U.S. Department of Justice
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Recent News About U.S. Department of Justice
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Iranian nationals indicted for cyber operations targeting US elections
The Justice Department has unsealed an indictment against three Iranian nationals, who are employees of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The individuals charged are Masoud Jalili, 36, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, 34, and Yaser Balaghi, 37. They are accused of conspiring to hack into accounts of U.S. officials, media members, NGOs, and individuals associated with U.S. political campaigns as part of Iran's efforts to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election. -
Florida man charged with threatening primary opponent
An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging a Florida man with threatening to kill his primary opponent in the 2021 election for the 13th Congressional District of Florida and a private citizen who was an acquaintance of his opponent. -
Florida financial advisor charged with promoting illegal tax shelter
A federal grand jury in Gulfport, Mississippi, has indicted a Florida financial advisor for promoting an illegal tax shelter, stealing clients' funds, and money laundering. The indictment, unsealed yesterday, accuses Stephen T. Mellinger III of orchestrating a scheme that began in late 2013. -
Justice Department announces assessment of Hackensack police under collaborative reform initiative
The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) announced it will conduct an Organizational Assessment of the Hackensack, New Jersey, Police Department through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. This voluntary program is available to law enforcement agencies seeking to ensure fair and effective policing. -
Florida court orders closure of Dexter Bataille's tax prep business
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has issued a permanent injunction against Dexter Bataille, a tax return preparer from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The court ordered Bataille to shut down his business, Capital Financial Group Holdings LLC, and barred him from preparing or assisting in preparing federal income tax returns or transferring his customer lists. Additionally, Bataille was ordered to pay $134,400 in ill-gotten gains from his return preparation business. Bataille agreed to both the injunction and the payment order. -
Leader sentenced for blocking Tennessee clinic under FACE Act
Chester Gallagher, the leader of a March 5, 2021 blockade of a Mount Juliet, Tennessee reproductive health clinic, was sentenced to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release. This follows his convictions for federal conspiracy against rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act offenses. -
Shipping companies fined $2M for concealing illegal oil discharge
Two corporations that operated the motor tanker P/S Dream — Prive Overseas Marine LLC and Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret — were sentenced in federal court in New Orleans to pay a $2 million criminal penalty and complete four years of probation. The companies pleaded guilty in May to charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The court also sentenced the P/S Dream’s Captain, Abdurrahman Korkmaz, on Sept. 10 to eight months in prison for an APPS offense and obstructing the U.S. Coast Guard’s investigation. -
Former FAA contractor indicted for acting as agent for Iranian government
Abouzar Rahmati, a former contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has been indicted for acting and conspiring to act as an agent of the Iranian government in the United States without prior notice to the Attorney General. Rahmati, 42, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Great Falls, Virginia, made his initial appearance in the District of Columbia. -
Justice Department announces settlement with Lima Refining Company for Clean Air Act violations
The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced a settlement with Lima Refining Company (LRC), a subsidiary of Cenovus Energy, to address Clean Air Act violations at its refinery in Lima, Ohio. -
U.S. Marshals arrest over 3,400 fugitives during Operation North Star
The Justice Department announced that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested 3,421 violent fugitives during Operation North Star FY 2024 (ONS FY24). The arrests included 216 for homicide, 803 for assault, and 482 for weapons offenses. -
Justice Department sues Alabama over alleged illegal voter roll purges
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the State of Alabama and its Secretary of State. The suit challenges a state program aimed at removing voters from election rolls too close to the upcoming November 5 general election, which the department claims violates the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). -
Justice Department announces milestone in policing reform efforts for New Orleans
The Justice Department announced today that it, together with the City of New Orleans, has jointly moved for the city to enter into a two-year “sustainment period” according to the terms of a negotiated plan. This brings the consent decree concerning the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) closer to successful resolution. -
Operation North Star results in over 3,400 arrests nationwide
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced the results of the fourth phase of Operation North Star, a five-month initiative by the U.S. Marshals Service and law enforcement partners targeting dangerous fugitives and violent offenders in 10 metropolitan areas across the country. -
Justice Department finds civil rights violations by Lexington Police
The Justice Department has concluded that the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and its Police Department (LPD) have engaged in practices that violate civil rights. The investigation revealed a pattern of conduct that deprives residents of their constitutional and federal rights. -
Russian nationals charged over billion-dollar money laundering operations
The Justice Department has announced coordinated actions with the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and other federal and international law enforcement partners to address Russian money laundering operations. These efforts include unsealing an indictment against a Russian national for his role in operating multiple money laundering services for cybercriminals and seizing websites linked to three illicit cryptocurrency exchanges. -
Acadia Healthcare settles $19.85M allegations over unnecessary behavioral health services
Acadia Healthcare Company Inc., a Delaware corporation based in Franklin, Tennessee, has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and related state statutes. The company is accused of billing for medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral health services or services that did not meet federal and state regulations. -
Justice Department announces findings on civil rights violations by Lexington Police
On September 26, 2024, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Justice Department announced findings from an investigation into civil rights violations by the Lexington, Mississippi Police Department and the City of Lexington. Clarke was joined by Todd W. Gee, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. -
Justice Department announces measures to improve firearm background checks
The Justice Department has announced several measures aimed at improving firearm background checks and reducing gun violence. The Department is releasing model legislation and information to help states share juvenile criminal history and mental health records with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for firearm background checks. Additionally, over $200 million in new grant funding for gun violence prevention has been unveiled, along with new resources for law enforcement, including training and funding guidance. -
Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General opens 2024 Hate Crimes Grantee Conference
Today, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer delivered opening remarks at the 2024 Hate Crimes Grantee Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. -
Justice Department reaches agreement with Alameda County Sheriff’s Office on language access
The Justice Department has reached a resolution agreement with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) in California. This resolves an inquiry into whether ACSO complies with its nondiscrimination obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.