U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Government: Agencies/Departments/Divisions | Federal Agencies
Recent News About U.S. Department of Justice
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California pharmacist sentenced for $1 million Medicare fraud scheme
A California man was sentenced to two years in prison for submitting more than $1 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for prescription drugs that were never dispensed to beneficiaries. -
Justice Department announces agreement on language access improvements in NY drug treatment court
The Justice Department announced today a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the New York State Court System, Office of Court Administration (OCA), to improve access to the Rockland County, New York, Drug Treatment Court for people with limited English proficiency (LEP). The department enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance. Prohibited discrimination may include a failure to provide meaningful language access. -
Captain pleads guilty to pollution law violations
Captain Abdurrahman Korkmaz, 37, pleaded guilty today to a two-count information charging him with violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstructing proceedings. Korkmaz, a Turkish national, was the captain of the PS Dream, a Panama-flagged motor tanker. The two related companies that operated the PS Dream pleaded guilty last month to environmental crimes. -
Kenyan national sentenced for advance fee fraud scheme
A Kenyan national was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for perpetrating an advance fee and investment scheme that defrauded numerous victims. -
Joint Task Force Alpha marks third anniversary with significant anti-smuggling achievements
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the formation of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in June 2021, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The initiative aims to enhance the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human smuggling and trafficking originating from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico, which impact U.S. border communities. JTFA focuses on individuals and networks that exploit or endanger those being smuggled, pose national security threats, or have ties to transnational organized crime. -
Joint Task Force Alpha expands anti-smuggling efforts into Colombia-Panama region
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland marked the third anniversary of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) by convening senior leaders from the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and State to discuss ongoing efforts against human smuggling at the southern border. Over three years, JTFA has led to over 300 arrests and more than 240 convictions in the United States. -
Four more states join DOJ's antitrust suit against Apple
The Attorneys General of Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington have joined the civil antitrust lawsuit brought by the Justice Department, 15 states, and the District of Columbia against Apple. The suit, originally filed in March, alleges that Apple has monopolized multiple smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The expanded group of plaintiffs has filed an amended complaint in the District of New Jersey. -
Justice Department forms multi-agency task force targeting illegal e-cigarette sales
The Justice Department and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the creation of a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes. -
Graphic Communications National Pension Fund agrees to repay excess financial assistance
The Graphic Communications National Pension Fund (NPF) has agreed to repay over $8 million in excess funds received from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) under the Special Financial Assistance Program. This agreement follows a civil settlement. -
Former corrections sergeant sentenced for civil rights violations
Eric L. Nantell, a former Kentucky corrections sergeant, was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for multiple charges including deprivation of civil rights and obstruction of justice. Nantell was convicted after a four-day trial for failing to intervene during the assault of an inmate, misleading state investigators, and making false statements to an FBI special agent. Six other officers previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced for their roles in the incident and subsequent cover-up, with three testifying against Nantell. -
Office of Justice Programs emphasizes community role in public safety
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) recently highlighted its new mission statement with a series of events and initiatives focused on community-centered public safety strategies. -
Attorney General Garland comments on declining violent crime rates
The Justice Department has released a statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland regarding the FBI’s Quarterly Uniform Crime Report, which indicates a decrease in violent and property crime in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. -
Massachusetts project manager convicted in tax conspiracy
A federal jury convicted a Massachusetts man on Friday for conspiring to defraud the United States. -
Justice Department secures agreement with Tennessee school district over racial harassment allegations
The Justice Department announced a settlement agreement with Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee to resolve an investigation into allegations of race-based harassment targeting Black students. The investigation, conducted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, found that incidents of harassment created a racially hostile environment. These incidents included a mock “slave auction” involving Black students, the repeated use of racial slurs by white students, and a “monkey of the month” campaign... -
Office releases updated presidential pardon application after year-long review
The Office of the Pardon Attorney today released a new version of its application for presidential pardons. This updated form is the result of a year-long collaboration with the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) aimed at making the application more user-friendly and accessible. A pardon can assist those who have completed their federal sentences by providing relief from the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction. -
Deputy AG Monaco hosts fourth Justice AI Initiative convening
This week, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco hosted the fourth convening of the "Justice AI Initiative," which she launched earlier this year to shape the Justice Department’s AI policy. The initiative aims to understand how AI will impact the Department’s mission to uphold the rule of law, ensure national safety, and protect civil rights. The "Justice AI" program brings together stakeholders from civil society, industry, academia, and law enforcement to discuss both the potential benefits and risks associated with AI. -
Two charged for involvement in monkey torture video distribution
Two individuals were charged this week for their involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys. -
Georgia attorney sentenced for $15M COVID-19 relief fraud
A Georgia attorney and former City of Atlanta police officer was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison for conspiring to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of approximately $15 million. -
Former energy company president sentenced for $5.5M kickback scheme
The former president of a Texas energy company was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison for his role in an illegal kickback scheme and a commodities insider trading scheme involving natural gas futures contracts. -
Assistant AG Kristen Clarke speaks at Rhode Island hate crimes summit
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke delivered remarks at the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office’s Hate Crimes Summit on June 7, 2024. Clarke began by expressing gratitude to Attorney General Peter Neronha for his office's commitment to civil rights and public safety in Rhode Island.