LEGAL NEWSLINE

LANSING – Yulonda Eckel, 56, of Ann Arbor, has waived her preliminary examination and will stand trial in the 22nd Circuit Court in Washtenaw County for allegedly fraudulently obtaining two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $41,000. The announcement was made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

The Ward County Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for the position of Assistant State’s Attorney in the Ward County State’s Attorney’s office.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in an amicus brief supporting a Mississippi voting rights law, which is currently being challenged by the Republican National Committee in the case Republican National Committee v. Wetzel. The brief, filed before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, defends Mississippi's law that allows absentee ballots to be counted if postmarked by Election Day and received within five days thereafter. The coalition argues that this law falls within states' constitutional authority to regulate elections and...

A business can sue fake reviewers for negative online reviews, an Ohio appeals court ruled.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a coalition of 21 attorneys general, has joined a multistate amicus brief in support of a Colorado law that mandates anyone possessing an unserialized frame or receiver to obtain serialization by January 1, 2024. The law also prohibits the use of 3D printers to create frames or receivers. The case, National Association for Gun Rights v. Polis, is currently under review in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

On September 13, 2024, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer delivered remarks on the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Addressing both in-person and online attendees, Mizer highlighted the significance of this milestone and reflected on the collective efforts to support survivors of gender-based violence.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an advisory explaining the legal limitations and potential issues regarding unsolicited voter registration applications mailed by various entities across the state.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the sentencing of disbarred attorney Anyekache Hercules to one and a half to three years in prison for her involvement in a deed theft operation targeting homes in Jamaica and St. Albans, Queens. These properties were owned by elderly or disabled New Yorkers or their estates. Hercules, who pleaded guilty in May 2024 to Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, was sentenced yesterday in Queens County Court.

Attorney General Griffin Announces Series of Organized Retail Crime Arrests Resulting from Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force Cooperation

Hall County Attorney Martin Klein and Attorney General Mike Hilgers held a joint press conference today to announce a Class IV felony charge related to fraudulent signatures found on petitions for the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation and Medical Cannabis Patient Protection.

The United States has initiated a civil lawsuit against Repwire LLC, a Florida-based corporation involved in importing wire and cables. The lawsuit alleges that Repwire made false statements to customs officials regarding the importation of aluminum wire into the country. Named as defendants in the suit are Repwire’s manager, Jose Pigna, and its insurer, American Alternative Insurance Corporation.

The Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) commissioned three new troopers at a graduation ceremony in Helena on Friday. Attorney General Austin Knudsen and MHP Colonel Kurt Sager addressed the new troopers before their badge pinning and taking the oath of office.

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia, 76, a citizen of Mexico, was arraigned this morning in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on 17 counts related to drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and money laundering. This fifth superseding indictment relates to El Mayo’s decades-long leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl. El Mayo was previously charged with running a continuing criminal enterprise, as well as murder conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy,...

Cheryl Colburn, 65, of Ithaca, has been bound over to stand trial in the 8th Circuit Court in Montcalm County on one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult, $1,000 - $20,000, a 5-year felony. The announcement was made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Colburn, who served as the professional guardian and conservator of the victim, was charged in July for allegedly keeping the victim’s property for her own benefit.

The Department of Justice commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on September 13, 2024. The landmark legislation, originally passed in 1994, has been instrumental in addressing and reducing violence against women across the United States.

America First Legal (AFL) has released new documents obtained through litigation against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The documents include a slide deck from a presentation by the United Kingdom’s Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) to the Biden-Harris National Security Council (NSC) Interagency Policy Committee on August 10, 2021. This release follows calls from House Cybersecurity Subcommittee Chairwoman Nancy Mace to protect the 2024 election from censorship.

Director Rosie Hidalgo delivered remarks on the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) at the Great Hall of the Justice Department. The event, attended by participants both in person and online, marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to prevent and end domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Walgreen Co. (collectively, Walgreens) have agreed to pay $106.8 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act and state statutes for billing government health care programs for prescriptions never dispensed. Walgreens, headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, operates one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the country.

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Venango County man, who was declared a sexually violent predator by the sentencing judge, will serve 50 to 100 years in prison for charges related to the sexual abuse of children.

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has initiated an inquiry into the death of James Dellea, who passed away on September 11, 2024, following an encounter with members of the New York State Police (NYSP) in Saratoga Springs.