Press Releases for November 2006
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Miami Hospital Pays $15.4 Million to Resolve Fraud Case for Kickbacks & Medically Unnecessary Treatments (06-803)
Larkin Community Hospital in Miami and its current and former owners, Dr. Jack Michel, Dr. James Desnick, Morris Esformes and Philip Esformes, have paid $15.4 million to settle federal and Florida civil health care fraud claims against them, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)
Las Vegas Court Blocks Tax Preparer‘s Alleged Scheme Estimated to Have Cost Treasury $31 Million (06-802)
Lynn Lakers, a Boulder City, Nev., tax-return preparer, has been permanently barred in connection with an alleged offshore-trust tax scam, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)
United States Announces Clean Air Act Settlement with PSEG Fossil LLC for Violations of 2002 Consent Decree (06-801)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced that they have lodged with federal district court in New Jersey, a Clean Air Act (CAA) settlement with PSEG Fossil LLC related to PSEG‘s failure to comply with a 2002 consent decree requiring installation of pollution controls at its coal-fired power plants in Jersey City and Hamilton, N.J. (Read more)
Fact Sheet: Department of Justice Efforts to Combat Methamphetamine Use (06-800)
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales Hosts Educational Event with Leading Experts on Drug Abuse as Part of National Methamphetamine Awareness Day (06-799)
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales today participated in an educational event at The George Washington University as part of National Methamphetamine Awareness Day, the largest single-day national education effort warning against the dangers of meth abuse. (Read more)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) to Pay $8 Million to Settle Allegations of Fraud (06-797)
Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) has agreed to pay the United States $8 million to settle allegations of overcharging and other procurement irregularities regarding the Houston-based company‘s billings to the Army under a contract for logistical support of military operations in the Balkans during 1999 and 2000, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)
Statement of Tasia Scolinos, Director of Public Affairs, on The United States‘ Settlement with Brandon Mayfield (06-796)
"The United States today entered into a settlement with Brandon Mayfield, who was arrested after the misidentification of his fingerprint as matching one recovered in connection with the 2004 Madrid train bombings in which 191 people were killed." (Read more)
Federal, State and Local Officials and Leaders Join Together in over 100 Events Across the Country to Mark National Methamphetamine Awareness Day (06-795)
On Nov. 30, the Department of Justice, along with federal, state and local officials and leaders, will sponsor the first National Methamphetamine Awareness Day, the largest single nationwide education effort to date warning against the dangers of using meth. (Read more)
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Former IRS Revenue Agent Sentenced for Conspiracy and Causing the Failure to File Currency Transaction Reports (06-793)
Clarence Walker, a former Revenue Agent for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), was sentenced to 40 months in prison on charges of conspiracy and causing the failure to file Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs), Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)
Justice Department Settles Discrimination Lawsuit Against Alabama Landlord (06-791)
The Department of Justice today reached a settlement in a case against Beaulah Stevens alleging housing discrimination on the basis of race or color in renting properties owned and managed by the defendant in Saraland, Ala. (Read more)
Monday, November 27, 2006
Romanian Citizen Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Aliens (06-790)
Romanian citizen who resides in Davenport, Fla., has pleaded guilty to a charge of inducing aliens to enter the United States illegally, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Paul I. Perez for the Middle District of Florida announced today. (Read more)
Second Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Charges for Using Toxic Mercury to Intimidate Interracial Family (06-789)
Joseph Kuzlik, of Ohio, pleaded guilty today to federal civil rights charges for his role in violating the civil rights of an interracial family in Cleveland. (Read more)
Fact Sheet: 11th Defendant Pleads Guilty in Tax Promotion Fraud Scheme (06-788)
Today the Justice Department announced that Lanny R. White of Orem, Utah pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and to commit mail and wire fraud, in connection with the promotion of a tax and investment fraud scheme. (Read more)
Self-proclaimed CPA Pleads Guilty for Role in Tax and Investment Fraud Scheme (06-787)
Lanny R. White of Orem, Utah pleaded guilty in Salt Lake City federal district court to a felony charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit mail and wire fraud, in connection with the promotion of a tax and investment fraud scheme, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. (Read more)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Federal Court Blocks South Carolina Man‘s Alleged Tax Fraud Schemes Said to Have Cost Treasury an Estimated $48 Million (06-786)
A federal judge in Greenville, S.C., has permanently barred John Howard Alexander of Greenville from promoting several tax-fraud schemes, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)
Florida Court Shuts Down Promotion of Tax Fraud Schemes (06-784)
A federal court in Tampa, Fla. has permanently barred David Marvin Swanson of Sarasota from promoting an illegal tax fraud scheme that involves sham trusts and limited liability companies, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)
Justice Department Recovers Record $3.1 Billion in Fraud and False Claims in Fiscal Year 2006 (06-783)
The United States in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 recovered a record amount of more than $3.1 billion in settlements and judgments in cases involving allegations of fraud against the government, the Justice Department announced today. Previously, the Department‘s largest recoveries totaled $2.2 billion for FY 2003. (Read more)
Former New York City Public School Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the City‘s Department of Education (06-782)
former New York City public school employee pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the New York City Department of Education and its predecessor, the Board of Education of the City of New York (collectively, NYCDOE) the Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)
Federal Court Revokes U.S. Citizenship of Former Florida Resident who Served in Nazi Police Unit (06-781)
A federal court in Washington, D.C., has entered an order revoking the U.S. citizenship of a former Florida resident for his role in a Ukrainian police unit that participated in the mass murder of over 100,000 Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)
Monday, November 20, 2006
Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Assaults & Murders of African-Americans (06-779)
Three gang members were sentenced today to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole for participating in a six-year conspiracy that led to the assault and murder of African Americans in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles, the Justice Department announced. (Read more)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Justice Department Sues California Landlords for Housing Discrimination Against Hispanic Tenants
The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against Gary Luke, the owner of two apartment buildings in Garden Grove, Calif., and Mary Ngo, co-owner of one of the properties, alleging a pattern or practice of discriminating against Hispanic tenants. (Read more)
Two Milwaukee Doctors Each Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Forcing Woman to Work as Domestic Servant for 19 Years (06-772)
Jefferson Calimlim Sr. and his wife Elnora Calimlim, both medical doctors in Milwaukee, Wis., were each sentenced today to four years in prison for forcing a woman to work as their domestic servant and illegally harboring her for 19 years in their Brookfield, Wis. residence. In a related matter, the Calimlims‘ son, Jefferson Calimlim Jr., was sentenced today to 120 days of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and a $5,000 fine, for illegally harboring the victim. (Read more)
Elpida Memory Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty for Participating in DRAM Price-Fixing Conspiracy (06-770)
A former executive of Elpida Memory, a large Japanese manufacturer of a common computer component called dynamic random access memory (DRAM), has agreed to plead guilty, pay a $250,000 criminal fine, and serve prison time in the United States for participating in a global conspiracy to fix DRAM prices, the Department of Justice announced. (Read more)
Telemarketing Firm Official Pleads Guilty in New Hampshire Phone Jamming Case (06-769)
Shaun Hansen, former co-owner of Idaho-based telemarketing firm Mylo Enterprises, pleaded guilty today in federal court in New Hampshire for his involvement in a scheme to jam several New Hampshire telephone lines by placing nearly 1000 hang-up calls on Election Day, 2002, the Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)
Department of Justice and Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies Work Together to Fight Gun Crime (06-768)
U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the ninth annual United States-Canada Cross-Border Crime Forum. The agreement allows for the electronic exchange of ballistics information between the two countries. (Read more)
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Former Deputy Sherriff Indicted on Civil Rights Charges (06-767)
A federal grand jury in Pensacola, Fla., has indicted former Pinnellas County Deputy Sheriff, Richard G. Farnham, on federal civil rights charges relating to the assault of a man while on storm patrol in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. (Read more)
Two Alabama Men Indicted on Allegations of Violating Environmental Laws (06-765)
A former Alabama boat builder and a charter-boat fisherman were charged late yesterday afternoon with one count of conspiracy and two counts of making false documents and writings in attempting to violate a moratorium on charter vessel permits under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act) regulations. (Read more)
Federal Judge Permanently Bars Nevada Tax Return Preparer from Preparing Tax Returns for Others (06-764)
The Justice Department announced today that a federal court has permanently barred Larry P. Goodyke of Henderson, Nev., from preparing federal tax returns for others. (Read more)
Former Enron Chief Accounting Officer Richard Causey Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison for Securities Fraud (06-763)
Richard A. Causey, former Enron Chief Accounting Officer, has been sentenced to 66 months in prison on a securities fraud charge related to the collapse of the Enron Corporation, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today Richard A. Causey, former Enron Chief Accounting Officer, has been sentenced to 66 months in prison on a securities fraud charge related to the collapse of the Enron Corporation, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today (Read more)
National Drug Intelligence Center Releases National Drug Threat Assessment 2007 (06-762)
The National Drug Intelligence Center, a component of the Department of Justice, has released the National Drug Threat Assessment 2007 detailing national drug trafficking and abuse trends within the United States. (Read more)
Monday, November 13, 2006
Four Army National Guard Soldiers Plead Guilty to Charges Involving Fraud and Theft from the Army (06-761)
WASHINGTON — Four members of the California Army National Guard pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to their embezzlement of money from the U.S. Army, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)
Shipping Company Sentenced for Vessel Pollution (06-760)
WASHINGTON — The Sun Ace Shipping Company, based in Seoul, South Korea, was sentenced today to pay a $400,000 penalty, a $100,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Program, Delaware Estuary Grants Program, which will be used to protect and restore the natural resources of the Delaware Estuary and its watershed, and to a three-year term of probation during which its vessels will be banned from U.S. ports and waters. (Read more)
Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination by the City of Philadelphia (06-758)
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced the filing of a settlement order to resolve a lawsuit filed against the city of Philadelphia under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (Read more)
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Operator of For-Profit Software Piracy Web Site Pleads Guilty (06-757)
WASHINGTON—The operator of a for-pay Internet site that reproduced significant amounts of pirated computer software pleaded guilty today in federal court, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg of the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today. (Read more)
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Justice Department Settles Employment Discrimination Lawsuit with Tallahassee Community College (06-756)
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with Tallahassee Community College (TCC) to resolve an employment discrimination complaint that was filed on Nov. 2, 2006. (Read more)
Department Of Justice/Federal Trade Commission Hearings on Single-Firm Conduct to Continue on November 15 (06-755)
The Department of Justice‘s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced that the latest in a series of joint public hearings designed to examine the implications of single-firm conduct under the antitrust laws will take place on Nov. 15, 2006, in Washington, D.C. (Read more)
Department of Justice to Sponsor National Methamphetamine Awareness Day on November 30, 2006 (06-754)
The Department of Justice today announced that it will sponsor National Methamphetamine Awareness Day on Nov. 30, 2006, in order to generate awareness about the damaging effects of meth abuse on individuals, families and American communities. (Read more)
United States and European Union Sign Agreement to Improve Joint Efforts to Combat Transnational Crime (06-753)
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced on Monday that the United States signed an Executive Agreement with Eurojust, the judicial cooperation unit of the European Union (E.U.), which will improve transatlantic law enforcement coordination and enhance the ability of the U.S. and the E.U. to fight international crime. (Read more)
Monday, November 6, 2006
Justice Department Sends Election Observers to 22 States Across the Country in Unprecedented Monitoring Effort for a Midterm Election (06-752)
The Justice Department today announced that it is deploying an unprecedented number of federal personnel to monitor tomorrow‘s midterm election, sending more that 500 federal observers and more than 350 Justice Department personnel to 69 jurisdictions in 22 states — more than double the total sent on election day in 2002, which was the previous record for a midterm election. (Read more)
Friday, November 3, 2006
Two Defendants Found Guilty in Extortion Conspiracy Connected with Superaqueduct Construction Contracts in San Juan, Puerto Rico (06-751)
Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today that a jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico found two defendants guilty of conspiracy, extortion, and fraud in connection with a public corruption investigation into a construction project in Puerto Rico known as Superaqueduct. (Read more)
Former Employee of U.S. Military Contractor Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements (06-749)
A former employee of a construction company that has contracts with the U.S. Air Force in Iraq, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan to a one-count criminal information, the Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Former Ft. Campbell Soldier Indicted in Iraqi Civilian Deaths (06-748)
A former Ft. Campbell soldier has been charged with various crimes for conduct including premeditated murder based on the alleged rape of an Iraqi girl and the deaths of the girl and members of her family, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today. (Read more)
More than 1,600 Sex Offender Arrests by U.S. Marshals‘ “Operation Falcon III” (06-744)
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Director John F. Clark today announced that a seven-day nationally coordinated fugitive roundup led by the USMS and hundreds of partners from state, local and other federal agencies led to the arrests of 10,773 fugitives. (Read more)
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Justice Department Reaches Fair Housing Act Settlement with Kansas Apartment Complexes (06-739)
The Justice Department today settled a lawsuit against a group of developers, builders, architects and engineers who designed and constructed two apartment complexes in Olathe, Kan. (Read more)