News from 2024
Attorney General Drummond opposes EPA's expanded Risk Management Program rule
WASHINGTON DC (May 7, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond testified before a U.S. House subcommittee this morning, expressing concerns over a revised rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that he believes will have severe consequences for Oklahoma and other states. The House Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials invited Drummond to speak at a hearing titled “EPA’s RMP Rule: Failures to Protect the American People and American Manufacturing.” This subcommittee is part of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
U.S. Charges Russian National with Operating LockBit Ransomware Group
The U.S. Justice Department has charged a Russian national with creating and running the LockBit ransomware group, which has targeted over 2,000 victims and extorted more than $100 million in ransom payments. Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, also known as LockBitSupp, faces a 26-count indictment in the District of New Jersey.
Man convicted 22 years later for murder of pregnant soldier on military base in Germany
A federal jury in Pensacola, Florida, convicted a former U.S. Army soldier yesterday for the murder of a pregnant, 19-year-old fellow soldier on a U.S. Army base in Germany more than 22 years ago. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Nov. 3, 2001, Shannon L. Wilkerson, 43, beat and strangled Amanda Gonzales to death in her barracks room at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, then a U.S. Army base in Hanau, Germany. Wilkerson was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces at the time of the offense but was later discharged.
Attorney General Ashley Moody Leads Effort to Defund UN Agency Tied to Terrorism
Attorney General Moody Demands Congress Permanently Defund Hamas-Tied United Nations Relief and Works Agency
Former Binance CEO's attorney: No defendants in 'remotely similar' cases have 'ever been sentenced to incarceration'
Benjamin Naftalis, a legal representative for Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, stated that there is an absence of precedent for defendants sentenced to prison time for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). This statement was made in a court filing ahead of Zhao's sentencing hearing on April 30, where he received a four-month prison sentence.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Prison for Tax Fraud Scheme
"A Minnesota man was sentenced today to 108 months in prison for wire fraud and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns."
Wrongful death case says window in apartment gave way, leading to fatal fall
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - The owner of a Boston apartment building faces a lawsuit over the death of a man who fell out of a second-story window.
Fla. convenience store blamed after customer shot, paralyzed
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida woman who was shot at a Tallahassee convenience store is suing for her injuries, which include her being paralyzed from the waist down.
Calif. anti-spam lawsuit cited in Massachusetts case against Fight Age Labs
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Plaintiffs fed up with spam emails are suing one of the senders in Massachusetts state court.
'No highways' directive from eye doctor means no money for plaintiffs in hay wagon accident
BISMARCK, N.D. (Legal Newsline) - An eye doctor who warned his patient not to drive on the highway isn’t responsible for a fatal accident that occurred when the patient’s truck rammed a horse-drawn hay wagon on the highway, the North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled.
Mark Zuckerberg has no duty to fix the world, judge rules
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Mark Zuckerberg may be one of the world’s most powerful people by dint of his control of Facebook owner Meta, but that doesn’t expose him to liability for failing to fix the world’s problems, Delaware’s Chancery Court ruled.
Virginia Man Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Tax Scheme
"A Virginia businessman was sentenced to 78 months in prison for evading the payment of employment taxes, filing false tax returns and obstructing the IRS."###
Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Honors Correctional Workers in Memorial Service
Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Marshall Miller delivered remarks at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Workers’ Memorial Service on May 7, 2024.
Oil tanker engineers admit to concealing pollution and illegal waste discharge
Two ship engineers on the oil tanker M/T Kriti Ruby pleaded guilty today to charges related to the concealment of pollution by falsifying records, with the chief engineer also pleading guilty to charges related to the discharge of oily waste into the sea from a commercial vessel near a petroleum terminal in Sewaren, New Jersey.
Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services Highlight Progress by State of Alabama to Implement Environmental Justice Reforms in Lowndes County
The Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today progress by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) in providing access to basic sanitation services, abating exposure to raw sewage from inadequate onsite wastewater systems, and improving health outcomes for the predominantly Black communities of Lowndes County, Alabama.
Former Tennessee Corrections Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive Force Against Inmate and Writing False Report to Cover It Up
Former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) tactical officer, Javian Griffin, 38, has been sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using excessive force against an inmate and writing a false report to cover it up. Griffin pleaded guilty to the offense on Oct. 11, 2023.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, “The defendant pledged to protect and serve but instead he abused his authority as a corrections officer, violently punching a man in the head and breaking his jaw. The...
Court Permanently Bars Missouri CPA from Promoting Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust Tax Scheme
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri has issued a permanent injunction against Aric Elliot Schreiner and his company, Columbia CPA Group LLC, prohibiting them from engaging in any activities related to promoting tax schemes involving charitable remainder annuity trusts (CRATs). Additionally, Schreiner has been ordered to forfeit $400,000 in ill-gotten gains from the scheme. The court's decision comes after the United States sued Schreiner, Columbia CPA Group, and five other defendants to halt the promotion of the CRAT scheme.According to the United...
Justice Department Plans Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Listening Sessions in May 2024
The Justice Department today marked the second anniversary of its Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy (CEJES) and Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ). The Justice Department will be incorporating those efforts into developing an Environmental Justice Strategic Plan, as directed by the President’s Executive Order “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.” The new strategic plan will further address environmental justice and help develop and capture the Justice Department's vision, goals, priority actions, and metrics to...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks Jr. at Memorial Service
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered heartfelt remarks at the memorial service of Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks Jr., paying tribute to his life and legacy. Garland expressed his admiration for Mrs. Weeks' strength and resilience, highlighting her unwavering support for the U.S. Marshals Service and the Justice Department in the face of tragedy.Garland acknowledged the profound impact of Weeks' dedication to his family and his colleagues, describing him as a dependable, passionate, and humorous individual. He shared anecdotes that showcased Weeks' commitment to...
Oklahoma AG files lawsuit against Biden Administration over Title IX changes
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 6, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the Biden Administration’s new change to Title IX rules that adds gender identity to the longstanding federal protections.