News and reports from the Department of Justice.

OVW conducted a live web-based pre-application information session for its Fiscal Year 2024 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative (STCJ AK) Program solicitation. During the presentation, OVW staff reviewed this program’s requirements, discussed the solicitation, and allowed for a brief question-and-answer period.

A federal court in the Eastern District of New York issued a permanent injunction yesterday against a Brooklyn, New York, tax return preparer.

A federal grand jury in Brooklyn, New York, has returned a four-count indictment against Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old Georgian national. Chkhikvishvili, also known by various aliases including Mishka and Commander Butcher, is charged with soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City.

A dual citizen of the United States and Ghana will make his initial appearance today in the Eastern District of New York to face charges related to his participation in a scheme to bribe Ghanaian officials to obtain and retain business from the Republic of Ghana.

On behalf of the United States, I am thrilled to welcome you to this official High-Level Political Forum side event, “Turning the Tide: Scaling SDG 16 for the Future, Reinforcing Access to Justice, and Advancing Democracy.”

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke delivered remarks at the 115th NAACP National Convention, highlighting the theme “All In” and reflecting on the sacrifices made by civil rights leaders such as Thurgood Marshall, Dr. King, John Lewis, and Medgar Evers.

Rodrigo Paez-Quintero, a Mexican national, has been extradited from Mexico to the United States to face charges related to drug trafficking. Paez-Quintero’s surrender to U.S. authorities after an extradition proceeding in Mexico demonstrates the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Mexico to combat the influx of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States.

A federal court on July 2 enjoined a West Virginia company and its owner from manufacturing, distributing, or selling unauthorized nicotine vaping products.

On April 24, the Justice Department published a landmark final rule to strengthen accessibility of web content and mobile applications under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke addressed the National Bar Association's Junius W. Williams Luncheon, reflecting on the significant contributions of Black lawyers in advancing civil rights throughout history. She acknowledged the NBA's pivotal role, stating, "The NBA has an enviable track record of leadership in civil rights."

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, this week to address the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum (CTLEF) and to convene a high-level meeting with European partners on stopping the illicit flow of sensitive technology to foreign adversaries.

The Justice Department's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (State CT) co-hosted the third annual meeting of the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum (CTLEF) in The Hague on July 10 and 11. This event aimed to enhance international cooperation in countering racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE).

A federal jury convicted a U.S. Navy Reserve commander today on multiple criminal charges related to a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals.

Butler, Pennsylvania-based Armstrong Group has agreed to pay $6.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly violating the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules governing the agency’s High-Cost Program and submitting improper costs to inflate the subsidies it received from the federal Universal Service Fund (USF).

A jury convicted Gregory and David Melton yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Savannah, Georgia, for their role in a conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate markets for sales of ready-mix concrete in Georgia and South Carolina. The conspiracy, which began as early as 2010 and continued until about July 2016, involved coordinating price-increase letters to customers, allocating specific jobs in the coastal Georgia area, and submitting bids to customers at collusive and noncompetitive prices.