Some examples of the efforts these grants will support are:
- improving the identification, screening, assessment, and referral of children and their families to appropriate programs and services;
- increasing access to and utilization of quality programs and services; and
- developing new programs and services where gaps exist. The grantees will work in collaboration with other local organizations, including victim service providers, tribal non-profit organizations, and community based organizations with a documented history of effectiveness concerning children exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
In addition to the demonstration program grants, the Department of Justice is committing additional funding for research, evaluation, public awareness and partnerships related to the initiative. The other awards announced today are:
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Action Partnerships for Professional Membership and Professional Organizations Responding to Children Exposed to and Victimized by Violence ($1,498,932) - Office for Victims of Crime
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Evaluation of the Attorney General’s Children Exposed to Violence Demonstration Program: Phase I ($500,000) – National Institute of Justice
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Public Awareness and Outreach for Victims in Underserved Communities ($995,089) – Office for Victims of Crime
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Research and Evaluation on Children Exposed to Family Violence ($1,244,869) – National Institute of Justice.
Detailed information about grants awarded in each of the above categories is available at www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood .
Wednesday 22 September 2010
U.S. Reaches Agreements with Kings Mountain, N.C., and Sandy Springs, Ga., to Terminate Coverage from Preclearance of the Voting Rights ActRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced that it reached agreements this week with the city of Kings Mountain, N.C., and the city of Sandy Springs, Ga., in the form of consent decrees filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. If approved by the court, the decrees will allow for Kings Mountain and Sandy Springs to bailout from their status as a "covered jurisdictions" under the Voting Rights Act, thereby exempting them from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the act. The bailout standard requires that a covered jurisdiction demonstrates nondiscriminatory behavior for 10 years prior to filing.
Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, certain covered jurisdictions, determined by Section 4 of the act, are required to seek approval, known as "preclearance," for any changes in voting qualifications, standards, practices or procedures from the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., or from the U.S. Attorney General, prior to their implementation. Section 4 of the act provides that a covered jurisdiction may seek to "bailout" or remove itself from such coverage, and therefore be exempted from the preclearance requirements, by seeking a declaratory judgment before a three-judge panel in federal court in Washington. Such a bailout judgment can be issued only if the district court makes a determination that the jurisdiction meets certain eligibility requirements for bailout contained in the statute, including a 10-year record of nondiscrimination in voting-related actions. The act also provides that the attorney general can consent to entry of a judgment of bailout if, based upon investigation, the attorney general is satisfied that the jurisdiction meets the eligibility requirements.
Kings Mountain filed its bailout action in federal court in Washington in July 2010 and Sandy Springs filed its bailout action on Sept. 7, 2010. Kings Mountain and Sandy Springs officials contacted the attorney general several months prior to filing their bailout actions, indicating that the cities were interested in seeking bailout. Each city provided the department with substantial information and the department conducted an extensive investigation to determine their eligibility. Based on that investigation, the department is satisfied that Kings Mountain and Sandy Springs meet the Voting Rights Act’s requirements for bailout.
Sandy Springs also expressed a desire to conduct its own elections in the future. In the event Sandy Springs decides to administer its own municipal elections, the city has agreed to undertake certain constructive measures to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act, such as forming an advisory group regarding city elections, recruiting a diverse group of poll workers and mailing a sample ballot and information to every voter prior to each city election, among other actions.
The consent decrees filed in court detail the legal and factual basis for bailout determinations and, if approved, will grant these requests. The court will retain jurisdiction of each action for 10 years and can reopen an action upon the motion of the attorney general or any aggrieved person alleging conduct by the city that would have originally precluded the city from bailing out if it had occurred during the 10 year period preceding entry of the consent decree.
"In the Voting Rights Act, Congress provided a means for covered jurisdictions to be exempted from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 upon a clear showing that a jurisdiction meets the specific eligibility requirements of the Act." said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "I am very pleased that city officials in both jurisdictions have worked cooperatively with the department in providing the information that we have requested and in moving toward a resolution of this matter in the way envisioned by the Voting Rights Act."
Information about bailout, the Voting Rights Act, and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice web site at www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/. Complaints may be reported to the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Bar Allegedly Fraudulent Stock Loan SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States has filed a complaint asking a Virginia federal court to permanently bar three firms and three men from promoting a nationwide "HedgeLoan" scheme that the complaint alleges involves the disguised sale of more than $268 million in securities, the Justice Department announced today. HedgeLoan allegedly mimics the fraudulent Derivium 90 percent loan scheme that a California federal court enjoined last year.
The civil injunction suit names three men: Daniel Stafford of Gaithersburg, Md.; Fred R. Wahler, Jr. of Philadelphia; and William Chapman of Great Falls, Va. Stafford and Wahler allegedly own Philadelphia-based defendant HedgeLender LLC. Chapman allegedly owns the remaining two companies named in the complaint, Alexander Capital Markets LLC and Alexander Financial LLC, both based in Great Falls.
According to the government complaint, the defendants promote and operate the HedgeLoan scheme, in which customers are falsely told that they can receive tax free cash for their securities in the form of a "loan," when in reality the monies received are sales proceeds subject to federal income tax on capital gains at the time of receipt. One couple from Michigan cited in the complaint allegedly used the defendants’ HedgeLoan scheme to dispose of more than $4 million in stock through 25 separate transactions. According to the complaint, the Internal Revenue Service audited the couple’s 2005 federal income tax return and found that they had under-reported their income by $3,662,528 as a result of their participation in the scheme. The complaint further alleges that the couple allegedly agreed to pay an additional $616,984 in income tax for 2005.
The suit claims that in virtually every case, the defendants simply sold the customer’s securities on receipt, remitted up to 90 percent of the sales proceeds to the customer as the "loan," and retained the remaining sales proceeds for themselves and the other parties who facilitated the scheme. This allegedly left defendants without the assets necessary to return every customer’s so-called "collateral" if requested at the end of the purported "loan" term. As early as 2007, defendants allegedly lacked the funds to return all customers’ securities who requested them – yet they continued to promote and operate the HedgeLoan scheme and related schemes.
In the past decade the Justice Department has obtained injunctions against hundreds of tax scheme promoters and tax preparers. Information about those cases is available on the Justice Department website.
Idaho Businessman Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Failure to Pay Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Roberto Trevizo Corral, a resident of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered to pay $771,252.11 in restitution for failing to collect and pay over employment taxes, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.
According to court documents, Corral was the President of AG Services Inc., also known as Corral Agriculture Inc. (AG/Corral), which was an agricultural employer in Idaho that provides agricultural labor to area farmers. During calendar year 2004 through Jan. 31, 2005, Corral willfully failed to truthfully account for and pay over withheld income taxes and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax owed on behalf of AG/Corral and its employees.
Corral admitted that he was responsible for paying over all of the payroll taxes his corporation was required to pay to the IRS, including AG/Corral’s matching share of FICA tax, for calendar years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. He admitted that he failed to pay over in excess of $700,000 in employment taxes.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John A. DiCicco of the Justice Department’s Tax Division commended the efforts of the special agents from IRS Criminal Investigation who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division trial attorneys Christopher S. Strauss and John P. Scully, who are prosecuting the case. Acting Assistant Attorney General DiCicco also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boise, Idaho, for its support in this matter.
Former New Orleans Police Detective Sentenced in Connection with Shootings on the Danziger BridgeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON Jeffrey Lehrmann, a former New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) detective, was sentenced today to three years in prison for misprision of a felony in connection with the cover-up of two police-involved shootings on the Danziger Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that left two civilians dead and four others seriously injured. Lehrmann entered a guilty plea on March 11, 2010, for concealing a known felony by failing to report a conspiracy to obstruct justice in the investigation of these shootings.
According to court documents, Lehrmann learned from an NOPD supervisor (the investigator) that an officer on the bridge “shot an innocent man.” Lehrmann then concluded that the shooting on the bridge was legally unjustified. Lehrmannadmitted that he participated with his supervisors in the creation of a report that included false statements by the officers involved in the shootings; false claims about a gun that had been planted by the investigator; and fabricated statements from witnesses who did not exist. Lehrmann also admitted that the report on the investigation included false statements that had allegedly been given by two of the victims from the shooting.
According to the factual basis submitted at the time of his guilty plea, Lehrmannadmitted that the NOPD report of the incident contained a false claim that the investigator returned to the bridge the day after the shooting and found a gun in the grass on the east side of the bridge. According to Lehrmann, sometime after the shootings on the Danziger Bridge, he and two sergeants drove with the investigator to the investigator’s home, where the investigator retrieved a bag from his garage. When the investigator was asked what was in the bag, he responded, “a ham sandwich.” Lehrmann then looked in the bag and saw a gun that would be used in the NOPD’s investigation of the Danziger Bridge shootings. Once the investigator assured Lehrmann and the sergeants that the gun was “clean,” meaning that it could not be traced to another crime, they all went along with the plan to plant the gun.
This case, which is ongoing, is being investigated by the New Orleans Field Office of the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Trial Attorney Forrest Christian of the Civil Rights Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Evans of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Empresario de Idaho sentenciado a 12 meses de prisión por no pagar impuestos de nómina de empleadosRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Roberto Trevizo Corral, un residente de Nampa, Idaho, fue sentenciado a 12 meses y un día en prisión y deberá pagar $771,252.11 dólares en restitución por no recolectar y pagar impuestos de nómina de empleados, anunciaron hoy el Departamento de Justicia y Servicios de Impuestos Internos [Internal Revenue Service (IRS)].
Según el expediente judicial, Corral era el presidente de AG Services Inc., también conocida como Corral Agriculture Inc. (AG/Corral), un empleador agrícola de Idaho que suministraba mano de obra agrícola a agricultores del área. Desde el año calendario 2004 hasta el 31 de enero de 2005, Corral no registró ni pagó a sabiendas lo que correspondía por impuestos sobre los ingresos retenidos e impuestos bajo la Ley de Contribución al Seguro Social [Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)] debidos de parte de AG/Corral y sus empleados.
Corral admitió ser el responsable de pagar todos los impuestos de nómina de empleados exigidos a su empresa por el IRS, entre ellos la parte equivalente de AG/Corral del impuesto FICA correspondiente a los años calendario 2002, 2003, 2004 y 2005. También admitió no haber pagado más de $700,000 dólares de impuestos de nómina de empleados.
El Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Interino John A. DiCicco de la División de Impuestos del Departamento de Justicia felicitó a los agentes especiales del IRS que investigaron el caso, así como también a los abogados litigantes de la División de Impuestos Christopher S. Strauss y John P. Scully, que están a cargo de la acusación en el caso. El Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Interino DiCicco también agradeció a la Fiscalía Federal en Boise, Idaho, por su apoyo en este caso.
East Aurora, N.Y., Chiropractor Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Failing to File Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal judge in Buffalo, N.Y., has sentenced John Weisberg to 12 months in prison for failing to file tax returns, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.
Evidence introduced during trial showed that Weisberg, a chiropractor owning his own business in East Aurora, N.Y., stopped filing tax returns in 1995 and continued in his failure to file tax returns for nine tax years through 2003. In addition, Weisberg became a member-client of a Florida-based tax-defier organization known as American Rights Litigators (ARL) in 1997. ARL, formed and operated by Eddie Ray Kahn, promoted multiple tax fraud schemes. Weisberg purchased an ARL service through which ARL-affiliated lawyers and accountants, on Weisberg’s behalf, responded to IRS notices. The letters to the IRS advanced false and frivolous claims and requests purporting to set forth legal reasons why Weisberg was not required to file returns.
At trial, Weisberg claimed that he had relied, in good faith, on the legal and accounting advice of ARL in not filing returns. He also asserted that the IRS had failed to respond to ARL’s claims and requests over the course of seven years. The evidence at trial showed, however, that Weisberg received warnings about not filing tax returns not only from the IRS, but also from Buffalo-area accountants and attorneys.
John A. DiCicco, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, commended the IRS agents who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division Trial Attorney John Kane, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at www.usdoj.gov/tax.
Dayton, Ohio, Area Home Builder Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Roy W. Bradford pleaded guilty in federal district court in Dayton, Ohio, to willfully filing a false tax return for 2004, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.
According to court documents, Bradford owned and operated Bradford Builders out of his residence in Ludlow Falls, Ohio. Bradford Builders built wooden frames for residential construction.
For the 2003 and 2004 tax years, Bradford filed false Forms 1099 that deliberately inflated the amounts that he paid to his independent contractor crew chiefs. Bradford then used these inflated amounts from the Forms 1099 to inflate the labor costs on his 2003 and 2004 individual income tax returns. Bradford also improperly deducted as business expenses many of the costs incurred in constructing his personal residence. Bradford also understated his business income by not reporting money he received for work performed for certain clients.
In addition to falsifying his own tax information, Bradford used false tax ID numbers on the Forms 1099 that he issued to workers who did contract work for him. He also provided false information to an IRS agent during the course of an audit and to another IRS agent conducting the criminal investigation. Bradford admitted that he caused a tax loss of $379,852 and owes restitution of at least that amount.
Judge Thomas M. Rose, who is presiding over the matter, set a sentencing date of Jan. 7, 2011. Bradford faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by IRS - Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Tax Division Trial Attorneys Jorge Almonte and Jeffrey B. Bender.
Additional information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at www.usdoj.gov/tax.
Brooklyn Doctor Arrested and Charged with Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Boris Sachakov, M.D., was arrested today in Brooklyn, N.Y., and charged in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare and numerous other health care benefit programs of at least $3.5 million, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).
According to a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York, Sachakov is charged with one count of health care fraud. He made his initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold.
According to the complaint, Sachakov is a medical doctor, specializing in colo-rectal surgery. The complaint alleges that from February 2009 to January 2010, Sachakov defrauded Medicare and other health care benefit programs by billing for services and surgeries that were never provided. According to court documents, several health care benefit programs began investigating Sachakov after receiving complaints from patients about claims submitted by Sachakov for services that they did not receive and/or suspicious billing patterns. The HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services initiated an investigation based on Sachakov’s pattern of billing for multiple hemorrhoidectomies (a procedure to remove hemorroids), office visits and examinations on the same day for the same patient on multiple occasions. According to court documents, Sachakov consistently submitted claims for office visits, examinations and subsequent hemorrhoidectomies as if he were treating distinct, unrelated conditions, when, in fact, he was providing follow up services related to the initial procedure. The complaint also alleges that Sachakov submitted claims for services and surgeries not rendered or performed.
Sachakov faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A complaint merely contains charges and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The charges were announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch of the Eastern District of New York; Assistant Director-in-Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk of the FBI’s New York field office; and Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas O’Donnell of the HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Steven Kim of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Katz, on detail to the Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan Levin of the Eastern District of New York. This case was investigated by HHS-OIG, the FBI and the New York State Insurance Department Fraud Bureau. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.
Since their inception in March 2007, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven districts have obtained indictments of more than 810 individuals who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $1.85 billion. In addition, the 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
Tuesday 21 September 2010
Ship Serial Polluter Ordered to Pay $4 Million for Covering up the Deliberate Discharge of Oil and PlasticsRead the Press Release
BALTIMORE - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Irika Shipping S.A., a ship management corporation registered in Panama and doing business in Greece, today to pay a $4 million penalty, which includes a $3 million criminal fine and $1 million in organizational community service payments that will fund various marine environmental projects. Judge Motz also sentenced Irika to serve the maximum of five years probation, subject to following a compliance program that includes audits by an independent firm and oversight by a court appointed monitor.
Judge Motz further ordered today that four crew members that notified authorities about illegal discharges of oil and plastic from the M/V Iorana, a Greek flagged cargo ship, should be awarded $125,000 each under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships which provides that whistleblowers may receive an award of up to one-half of fines collected under that statute.
Irika Shipping pleaded guilty on July 8, 2010, as part of a multi-district plea agreement arising out of charges brought in the District of Maryland, Western District of Washington and Eastern District of Louisiana, including felony violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, related to port calls in Baltimore; Tacoma, Wash.; and New Orleans by the M/V Iorana, and obstruction of justice charges based upon false statements to the Coast Guard, destruction of evidence and other acts of concealment.
In Maryland, $750,000 of the criminal penalty will go to the congressionally established National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and be used for Chesapeake Bay projects. In Washington, $125,000 will go to environmental projects in and around the waters of Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan De Fuca. In Louisiana, $125,000 will go toward funding habitat conservation, protection, restoration, and management projects to benefit fish and wildlife resources and habitats.
According to court documents, the investigation into the M/V Iorana was launched in January 2010 after a crew member passed a note to the Customs and Border Protection inspector upon the ship’s arrival in Baltimore alleging that the ship’s chief engineer had directed the dumping of waste oil overboard through a bypass hose that circumvented pollution prevention equipment required by law. The whistleblower’s note stated: "We are asking help to any authorities concerned about this, because we must protect our environment and our marine lives."
"Deliberate pollution and obstruction of justice are serious crimes that will be vigorously prosecuted," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General, Environment & Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Justice. "This company will now have significant oversight from outside auditors to make sure that it comes into full compliance."
"Irika Shipping blatantly violated the law by dumping oil in the ocean and then lying to the Coast Guard about it, completely ignoring the terms of its agreement following a previous prosecution for the same conduct" said Rod J. Rosenstein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. "As part of the punishment for this crime, Irika Shipping will pay a fine of $4 million, including $750,000 to be used directly to help protect the Chesapeake Bay, and Irika will remain under court supervision for five years."
"The Coast Guard's partnerships with local, state and federal agencies played a vital role in the investigation and prosecution of this case," said Coast Guard Capt. Mark O'Malley, Captain of the Port of Baltimore. "Let this serve as a wake-up call to other companies, or groups that are illegally dumping in our waters. The cost of the penalties and environmental damages far outweigh the cost of compliances."
"EPA is extremely pleased that part of the sentence will be used for projects to enhance the quality of the Chesapeake Bay, North America’s largest and most biologically diverse estuary," said Fred Burnside, Director of EPA's Office of Criminal Enforcement. "EPA recently announced its Chesapeake Bay Compliance and Enforcement Strategy, a multi-state, multi-year strategy which will guide the use of EPA’s compliance and enforcement tools to target sources of pollution impairing the bay and it is appropriate to use fines from vessels that use the seas as dumping grounds to help protect the bay."
During a Coast Guard inspection on Jan. 8, 2010, the Coast Guard obtained photographs taken on the whistleblower crew member’s cell phone showing the use of a 103-foot long "magic hose" to bypass the ship’s oily water separator. The illicit bypass system used to discharge oily waste, including sludge, was routed through the ship’s boiler blow down system where any trace of oil could be expected to be steam cleaned away. The illegal discharges were concealed in a fraudulent oil record book, a required log in which all overboard discharges are to be recorded.
Irika Shipping admitted the following in a detailed joint factual statement:
- Approximately 23 cubic meters of oil contaminated sludge and bilge waste (approximately 6,000 gallons) were dumped overboard in December 2009 during the voyage from Gibraltar to Baltimore using the magic hose;
- The flanges where the bypass hose was connected were repainted before arriving in port in order to cover up tool marks caused when the bypass hose was connected and disconnected;
- The bypass was used at night, and plastic bags filled with oil soaked rags were dumped overboard at night;
- Additional episodes of illegal discharges took place after the ship’s first voyage in June 2009 and continued through the middle of December 2009;
- Irika Shipping did not have a company budget, a budget for the vessel or a waste management plan. Irika’s crew members received little training regarding the company’s environmental policies;
- Crew members were not informed by the company that it was to have been operating under a court-imposed Environmental Compliance Program; and
- Irika obstructed justice in various ways including: senior ship officers made false statements to the Coast Guard, crew members were told to lie to the Coast Guard, and evidence of illegal dumping was destroyed.
As set forth in the plea agreement, Irika pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Baltimore to two counts of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for failing to maintain an accurate oil record book and garbage record book; one count of obstruction of the Coast Guard’s inspection; three counts of concealing evidence; one count of making materially false statements; and one count of obstruction of justice. The maximum penalty for each of these felony offenses is $500,000 or up to twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
In 2007, Irika Shipping was also the operator of the M/V Irika, a ship subject to a similar prosecution in Tacoma, Wash., where the ship’s owner, Irika Maritime S.A., and the ship’s chief engineer were convicted. As part of the sentence in that case, both Irika Maritime and Irika Shipping were required to develop and implement an Environmental Compliance Plan that would apply during a four year period of probation to the entire fleet of vessels managed by Irika Shipping, including the M/V Iorana.
In connection with its 2010 guilty plea, Irika admitted that it hired back the convicted chief engineer from the prior case who committed new violations on the M/V Iorana during the probationary period. A subsequent chief engineer, Triantafyllos Marmaras, was in charge at the time of the January 2010 inspection in Baltimore. Chief Engineer Marmaras pleaded guilty in June 2010, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, to obstruction of justice charges in a related case.
This prosecution was made possible through the combined efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Coast Guard Fifth District Legal Office, Coast Guard Office of Maritime and International Law, Coast Guard Office of Investigations and Analysis, Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigations Division with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The cases were prosecuted by Richard A. Udell, Senior Trial Attorney of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department; P. Michael Cunningham, Assistant U.S. Attorney in Baltimore; James Oesterle, Assistant U.S. Attorney in Seattle; and Dorothy Manning Taylor, Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Orleans.
Martinair Airline Executive Indicted in Conspiracy to Fix Surcharge Rates on Air Cargo ShipmentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — An Atlanta grand jury returned an indictment today against an executive of Martinair Holland N.V. 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 Atlanta, charges Maria Christina “Meta” Ullings, senior vice president of Cargo Sales and Marketing of Martinair based in Amsterdam, with conspiring with others to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing and coordinating certain surcharges, including fuel surcharges, charged to customers located in the United States and elsewhere for international air shipments to and from the United States from at least as early as January 2001 until at least February 2006.
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, Ullings and co-conspirators carried out the conspiracy by communicating and agreeing upon certain surcharges to be charged for shipments to and from the United States. As part of the conspiracy, Ullings and co-conspirators monitored the surcharge agreements and accepted payments at noncompetitive rates.
Ullings is 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. 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 17 airlines and eight executives, including Ullings, 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 four executives, including Ullings.
The airlines that have pleaded guilty, or have agreed to plead guilty, as a result of the department’s ongoing investigation into the air transportation industry are: British Airways Plc, Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd., Qantas Airways Limited, Japan Airlines International Co. Ltd., Martinair Holland N.V., Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, SAS Cargo Group A/S, Société Air France, Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines), EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd., LAN Cargo S.A., Aerolinhas Brasileiras S.A., Cargolux Airlines International S.A., Nippon Cargo Airlines Co. Ltd., Northwest Airlines LLC and Asiana Airlines Inc. Additionally, on Sept. 2, 2010, Polar Air Cargo LLC was charged in this investigation and is scheduled to enter a guilty plea and be sentenced on Oct. 15, 2010.
Airline executives who have pleaded guilty as a result of the investigation are Bruce McCaffrey of Qantas, Keith Packer of British Airways, Franciscus Johannes de Jong of Martinair and Timothy Pfeil of SAS Cargo. On Aug. 12, 2009, Jan Lillieborg, a citizen and resident of Sweden and former vice president of global sales for SAS Cargo, was indicted for participating in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by allocating customers and coordinating surcharge increases for international air shipments to and from the United States. On Aug. 26, 2010, Joo Ahn Kang, former president of Asiana, and Chung Sik Kwak, former vice president of the Americas region of Asiana, both citizens and residents of the Republic of Korea, were indicted for participating in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing passenger airfares for travel between the United States and Korea. Trial dates have yet to be scheduled for these individuals.
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, the FBI’s Washington 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 Washington Field Office at 202-278-2000.
Justice Department Issues Report on 10th Anniversary of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons ActRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today issued a report marking the 10th anniversary of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), showing that the law has had a positive impact on protecting the religious freedom of a wide range of faith groups, and had a particularly significant impact protecting the religious freedom of minorities.
RLUIPA protects places of worship and other religious uses of property from discrimination and unreasonably burdensome regulation in zoning and landmarking law, and also protects the religious freedom of persons confined to institutions such as prisons, mental health facilities and state-run nursing homes. RLUIPA was enacted by both houses of Congress unanimously and signed into law on Sept. 22, 2000. The law was a response to concerns that places of worship, particularly those of religious and ethnic minorities, were often discriminated against in zoning matters.
The report illustrates that in the 10 years since its enactment, RLUIPA has aided thousands of individuals and institutions from a wide range of faith traditions through Department of Justice lawsuits, private lawsuits, and successful efforts to achieve voluntary compliance.
The report details the Justice Department’s enforcement record:
- The department has opened 51 RLUIPA land-use investigations, filed seven lawsuits, filed ten amicus-briefs, and intervened in 71 lawsuits to defend RLUIPA’s constitutionality.
- Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist land-use cases made up a disproportionate number of the department’s RLUIPA investigations–13 times their representation in the population.
- Half of the department’s land-use investigations involving Christians have involved racial or ethnic minorities.
- Of the 18 land-use matters involving Muslims reviewed by the Department of Justice, eight have been opened since May of this year.
“The freedom to practice one’s faith in peace is among our most cherished rights. RLUIPA has proven to be a powerful tool in combating religious discrimination and ensuring religious freedom for all individuals,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to vigorously enforcing RLUIPA to ensure that religious liberty for all remains protected.”
The land-use provisions of RLUIPA are enforced by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section. More information may be found at www.justice.gov/crt/housing. The institutionalized persons provisions of RLUIPA are enforced by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section. More information may be found at www.justice.gov/crt/split. More information about both of these provisions, and the Civil Rights Division’s efforts to combat religious discrimination more broadly, may be found at www.justice.gov/crt/religiousdiscrimination. Please visit www.justice.gov/crt/rluipa_report_092210.pdf for the full report.
Monday 20 September 2010
Woman Indicted for Trafficking Young Women from Nigeria to Work as NanniesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Bidemi Bello, 41, formerly of Buford, Ga., and presently from Nigeria, was arraigned toda y, following an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Sep.10, 2010. Bello faces federal charges of forced labor, trafficking with respect to forced labor, document servitude and alien harboring. Bello was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Georgia Janet F. King.
The charges and other information presented in court allege that Bello brought one young woman from Nigeria to Georgia and compelled her labor as a nanny and housekeeper from October 2001 through March 2004. After her first victim escaped, Bello brought a second young woman from Nigeria to Georgia and compelled that young woman’s domestic service from November 2004 until April 2006. Bello threatened and physically abused both victims, isolated them from their families and confiscated their identification documents, in order to compel them to perform child care and domestic service without pay.
Each of the four labor trafficking charges carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The two document servitude counts carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The alien harboring count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney S usan Coppedge and Deputy Chief Karima Maloney of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Southern California Medical Center to Pay U.S. $2.2 Million to Resolve Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The El Centro Regional Medical Center in Imperial County, Calif., has agreed to pay the United States $2.2 million, plus interest, to settle allegations that it defrauded Medicare, the Justice Department announced today.
The government alleges that the 165-bed acute care hospital fraudulently inflated its charges to Medicare patients to obtain larger reimbursements from the federal health care program. The settlement covers claims submitted by the hospital for short inpatient admissions, usually of one day or less, when the services should have been billed on an outpatient “observation” basis or as emergency room visits.
“Hospitals that participate in the Medicare program must bill for their services accurately and honestly,” said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. “We will take action to ensure that taxpayers do not pay the costs of health care providers’ fraudulent practices.”
“Our office will aggressively work with investigative partners to protect healthcare funds from fraud and abuse,” said Laura Duffy, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our commitment to holding health care providers who receive federal funds and knowingly defraud or overcharge federal health care programs accountable.”
The allegations arise from a lawsuit that was brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA), which permit private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring an action on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. The whistleblower in this case, Pietro Ingrande, a former employee of El Centro Regional Medical Center, will receive $375,000 as his share of the recovery.
The United States has agreed to dismiss the lawsuit as a result of the settlement announced today. In addition, as a condition of continued participation in federal health care programs, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (OIG-HHS) has required El Centro Regional Medical Center to enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement. The agreement subjects the hospital to strict policies and procedures to ensure future compliance with applicable statutes and regulations that govern the use of federal health care funds.
“Whistleblowers are critical to ensuring that Medicare dollars are not siphoned off, but find their way to those who most need them,” said Glenn R. Ferry, Special Agent in Charge for the Los Angeles Region of the OIG-HHS. “Office of Inspector General special agents and our law enforcement partners have forged a powerful team that will work with private citizens who come forward to protect the Medicare Trust Fund and defend it from fraud and abuse.”
“The Medicare system attempts to deliver much needed medical services to many Americans,” said San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter. “Anyone who purposely defrauds the system, therefore, misappropriating its funds, and takes away resources from those who need Medicare’s services will be investigated by the FBI. We are committed to helping preserve the system’s integrity by vigorously pursuing those who attempt to steal the funds that help keep our fellow Americans in good health.”
The investigation and settlement of this case are the result of the collaborative effort of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, OIG-HHS, and the FBI.
This settlement is part of the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and another step for the HEAT initiative, which was announced by Attorney General Holder and Secretary Sebelius in May 2009. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is the FCA, which the Justice Department has used to recover $3.391 billion since January 2009 in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs. The Justice Department’s total recoveries in FCA cases since January 2009 are $ 4.4691billion.
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 tres de nueve 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 cuatro fueron sentenciados en julio a sentencias en prisión que varían de 5 a 12 años. Los dos restantes serán sentenciados en octubre.
El tribunal sentenció a Eugene Casternovia a 7 años en prisión y sentenció a Arthur Merino a 3 años y 4 meses en prisión. Mark Lyon, quien colaboró con el gobierno y atestiguó en el juicio, fue sentenciado a 18 meses 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, asociado a la promoción de ardides fraudulentos a través de Pinnacle Quest International, también conocida como PQI y Quest International. La novena persona, Lyon, 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 ingresos basándose en diversas teorías y le brindaban a los clientes una supuesta “defensa de confiabilidad” que consistía en documentación escrita de correspondencia frívola que alegaban que el cliente podía, supuestamente, 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 la evidencia, otro vendedor de PQI, MYICIS, operaba 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 contaba con 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 Pinnacle Quest International.
"Existen consecuencias por desobedecer las leyes de nuestra nación. Estos demandados están siendo responsabilizados ahora por su comportamiento criminal", dijo Víctor S. O. Song, Jefe, Investigaciones Criminales del IRS. "Ayudaron a formar una serie de entidades comerciales fraudulentas y luego promovieron tácticas de eliminación de deuda fraudulentas con la única finalidad de ocultar ingresos del IRS. Sus tácticas eran fraudulentas. No existe una fórmula secreta que pueda eliminar las obligaciones tributarias".
El Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Interino John A. DiCicco de la División de Impuestos del Departamento de Justicia 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 el enjuiciamiento de este caso. El Sr. DiCicco también agradeció al equipo de Agentes Especiales del IRS que investigaron el caso, especialmente a Stephen Walker y Wendy Kilpatrick, por su dedicación y esfuerzo.
Promoters of Sham Tax Elimination Scheme Sentenced for Tax Fraud in FloridaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A federal court in Pensacola, Fla., sentenced the last two promoters of a fraudulent tax- and debt-elimination scheme to prison terms for their roles in tax fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Seven others were sentenced in July and October to prison terms ranging from 18 months to 12 years.
The court sentenced Claudia Hirmer to 20 years in prison and sentenced Mark Hirmer to 15 years in prison.
On March 31, 2010, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against eight people, following a month-long trial in Pensacola, Fla., involving the promotion of fraudulent schemes through Pinnacle Quest International, also known as PQI and Quest International. The ninth entered a guilty plea and testified against the other eight at trial.
According to the evidence presented during trial, PQI was an umbrella organization for numerous vendors of tax and credit card debt elimination scams. Some of the PQI vendors, such as Southern Oregon Resource Center for Education (SORCE), sold bogus theories and strategies for tax evasion. For fees starting at $10,000, SORCE assisted its customers in the creation of a series of sham business entities in the United States and Panama. Other tax-related PQI vendors denied the legitimacy of the income tax system on various theories and provided customers with a "reliance defense" that consisted of a paper trail of frivolous correspondence which a client could allegedly use as evidence of good faith if the client were prosecuted.
At trial, the government established that other PQI vendors sold fraudulent schemes for eliminating credit card debt, the most successful of which was called Financial Solutions. Financial Solutions charged its customers thousands of dollars for a series of letters to send to credit card companies disputing the lawfulness of the underlying debt. The product was wholly ineffective, and customers typically were sued by their creditors and often forced into bankruptcy.
According to the evidence, another PQI vendor, MYICIS, operated as a sophisticated, computerized "warehouse bank." MYICIS was a single bank account in which customers pooled their money. MYICIS was promoted to PQI’s clients as a method to hide their assets from the IRS as a result of the pooled nature of the account. MYICIS had 3,000 clients and approximately $100 million in deposits over a three year period.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that PQI purported to sell only CDs and tickets to offshore conferences. However, PQI acted as a gateway to its fraudulent vendors. PQI clients seeking the tax evasion and debt elimination vendors could only access the product if they joined PQI first. The cost of membership ranged from $1,350 to $18,750, depending on the level of access. In May 2008, a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction against the promoters of PQI.
"The long prison sentences that the Hirmers received today send a loud and clear message that illegal tax defiers will be investigated, prosecuted, and subjected to the full punishment of the law for their actions," said John A. DiCicco, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
"As Claudia and Mark Hirmer have discovered, operating outside the law and failing to pay taxes have severe consequences," said Victor S.O. Song, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. "Individuals who promote abusive tax schemes, establish sham offshore companies, and intentionally evade paying their fair share of taxes, undermine public confidence in our tax system. This sentence should serve as a deterrent to those who might contemplate similar fraudulent actions."
Acting Assistant Attorney General DiCicco thanked Trial Attorneys Michael Watling, Adam Hulbig and Jonathan Marx, as well as paralegal Iris Wright, for their hard work in prosecuting the case. Mr. DiCicco also thanked the team of IRS Special Agents who investigated the case, particularly Stephen Walker and Wendy Kilpatrick, for their efforts.
Promoters of Sham Tax Elimination Scheme Sentenced for Tax Fraud in FloridaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A federal court in Pensacola, Fla., has sentenced three of nine promoters of a fraudulent tax-and-debt-elimination scheme to prison terms for their roles in tax fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Four others were sentenced in July to prison terms ranging from 5 to 12 years. The remaining two will be sentenced in October.
The court sentenced Eugene Casternovia to 7 years in prison and sentenced Arthur Merino to 3 years and 4 months in prison. Mark Lyon, who cooperated with the government and testified at trial, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
On March 31, 2010, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against eight people, following a month-long trial in Pensacola involving the promotion of fraudulent schemes through Pinnacle Quest International, also known as PQI and Quest International. The ninth, Lyon, entered a guilty plea and testified against the other eight at trial.
According to the evidence presented during trial, PQI was an umbrella organization for numerous vendors of tax and credit card debt elimination scams. Some of the PQI vendors, such as Southern Oregon Resource Center for Education (SORCE), sold bogus theories and strategies for tax evasion. For fees starting at $10,000, SORCE assisted its customers in the creation of a series of sham business entities in the United States and Panama. Other tax-related PQI vendors denied the legitimacy of the income tax system on various theories and provided customers with a “reliance defense” that consisted of a paper trail of frivolous correspondence which a client could allegedly use as evidence of good faith if the client were prosecuted.
At trial, the government established that other PQI vendors sold fraudulent schemes for eliminating credit card debt, the most successful of which was called Financial Solutions. Financial Solutions charged its customers thousands of dollars for a series of letters to send to credit card companies disputing the lawfulness of the underlying debt. The product was wholly ineffective, and customers typically were sued by their creditors and often forced into bankruptcy.
According to the evidence, another PQI vendor, MYICIS, operated as a sophisticated, computerized “warehouse bank.” MYICIS was a single bank account in which customers pooled their money. MYICIS was promoted to PQI’s clients as a method to hide their assets from the IRS as a result of the pooled nature of the account. MYICIS had 3,000 clients and approximately $100 million in deposits over a three year period.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that PQI purported to sell only CDs and tickets to offshore conferences. However, PQI acted as a gateway to its fraudulent vendors. PQI clients seeking the tax evasion and debt elimination vendors could only access the product if they joined PQI first. The cost of membership ranged from $1,350 to $18,750, depending on the level of access. In May 2008, a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction against the promoters of Pinnacle Quest International.
“There are consequences for disobeying the laws of our nation. These defendants are now being held accountable for their criminal behavior,” said Victor S. O. Song, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. “They helped form a series of sham business entities and then promoted fraudulent debt elimination tactics intended for the sole purpose of concealing income from the IRS. Their tactics were fraudulent. There is no secret formula that can eliminate an individual’s tax obligation.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General John A. DiCicco of the Justice Department’s Tax Division thanked Trial Attorneys Michael Watling, Adam Hulbig, and Jonathan Marx, as well as paralegal Iris Wright, for their hard work in prosecuting the case. Mr. DiCicco also thanked the team of IRS Special Agents who investigated the case, particularly Stephen Walker and Wendy Kilpatrick, for their efforts.
Friday 17 September 2010
Se formularon cargos contra cuatro personas por actividades relacionadas con la pandilla MS-13Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tres supuestos miembros y asociados de la pandilla MS-13 han sido acusados formalmente de diversos delitos violentos que surgieron de una invasión de domicilio el año pasado en el Distrito de Columbia, en la cual varias personas fueron amenazadas a punta de pistola. Un cuarto supuesto miembro fue acusado formalmente de intentos subsiguientes de amenazar a posibles testigos en el caso.
La acusación formal fue emitida el 16 de septiembre de 2010, en el Tribunal Federal de Distrito para el Distrito de Columbia y fue anunciada por el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Lanny A. Breuer de la División Criminal; el Fiscal Federal Ronald C. Machen Jr. del Distrito de Columbia; el Director del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE.UU. [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] John Morton; John P. Torres, Agente Especial a Cargo de la Oficina de Washington de la ICE; y Cathy L. Lanier, Jefa del Departamento de Policía Metropolitana [Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)].
La acusación formal acusa a Carlos M. Silva, Omar R. Aguilar, Wilfredo Mejía y Henry Sarba. Los demandados habían sido acusados previamente en el Tribunal Superior del Distrito de Columbia, con base en una investigación realizada por agentes del ICE y del MPD. La acusación formal amplía el caso, reflejando la naturaleza grave de la actividad pandillera violenta representada en los nuevos cargos y transfiere el caso efectivamente al Tribunal Federal de Distrito.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal, Silva, Aguilar y Mejía, con la finalidad de lograr ingresar a la MS-13 y crecer dentro de la organización, invadieron un apartamento en Washington, D.C., el 11 de diciembre de 2009, y mantuvieron a cuatro ocupantes del mismo a punta de pistola. La acusación formal alega que la finalidad de la invasión de domicilio era un evidente intento de extorsionar a las víctimas para obtener fondos para mantener las actividades de la pandilla. De acuerdo con la acusación formal, una ocupante del sexo femenino fue objeto de abuso sexual durante el ataque.
Silva, 28; Aguilar 20, y Mejía, 25, fueron arrestados y acusados, originalmente, en el Tribunal Superior de D.C. Sarba, 20, supuestamente llamó a posibles testigos después de los arrestos y realizó amenazas.
La acusación formal acusa a Silva, Aguilar y Mejía de secuestro con la finalidad de promover la delincuencia organizada, agresión con un arma mortal para promover la delincuencia, delitos asociados a armas y otros cargos. Silva también fue acusado de agresión con la intención de cometer abuso sexual en el primer grado estando armado y abuso sexual en el tercer grado. Sarba fue acusado formalmente de cargos que incluyen complicidad después del hecho, obstrucción de la justicia y amenaza de herir o secuestrar una persona.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal, la MS-13 es una empresa de extorsión que constituye una de las mayores pandillas callejeras en los Estados Unidos. La MS-13 es una organización criminal nacional e internacional, y sus miembros han sido encontrados responsables de asesinatos, distribución de narcóticos y otros delitos, afirma la acusación formal.
Los cargos conllevan importantes sentencias. La sentencia legal obligatoria por secuestro para promover la delincuencia organizada es de 30 años.
"El investigar y enjuiciar a pandillas violentas están entre las más altas prioridades del Departamento de Justicia", dijo el Secretario de Justicia auxiliar Breuer. "No permitiremos que organizaciones criminales violentas como la MS-13 aterroricen a nuestros vecindarios y comunidades. La División Criminal se compromete a trabajar con sus asociados de las fuerzas del orden público para asegurar que los miembros de estas organizaciones sean llevados ante la justicia".
"Esta acusación formal muestra nuestra determinación de desmantelar a la MS-13 y otras pandillas violentas que representan una amenaza para nuestras comunidades", dijo el Fiscal Federal Machen. "Deseo felicitar a los hombres y mujeres trabajadores que participaron en este caso, especialmente los miembros del Departamento de Policía Metropolitana y los agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas que dedicaron meses a lograr llevar ante la justicia a estos demandados".
"Esta acusación formal demuestra la determinación de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional de desmantelar a pandillas transnacionales criminales como la MS-13", dijo el Director del ICE John Morton. "Trabajaremos con nuestros asociados de las fuerzas del orden público para lograr comunidades más seguras al lograr el enjuiciamiento de miembros de pandillas criminales".
"Esta es la tercera acusación formal significativa en la última semana asociada a pandillas o narcóticos", dijo el Jefe del MPD Lanier. "El mensaje a los pandilleros y otros delincuentes debe ser claro. No toleraremos esta violencia e intimidación en nuestra ciudad".
Están a cargo de la acusación en este caso la Abogada Litigante Laura Gwinn de la Unidad Antipandillas de la División Criminal y el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Bill O'Malley. El caso es parte de una iniciativa más amplia del Departamento de Justicia de enjuiciar enérgicamente a las pandillas más peligrosas y violentas en el país. Miembros y líderes de la MS-13 han sido objeto de enjuiciamiento federal en Maryland, Tennessee, Carolina del Norte, Virginia, California, Nueva York y otras localidades.
Los cargos presentados en este caso son meramente alegatos de que los demandados han cometido una violación de la ley criminal y no prueban su culpabilidad. Se supone que todo demandado es inocente hasta, y a no ser que se pruebe su culpabilidad.
Ohio Man Charged in Church Arson CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury sitting in the Northern District of Ohio today charged Ronald J. Pudder with intentionally damaging, destroying and attempting to destroy religious property because of the race, color and ethnic characteristics of individuals associated with that property, and for willfully and knowingly using fire to commit a felony offense.
The two-count indictment alleges that on or about May 20, 2010, Pudder set fire to the First Azusa Apostolic Faith Church of God in Conneaut, Ohio.
The charges carry maximum potential penalties of 20 years for the destruction of religious property, and a mandatory minimum 10 years for the arson. Pudder faces a maximum fine of $500,000.
“The freedom to practice one’s faith in peace has been a fundamental right from the time of our nation’s founding,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Those who use threats and violence to prevent others from exercising this right will be brought to justice.”
“Setting fire to a church is an act that not only endangers people and property, it strikes a blow at the heart of the community. Doing so based on the parishioners’ race is an act that does violence to who we are as Americans and Ohioans,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
“Hate crimes have no place in a civilized society and will be met with the full force of the U.S. government,” said C. Frank Figliuzzi, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland FBI field office.
This case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Dettelbach, along with Patricia A. Sumner, Trial Attorney with the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney James V. Moroney, following an investigation by the Painesville Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI and the Conneaut Ohio Police Department.
An indictment is only is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Justice Department Settles Allegations of Disability Discrimination Against City of Satsuma, AlabamaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today settled a lawsuit against the city of Satsuma, Ala., and the city’s Board of Adjustment, alleging housing discrimination against individuals with disabilities. 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 was approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama on Sept.16, 2010, the city agreed to pay $59,000 in damages to the operator of a group home for three women with intellectual disabilities and the trustees of the three residents, as well as a $5,500 civil penalty to the government. As part of the settlement, the city also adopted amendments to its zoning laws.
“Americans with disabilities – like all Americans – have a right to live within their communities without facing discrimination,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “This comprehensive settlement compensates the individuals who were harmed and will prevent future housing discrimination against the city’s most vulnerable citizens.”
“Enforcing the nation’s housing discrimination laws is a top priority of the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Alabama,” said Kenyen Brown, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “This settlement is not only significant for the plaintiffs in this case, but this entire region. The terms of the settlement have created a model approach that can help prevent the kind of discrimination witnessed in this case.”
The government’s amended complaint alleged that city officials violated the federal Fair Housing Act when they refused to allow Pamela Williams to operate a single-family home for three adults with intellectual disabilities in a residential neighborhood of the city, despite the fact that the city’s zoning ordinance allows up to five unrelated persons to live together in the residential zone. The group home residents previously resided at the now closed Albert P. Brewer Development Center, a large state-managed institution. In Satsuma, the three women shared living space and common facilities and received professional supportive services in a home regulated by the state of Alabama.
According to the complaint, city officials told Ms. Williams that she could not operate the for-profit group home for residents with disabilities in the residential neighborhood without a business license, but city policy prohibited the issuance of business licenses for such homes in residential zones. The lawsuit also alleged that city officials refused to make a reasonable accommodation in the city’s rules, policies, practices or services that were necessary to afford the residents an opportunity to use and enjoy their home, as required by the Fair Housing Act.
The consent decree requires that the city maintain records relating to future proposals for housing for persons with disabilities, submit periodic reports to the Justice Department for a period of four years, and ensure that certain employees undergo training on the requirements of the Fair Housing Act. In accordance with the decree, the city also adopted amendments to its zoning ordinance and business license law that:
- Establish a reasonable accommodation policy by which a resident with a disability, or a housing provider on behalf of a resident with a disability, may seek a reasonable accommodation from the city;
- Modify the zoning ordinance’s definition of “family” to expressly provide that persons with disabilities, including residents of group homes, will not be excluded from the definition, regardless of whether the group home is for-profit or non-profit;
- Require city officials to issue a business license when it is necessary to effectuate reasonable accommodations under the city’s new policy; and
- Include a category for “group homes” in the city’s business license law.
The case began when Ms. Williams and the three residents of the group home filed complaints with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD referred the complaints to the Justice Department, which conducted an investigation and filed the lawsuit in May 2008.
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, national origin and disability. 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/fairhousing or www.hud.gov/fairhousing.
Justice Department Reaches Agreements to Protect Rights of Military and Overseas Voters from Colorado, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and HawaiiRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that it has reached agreements with Colorado, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Hawaii officials to help ensure that military service members and U.S. citizens living overseas have an opportunity to participate fully in the Nov. 2, 2010 federal general election. These agreements were necessary to ensure compliance with the 2009 Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act).
“Our uniformed service members and other overseas citizens deserve to have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the election of our nation’s leaders, and to know that their votes will be counted,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “I am extremely pleased with state officials who worked quickly and cooperatively with the department and agreed to measures that will ensure the states’ military and overseas voters, many of whom are members of our armed forces and their families bravely serving our country around the world, will have their votes counted in the upcoming election.”
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 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 changes to UOCAVA. Among those changes is a requirement that states transmit absentee ballots to voters covered under UOCAVA no later than 45 days before federal elections. Under the new law, states can apply to the Department of Defense for a hardship waiver of this requirement for a particular federal election if the state’s primary election date prohibited it from sending ballots by the 45th day before the election; if a legal contest causes a delay in generating ballots; or if the state’s constitution prohibits compliance. To obtain a waiver, states must 1) establish that one or more of these circumstances creates an undue hardship, and 2) present a comprehensive plan that provides UOCAVA voters sufficient time to receive and submit marked absentee ballots in time to have them counted in that election. Waiver determinations are made by the Department of Defense, after consulting with the Department of Justice.
The agreement with Colorado provides that the state will take the actions necessary to ensure that its counties send an official absentee ballot to all military service members and U.S. citizens living overseas 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. The agreement also commits the state to take steps to ensure compliance in future federal elections and provide a report to the Department of Justice on those efforts. Colorado sought a hardship waiver on grounds that its Aug. 10 primary election date prohibited it from complying with the 45-day deadline specified by the MOVE Act.
Under the agreement with the District of Columbia, the District will send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters no later than October 4, 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. The agreement also commits the District of Columbia to take steps to ensure compliance in future federal elections and provide a report to the Department of Justice on those efforts. 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. The District sought a hardship waiver on grounds that its Sept. 14 primary date prohibited it from complying with the 45-day deadline specified by the MOVE Act.
According to the agreement, the U.S. Virgin Islands will send absentee ballots for federal office (the Virgin Islands’ Delegate to Congress) on or before Sept. 18, the 45th day before the election. In addition, the Virgin Islands will mail a second ballot with the territorial contests for local office to UOCAVA voters by Oct. 2. The Virgin Islands sought a hardship waiver on grounds that its Sept. 11 primary election date prohibited it from complying with the 45-day deadline specified by the MOVE Act.
Hawaii’s primary election on Sept. 18, 2010 precludes the state from sending absentee ballots to military and overseas voters by the MOVE Act’s ballot transmittal deadline of September 18 -- the 45th day before the November 2 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 agreement requires 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. Additionally, Hawaii will contact voters to remind them of their option to receive their ballots by email starting on Sept. 24, and of a procedure by which voters may obtain, and also return, replacement ballots electronically within 5 days of the Nov. 2 election if the voter has not otherwise received his or her ballot. Hawaii will maintain contact with its military and overseas voters periodically in the days leading up to the election to monitor whether voters have received their ballots and to take action if replacement ballots are necessary. These safeguards are designed to ensure that eligible military and overseas voters have sufficient time to receive, cast and return their ballots in time to be counted. Hawaii sought a hardship waiver on grounds that its Sept. 18 primary election date – the latest in the nation -- prohibited it from complying with the 45-day deadline specified by the MOVE Act. 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 Aug. 27, the Department of Defense denied all four waiver requests. The Department of Defense found that Colorado and the Virgin Islands did not establish an undue hardship for the Nov. 2, 2010 election, and that their proposed comprehensive plans did not afford sufficient time for UOCAVA voters to receive and submit absentee ballots in time to have them counted. For Hawaii and the District of Columbia, although an undue hardship was found, they did not provide adequate comprehensive plans. Immediately following denial of the waiver applications for Colorado, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Hawaii, the Department of Justice advised state officials that the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights had authorized litigation to enforce UOCAVA. Discussions with the state and territory officials were initiated to resolve the matter, which led to the agreements announced today.
More information about UOCAVA and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice website at www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/misc/activ_uoc.htm. Complaints may be reported to the Voting Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931.
Four Indicted for MS-13 Gang ActivitiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three alleged members and associates of the MS-13 gang have been indicted for various violent crimes stemming from a home invasion last year in the District of Columbia in which several persons were held at gunpoint. A fourth alleged member has been indicted for subsequent efforts to threaten potential witnesses in the case.
The indictment was returned Sept. 16, 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. of the District of Columbia; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton; John P. Torres, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Office of ICE; and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The indictment charges Carlos M. Silva, Omar R. Aguilar, Wilfredo Mejia and Henry Sarba. The defendants previously were charged in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, based on an investigation by ICE agents and MPD. The indictment broadens the case to reflect the serious nature of the violent gang activity that is represented in the new charges and effectively transfers the case to the U.S. District Court.
According to the indictment, Silva, Aguilar and Mejia, for the purpose of gaining entrance to and maintaining and increasing position in MS-13, invaded an apartment in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 11, 2009, and held five occupants at gunpoint. The indictment alleges that the purpose of the home invasion was an apparent effort to extort funds from the victims to support the gang’s activities. According to the indictment, a female occupant was sexually assaulted during the attack.
Silva, 28; Aguilar 20; and Mejia, 25, were arrested and originally charged in D.C. Superior Court. Sarba, 20, allegedly called potential witnesses sometime after the arrests and made threats.
The indictment charges Silva, Aguilar and Mejia with kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, weapons offenses, and other charges. Silva also is charged with assault with intent to commit first degree sexual abuse while armed and third degree sexual abuse. Sarba was indicted on charges including accessory after the fact, obstructing justice and threatening to injure or kidnap a person.
According to the indictment, MS-13 is a racketeering enterprise that constitutes one of the largest street gangs in the United States. MS-13 is a national and international criminal organization, and its members have been found responsible for murders, narcotics distribution and other crimes, the indictment states.
The charges carry significant penalties. The statutory penalty for kidnapping in aid of racketeering is 30 years.
“Investigating and prosecuting violent gangs is among the highest priorities of the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. “We will not allow violent criminal organizations like MS-13 to terrorize our neighborhoods and communities. The Criminal Division is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to ensure that members of these organizations are brought to justice.”
“This indictment shows our determination to dismantle MS-13 and other violent gangs that threaten our community,” U.S. Attorney Machen stated. “I would like to commend the hard-working men and women who worked on this case, particularly the members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement who have spent months bringing these defendants to justice.”
“This indictment demonstrates the resolve of Homeland Security Investigations to aggressively pursue transnational criminal gangs like MS-13,” said ICE Director John Morton. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer by targeting criminal gang members for prosecution.”
“This is the third major indictment in the last week that has involved gangs or drugs,” said MPD Chief Lanier. “The message to gang members and other criminals should be clear. We will not tolerate this violence and intimidation in our city.”
This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Laura Gwinn of the Criminal Division’s Gang Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill O’Malley, Seth Adam Meinero and Allison Barlotta. The case is part of broader efforts by the Department of Justice to aggressively prosecute the most dangerous and violent gangs in the country. MS-13 members and leaders have been federally prosecuted in Maryland, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, California, New York, and other locations.
The charges filed in this case are merely allegations that the defendants have committed a violation of criminal law and are not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
Former Workers at Los Alamos Charged with Transmitting Classified Nuclear Weapons Data to Injure the United StatesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that a scientist and his wife, who both previously worked as contractors at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico, have been indicted on charges of communicating classified nuclear weapons data to a person they believed to be a Venezuelan government official and conspiring to participate in the development of an atomic weapon for Venezuela, among other violations.
The 22-count indictment, which was returned yesterday by a federal grand jury in the District of New Mexico, was announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Kenneth J. Gonzales, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico and Carol K.O. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.
The defendants are Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni (Mascheroni), 75, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Argentina, and Marjorie Roxby Mascheroni (Roxby Mascheroni), 67, a U.S. citizen. Both were arrested by FBI agents this morning and made their initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque today. If convicted of all the charges in the indictment, the defendants face a potential sentence of life in prison.
The indictment does not allege that the government of Venezuela or anyone acting on its behalf sought or was passed any classified information, nor does it charge any Venezuelan government officials or anyone acting on their behalf with wrongdoing. Further, the indictment does not charge any individuals currently working at LANL with wrongdoing.
Mascheroni, a Ph.D. physicist, worked as a scientist at LANL from 1979 to 1988 and held a security clearance that allowed him access to certain classified information, including “Restricted Data.” His wife worked at LANL between 1981 and 2010, where her duties included technical writing and editing. She also held a security clearance at LANL that allowed her access to certain classified information, including “Restricted Data.” As defined under the Atomic Energy Act, “Restricted Data” is classified information concerning the design, manufacture or use of atomic weapons; the production of special nuclear material; or the use of special nuclear material in the production of energy.
The indictment charges the defendants with conspiring to communicate and communicating “Restricted Data” to an individual with the intent to injure the United States and secure an advantage to a foreign nation. They are also charged with conspiring to and attempting to participate in the development of an atomic weapon, as well as conspiring to convey and conveying classified “Restricted Data.” The indictment further charges Mascheroni with concealing and retaining U.S. records with the intent to convert them to his own use and gain, as well as six counts of making false statements. Roxby Mascheroni is also charged with seven counts of making false statements.
“The conduct alleged in this indictment is serious and should serve as a warning to anyone who would consider compromising our nation’s nuclear secrets for profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Kris. “I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring about this prosecution.”
U.S. Attorney Gonzales said, “Our laws are designed to prevent ‘Restricted Data’ from falling into the wrong hands because of the potential harm to our national security. Employees at the Los Alamos National Laboratory who have access to ‘Restricted Data’ are charged with safeguarding that sensitive information, even after they leave the lab. This is absolutely necessary for our national security, and it is what the public expects. Consistent with its responsibility to protect our national interests, LANL has cooperated fully in the investigation leading to the indictment of Dr. Mascheroni and Marjorie Roxby Mascheroni.”
“As is often the case with these types of investigations, this has been a long, painstaking, and methodical process. I am exceedingly proud of the work done by our Special Agents and their close colleagues at the New Mexico U.S. Attorney’s Office. I am also grateful for the assistance of and close collaboration with officials at the Department of Energy and Los Alamos National Laboratory,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Lee.
According to the indictment, Mascheroni had a series of conversations in March 2008 with an undercover FBI agent posing as a Venezuelan government official. During these conversations, Mascheroni discussed his program for developing nuclear weapons for Venezuela. Among other things, Mascheroni allegedly said he could help Venezuela develop a nuclear bomb within 10 years and that, under his program, Venezuela would use a secret, underground nuclear reactor to produce and enrich plutonium, and an open, above-ground reactor to produce nuclear energy.
During these talks, Mascheroni allegedly asked about obtaining Venezuelan citizenship and described how he expected to be paid for his classified nuclear work for Venezuela. He also told the undercover agent he should be addressed as “Luke,” and that he would set up an email account solely to communicate with the undercover agent. Mascheroni later used this account to communicate with the agent and to arrange for deliveries of materials at a “dead drop” location, which was a post office box.
In July 2008, the undercover agent provided Mascheroni with a list of 12 questions purportedly from Venezuelan military and scientific personnel. In response, Mascheroni delivered to the dead drop location in November 2008 a disk with a coded 132-page document on it that allegedly contained “Restricted Data” related to nuclear weapons. Written by Mascheroni and edited by his wife, the document was entitled “A Deterrence Program for Venezuela” and laid out Mascheroni’s nuclear weapons development program for Venezuela. Mascheroni stated that the information he was providing was worth millions of dollars, and his fee for producing the document was $793,000, the indictment alleges.
In June 2009, Mascheroni received from the dead drop location another list of questions, purportedly from Venezuelan officials, and $20,000 in cash from the undercover agent as a first payment. On his way to pick up these materials, he allegedly told his wife he was doing this work for the money and was not an American anymore.
In July 2009, Mascheroni delivered to the dead drop location a disk that contained a 39-page document with answers to the questions. According to the indictment, the document was written by Mascheroni, edited by his wife, and contained “Restricted Data” related to nuclear weapons. In the document, Mascheroni allegedly reiterated that the information he had provided was classified and was based on his knowledge of U.S. nuclear tests that he had learned while working at LANL, but that he would state the document was based on open information found on the Internet if “our relationship/alliance does not work…”
In August 2009, the indictment alleges, Mascheroni and his wife met with the undercover agent at a hotel, where Mascheroni further discussed his nuclear weapons development program for Venezuela. Several months later, FBI agents questioned Mascheroni and his wife about the classified information Mascheroni had provided to the undercover agent, among other things. Both made a series of false statements in response, the indictment alleges.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Albuquerque Division with assistance from the Department of Energy and LANL.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred Federici and Dean Tuckman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, and Trial Attorneys Kathleen Kedian and David Recker of the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains allegations only and that every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Florida Couple Pleads Guilty to Forced Labor Conspiracy of 39 Filipino Guest WorkersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Sophia Manuel, 41, and Alfonso Baldonado Jr., 45, owners of Quality Staffing Services Corporation, a labor contracting service, pleaded guilty to conspiring to hold 39 Filipino nationals in compelled service in country clubs and hotels in Southeast Florida. Manuel also pleaded guilty to making false statements in an application she filed with the U.S. Department of Labor to obtain foreign labor certifications and visas under the federal H2B guest worker program.
According to documents presented in court, the defendants conspired to obtain a cheap, compliant and readily available labor pool, by making false promises to entice the victims to incur debts. The defendants then compelled the victims’ labor and services through threats to have the workers arrested and deported, knowing the workers faced serious economic harm and possible incarceration for nonpayment of debts in the Philippines. After the victims arrived at the defendants’ residence in Boca Raton, Fla., the defendants confiscated their passports; housed them in overcrowded, substandard conditions without adequate food or drinking water; put them to work at area country clubs and hotels for little or no pay; required them to remain in the defendants’ service, unpaid when there was insufficient work; ordered them not to leave the premises without permission and an escort; and threatened to have the workers arrested and deported for complaining about these terms and conditions.
“These defendants victimized vulnerable individuals for profit,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Forced labor robs victims of their freedom and their dignity, and it will not be tolerated in this country.”
“Each day, people leave behind their families and homelands in search of freedom and a better life in the United States. The individuals in this case were no different,” said Wifredo Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. “They came here seeking a better life, but found their dream of freedom and a better life transformed into a real-life nightmare of servitude and fear. With today's guilty pleas, we come one step closer to punishing the defendants for their crimes.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations; FBI; the U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Diplomatic Security; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and the Florida Office of the Attorney General. This case is being prosecuted by trial attorney Susan French of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaniek Maynard.
Federal Court Bars Missouri Lawyer from Promoting Individual Retirement Account Tax ArrangementsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal judge in St. Louis has permanently barred a Missouri attorney and his law firm from promoting any Individual Retirement Account-based arrangement, the Justice Department announced today. The order, entered by Judge Rodney W. Sippel of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, bars Philip A. Kaiser and the Kaiser Law Firm from engaging in conduct that allegedly helped clients improperly evade contribution limits for Roth IRA accounts and accumulate millions of dollars in tax-free gains in their Roth IRA accounts, according to the government complaint in the case.
The court order, to which Kaiser consented, permanently bars Kaiser and his law firm from promoting or advising with respect to a number of schemes described in the government complaint:
- The Private IRA Corporation or “PIRAC”tax arrangement;
- The Char-FLP tax arrangement;
- The Real Estate Purchase Option tax arrangement;
- The Derivium tax arrangement; and
- The establishment of any other IRA-based arrangement.
The complaint alleged that numerous self-directed Roth IRA accounts were established under Kaiser’s direction to implement the above tax arrangements. This allegedly allowed Kaiser’s customers to improperly evade contribution limits for Roth IRA accounts and accumulate in their IRAs tens of millions of dollars in tax-free gains.
The court also ordered Kaiser to provide a copy of the injunction to his employees and customers, and give the government information about his customers who have implemented the tax arrangements described in the complaint.
The Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) list of the “Dirty Dozen” tax scams for 2010 includes abusive Roth IRA schemes.
John A. DiCicco, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, thanked Justice Department trial attorneys Gregory S. Seador and Jessica S. Reimelt for handling the case, and also thanked Jim Graczyk of the IRS’ Small Business/Self-Employed Division, which investigated the case.
Since 2001, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained hundreds of injunctions to stop the promotion of tax fraud schemes and the preparation of fraudulent returns. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website.
Ex trabajadores en Los Álamos fueron acusados de transmitir datos secretos sobre armas nucleares para perjudicar a los Estados UnidosRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que un científico y su esposa, ambos los cuales trabajaron como contratistas en el Laboratorio Nacional de Los Álamos [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)] en Nuevo México, fueron acusados de cargos de comunicar datos secretos sobre armas nucleares a una persona quien creían ser un funcionario del gobierno de Venezuela y de conspirar para participar en el desarrollo de un arma atómica para Venezuela, entre otras violaciones.
La acusación formal compuesta por 22 cargos, la cual fue emitida ayer por un gran jurado federal en el Distrito de Nuevo México, fue anunciada por David Kris, Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar de Seguridad Nacional; Kenneth J. Gonzàles, Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Nuevo México y Carol K.O. Lee, Agente Especial a Cargo de la División de Albuquerque del Buró Federal de Investigaciones [Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)].
Los demandados son Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni (Mascheroni), 75, un ciudadano estadounidense naturalizado de Argentina, y Marjorie Roxby Mascheroni (Roxby Mascheroni), 67, una ciudadana de EE.UU. Ambos fueron arrestados por agentes del FBI esta mañana y realizaron su comparecencia inicial ante el tribunal federal en Albuquerque hoy. Si se les condena por todos los cargos de la acusación, los demandados enfrentan una posible sentencia de prisión perpetua.
La acusación formal no alega que el gobierno de Venezuela o cualquier persona actuando en su nombre haya pedido o transmitido cualquier información confidencial, ni acusa a cualquier funcionario del gobierno de Venezuela o a cualquiera que actúe en su nombre de haber cometido una violación de la ley. Por otro lado, la acusación formal no acusa a ninguna persona que actualmente trabaje en LANL de cualquier hecho ilegal.
Mascheroni, un doctor en física, trabajó como científico en LANL de 1979 a 1988, donde tuvo acceso a ciertas informaciones secretas, incluidos "Datos restringidos". Su esposa trabajó en LANL entre 1981 y 2010, donde sus tareas incluyeron redacción y edición técnicas. También contaba con permiso de LANL para acceder a ciertas informaciones secretas, incluidos "Datos restringidos". Según definición de la Ley de Energía Atómica, "Datos restringidos" son información secreta acerca del diseño, la manufactura o el uso de armas atómicas; la producción de materiales nucleares especiales, o el uso de materiales nucleares especiales para la producción de energía.
La acusación formal acusa a los demandados de conspirar para comunicar y de comunicar "Datos restringidos" a una persona con la intención de perjudicar a los Estados Unidos y lograr una ventaja en un país extranjero. También fueron acusados de conspirar para, e intentar participar en el desarrollo de un arma atómica, así como conspirar para transmitir, y transmitir "Datos restringidos". Asimismo, la acusación formal acusa a Mascheroni de ocultar y retener registros estadounidenses con la intención de utilizarlos en beneficio propio y para ganancias personales, así como seis cargos de realización de declaraciones falsas. También se acusa a Roxby Mascheroni de siete cargos de realización de declaraciones falsas.
"La conducta alegada en esta acusación formal es grave y debe servir de advertencia a cualquier persona que pudiera considerar comprometer los secretos nucleares de nuestra nación por ganancias personales", dijo el Secretario de Justicia Kris. "Felicito a los muchos agentes, analistas y fiscales que trabajaron sin descanso para lograr la realización de este enjuiciamiento".
El Fiscal Federal Gonzàles dijo, "Nuestra leyes fueron diseñadas de modo a evitar que 'Datos restringidos' caigan en las manos equivocadas debido al daño potencial a nuestra seguridad nacional. Los empleados del Laboratorio Nacional Los Álamos con acceso a 'Datos restringidos' tienen la obligación de proteger dicha información delicada, inclusive después de haber dejado el laboratorio. Esto es absolutamente necesario para nuestra seguridad nacional, y es lo que el público espera. Compatible con su responsabilidad de proteger nuestros intereses nacionales, LANL ha cooperado plenamente en la investigación que ha llevado a la acusación formal del Dr. Mascheroni y Marjorie Roxby Mascheroni".
"Como suele ocurrir con estos tipos de investigaciones, éste ha sido un proceso largo, laborioso y metódico. Estoy muy orgulloso del trabajo realizado por nuestros Agentes Especiales y sus colegas en la Fiscalía Federal de Nuevo México. También agradezco la asistencia y colaboración de los funcionarios del Departamento de Energía y del Laboratorio Nacional de Los Álamos", dijo el Agente Especial a Cargo del FBI Lee.
De acuerdo con la acusación formal, Mascheroni mantuvo una serie de conversaciones en marzo de 2008 con un agente encubierto del FBI que se hizo pasar por un funcionario del gobierno de Venezuela. Durante estas conversaciones, Mascheroni discutió su programa para el desarrollo de armas nucleares para Venezuela. Entre otras cosas, se alega que Mascheroni dijo que podría ayudar a Venezuela a desarrollar una bomba nuclear en el plazo de diez años y que, bajo su programa, Venezuela utilizaría un reactor nuclear secreto y subterráneo para producir y enriquecer plutonio, y un reactor abierto, sobre el suelo, para producir energía nuclear.
Durante estas charlas, se alega que Mascheroni preguntó sobre la obtención de la ciudadanía venezolana y describió cómo pretendía que se le pagara por su trabajo nuclear secreto para Venezuela. También le dijo al agente encubierto que se le debía llamar "Luke" y que configuraría una cuenta de correo electrónico especifica para comunicarse con el agente encubierto. Luego, Mascheroni utilizó esta cuenta para comunicarse con el agente y para realizar arreglos para los envíos de materiales a un buzón secreto, el cual era una casilla de correo.
En julio de 2008, el agente encubierto proporcionó a Mascheroni una lista de 12 preguntas supuestamente de personal militar y científico venezolano. En respuesta, en noviembre de 2008, Mascheroni dejó en el buzón secreto un disco con un documento cifrado de 132 páginas que supuestamente contenía 'datos restringidos' asociados a armas nucleares. Redactado por Mascheroni y editado por su esposa, el documento llevaba el título "Un programa de disuasión para Venezuela" y describía el programa de desarrollo de armas nucleares para Venezuela de Mascheroni. Mascheroni declaró que la información que proporcionaba valía millones de dólares, y que sus honorarios por producir el documento eran de $793,000 dólares, alega la acusación formal.
En junio de 2009, Mascheroni recibió en el buzón secreto otra lista de preguntas, supuestamente de funcionarios venezolanos, y $20,000 dólares en efectivo del agente encubierto como primer pago. Al salir para buscar estos materiales, supuestamente, le dijo a su esposa que estaba haciendo este trabajo por dinero y que había dejado de ser un ciudadano estadounidense.
En julio de 2009, Mascheroni llevó al buzón secreto un disco que contenía un documento de 39 páginas con respuestas a las preguntas. De acuerdo con la acusación formal, el documento fue escrito por Mascheroni, editado por su esposa, y contenía "datos restringidos" asociados a armas nucleares. En el documento, se alega que Mascheroni reiteró que la información que había provisto era secreta y basada en sus conocimientos de pruebas nucleares estadounidenses que obtuvo mientras trabajaba en LANL, pero que declararía que el documento se basó en información abierta encontrada en Internet si "nuestra relación/alianza no funciona".
En agosto de 2009, alega la acusación formal que Mascheroni y su esposa se reunieron con un agente encubierto en un hotel, donde Mascheroni conversó más detenidamente sobre su programa de desarrollo de armas nucleares para Venezuela. Varios meses más tarde, agentes del FBI interrogaron a Mascheroni y su esposa sobre la información secreta que Mascheroni había provisto al agente encubierto, entre otras cosas. Ambos realizaron una serie de declaraciones falsas en respuesta, alega la acusación formal.
Esta investigación fue conducida por la División de Albuquerque del FBI con la asistencia del Departamento de Energía y LANL.
Están a cargo de la acusación en el caso los Fiscales Federales Auxiliares Fred Federici y Dean Tuckman de la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito de Nuevo México, y los Abogados Litigantes Kathleen Kedian y David Recker de la Sección de Contraespionaje de la División de Seguridad Nacional del Departamento de Justicia.
Se le recuerda al público que una acusación formal solo contiene alegatos y se supone que todo demandado es inocente hasta que se pruebe lo contrario.
Thursday 16 September 2010
Soldado de las Fuerzas Especiales de Guatemala sentenciado a 10 años de prisión por realizar declaraciones falsas en formularios de naturalización sobre la masacre de aldeanos guatemaltecos en 1982Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gilberto Jordàn, 54, un ex soldado de las fuerzas especiales de Guatemala, fue sentenciado hoy por el Juez Federal de Distrito William J. Zloch en el Distrito Sur de Florida a 10 años de prisión por obtener ilegalmente su ciudadanía estadounidense al mentir sobre su participación en una masacre ocurrida en 1982 en un pueblo guatemalteco conocido como Dos Erres, anunciaron el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Lanny A. Breuer de la División Criminal, el Fiscal Federal Wifredo A. Ferrer para el Distrito Sur de Florida y John Morton, Director del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de los EE.UU. [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)]. En la lectura de la sentencia, el Juez Zloch también revocó la ciudadanía de Jordàn.
Según el expediente judicial, aproximadamente en noviembre de 1982, un grupo guerrillero guatemalteco tendió una emboscada a un convoy militar cerca de Dos Erres, Guatemala, mató a soldados y tomó una serie de rifles. Como respuesta, una patrulla de aproximadamente 20 soldados de las fuerzas especiales guatemaltecas, conocidos como "Kaibiles", fue enviada en diciembre de 1982 al pueblo de Dos Erres en busca de los rifles robados y para encontrar a sospechosos de ser guerrilleros. De acuerdo con el expediente judicial, el 7 de diciembre de 1982 Jordàn y la patrulla especial ingresaron a Dos Erres con el apoyo de aproximadamente 40 Kaibiles adicionales, quienes crearon un perímetro alrededor del pueblo para que nadie pudiera escapar. Los miembros de la patrulla especial allanaron todas las casas en búsqueda de las armas que faltan, obligaron a los habitantes a dejar sus casas, y separaron a las mujeres y los niños de los hombres.
Los miembros de la patrulla especial luego pasaron a sistemáticamente asesinar a hombres, mujeres y niños en Dos Erres al, entre otras cosas, golpearlos en la cabeza con un martillo y luego arrojarlos en el pozo de agua del pueblo, según lo que indica el expediente judicial. Miembros de la patrulla especial también violaron a muchas de las mujeres y niñas en Dos Erres antes de matarlas. Se exhumaron, más tarde, alrededor de 162 esqueletos del pozo de la villa.
En su audiencia de declaración de culpabilidad, Jordàn admitió que había sido un Kaibil en las fuerzas armadas guatemaltecas y que había participado en la masacre de Dos Erres. Jordàn también admitió que la primera persona que mató en Dos Erres fue un bebé, a quien asesinó al arrojarlo al pozo de agua.
"Gilberto Jordàn obtuvo el privilegio de la ciudadanía estadounidense mintiendo sobre su servicio militar anterior y ocultando su participación brutal y homicida en la masacre de Dos Erres", dijo el Secretario de Justicia Auxiliar Breuer. "En los últimos 30 años, el Departamento de Justicia ha luchado para asegurar que los violadores de los derechos humanos que escapan a los Estados Unidos sean hallados, que se pruebe su acciones pasadas reprochables y que se les quite su ciudadanía estadounidense obtenida indebidamente. Este caso y otros casos similares demuestran que estos delincuentes no podrán hacer su hogar en este país".
"En el Distrito Sur de Florida viven muchos inmigrantes trabajadores que han escapado la persecución política", dijo el Fiscal Federal Wifredo A. Ferrer. "La sentencia de hoy y la decisión del juez de imponer la sentencia legal máxima dejan en claro que los responsables de abusos a los derechos humanos no se pueden esconder entre nosotros y confundirse entre sus víctimas, sino que serán encontrados, enjuiciados y castigados".
El Director del ICE John Morton dijo, "La sentencia de hoy les envía un mensaje a los violadores de los derechos humanos en todo el mundo. No ignoraremos a los responsables de delitos tan atroces. Los agentes de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional del ICE seguirán trabajando sin tregua para garantizar que los violadores de los derechos humanos no puedan encontrar refugio en los Estados Unidos".
De acuerdo con el expediente judicial, cuando Jordàn presentó su solicitud de ciudadanía estadounidense en septiembre de 1996, negó falsamente haber sido miembro de las fuerzas armadas o haber cometido algún delito por el cual no había sido arrestado. En julio de 1999, cuando Jordàn fue entrevistado por un examinador de naturalización en conexión con su solicitud de naturalización, declaró falsamente bajo juramento que las respuestas que había proporcionado en su solicitud eran verdaderas y correctas. Jordàn recibió la ciudadanía estadounidense el 25 de agosto de 1999.
Estuvieron a cargo de la acusación en el caso los Abogados Litigantes Hillary Davidson y Brian Skaret de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Enjuiciamientos Especiales de la División Criminal, y la Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Marie Villafaña del Distrito Sur de Florida. El caso fue investigado por Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional del ICE en West Palm Beach, Fla. y la Unidad de Violadores de Derechos Humanos y Delitos de Guerra del ICE y la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del ICE. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales de la División Criminal brindó asistencia en este caso.
Sales Agent for A&O Entities in Richmond Pleads Guilty to Misleading InvestorsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tomme Bromseth, 68, of Blackstone, Va., pleaded guilty today to mail fraud and structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements in conjunction with his role as a sales agent for A&O Life Funds and various related A&O entities.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil H. MacBride and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis W. Dohnal .
Bromseth waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a criminal information alleging one count of mail fraud and and one count of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements. Bromseth faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the mail fraud charge and a maximum term of five years in prison for the structuring charge.
According to court documents, Bromseth admitted to making misrepresentations about the risks associated with A&O investments, as well as his qualifications to sell such investments. Bromseth sold over $3 million in A&O products to 15 investors between July 2006 and November 2007.
This continuing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and FBI, with significant assistance from the Texas State Securities Board. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. Dry and Jessica Aber Brumberg from the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Albert B. Stieglitz Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
The investigation has been coordinated by the Virginia Financial and Securities Fraud Task Force, an unprecedented partnership between criminal investigators and civil regulators to investigate and prosecute complex financial fraud cases in the nation and in Virginia. The task force is an investigative arm of the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, an interagency national task force.
President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.