Justice Department Resolves Investigation of Five Delaware Prison Facilities (06-863)

The Department of Justice today announced a comprehensive agreement with the state of Delaware into the conditions of confinement at five Delaware prison facilities. The agreement follows the Department’s investigation of the facilities, which found substantial civil rights violations at four of the five facilities: the Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution, the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, the Delaware Correctional Center, and the Sussex Correctional Institution. (Read more)

U.S. Files Suit Against John Torkelsen, Richard Propper, Daniel Beharry, & Sovereign Bank Alleging Fraud of $32 Million Against the Small Business Administration (06-862)

The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit accusing John Torkelsen, Richard Propper, Daniel Beharry, and Sovereign Bank of defrauding the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program of $32 million. The suit was filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under the False Claims Act, which allows the United States to recover up to three times the amount of its losses plus civil penalties. (Read more)

Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Allegedly Fraudulent Illinois Tax Preparation Firms (06-861)

The Justice Department has brought suit in U.S. District Court in Chicago against a Seneca, Ill., couple, Royanne and Neal Reddy, and their businesses, Royanne’s Tax Services and Royanne & Company, seeking to bar them permanently from preparing federal tax returns for others. (Read more)

Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Bar Flea Market Tax Preparer from Preparing Federal Tax Returns for Others (06-860)

The Justice Department announced today that it has sued a federal income tax preparer in U.S. District Court in Miami seeking to bar her from preparing tax returns for others. (Read more)

Justice Department Will Not Oppose Public Landfill’s Proposal to Enter into a One-Year Contract to Provide Disposal Services (06-859)

The Department of Justice announced today that it would not oppose a proposal by the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia (SPSA) to enter into a contract with a competitive provider of disposal services. (Read more)

Antitrust Division Ends the Year with Second-highest Level of Criminal Fines, More Merger Challenges (06-856)

In its fight against cartels and other anticompetitive conduct, in 2006 the Antitrust Division marked its second highest level of criminal fines obtained in Division history. The Division also experienced increases in merger filings and brought more merger challenges than the previous two years combined, the Department of Justice announced. (Read more)

Samsung Korean Executive Agrees to Plead Guilty, Serve Jail Time for Participating in DRAM Price-Fixing Conspiracy (06-855)

An executive from Samsung Electronics Company Ltd..– the world’s largest manufacturer of a common computer component called dynamic random access memory (DRAM) – has agreed to plead guilty, serve jail time in the United States, and pay a fine for participating in a global conspiracy to fix DRAM prices, the Department of Justice announced. (Read more)

Mercedes-Benz Agrees to Pay $1.2 Million Civil Penalty to Settle Clean Air Act Violation (06-854)

Mercedes-Benz USA and its parent corporation, DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes), have agreed to pay $1.2 million in civil penalties to resolve allegations that they violated the Clean Air Act by failing to promptly notify the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about defects in the air pollution controls installed on numerous 1998 to 2006 Mercedes model vehicles, the Justice Department and the EPA announced today. (Read more)

Anchorage Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking and Narcotics-Related Charges (06-853)

An Anchorage, Alaska, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of allegedly forcing underage and adult women to have sex with men in exchange for money, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Nelson P. Cohen for the District of Alaska announced today. (Read more)

Four Former Executives Convicted in Connection with Fraud at Enterasys Networks, Inc. (06-851)

A federal jury in Concord, New Hampshire has convicted four former senior executives of Enterasys Networks, Inc. on charges arising out of accounting fraud at the computer network products company formerly based in Rochester, N.H., Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher and Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph N. Laplante for the District of New Hampshire announced today. (Read more)

Overton County Sheriff’s Officers Sentenced for Violating Inmate’s Civil Rights (06-850)

Former Overton County, Tenn., sheriff’s deputy Gary Grigg and Lt. Johnny Gann were sentenced late yesterday for their roles in violating the civil rights of an inmate detained in the Overton County Jail, the Justice Department announced. (Read more)

Former Alcatel CIT Executive Is Indicted for Alleged Bribes to Costa Rican Officials t Obtain Mobile Telephone Contract (06-850)

A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted a former Alcatel CIT executive on charges related to making corrupt payments to Costa Rican officials in order to obtain a mobile telephone contract from the state-owned telecommunications authority, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)

Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. Will Pay Largest-Ever Penalty for Concealing Vessel Pollution (06-849)

Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. (OSG) has today agreed to plead guilty to 33 felony counts related to deliberate vessel pollution from nine ships and false pollution log entries in three additional ships, in six U.S. ports around the nation. (Read more)

Former Memphis Police Officer Sentenced to 19 Years for Role in Civil Rights Crimes (06-847)

A former reserve officer with the Memphis Police Department, Andrew Hunt, was sentenced today to 19 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for his part in plotting and taking part in robbery and kidnapping while on duty, the Justice Department announced. (Read more)

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Challenging Conditions at Oklahoma Juvenile Facility (06-846)

The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit challenging the conditions of confinement at the L.E. Rader Center, a juvenile facility in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. (Read more)

Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Bar Missouri Man from Preparing Tax Returns for Others (06-845)

The Justice Department has filed a suit in federal court seeking to bar David O’Bryant of St. Louis from preparing federal income tax returns for others. (Read more)

Attorney General Gonzales Announces Appointment of Lee Lofthus as Assistant Attorney General for Administration (06-844)

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales today announced the appointment of Lee Lofthus as Assistant Attorney General for Administration. (Read more)

Leaders Of Nationwide Illegal Alien Employee-Leasing Conspiracy Sentenced (06-843)

The two leaders of a six-person nationwide employee-leasing conspiracy that exploited hundreds of illegal aliens throughout the United States have been sentenced to terms in prison, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announced today. (Read more)

Chicago Federal Court Shuts Down Health Care Reimbursement Tax Fraud Scheme (06-842)

A federal court in Chicago has permanently barred Carmelo Zanfei of Steger, Ill., and William Crouse of Greenwood Ind., and their businesses from promoting a health care reimbursement account scheme, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

16 Charged with Concealing Service in Bosnian Serb Military to Successfully Enter the U.S. as Refugees (06-841)

Sixteen individuals in six states have been charged with criminal violations in connection with their efforts to obtain refugee status in the United States by concealing their prior service in the Bosnian Serb military, Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty and Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Julie L. Myers announced today. (Read more)

Antitrust Division Announces Amendments to its 2001 Merger Review Process Initiative (06-838)

The Antitrust Division announced today that it is amending its 2001 Merger Review Process Initiative in order to further streamline the merger investigation process to improve the efficiency of the Division’s investigations while reducing the cost, time and burdens faced by parties to transactions that are reviewed by the Division. (Read more)

New York City Public School Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the City’s Department of Education (06-840)

A New York City Public School custodial engineer pleaded guilty today to conspiring 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. (Read more)

Utah Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Bringing Down Wireless Internet Services (06-837)

A man skilled in the operation of commercial wireless Internet networks was sentenced today for intentionally bringing down wireless Internet services across the region of Vernal, Utah, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

Virginia Man Indicted for Illegally Hunting and Transporting Protected Wildlife (06-836)

William James Victor Garrison, a resident of Culpeper, Va., was today charged by federal grand jury with conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and with making a false statement to a federal investigative agent during the course of an investigation. (Read more)

Utah Gold and Silver Refiner, Top Managers Charged with Conspiracy to Violate Environmental Laws (06-834)

The Justice Department announced today that a superseding indictment was returned by federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah, charging the parent company of gold and silver refiner Johnson Matthey Inc. with conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act (CWA). (Read more)

Another Officer Pleads Guilty for Civil Rights Violations at Harrison County Jail (06-833)

Thomas Preston Wills, a former deputy with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to violate the civil rights of inmates housed at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center in Mississippi. (Read more)

Sinclair Tulsa Refining Company and Two Managers Plead Guilty to Felony Clean Water Act Violations at Oklahoma Plant (06-832)

Sinclair Tulsa Refining Company, a subsidiary of major oil and gasoline producer Sinclair Oil, has pleaded guilty today to two felony counts of deliberately manipulating wastewater discharges at its Tulsa Refinery in violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA). (Read more)

‘Girls Gone Wild’ Company Sentenced to Pay $1.6 Million in Fines in Sexual Exploitation Case (06-831)

Mantra Films, Inc., a Santa Monica, Calif. company operating as Girls Gone Wild, was sentenced today to pay $1.6 million in criminal fines for failing to create and maintain age and identity records for films it produced, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Gregory Miller for the Northern District of Florida announced today (Read more)

Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Case with Chicago Area Municipality (06-830)

The Village of South Elgin, Ill., has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing a permit to allow Unity House Inc. to operate a home for seven residents recovering from addictions to drugs and alcohol, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

Court Bars Michigan Man from Promoting Tax Fraud Schemes (06-829)

A federal court in Grand Rapids, Mich., has permanently barred Daniel Doyle Benham of Twin Lake, Mich., from selling “corporation sole” and “strategic withdrawal” tax schemes, the Justice Department announced today. Judge Gordon J. Quist of the Western District of Michigan signed the civil injunction order, to which Benham agreed without admitting wrongdoing. (Read more)

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty Revises Charging Guidelines for Prosecuting Corporate Fraud (06-828)

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty announced today during a speech at a meeting of the Lawyers for Civil Justice in New York that the Department of Justice is revising its corporate charging guidelines for federal prosecutors throughout the country. (Read more)

Attorney General Gonzales Visits Delaware County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (06-825)

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales today toured the Delaware County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in Philadelphia. As part of the visit, Attorney General Gonzales met with members of the task force to discuss the importance of protecting children from online sexual exploitation. (Read more)

Justice Department to Monitor Elections in New Orleans (06-823)

The Justice Department today announced that on Dec. 9, 2006, it will monitor the congressional runoff election in New Orleans, La., to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act. (Read more)

Statement of Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, on Order of a Remedial Voting Plan in U.S. v. Osceola County (06-822)

“We are extremely pleased with today’s court ruling, which orders a five single-member district remedial plan to replace Osceola County’s unlawful at large election system.” (Read more)

California Accountants Agree to Court Order Halting Alleged Tax Scam (06-820)

A federal judge in Los Angeles has permanently barred Stephen Drake of Prescott, Ariz., and Kenneth Sorenson of Buellton, Calif., from promoting or operating an alleged tax fraud scheme, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

Alaska State Representative Thomas T. Anderson Indicted on Charges of Extortion, Conspiracy, Bribery and Money Laundering (06-819)

A federal grand jury in Anchorage, Alaska, has indicted Thomas T. Anderson, a current elected member of the Alaska State House of Representatives, on charges of extortion, conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)

Two Ohio Sheriff’s Deputies Indicted on Civil Rights Charges (06-816)

Two Lucas County, Ohio, sheriff’s deputies were charged today with violating the civil rights of a juvenile who was in their custody, conspiring to obstruct and actually obstructing a federal investigation of the incident. (Read more)

Mississippi Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violations (06-815)

Dedri Yulon Caldwell, a former Sergeant with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department in Mississippi, pleaded guilty today to a one-count criminal information charging her with conspiring to violate the civil rights of inmates. (Read more)

Roy Belfast Jr. aka Chuckie Taylor Indicted on Torture Charges (06-813)

A federal Grand Jury in Miami charged Roy Belfast Jr. with various crimes related to the alleged 2002 torture of a person in Liberia, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Assistant Director Joseph Billy Jr. for the Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today. (Read more)

Former U.S. Army Contracting Director Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Filing False Federal Income Tax Returns (06-811)

A former Director of Contracting for the U.S. Army has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for awarding U.S. Army contracts at an Army recreational facility in Germany and to filing false federal income tax returns, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher for the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)

Justice Department Civil Rights Division Commemorates 150th Agreement Milestone for Project Civic Access (06-809)

The Justice Department today announced the signing of its 150th agreement with local government entities under Project Civic Access, a Department initiative to bring cities, counties, and other government localities into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (Read more)

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales Calls for Americans to Join the Fight Against Child Sexual Exploitation (06-807)

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales today delivered remarks at the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood conference on Department efforts to prosecute sex predators and protect children from sexual exploitation through Project Safe Childhood. (Read more)