Justice News
Justice
A Texas pharmaceutical marketer was sentenced today to two years and five months in prison and ordered to pay over $59 million in restitution for conspiring to defraud the United States, receiving illegal kickbacks in exchange for compounded medications prescription referrals, and money laundering.
Justice
Indianapolis CPA pleads guilty to participating in illegal tax shelter
An Indiana CPA pleaded guilty yesterday to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns on behalf of clients who participated in an illegal tax shelter.
Justice
Justice Department announces $241M settlement with Marathon Oil over air quality violations
The Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oil Company for Clean Air Act violations at the company's oil and gas production operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The settlement mandates that Marathon pay a civil penalty of $64.5 million, the largest ever for such violations at stationary sources like oil and gas tank systems. Marathon is also required to implement extensive compliance measures aimed at significantly reducing harmful emissions from over 200 facilities across...
Justice
Long Island fisherman sentenced to prison for role in fisheries fraud conspiracy
A Long Island fisherman was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release for his involvement in a fisheries fraud conspiracy linked to his tenure as captain of the trawler New Age from 2014 to 2017. Christopher Winkler, from Montauk, was convicted by a jury in October 2023 on charges including one count of federal criminal conspiracy, two counts of mail fraud, and two counts of obstruction of justice.
Justice
U.S. reaffirms commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal on access to justice
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer delivered remarks at the United Nations' 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on July 11, 2024.
Justice
Court enjoins Louisiana company from distributing adulterated food
On July 2, a federal court enjoined a Louisiana company from manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).
Justice
Connecticut fisherman pleads guilty to tax evasion
A Connecticut man pleaded guilty today to evading taxes on income he earned as a commercial fisherman.
Justice
Rite aid settles opioid dispensing allegations under False Claims Act
The Justice Department announced that Rite Aid Corporation and 10 subsidiaries have agreed to settle allegations under the False Claims Act (FCA) and Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in United States ex rel. White et al. v. Rite Aid Corp., et al., No. 1:21-cv-1239 (N.D. Ohio). The settlement includes a payment of $7.5 million to the government and an allowed, unsubordinated, general unsecured claim of $401.8 million in Rite Aid’s ongoing bankruptcy case in New Jersey.
Justice
Pharmacy owner sentenced for healthcare fraud involving black market drug scheme
A pharmacy owner and an associate have been sentenced for submitting false claims to Medicare and California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and participating in a black market prescription drug diversion scheme.
Justice
Grand Health Care System settles $21M fraud case over rehab therapy billing
Strauss Ventures LLC, operating as The Grand Health Care System, along with 12 affiliated skilled nursing facilities, has agreed to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act by billing federal health care programs for unreasonable, unnecessary, or unskilled therapy services.
Justice
Justice Department hosts interagency meeting on advancing equity in artificial intelligence
Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division convened principals of federal agency civil rights offices and senior government officials to foster AI and civil rights coordination. This was the third such meeting hosted by the Civil Rights Division following President Biden’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (EO 14110). The order tasks the Civil Rights Division with coordinating federal agencies to prevent and address unlawful discrimination and other harms that may result from AI use in programs and...
Justice
Fifteen indicted on drug trafficking charges involving multiple substances
A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging 15 Memphis, Tennessee, residents for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme.
Justice
Former Alaska treasurer sentenced for wire fraud and tax evasion
An Alaska man was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison for embezzling more than $1 million from the City of Houston, Alaska, and a Wasilla-based equipment company, and then evading taxes on the embezzled profits.
Justice
Rite Aid agrees to pay $101M over allegations of falsely reporting Medicare rebates
The Justice Department announced today that Rite Aid Corporation and its subsidiaries, Elixir Insurance Company, RX Options LLC, and RX Solutions LLC, have agreed to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act (FCA) by inaccurately reporting drug rebates to the Medicare Program. As part of the settlement, Elixir Insurance and Rite Aid will pay the United States $101 million, while RX Options and RX Solutions will grant an allowed, unsubordinated general unsecured claim for $20 million in Rite Aid’s bankruptcy case pending in the District of New Jersey. The...
Justice
Mexican smuggling guide sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero, 28, was sentenced to 120 months after being found guilty of multiple offenses, including conspiracy to transport and transportation of illegal aliens for profit and bringing in illegal aliens to the United States for profit. The sentence was announced on July 2 in a news release from the US Department of Justice.
Justice
Justice Department marks six decades since Civil Rights Act
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer delivered remarks at the Justice Department’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 9, 2024.
Justice
Former Missouri officers face federal charges over civil rights violations
Two former Northwoods, Missouri, police officers were indicted last week for violating a man’s civil rights in 2023. One officer turned himself in yesterday, and the other turned himself in today.
Justice
FOIA workshop to address backlog reduction plans
The Office of Information Policy (OIP) will host a Best Practices Workshop focused on creating and implementing backlog reduction plans. Effective backlog reduction plans are essential for managing the increasing volume of requests. The workshop will feature panelists from various agencies discussing their respective backlog reduction efforts.
Justice
New York man pleads guilty to obstructing workplace death investigation
Richard Zagger, of Blue Point, New York, pleaded guilty today to a charge of conspiracy and three charges of obstruction. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16.
Justice
Georgia precious metals dealer sentenced four years for tax fraud
Saleem Hakim was sentenced today to four years in prison following his conviction in January on charges of tax evasion and failing to file tax returns.
Your news, delivered.
Subscribe and personalize your weekly Newswire round-up.