Legal Newsline News
Attorney General Garland & ATF Director Dettelbach Dedicate “The Faces of Gun Violence” Exhibit at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Director Steven M. Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) dedicated a new “Faces of Gun Violence” exhibit today at a ceremony hosted during ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit. The exhibit honors and memorializes those whose lives have been tragically lost to gun violence."As we remember those we have lost to gun violence, the Justice Department promises that we will strive every single day to honor their lives in our work," expressed Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "We promise...
Doctor Charged with Unlawfully Distributing Controlled Substances and Health Care Fraud
A New Hampshire doctor, Adnan S. Khan, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and commit health care fraud. Khan, 48, of Grantham, allegedly orchestrated illegal prescribing and health care fraud through New England Medicine and Counseling Associates (NEMCA), operating clinics in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. According to court documents, Khan distributed drugs outside the usual course of professional practice, requiring patients to pay cash for prescriptions despite having insurance. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M....
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Delivers Remarks at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco delivered remarks at the ATF's Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors' Summit on April 23, 2024. She expressed her gratitude to all attendees, especially those who have lost loved ones to gun violence, stating, "Your presence honors their memory and fuels our fight for a better, safer future."Monaco acknowledged the courage and commitment of the community gathered at the summit, emphasizing that despite being survivors, advocates, and members of law enforcement from diverse backgrounds, they are bound by extraordinary courage. She highlighted...
Consolidated Nuclear Security Settles False Claims Allegations for $18.4 Million
Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC (CNS) has agreed to pay $18.4 million to settle allegations of timecard fraud involving the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at the Pantex Site near Amarillo, Texas. The settlement comes after CNS was accused of knowingly submitting false claims for work not performed between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2020.Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized the government's stance on the issue, stating, “We will not tolerate the misuse of public funds by those who do business with the United States....
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland addressed a gathering at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit, expressing gratitude for the introduction he received and acknowledging the hard work of the ATF professionals in protecting communities.Garland also highlighted the importance of meeting gun violence survivors, stating, "They shared with me their stories, their grief, and their devotion to preventing other families from experiencing the profound loss that they have experienced."Reflecting on the victims of gun violence, Garland emphasized the impact each...
Florida Man Sentenced for Laundering Proceeds of Nigerian Romance Scams and Business Email Compromises
A Florida man, Niselio Barros Garcia Jr., has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for his involvement in laundering the proceeds of scams against American consumers and businesses to co-conspirators in Nigeria. Garcia, of Winter Garden, was part of a network that facilitated the laundering of funds from romance scams, business email compromises, and other fraud schemes by supplying bank accounts and using a cryptocurrency exchange to transfer the funds in Bitcoin to Nigeria.According to court documents, Garcia personally laundered over $2.3 million of criminal proceeds...
Virginia Receives $123 Million from Tobacco Settlement
Attorney General Jason Miyares of Virginia announced today that the state has received a payment of $122.5 million from major tobacco companies as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. The agreement, finalized in 1998, aimed to address violations of consumer protection laws and deceptive marketing practices by tobacco companies, which led to increased healthcare costs for the state.Over the years, Virginia has received a total of $3.3 billion in payments from the Master Settlement Agreement, with annual payments helping to offset healthcare expenses related to...
Justice Department Reaches Civil Settlement with Victims Abused by Lawrence Nassar
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a civil settlement with victims of the sexual abuse perpetrated by former physician and USA Gymnastics official Lawrence Gerard Nassar. The settlements are in response to 139 administrative claims arising from allegations of sexual abuse committed by Nassar.Nassar, who was arrested in 2016 by the State of Michigan, had sexually abused hundreds of victims over nearly two decades under the pretense of medical treatments. These settlements aim to address administrative claims against the United States regarding the...
Lawsuit: Ferry crash at Disney World dumped man into garbage can
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A visitor to Disney World says a ferry taking him to the park crashed, causing him to sustain injuries and fall into a trash can.
Lawsuit against Boston Housing Authority blames slow response for man's death
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - The Boston Housing Authority is accused of not responding to an emergency situation for more than an hour, leading to a man's death.
Attorney General Moody Announces Arrest of Two Seminole County Residents for Medicaid Fraud
Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed her dismay at the actions of Debora Behnke and Suman Bhattacharjee, who were arrested for their involvement in a Medicaid fraud scheme that siphoned off over $250,000 from the Medicaid program. Moody highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “Conspiring together, these individuals defrauded Medicaid out of more than $250,000." She commended the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies that led to the apprehension of the culprits, emphasizing that the fraudulent scheme has now come to an end.The Medicaid...
Attorney General Moody Honors Victim Advocates and Law Enforcement During 2023 Crime Victims’ Rights Awards Ceremony
Attorney General Ashley Moody highlighted the dedication and commitment of individuals who have gone above and beyond to assist crime victims during the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony. Moody expressed her appreciation for the award recipients, stating, “This year’s Distinguished Victim Services Award recipients have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help crime victims through their darkest days. I’m honored to highlight their incredible stories and the vital selfless work they do to help victims.”Among the recipients of the Attorney General’s...
Justice Department Charges Four Iranian Nationals for Multi-Year Cyber Campaign Targeting U.S. Companies
The Justice Department has unveiled charges against four Iranian nationals involved in a cyber campaign targeting U.S. companies, including government entities and defense contractors. Hossein Harooni, Reza Kazemifar, Komeil Baradaran Salmani, and Alireza Shafie Nasab are accused of engaging in a hacking scheme that compromised American organizations, as well as the U.S. Departments of Treasury and State.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "Criminal activity originating from Iran poses a grave threat to America’s national...
Register Now for NexGen 2.0 FOIA Tech Showcase for Federal Agencies
The Office of Information Policy (OIP) has announced the upcoming NexGen 2.0 FOIA Tech Showcase for federal agencies, scheduled to take place on May 14-16, 2024. The event aims to address existing FOIA case processing and backlog challenges by identifying technology solutions and showcasing advanced technological capabilities.The event will feature a range of vendors providing video demonstrations of their technology products tailored for agency FOIA administration. Following each demonstration, there will be a Q&A session allowing agencies to interact with the vendors...
Sex Traffickers Sentenced in Maine
Ricardo Middleton, 32, of Boston, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release after a jury found Middleton guilty in December 2023 of sex trafficking a young woman through force, fraud, and coercion and obstruction in Maine.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division expressed, "This significant sentence imposed by the court reflects the severity of the defendant’s exploitation of the victim over three days. He used drugs, threats, physical force and rape to force her to engage in...
Luxury Handbag Company, Founder and Co-Conspirator Sentenced for Smuggling Handbags Made from Caiman and Python Skin
Luxury handbag company Gzuniga Ltd., its founder Nancy Teresa Gonzalez de Barberi and Gonzalez’s associate Mauricio Giraldo were sentenced to prison today for illegally importing merchandise from Colombia to the United States that was made from protected wildlife. All had previously pleaded guilty.Gzuniga was ordered to forfeit all handbags and other previously seized product, banned for three years from any activities involving commercial trade in wildlife and sentenced to serve three years of probation. Gonzalez was sentenced to 18 months in prison with credit for time...
New Jersey Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Breaking into Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University and Destroying Property
A New Jersey man has been charged with a federal hate crime for breaking into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and destroying property."Jacob Beacher, 24, of Somerset County, was arrested this morning and charged by complaint with one count of intentional or attempted obstruction of religious practice and one count of making false statements to federal authorities." According to the criminal complaint, on April 10, during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday, Beacher broke into the CILRU around 2:41 a.m., where he damaged the...
OVW Holds Information Session for Restorative Practices Pilot Program Evaluation
OVW conducted a live web-based pre-application information session for its Fiscal Year 2024 Restorative Practices Pilot Program Evaluation solicitation. During the presentation, OVW staff reviewed this program’s requirements, discussed the solicitation, and allowed for a brief question-and-answer period.
Drug Take Back Day is April 27
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that this upcoming Saturday, April 27, 2023, is National Drug Take Back Day. Attorney General Josh Kaul emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “Cleaning out your medicine cabinet to get rid of unused and unwanted medications can help with the fight against the opioid epidemic.” Wisconsinites are encouraged to participate in the more than 135 events planned across the state, in collaboration with over 248 participating law enforcement agencies.The initiative aims to provide a safe, convenient, and...
Criminal Division Launches Voluntary Self-Disclosures Pilot Program for Individuals
The Criminal Division has unveiled a new pilot program aimed at encouraging individuals to come forward and disclose corporate wrongdoing. This initiative, announced earlier this week, focuses on voluntary self-disclosures for individuals involved in criminal conduct, with the promise of a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) for those who meet specific criteria.According to a statement from the Criminal Division, the program is designed to incentivize individuals to report misconduct that was previously unknown to the department. Individuals who voluntarily, truthfully, and...