News from April 2024
Jackie Menk Elected to Atlanta Bar Association Litigation Section Board of Directors
Associate Jackie Menk was elected to the Atlanta Bar Association Litigation Section’s Board of Directors as a Member-at-Large.
AG Nessel’s FORCE Team Partners with Postal Inspection Service to Combat Organized Retail Crimes
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a partnership between the FORCE Team and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) to tackle organized retail crimes that leverage the postal system to conduct their illegal enterprises.
Attorney General Griffin Leads 23-state Amicus in Support of West Virginia’s Abortion Law
After filing an amicus brief on behalf of himself and 22 other state attorneys general in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit supporting West Virginia’s abortion prohibition, Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement:
UPDATE: Attorney General’s Office Releases Identities of the Decedent and State Trooper Involved in Fatal Crash in Southampton, N.J., on April 9, 2024
The Attorney General’s Office identified the motorcyclist who died after being involved in a collision with a New Jersey State Police (NJSP) vehicle on April 9, 2024, in Southampton Township, New Jersey.
2024AG Fitch Leads Bipartisan Coalition Asking SupremeCourt to Reconsider Section 230 Immunity
Attorney General Lynn Fitch led a bipartisan coalition of 23 State Attorneys General in an amicus brief supporting a petition for certiorari by a young man seeking to hold Snapchat accountable for its rolein the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his teacher.
Attorney General Bird Sues Biden EPA to Block Electric Vehicle Mandate
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a 25-state lawsuit to block Biden’s latest electric vehicle mandate and stand up for Americans who drive gas and diesel-powered cars and trucks.
Court rules Cincinnati port authority may owe developer prejudgment interest
The Supreme Court of Ohio has ruled that the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority may be liable for nearly $350,000 in prejudgment interest to a developer.
Chicago-Area Tax Preparer Sentenced for False Return Scheme
An Illinois woman, Vervia Watts, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for her involvement in preparing and filing false income tax returns for clients. Watts, operating a tax preparation business, filed over 900 fraudulent income tax returns for clients between January 2017 and June 2023. These returns included false education expenses and business income to inflate IRS refunds, totaling approximately $1.3 million.In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins for the Northern District of Illinois has ordered Watts to serve one...
Justice Department Dedicates “Faces of Gun Violence” Exhibit at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and ATF Director Steven M. Dettelbach dedicated the new “Faces of Gun Violence” exhibit during ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit. Garland expressed, “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,” emphasizing the commitment to ensuring safety from gun violence for all. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco commended the survivors of gun violence for sharing their stories and engaging in discussions to prevent further...
Tennessee receives $146 million from tobacco settlement agreement
Tennessee has received a substantial payment of $146.1 million from major tobacco companies under the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, as announced by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. Since the agreement's inception in 1998, Tennessee has collected a total of $3.9 billion.
U.S. Trustee Program Cracks Down on Bankruptcy Petition Preparers Exploiting Vulnerable Consumers
Two bankruptcy petition preparers have been prohibited from providing bankruptcy-related services after being found guilty of targeting vulnerable consumers facing foreclosure, thanks to the enforcement efforts of the Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP).In one case, Kafil Hamim Quaiyum Tunsill was permanently barred from acting as a bankruptcy petition preparer in the Middle District of Florida. Tunsill was also fined $12,500 and instructed to refund $1,900 to a debtor. Director Tara Twomey of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees emphasized, "Unscrupulous...
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...
Court appoints receiver for Heritage Village assisted living facility
Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced that the Maricopa County Superior Court has appointed Peter S. Davis of J.S. Held, LLC as the Receiver for Heritage Village, an assisted living facility located in Mesa. Mr. Davis will operate under the...
Attorney General Steve Marshall highlights National Crime Victims Week initiatives
Each April, the nation observes a week dedicated to remembering crime victims and reinforcing a commitment to justice.
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...