An Ohio man, Joshua Russell, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for sending death threats to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office during Arizona’s primary and general elections. The threats were made between Aug. 2, 2022, and Nov. 15, 2022, through a series of voicemails.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of protecting election workers, stating, "If you threaten violence against the public servants who administer our elections, there will be consequences."Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General...
The launch of the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center was announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, who highlighted the importance of the Center in providing resources to prevent individuals who pose a threat from accessing firearms. Garland stated, “The launch of the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center will provide our partners across the country with valuable resources to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others.”The Center aims to support the implementation of ERPO laws, which...
Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers have been sentenced for their involvement in the torture and abuse of two Black men in Rankin County, Mississippi. Senior District Judge Tom Lee handed down prison terms ranging from 10 to 40 years to the defendants involved in the heinous attack.Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke, and Joshua Hartfield were all sentenced for their roles in the disturbing incident. Dedmon, the former Narcotics Investigator of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), received the harshest...
The Justice Department has taken legal action against tech giant Apple, accusing the company of monopolizing the smartphone markets. In a statement, it was highlighted that "Apple’s Broad-Based, Exclusionary Conduct Makes It Harder for Americans to Switch Smartphones, Undermines Innovation for Apps, Products, and Services, and Imposes Extraordinary Costs on Developers, Businesses, and Consumers."The lawsuit aims to address concerns that Apple's practices have hindered competition and innovation within the smartphone industry. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, in a recent address, announced a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice, along with 15 states and the District of Columbia, against tech giant Apple. The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, accuses Apple of violating Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.Garland highlighted Apple's significant market dominance, noting that "Apple's share of the U.S. performance smartphone market exceeds 70%, and its share of the entire U.S. smartphone market exceeds 65%." He pointed out that the company's...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has issued a statement regarding the sentencing of former Mississippi law enforcement officers who tortured and abused two Black men in Rankin County, Mississippi. Hunter Elward, a former Rankin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Jeffrey Middleton, a former RCSO Lieutenant, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.In his statement, Attorney General Garland emphasized the severity of the crimes committed by the defendants, stating, “These defendants will spend 20 years and 17.5 years in prison for...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has issued a statement regarding the FBI Quarterly Uniform Crime Report, expressing optimism about the progress made in reducing violent crime across the country."In May 2021, the Justice Department launched our violent crime reduction strategy aimed at addressing the spike in violent crime that occurred during the pandemic," stated Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, highlighting the Department's proactive approach to combating crime.Reflecting on the efforts made, Garland emphasized, "We know that hard-fought progress can easily...
The final defendant in the 2020 drive-by shooting of court security officers has been sentenced to life in prison. Robert Alvin Justus Jr., 34, of Millbrae, California, was convicted for his role in the fatal shooting at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland, California. Justus's co-defendant, Steven Carrillo, was previously sentenced to 41 years in prison. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed, "With this sentence, the Justice Department has ensured that both of the defendants responsible for brutally murdering a law enforcement...
The Justice Department's Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) marked National Public Defense Day by introducing the Public Defense Resource Hub (PD Hub), a comprehensive platform aimed at aiding individuals and organizations involved in public defense. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed the Department's pride in supporting public defenders, emphasizing the importance of upholding the constitutional right to counsel as reaffirmed in the historic case of Gideon v. Wainwright.Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco reflected on the previous year's National Public...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “The defendant, a rideshare driver, is charged with assaulting a rider because he thought the rider was Jewish or Israeli.” U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California emphasized, “We will prosecute any ride-share driver who assaults a passenger in such hate-fueled violence.”The indictment against Csaba John Csukás, 39, reveals that he attacked the victim at San Francisco International Airport on Oct. 26, 2023, because he perceived the victim to be Jewish or Israeli. Csukás, who worked as a driver for...
A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for sending a bomb threat to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “Those using illegal threats of violence to intimidate election workers should know that the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable under the law.” James W. Clark, 40, of Falmouth, sent a message to the election official warning of an explosive device, prompting law enforcement to conduct searches and evacuations.Principal Deputy Assistant...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of the Justice Department's mission, stating, “The dedicated men and women of the Justice Department work every day to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights.”The budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025 includes significant investments to enhance law enforcement capabilities and combat various threats. This includes over $20.6 billion to expand the capacity of the Department’s law enforcement and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, with specific allocations for agencies such as the FBI, DEA,...
Juan Orlando Hernández, the former President of Honduras, has been convicted in a Manhattan federal court of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and related firearms offenses. The conviction comes after a federal jury found Hernández guilty on all three counts in the indictment.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed, “Juan Orlando Hernández abused his position as President of Honduras to operate the country as a narco-state where violent drug traffickers were allowed to operate with virtual impunity, and the people of Honduras and the United States...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered remarks at the Anti-Defamation League's Never is Now Summit. During his speech, Garland emphasized the importance of combating hate and discrimination in all its forms. He stated, "We must continue to stand together against hate and intolerance."Garland also highlighted the significance of unity in the fight against bigotry, saying, "Our strength lies in our diversity and our unity." He underscored the need for collective action to address and eradicate hate in society.The Attorney General commended the Anti-Defamation...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recently participated in a fireside chat at the American Bar Association's 39th Annual White Collar Institute event. During the discussion, Garland shared insights and perspectives on various legal matters.One of the key topics addressed by Attorney General Garland was the importance of upholding the rule of law. He emphasized, "The rule of law is the foundation of our democracy, and it is essential that we protect and defend it at all times."Garland also highlighted the significance of integrity within the legal profession, stating,...
The Departments of Justice and the Interior have released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on combating the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized, “These recommendations are an important and necessary step toward healing the trauma, pain, and loss that Tribal communities have endured for generations.” Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland added, “Addressing violent crimes against Indigenous peoples has long been underfunded and ignored, as a cause...
JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) has decided to abandon its $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines Inc. (Spirit), following a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts that deemed the transaction in violation of antitrust laws. In response to JetBlue's decision, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, "Today’s decision by JetBlue is yet another victory for the Justice Department’s work on behalf of American consumers." He emphasized the importance of protecting markets from anticompetitive harm.Assistant Attorney General Jonathan...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed the need for the groundbreaking Executive Order, stating, “Our adversaries are exploiting Americans’ sensitive personal data to threaten our national security.”Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized, “Today, we make clear that American citizens' sensitive and personal data is not for sale to our adversaries.”Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division highlighted the significance of the Executive Order, stating, “Hostile foreign powers are weaponizing bulk data...
The Justice Department announced today that it has successfully conducted a court-authorized operation to neutralize a botnet controlled by the Russian Federation's Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (GRU). The operation targeted a network of small office/home office (SOHO) routers that were used by the GRU to carry out various cybercrimes, including spearphishing and credential harvesting campaigns against U.S. and foreign governments, military organizations, and corporate entities.The botnet, which was operated by GRU Military Unit 26165, also known as...
The Justice Department has released an update to its Equity Action Plan, which aims to further advance racial equity and support underserved communities through the federal government. The plan, finalized in December 2023, will guide the department's equity strategies in Fiscal Year 2024.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the department's commitment to ensuring that its programs and services reach every community in need. He stated, "The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that our programs and services reach every community that needs them... The five...
