Bristol-Myers Squibb to Pay More Than $515 Million to Resolve Allegations of Illegal Drug Marketing and Pricing (07-782)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Apothecon, Inc., have agreed to pay over $515 million to resolve a broad array of civil allegations involving their drug marketing and pricing practices, United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan announced today. (Read more)

Hunt Refining Settles Federal Air Pollution Case for $49 Million (07-781)

The Hunt Refining Co. and Hunt Southland Refining Co. have agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty and spend more than $48.5 million for new and upgraded pollution controls at three refineries, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced. The settlement resolves alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and is expected to reduce more than 1,250 tons of harmful emissions annually from the company's refineries in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Sandersville and Lumberton, Miss. (Read more)

Repeat Sex Offender Pleads Guilty in Mississippi to Possessing Child Pornography (07-780)

WASHINGTON – A previously convicted child sex offender has pleaded guilty in Mississippi to possessing child pornography, (Read more)

Corporations That Owned Jackson Hewitt Franchises in Three States Agree to Be Barred From Tax Return Preparation (07-779)

The Justice Department announced today that it has resolved lawsuits against corporations that operated Jackson Hewitt tax preparation franchises in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (Read more)

Florida Pharmacy and Medicare Equipment Company Owner Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Medicare Fraud (07-773)

WASHINGTON – The owner and operator of a Florida pharmacy and Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) company has been sentenced to 151 months in prison for Medicare fraud, (Read more)

Ship Captain Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Vessel Pollution (07-775)

Nicanor E. Jumalon pleaded guilty today, in federal court in Puerto Rico, for his involvement with the illegal dumping of oily sludge, bilge wastes, and oil contaminated ballast water from the 479-foot general cargo vessel the M/V Sportsqueen, the Justice Department announced. (Read more)

Justice Department Settles Georgia Lawsuit Alleging Housing Discrimination Against Guide Dog Users (07-774)

The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement with the owners and managers of the Hickory Plantation and Willow Way Apartments, both located in Camden County, Ga., resolving a lawsuit filed by the Department alleging discrimination against persons with disabilities. (Read more)

Federal Settlement Agreement Will Make Sylvan Learning Center Tutoring Programs (07-772)

The Department of Justice today announced a comprehensive settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Sylvan Learning Centers L.L.C., which owns and operates over 200 Sylvan Learning Centers in 24 states across the nation. The agreement sets out steps to make Sylvan’s tutoring programs and services accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. (Read more)

Indiana Man Pleads Guilty to Cross Burning (07-771)

Defendant Kyle Shroyer pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to violate the civil rights of a woman and her three biracial children, and admitted having burned a cross at the family’s home in Muncie, Ind. (Read more)

Justice Department Announces Agreement Protecting the Rights of Hispanic and Spanish-speaking Voters in Kane County (07-770)

The Justice Department announced today the settlement of a lawsuit against Kane County, Ill., alleging violations of the rights of Spanish-speaking voters under the Voting Rights Act. The settlement agreement with Kane County requires the county to provide all voting materials and assistance in Spanish as well as in English and ensures that limited English-proficient voters can receive assistance from the persons of their choice. It also permits the Justice Department to monitor future elections. (Read more)

Operation Home Sweet Home Results in Filing of Housing Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Against Asian-Americans in Lowell, Massachusetts (07-769)

The Civil Rights Division today announced the first lawsuit ever filed by the Department alleging discrimination against Asian-Americans based upon its fair housing tests–an example of the Division’s successful efforts in Operation Home Sweet Home. (Read more)

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-based Housing Discrimination in Savannah, Georgia (07-768)

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today in federal district court in Savannah, Ga., against the owners, developers, builders and engineers of two Savannah condominium complexes for failing to include required accessible features for persons with disabilities. The complaint alleges that Genesis Designer Homes LLC, Genesis Real Estate Group, Thomas and Hutton Engineering Company, and Malphrus Construction Company violated the Fair Housing Act in the design and construction of Stonelake Townhomes and Highlands Crossing. (Read more)

Former Alaska State Speaker of the House Peter Kott Convicted on Public Corruption Charges (07-767)

WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Anchorage, Alaska, has found former Alaska state representative and former Alaska Speaker of the House Peter Kott guilty of bribery, extortion and conspiracy for corruptly soliciting and receiving financial benefits from a company in exchange for performing official acts in the Alaska State Legislature on the company’s behalf, (Read more)

Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit Against Spokane, Washington, Developers, Architects, And Engineers (07-765)

The Justice Department today sued the developers, architects, and professional engineers responsible for building five apartment complexes in Spokane County, Wash., alleging that they designed and built the complexes in violation of the Fair Housing Act by failing to make the complexes accessible to wheelchair users and other persons with physical disabilities. (Read more)

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Alleging Disability-based Housing Discrimination at 11 Complexes in Louisville, Kentucky (07-764)

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today in federal district court in Louisville against 25 defendants for failing to provide required accessible features for persons with disabilities at 11 multi-family housing developments in Louisville with over 900 covered ground floor units. This is the government’s first lawsuit in Kentucky alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act in the design and construction of multi-family housing. (Read more)

Federal Court Bars North Carolinian Man From Preparing Tax Returns for Others (07-763)

The Justice Department announced today that a federal judge in Durham, N.C. has permanently barred Anthony Green from preparing federal income tax returns for others. The court held that Green, who operates as TAS Services, engaged in fraudulent conduct by preparing fraudulent tax returns claiming the fuel tax credit. (Read more)

Justice Department Sues Oregon Residents to Stop Alleged Tax Scam (07-761)

The United States announced today that it has sued to bar John D. Fitzgerald of Portland, Ore., from selling an alleged tax fraud scheme, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

United States Announces Extradition of Accused Terrorist from Czech Republic (07-760)

Oussama Abdullah Kassir, a/k/a “Abu Abdullah,” a/k/a “Abu Khadija,” an individual who is charged in the Southern District of New York with, among other things, conspiring to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda, has been extradited from the Czech Republic. The charges relate to his participation in an effort to establish a jihad training camp in Bly, Oregon, and his operation of several terrorist Web sites. Kassir was taken into FBI custody this morning in Prague. (Read more)

Memphis Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring with Police Officers to Commit Civil Rights Violations (07-759)

Memphis resident Laterrica Woods, 31, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Memphis to a felony civil rights charge. Woods pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the civil rights of motorists in 2005. During his guilty plea hearing, Woods acknowledged that he violated federal law when he helped Memphis Police Department (MPD) Reserve Officer Andrew Hunt and others rob motorists of cocaine during traffic stops. (Read more)

Justice Department Sues to Halt Promoters of Alleged Tax-fraud Scheme in North Carolina (07-758)

The Justice Department announced today it has sued two North Carolina men to stop an alleged tax fraud scheme that uses sham trusts to help customers evade taxes. The civil injunction suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Asheville, N.C., against Alexander Klosek, of Etowah, N.C. and Bryan Noel of Hendersonville, N.C. (Read more)

Justice Department Seeks to Invalidate Illinois Law Flouting Federal Immigration Efforts (07-757)

The Department of Justice today filed a lawsuit in federal district court seeking to invalidate an Illinois state law that attempts to prevent employers from using DHS’s E-Verify system, which allows them to check in real-time whether new hires are authorized to work in the United States. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that a law passed earlier this year by the Illinois legislature and signed by the Governor that prohibits employers from enrolling in the Department’s E-Verify system is invalid. (Read more)

Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Massachusetts (07-756)

The Justice Department today announced that on Sept. 25, 2007, it will monitor special preliminary elections in Boston, Mass., to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act. (Read more)

Michigan Tax Preparer Guilty of Criminal Contempt a Second Time (07-754)

Robert L. Mosher was found guilty of contempt of court by a federal jury in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Sept. 21, 2007 for violating injunctions that barred him from preparing tax returns, the Justice Department announced. (Read more)

International Law Enforcement Operation Targets Underground Manufacture of Anabolic Steroids (07-753)

Authorities have arrested more than 124 individuals in the United States on federal charges as the result of an international investigation targeting the illegal manufacturing and trafficking of anabolic steroids and its raw materials, mainly from China, along with the human growth hormone (HGH) and the insulin growth factor (IGF) markets, the Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)

Paradigm B.V. Agrees to Pay $1 Million Penalty to Resolve Foreign Bribery Issues in Multiple Countries (07-751)

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice has entered into an agreement with Paradigm B.V. related to the making of improper payments to government officials in China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Nigeria in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), (Read more)

Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit Against Town of St. John, Indiana (07-750)

The Justice Department today sued the town of St. John, Ind., for violating the Fair Housing Act when it denied a petition for a variance based on the disability of a prospective resident. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, charges that St. John intentionally discriminated against persons with disabilities when it refused to allow a St. John resident a variance to allow one unrelated individual with multiple sclerosis to live with the resident in his home. (Read more)

Justice Department Files Discrimination Suit Against Virginia Beach Nightclub Owner (07-749)

The Department of Justice yesterday filed a lawsuit against Barry Davis and Anchor Inn LLC, d/b/a Kokoamos Island Bar & Grill (Kokoamos), alleging that the owners and managers of Kokoamos, a Virginia Beach-area restaurant and nightclub, discriminated against African-American patrons because of race in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Read more)

Three Men Indicted on Alien Smuggling, Fraud, Conspiracy Charges (07-747)

WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Pensacola, Fla., has indicted three men for their role in a large alien smuggling visa fraud scheme that illegally brought more than 200 aliens into the area of Destin, Fla., to work in major hotels and resorts, (Read more)

Florida Defendant Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Medicare Fraud (07-746)

WASHINGTON – The owner and operator of a Florida health care company has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for Medicare fraud, (Read more)

Mexican National Pleads Guilty for Role in Multi-state Sex-trafficking Ring (07-745)

Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Rena J. Comisac, U.S. Attorney Reginald I. Lloyd of the District of South Carolina, and U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert of the Western District of North Carolina, announced that Jesus Perez-Laguna, 36, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Columbia, S.C., for his role in a multi-state sex trafficking ring involving at least one minor. (Read more)

Justice Department Settles Voting Rights Lawsuit with the City of Walnut, California (07-744)

The Justice Department announced today the settlement of a lawsuit against the city of Walnut, Calif., alleging violations of the rights of Chinese- and Korean-speaking voters under the Voting Rights Act. (Read more)

President of Jacobi Industries Pleads Guilty to Bid Rigging on Department of Defense Contracts (07-742)

The president and owner of Jacobi Industries Inc., a Medford, N.Y. company, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to rig bids on U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) contracts for military tiedown equipment and cargo securing systems, the U.S. Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)

U.S. Sues Texas Man to Halt Alleged Tax Fraud Schemes (07-741)

The United States has sued a Texas man, seeking to permanently bar him from preparing federal tax returns for customers and from promoting what the complaint identifies as tax fraud schemes, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

Justice Department to Hold Community Meeting to Identify Potential Victims of Citgo Petroleum Corporation Crimes (07-740)

Officials from the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas will hold a community meeting in Corpus Christi, Texas as part of the Department's obligations under the Crime Victim Rights Act to identify, locate and notify persons who may have been victims of crime. (Read more)

Shipping Company and Chief Engineer Plead Guilty to Vessel Pollution Related Charges (07-739)

India-based shipping company Accord Ship Management and Chief Engineer Francisco Sabando pleaded guilty today in connection with the illegal dumping of oily sludge, bilge wastes, and oil contaminated ballast water from one of the company’s ships, the M/V Sportsqueen, a 479-foot general cargo vessel, Acting Assistant Attorney General Ronald J. Tenpas, U.S. Attorney Rosa E. Rodriguez-Velez, and U.S Coast Guard Captain James E. Tunstall announced. (Read more)

Former Nazi Concentration Camp Guard Loses U.S. Citizenship, Departs United States (07-738)

WASHINGTON – A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has entered an order revoking the U.S. citizenship of Martin Hartmann for his role as an armed SS guard at the notorious Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in Nazi Germany during World War II, (Read more)

U.S. Imposes Highest Acid Rain Fine Ever (07-737)

In a landmark settlement filed today, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, a coal-fired electric utility, has agreed to pay an $11.4 million penalty to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act’s acid rain program, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. As part of today’s settlement, the U.S. is seeking court-approval for the highest fine ever under the Clean Air Act's acid rain program. The Commonwealth of Kentucky joined in today’s consent decree. (Read more)

Doctor and Pharmacy Owner Plead Guilty in Internet Pharmacy Conspiracy (07-735)

WASHINGTON – A Florida pharmacy owner and a Kentucky physician pleaded guilty to conspiracy for their participation in an Internet pharmacy business that generated more than $126 million in gross revenues from the illegal sale of prescription pharmaceuticals, (Read more)

Aviation Services Company and Its Owner Charged with Illegal Exports to Iran and Its Government (07-731)

A Dutch aviation services company, its owner, and two other firms have been charged in a criminal complaint in the District of Columbia with illegally exporting aerospace grade aluminum, aircraft components, and other equipment from the U.S. to Iran and the government of Iran in violation of U.S. embargoes. The defendants also have been charged with making false statements on export control documents. (Read more)

Leader and Senior Lieutenant of Arellano-felix Organization Plead Guilty to Criminal Charges (07-730)

WASHINGTON -- Francisco Javier Arellano-Felix, the former leader of the deadly and violent narcotics trafficking Arellano-Felix Organization (AFO), and one of his senior lieutenants, Manuel Arturo Villarreal-Heredia, have pleaded guilty to criminal charges, (Read more)

Union Bank of California Enters into Deferred Prosecution Agreement and Forfeits $21.6 Million to Resolve Bank Secrecy Act Violations (07-726)

WASHINGTON – Union Bank of California, N.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of UnionBanCal Corporation, based in San Francisco, has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement on charges of failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and will forfeit $21.6 million to the U.S. government, (Read more)

Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, Thomas O. Barnett, Issues Statement on European Microsoft Decision (07-725)

In light of the United States’ own antitrust case and judgment against Microsoft, and the importance of the computer industry to consumers and to the global economy, the United States has a particular interest in today’s CFI decision. (Read more)

Fact Sheet: Project Safe Neighborhoods: America’s Network Against Gun Violence (07-723)

Under Project Safe Neighborhoods, the number of federal firearms prosecutions has increased significantly, and defendants earn substantial sentences in federal prison. PSN’s deterrence and prevention efforts complement this focus on enforcement. (Read more)

Department of Justice Highlights Achievements Under Project Safe Neighborhoods (07-722)

The Department of Justice highlighted the significant accomplishments of federal, state and local officials in combating gang violence and reducing gun crime through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) before more than 1,000 members of PSN task forces from across the nation in Atlanta today. (Read more)

Former Sales Representative in California Convicted for Role in Schemes to Defraud the Federal E-rate Program (07-721)

A federal jury in San Francisco today convicted a former sales representative in California for her role in schemes to defraud the federal E-Rate program, announced the Department of Justice. (Read more)

Former Memphis Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations (07-715)

Trennis Swims, a former officer with the Memphis Police Department (MPD), was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Memphis to 18 months imprisonment following his conviction on civil rights violations. After release from prison, Swims will be on federal supervised release for one year. (Read more)

Two Executives Indicted in Conspiracy to Rig Bids, Fix Prices and Allocate Market Shares for Sales of Marine Hose (07-714)

A federal grand jury in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. returned an indictment charging two individuals with participating in a conspiracy to rig bids, fix prices and allocate market shares for sales of marine hose used to transport oil, the Department of Justice announced today. (Read more)

Maryland Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges (07-713)

Scott Carpenter, 44, of Dundalk, Md., has been indicted on eleven child pornography charges, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein of the District of Maryland announced today. (Read more)

Assistant Attorney General Regina B. Schofield Announces Departure from Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (07-712)

Regina B. Schofield, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, has announced her resignation from the Department of Justice, effective September 28, 2007. President Bush nominated Ms. Schofield to the position on March 29, 2005, and the Senate confirmed her appointment on June 8, 2005. (Read more)

U.S. Law Enforcement Gains Direct Access to Interpol Criminal Databases (07-710)

The U.S. National Central Bureau of INTERPOL(USNCB) today announced that it has provided the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Law Enforcement Support Center (ICE LESC) in Burlington, Vermont, with direct access to criminal records from law enforcement agencies in 186 INTERPOL member countries. (Read more)

Justice Department Settles Housing Discrimination Case with Milwaukee Landlord (07-711)

The Justice Department today announced that it has reached an agreement resolving a housing discrimination lawsuit against the Walter Perlick Family Trust, Robert Perlick, Patricia Russell, and the estate of Toney Russell concerning alleged discrimination on the basis of familial status. Under the consent decree, filed today in federal court in Milwaukee, the defendants will pay $50,000 in monetary relief to the complainants and the United States. (Read more)

Outfitter Charged in Houston with Illegal Import of Wildlife (07-709)

Robert Kern, the president of the Hunting Consortium, a hunting outfitter based in Berryville, Va., and the company itself were both indicted today by a federal grand jury in Houston for violating the Lacey Act, Ronald J. Tenpas, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division announced. (Read more)

Salvadoran Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in Conspiracy to Smuggle Scores of Migrants into the United States (07-708)

WASHINGTON – A Salvadoran national has pleaded guilty to engaging in a conspiracy to smuggle or attempt to smuggle scores of Central American migrants into the United States for private financial gain, and to causing the death of at least one person during the journey, (Read more)

Former Congressional Chief of Staff Neil G. Volz Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Fraud (07-705)

WASHINGTON – Neil G. Volz, a Washington lobbyist who served as chief of staff for former Congressman Robert W. Ney, has been sentenced to two years probation and fined $2,000 on a charge of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, (Read more)

Kevin A. Ohlson Named Director of Executive Office for Immigration Review (07-704)

The Justice Department announced today the appointment of Kevin A. Ohlson to be the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Ohlson has served as the Acting Director of EOIR since April 2007. As Director of EOIR, he succeeds Kevin D. Rooney who retired in March 2007. (Read more)

Salt Lake City Man Sentenced for Race-motivated Assault (07-703)

Keith W. Cotter was sentenced on Tuesday in federal court in Salt Lake City to 42 months imprisonment on federal hate crime charges. After release from prison, Cotter will be on federal supervised release for 3 years. (Read more)

Statement of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales on the Joint Food Safety Report (07-701)

"This report provides an important new strategy for enhancing the safety of imported goods in today's global economy. The Justice Department is pleased to have played a role in this multi-agency effort and will continue to vigorously enforce consumer health and safety laws to protect American consumers from unsafe imports," said Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. (Read more)

Hamid Hayat Sentenced to 24 Years in Connection with Terrorism Charges (07-700)

Hamid Hayat, age 24, of Lodi, Calif. was sentenced today to 24 years imprisonment by Chief Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr., in connection with a series of terrorism charges related to his 2003/2004 attendance at a jihadi training camp in Pakistan and his 2005 return to the United States with the intent to wage violent jihad. As part of the sentence, Hayat was also placed on supervised release following his confinement, for an additional period of ten years. (Read more)

Prepared Remarks of Kenneth L. Wainstein, Assistant Attorney General for National Security on FISA Modernization at the Georgetown University Law Center’s National Security Center (07-699)

We recognize an important truth here -- which is that we’ll be allowed to keep this vital authority only if we show that we can use it responsibly. And, that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Over this six-month period, we’re going to establish a track record that will persuade Congress and the American public that the Protect America Act was the right decision and that Congress turned in just the right direction when it reached that turning point back in early August. (Read more)

Lieutenant Governor and Territorial Senator for American Samoa Indicted for Public Corruption Charges (07-698)

WASHINGTON – Lieutenant Governor Aitofele T.F. Sunia and Territorial Senator Tini Lam Yuen, of the U.S. Territory of American Samoa, have been arrested on fraud, bribery, and obstruction charges, (Read more)

Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Alleging Employment Discrimination and Retaliation by The Municipio De Vega Alta, Puerto Rico (07-697)

The Department of Justice today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with Municipio de Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, to resolve allegations that the municipality engaged in unlawful employment discrimination based on sex and retaliated against an officer who cooperated in the related federal investigation. (Read more)

Aventis Pays More Than $190 Million to Settle Drug Pricing Fraud Matters (07-694)

Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. has paid the United States and a number of states, as well as the District of Columbia, over $190 million to resolve allegations that the company caused false claims to be filed with Medicare and other federal health programs as a result of the company’s alleged fraudulent pricing and marketing of drugs, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

Biloxi Attorney Paul Minor and Two Former Mississippi State Court Judges Sentenced on Conviction in Bribery Scheme (07-695)

A Biloxi attorney and two former Mississippi state court judges have been sentenced for their roles in an extensive bribery scheme, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)

Defendants Sentenced for Conspiracy and Bribery Involving Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (07-693)

Two defendants have been sentenced to prison terms for conspiring to defraud the United States and to commit mail fraud and bribery in connection with the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)

Assistant Attorney General Peter D. Keisler Announces Departure From Justice Department’s Civil Division (07-692)

Peter D. Keisler, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division has announced his resignation, effective September 21, 2007. Mr. Keisler was sworn in as the head of the Civil Division on July 1, 2003. Prior to that, Mr. Keisler served as Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General and Acting Associate Attorney General. He joined the Justice Department on June 24, 2002. (Read more)

Undercover Sting Nets Five Individuals for Illegal Trade of Protected Sea Turtles and Other Wildlife (07-691)

A three-year undercover operation conducted by federal agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service led to the arrests today of five individuals for their roles in illegal international trade of exotic skins and parts manufactured from sea turtles and other protected species of wildlife, announced Ronald J. Tenpas, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Troy Eid, U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, and Benito Perez, Acting Chief, Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (Read more)

Tanker Company Convicted for Obstruction of Justice and Conspiracy (07-690)

Ionia Management, a Greek company that manages a fleet of tanker vessels, was convicted today for its role in overboard dumping of waste oil from the M/T Kriton into international waters and its efforts to impede the U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities from learning of the dumping, announced Ronald J. Tenpas, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. (Read more)

Federal Government Announces Settlement With Texas Oil Company Over Oil Spills in Coastal Louisiana (07-689)

The Meridian Resource & Exploration LLC and Louisiana Onshore Properties LLC (Meridian) will pay a $504,000 civil penalty and enhance the pipeline monitoring and oil spill prevention program at its Weeks Island facility in Iberia Parish, La., to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. (Read more)

Chuckie Taylor Charged with Additional Acts of Torture in Superseding Indictment (07-688)

WASHINGTON – A federal Grand Jury in Miami today charged Roy Belfast Jr. in a superseding indictment with additional crimes of torture occurring in Liberia between 1999 to 2003, (Read more)

Justice Department Asks Federal Court to Bar Sarasota Firms and Five Individuals From Preparing Tax Returns (07-687)

The United States has filed a civil injunction suit in federal court seeking to stop Daniel Prewett, Elizabeth George, Frances Carlson, Elsie Chouinard, Natalie Swaney and three firms they work for from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)

Fujicolor Processing Pleads Guilty to Environmental Crime (07-685)

Fujicolor Processing agreed to pay a $200,000 criminal fine for discharging excessive amounts of silver-tainted photo processing waste to a Texas wastewater treatment plant, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency announced today. (Read more)

Former Orange County Man Brought to United States to Face Child Exploitation Charge (07-684)

WASHINGTON – A former contract employee for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been arrested on charges of engaging in illicit sexual contact with a boy while working for USAID in Bangladesh, (Read more)

Four Defendants Plead Guilty to Charges Involving Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud and Electronic Mail Fraud (07-683)

WASHINGTON – Four defendants have pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of over $20 million in stock manipulation schemes involving 15 different publicly traded companies, (Read more)

Department of Justice Comments on “Network Neutrality” in Federal Communications Commission Proceeding (07-682)

The Department of Justice cautioned against imposing regulations that could hamper the development of the Internet and related services in response to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice of Inquiry regarding broadband practices (Read more)

Missouri Federal Court Permanently Bars Woman From Tax Return Preparation (07-680)

federal court in Kansas City, Mo., has permanently barred Marva Bilberry, of Belton, Mo., from preparing tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. (Read more)