Legal Roundup
Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Highlights Fiscal Year 2023 Accomplishments on Earth Day
The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) marked Earth Day by releasing their accomplishments report for Fiscal Year 2023. Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of ENRD emphasized the division's dedication to environmental justice and combating the climate crisis, stating, “We do this while carrying out a mission of remarkable breadth in enforcing federal laws enacted to protect public health, worker safety, natural resources, and animal welfare."The report showcases ENRD's efforts in defending pollution control measures, renewable energy...
Two Florida Steel Traders Sentenced for Money Laundering and Russia-Ukraine Sanctions Violations
John Can Unsalan, also known as Hurrem Can Unsalan, the president of Metalhouse LLC, a steel trading firm based in Orlando, Florida, has been sentenced to six years in prison for his involvement in a money laundering conspiracy. His former business associate, Sergey Karpushkin, a Belarusian national residing in Miami, was also sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in the scheme.The charges stem from their dealings with Sergey Kurchenko, a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch who was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control...
Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Plead Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violations for Assaulting Arrested Man
Two former Crawford County, Arkansas, sheriff’s deputies, Levi White, 34, and Zackary King, 28, have pleaded guilty to federal civil rights offenses for using unlawful force on a man they arrested.“The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power by assaulting a person who was pinned to the ground and not resisting,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.“The videos from this incident are a shocking display of the violent deprivation of civil rights committed by...
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer Addresses Reentry Simulation Event
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer recently delivered remarks at the Access to Justice's Reentry Simulation event, expressing his gratitude to the organizers and participants for their involvement in the initiative. Mizer highlighted the importance of the simulation in shedding light on the challenges faced by individuals reintegrating into society post-incarceration.Mizer acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various agencies and organizations, including the Office for Access to Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, in supporting reentry...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Reflects on the 29th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland took a moment to reflect on the 29th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing that occurred on April 19, 1995. Garland expressed his sentiments in a statement released by the Justice Department.Garland acknowledged the solemn occasion by stating, "Twenty-nine years after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, we continue to remember the 168 people, including 19 children, who were stolen from their loved ones, as well as the hundreds who were injured and forever changed."Recalling his personal experience during the...
Holland & Knight Advises Blue Delta Capital Partners on Investment in Herrick Technology Laboratories
Holland & Knight advised Blue Delta Capital Partners in connection with its $25 million investment in Herrick Technology Laboratories (HTL), a leading provider of high-performance signals intelligence, electronic warfare (SIGINT/EW) and communications products and systems to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Citing Constitutional Concerns, Yost Urges DOJ to Scrap ‘Red Flag’ Gun-Confiscation Program
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 18 other state attorneys general are opposing a new federal program that promotes aggressive enforcement of “red flag” gun-confiscation laws.
Burrillville man charged with ghost gun and large capacity magazine possession
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Burrillville man has been charged in Kent County Superior Court with possession of a ghost gun and large capacity magazines following his arrest on May 19, 2023, by Warwick Police.
Greenberg Traurig is a Finalist for 23 ‘Women in Business Law’ Awards
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP is a finalist for 23 Euromoney Legal Media Group’s 2024 “Women in Business Law Awards”: 12 individual women attorney awards, seven firmwide awards, and four jurisdiction-specific firm awards.
Attorney General James and Pine Barrens Commission Announce Agreement With Landscaping Supplier for Illegally Destroying Protected Land on Long Island
New York Attorney General Letitia James and the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission (Pine Barrens Commission) Executive Director Judith Jakobsen today announceda settlement with Stephen Affatato and his company Affa Organics, Inc. (Affa Organics), a landscaping supply business, for illegally removing trees and vegetation from the Pine Barrens, protected land on Long Island.
Greenberg Traurig’s Seth J. Entin to Speak at U.S. and Europe Tax Practice Trends Conference
Seth J. Entin, shareholder in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A.’s Tax Practice, will speak at the 24th Annual U.S. and Europe Tax Trends Conference taking place April 10-12 in Munich, Germany.
Allin Named to 2024 Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars
Taylor Allin (Partner-Phoenix, AZ) has been named to the Southwest Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™ list for a fourth year.
Team of 5 Tax Controversy Attorneys Joins Bradley in Its Atlanta Office
Bradley is pleased to welcome partners Jeff S. Luechtefeld, John Nail, and Sean R. Gannon, as well as senior attorney Gabriella Cole and associate Jessica R. Stephan, in Atlanta as members of the firm’s Tax Practice Group. All were previously with Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Aughtry.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Statement on Voter Intimidation
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, Civil Rights Division, explains how to report voter intimidation. In a brief statement released recently, Clarke highlighted the importance of addressing voter intimidation and provided guidance on the necessary steps to take when encountering such actions. The message serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to safeguard voting rights and ensure fair and accessible elections.For individuals who witness or experience voter intimidation, Clarke's instructions offer a clear pathway for reporting such incidents. By outlining the...
Chicago-Area Tax Preparer Indicted for False Tax Returns
An Illinois man, Byron Taylor, of Homewood, has made his initial appearance on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Chicago. The indictment charges Taylor with 21 counts of preparing false tax returns for others through his business, We Are Taxes Inc.The indictment alleges that Taylor prepared false tax returns for clients for tax years 2017 through 2020. The returns contained false information, leading clients to claim refunds they were not entitled to. The false information included fraudulent business losses, false deductions like medical expenses, gifts...
Justice Department Secures Agreement with City of Virginia Beach to Improve Access for Individuals with Disabilities
The Justice Department has reached a settlement agreement with the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to enhance access for individuals with disabilities, including Veterans, to city buildings and civic programs. According to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, "The ADA mandates equal access to civic life for people with disabilities." U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia emphasized that "Ensuring that individuals who have disabilities are afforded equal access to local government...
Foreign National Extradited from Chile to the United States for Kidnapping and Assaulting U.S. Army Soldiers in Colombia
A Colombian national, Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, has been extradited from Chile to the United States to face charges related to the kidnapping and assaulting of two U.S. Army soldiers in Bogota, Colombia. Silva Ochoa, also known as Tata, is set to make his initial court appearance today in Miami, Florida.Court documents reveal that Silva Ochoa and his accomplices targeted and kidnapped the two soldiers in Bogota with the intention of robbing them. The victims were drugged at a pub in Bogota and then taken to a waiting car where they were robbed of their valuables including...
Florida Law Enforcement Welcomes New Officers and Honors Sarasota Police Department
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody welcomed new law enforcement officers to Florida and honored the Sarasota Police Department for their exceptional efforts in reducing crime. The ceremony, which took place at the Sarasota Police Department, saw the swearing-in of nine officers, with six of them hailing from out-of-state.In her address, Attorney General Moody expressed pride in Florida's pro-law enforcement stance, stating, “Only in Florida can you host a swearing-in ceremony where more than half of the new officers are from out-of-state. This is a testament...
Federal Agencies Launch Portal for Public Reporting of Anticompetitive Practices in Health Care Sector
The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have unveiled an online portal named HealthyCompetition.gov for the public to report potential anticompetitive practices in the health care sector. The initiative aims to address concerns regarding unfair competition and monopolistic practices that could impact healthcare affordability and quality in the United States.Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter emphasized the importance of competition in healthcare, stating, "Competition in health care is crucial to...
Janene Jackson Named New Leader of Holland & Knight in Washington, D.C.
Holland & Knight has named Janene Jackson executive partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Ms. Jackson will oversee the day-to-day management of the 190-plus lawyer office, while continuing to manage her local government practice.