United States Department of Justice

Press Releases for November 2005

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL‘S CAPTAIN AND CREW MEMBER INDICTED FOR SMUGGLING RED SNAPPER (05-634)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice announced today that a federal grand jury in Houston, Texas returned a four-count indictment charging two Port Bolivar-based commercial fishermen with illegally importing red snapper into the United States, a violation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (the Magnuson-Stevens Act).  (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLES LAWSUIT ALLEGING DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION BY THE CITY OF ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN (05-633)

The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the City of Royal Oak, Michigan, resolving a lawsuit that alleged zoning discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  (Read more)

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Department of Justice Statement on the Closing of the Vermont Home Health Investigation  (05-629)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department's Antitrust Division issued the following statement today after the Department announced the closing of its investigation of an alleged territorial allocation among Vermont's 12 Medicare-certified home health agencies: (Read more)

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES MISSOURI FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF VOTER RIGHTS (05-627)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the State of Missouri and the Missouri Secretary of State for violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). (Read more)

Jose Padilla Charged With Conspiracy To Murder Individuals Overseas, Providing Material Support To Terrorists (05-624)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A federal grand jury in Miami has returned an 11-count superseding indictment that charges Jose Padilla and four additional defendants with conspiracy to murder, kidnap and maim individuals overseas, and providing material support to terrorists as part of a North American terrorist support cell. (Read more)

TEXAS MAN AND COMPANY CHARGED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES  (05-621)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Texas man was indicted by a federal grand jury for criminal violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency announced today. Dennis Rodriguez and his company North American Waste Assistance, LLC (NAWA), located in El Paso, Texas, are each charged with one count of knowingly making a material false statement or representations in manifest used to transport hazardous waste, two counts of transporting hazardous waste to an un-permitted site, and two counts of disposing of hazardous waste without a permit. (Read more)

Monday, November 21, 2005

FORMER PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST MICHAEL SCANLON PLEADS GUILTY TO CORRUPTION AND FRAUD CONSPIRACY  (05-622)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former public relations specialist Michael P.S. Scanlon has pleaded guilty to a charge of participating in a conspiracy with others to commit bribery, mail and wire fraud, and honest services fraud from at least January 2000 through at least April 2004, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)

Thursday, November 17, 2005

SIX DEFENDANTS PLEAD GUILTY IN INTERNET IDENTITY THEFT AND CREDIT CARD FRAUD CONSPIRACY (05-619)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Six men who administered and operated the “Shadowcrew.com” website-one of the largest online centers for trafficking in stolen credit and bank card numbers and identity information-pleaded guilty today in federal court, the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney‘s office for the District of New Jersey announced today. (Read more)

FOUR CURRENT AND FORMER U.S. SOLDIERS AND ONE CIVILIAN OTHER AGREE TO PLEAD GUILTY TO PARTICIPATING IN BRIBERY AND EXTORTION CONSPIRACY (05-618)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Four additional current and former U.S. soldiers and one civilian have agreed to plead guilty to participating in a widespread bribery and extortion conspiracy which operated from January 2002 through March 2004, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today.  (Read more)

FORMER COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OFFICIAL AND CONTRACTOR ARRESTED IN CASE INVOLVING FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME IN IRAQ (05-613)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A former Coalition Provisional Authority official and a contractor doing business in Iraq have been arrested on charges of conspiring to commit money laundering and wire fraud in connection with a bribery and fraud scheme, the Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)

FORMER COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OFFICIAL AND CONTRACTOR ARRESTED IN CASE INVOLVING FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEME IN IRAQ (05-613)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A former Coalition Provisional Authority official and a contractor doing business in Iraq have been arrested on charges of conspiring to commit money laundering and wire fraud in connection with a bribery and fraud scheme, the Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANTITRUST DIVISION STATEMENT ON THE CLOSING OF ITS TWO STOCK EXCHANGE INVESTIGATIONS (05-616)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice‘s Antitrust Division issued the following statement today after the Department announced the closing of its investigations of the proposed acquisition of Instinet Group Inc. (Instinet) by The NASDAQ Stock Market Inc. (Nasdaq) and the proposed merger of the New York Stock Exchange Inc. (NYSE) and Archipelago Holdings Inc. (Read more)

SECOND DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO THREATENING DETROIT MEMBERS OF THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF AMERICA (05-615)

The Justice Department today announced that John Barnett pleaded guilty on November 15, 2005, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to violating the civil rights of members of the Islamic Center of America, located in Detroit, Michigan.  (Read more)

FEDERAL JUDGE BARS FLORIDA MAN FROM PROMOTING TAX-FRAUD SCHEME (05-614)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department announced today that a Florida federal court has permanently barred James Kent Lansing, of Rockledge, from selling an alleged tax-fraud scheme known as a “corporation sole” program. The order, entered on Monday, November 14, by Judge Anne C. Conway of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, also applies to Lansing‘s business, Sole Resources.  (Read more)

HIGH RANKING GUATEMALAN POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO IMPORT COCAINE INTO THE UNITED STATES (05-611)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Three high-level members of the Guatemalan Anti-Narcotics Police (Servicio de Analisis e Informacion Antinarcoticos, or SAIA) have been arrested on charges of conspiring to import and distribute cocaine in the United States, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Karen Tandy announced today.  (Read more)

ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO R. GONZALES DELIVERS $287, 577 TO GOVERNMENT OF INDONESIA IN FIRST U.S.-INDONESIA ASSET SHARING AGREEMENT (05-610)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - In a meeting today in Jakarta with Indonesian National Police (INP) Chief Sutanto, U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales delivered a check to the Government of Indonesia in the amount of $287,577, in the first ever asset sharing agreement between the United States and Indonesia. The funds consist of proceeds of assets forfeited by the U.S. Department of Justice in a narcotics case in which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was assisted by narcotics officers with INP.  (Read more)

KARLOG SHIPPING COMPANY, LTD. PLEADS GUILTY TO CONCEALING VESSEL POLLUTION  (05-609)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Karlog Shipping Company Ltd. (Karlog Shipping)-operator of a fleet of cargo freighters based in Piraeus, Greece-pleaded guilty to making false statements and obstructing justice in connection with the overboard discharge of waste oil through a hidden bypass pipe on the M/V Friendship, a Greek-registered cargo ship, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

Monday, November 14, 2005

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR ELECTION IN FLORIDA (05-608)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced that on November 15, it will monitor the municipal election in the City of Miami, Florida, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act. Miami‘s election was originally scheduled for November 1st, but due to hurricane damage, Governor Bush of Florida rescheduled the election from November 1 to November 15.  (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES ILLINOIS DOWN-PAYMENT ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION  (05-600)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a civil injunction lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois, in Chicago, seeking to bar Partners in Charity, Inc. (PIC) from making false and misleading statements in promoting to house sellers a program that assists buyers to fund the purchase of a house. (Read more)

Thursday, November 10, 2005

ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO R. GONZALES ANNOUNCES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LEGISLATION (05-607)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, while speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce‘s Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit, highlighted the Justice Department‘s efforts to protect intellectual property rights, and announced a comprehensive legislative proposal entitled the “Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2005,” which would strengthen penalties for repeat copyright criminals, expand criminal intellectual property protection, and add critical investigative tools for both criminal and civil enforcement. (Read more)

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO THREATENING DETROIT MEMBERS OF THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF AMERICA (05-605)

The Justice Department today announced that Michael Bratisax pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to violating the civil rights of members of the Islamic Center of America, located in Detroit, Michigan.  (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES TO BAR MICHIGAN MAN FROM PROMOTING ALLEGED TAX-FRAUD SCHEME (05-604)

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Justice Department has asked a federal court to bar Charles Conces, of Battle Creek, Michigan, from promoting and implementing an alleged tax-fraud scheme that is based on the false theory that income taxes are voluntary. The complaint, filed in Grand Rapids in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, alleges that Conces conducts his activities through an organization called the “Lawmen.” The lawsuit also seeks an order requiring Conces to give the Justice Department his customers‘ names, Social Security and telephone numbers and mailing and e-mail addresses.  (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY REGARDING CONDITIONS AT WOODBRIDGE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER  (05-603)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the State of New Jersey regarding conditions and services at the Woodbridge Developmental Center, a state-operated institution housing approximately 500 people with developmental disabilities. (Read more)

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES FOR CONTEMPT AGAINST GOLDEN GROVE PRISON AUTHORITIES REGARDING CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT (05-601)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced that it filed a Show Cause Motion with the United States District Court for the Virgin Islands asking the Court to hold the Virgin Islands in contempt of a long standing Consent Decree regarding conditions of confinement at the Golden Grove Prison and Detention Facility in St. Croix. (Read more)

Monday, November 7, 2005

KANSAS COUPLE CONVICTED ON INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE CHARGES FOR ABUSING MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS (05-599)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department announced today that Arlan Kaufman, 69, and his wife, Linda Kaufman, 62, were convicted on federal charges for forcing mentally ill patients to perform sexually explicit acts on videotape and to perform physical labor in the nude. The jury found Arlan Kaufman guilty on 31 federal counts and Linda Kaufman guilty on 30 federal counts, including involuntary servitude, forced labor, conspiracy, healthcare fraud, mail fraud, and Medicare fraud.  (Read more)

FACT SHEET: PROTECTING VOTING RIGHTS AND PREVENTING ELECTION FRAUD (05-597)

“Just one instance of fraud or one citizen who cannot exercise the power to vote .... is too many. Our work continues until every qualified citizen in every community in America has an equal chance to vote - and to have that vote count.” - Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, October 4, 2005 (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR ELECTIONS IN STATES ACROSS THE NATION (05-596)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced it will send federal observers and Justice Department personnel to 16 jurisdictions in seven states to monitor elections held on November 8 to ensure compliance with various federal voting rights statutes including the Voting Rights Act and the Help America Vote Act. (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RECOVERS $1.4 BILLION IN FRAUD & FALSE CLAIMS IN FISCAL YEAR 2005; MORE THAN $15 BILLION SINCE 1986 (05-595)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States obtained over $1.4 billion in settlements and judgments in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, pursuing allegations of fraud against the federal government, the Justice Department announced today. This brings total recoveries since 1986, when Congress substantially strengthened the civil False Claims Act, to $15 billion. (Read more)

Friday, November 4, 2005

NATIONAL OPERATOR OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL OBSCENITY AND TAX CHARGES (05-594)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security‘s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Internal Revenue Service announced that Edward J. Wedelstedt, of Littleton, Colorado, pled guilty this morning in federal court in Dallas, Texas, before the Honorable Paul Stickney, United States Magistrate Judge, to transporting obscene matters for sale or distribution. (Read more)

Thursday, November 3, 2005

FOUR MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH SCHEME TO SELL MORE THAN 30,000 COUNTERFEIT LUXURY GOODS (05-593)

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Four Massachusetts residents were charged today in federal court with money laundering and trafficking and conspiring to traffic in more than $1.4 million of counterfeit luxury handbags and wallets, as well as the materials needed to make these counterfeits. (Read more)

MAJOR UTAH IRON PIPE MANUFACTURER, TOP MANAGERS CHARGED IN SIX-YEAR CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE THE CLEAN AIR ACT AND FALSIFY TESTS TO COVER UP POLLUTION (05-592)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A federal indictment was returned in Salt Lake City, Utah, charging Pacific States-a manufacturer of cast iron pipe owned by McWane, Inc.-and two managers with committing conspiracy, Clean Air Act (CAA) violations, and submitting false statements to the government, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.  (Read more)

MAJOR UTAH IRON PIPE MANUFACTURER, TOP MANAGERS CHARGED IN SIX-YEAR CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE THE CLEAN AIR ACT AND FALSIFY TESTS TO COVER UP POLLUTION (05-592)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A federal indictment was returned in Salt Lake City, Utah, charging Pacific States-a manufacturer of cast iron pipe owned by McWane, Inc.-and two managers with committing conspiracy, Clean Air Act (CAA) violations, and submitting false statements to the government, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.  (Read more)

NEW AWARD CREATED TO HONOR FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL EDWARD H. LEVI  (05-591)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department commemorates the 30th anniversary of the appointment and administration of Attorney General Edward H. Levi in a ceremony today, and announces the creation of the Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity.  (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLES LAWSUIT ALLEGING DISCRIMINATION BY THE DETROIT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (05-590)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice today announced a settlement agreement with the City of Detroit, resolving a lawsuit that alleged discrimination by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  (Read more)

SIX INDICTED FOR $20 MILLION CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT (05-589)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City indicted six individuals for promoting a tax fraud scheme that cost the federal treasury over $20 million in taxes, the Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud against all six defendants, as well as tax evasion and aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns against five of the defendants. The defendants are attorney Dennis B. Evanson of Sandy, Utah; Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Steven F. Petersen, of Coalville, Utah; accountant Brent H. Metcalf, of Cottonwood, Utah; CPA Reed H. Barker of Littleton, Colorado; investment broker Wayne F. DeMeester of Sammamish, Washington; and attorney Graham R. Taylor of Tiburon, California. (Read more)

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES THE NEW MEXICO REAL ESTATE COMMISSION TO MAINTAIN CONSUMER CHOICE IN REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE SERVICES (05-587)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice in a letter today advised the New Mexico Real Estate Commission to reject proposed amendments to the New Mexico administrative code that would limit a consumer‘s freedom to choose which real estate services to buy and could cause New Mexico consumers to pay more for real estate brokerage services.  (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES THE NEW MEXICO REAL ESTATE COMMISSION TO MAINTAIN CONSUMER CHOICE IN REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE SERVICES (05-587)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice in a letter today advised the New Mexico Real Estate Commission to reject proposed amendments to the New Mexico administrative code that would limit a consumer‘s freedom to choose which real estate services to buy and could cause New Mexico consumers to pay more for real estate brokerage services.  (Read more)

SENIOR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TO HOLD BACKGROUND BRIEFING ON JUDGE SAMUEL A. ALITO JR.‘S THIRD CIRCUIT JUDICIAL OPINIONS (05-586)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senior Justice Department officials will hold a background briefing on Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr.‘s judicial opinions from his service on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2005 at 1:00 P.M. EST. (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES AGREEMENT WITH CALIFORNIA ON FEDERALLY REQUIRED STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS (05-585)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the State of California to ensure the state‘s compliance with the voter registration list requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). Under the agreement, the state will implement both a temporary plan and a long term permanent solution to meet its obligations under HAVA.  (Read more)

FEDERAL JUDGE IN VIRGINIA PERMANENTLY BARS NORFOLK MAN FROM PREPARING FEDERAL TAX RETURNS FOR OTHERS (05-584)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department announced today that a federal court has barred Anthony McBryde of Norfolk, Virginia from preparing federal income tax returns for others. The permanent injunction, to which McBryde consented, was entered by Judge Walter D. Kelley, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In connection with the permanent injunction, the court found that McBryde prepared “erroneous federal tax returns claiming frivolous deductions on behalf of clients.” McBryde previously produced his customer list to the government as required by an earlier order in the case.  (Read more)

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ENSURES GREATER ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AT WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER AND AT CALIFORNIA RADIOLOGY CENTERS (05-583)

WASHINGTON, DC - The Justice Department today announced its most comprehensive settlement agreements ever under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerning access to medical services for all persons with disabilities. The agreements with Washington Hospital Center and Valley Radiologists Medical Group ensure access to medical equipment, adjustable height beds, and information and communications. The settlements are part of the Department‘s initiative to improve access to health care services and medical equipment for individuals with disabilities. (Read more)

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

HOUSTON MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL IDENTITY THEFT CHARGES (05-582)

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Chad Hatten, 35, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to a five-count superseding indictment charging him with four counts of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney‘s office for the Southern District of Texas announced today. Hatten will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal on February 28, 2006 in Houston, and faces up to 52 years in prison and fines of up to $1,000,000. (Read more)

KING PHARMACEUTICALS TO PAY U.S. $124 MILLION FOR MEDICAID REBATE UNDERPAYMENTS & OVERCHARGING FOR DRUG PRODUCTS (05-581)

WASHINGTON, DC. - King Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay $124 million plus interest to resolve allegations that it underpaid rebates owed under the Medicaid program and overcharged various federal and state governmental entities for its drug products, the Justice Department announced today. The rebate program ensures that Medicaid receives the lowest price available in the marketplace for the program‘s reimbursed drugs. (Read more)

 

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