News and reports from the Department of Justice.

When signing the Voting Rights Act in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson called on leaders to register voters and to use the courts if necessary to defend the right.

On September 17, 2024, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco delivered remarks on the 30th anniversary of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) in the Great Hall. In her speech, Monaco highlighted the significant contributions and achievements of the COPS Office since its inception in 1994.

Six men were arrested and had their initial court appearances yesterday after being charged in a five-count indictment with violating the Animal Welfare Act in connection with a cockfighting operation. A federal grand jury sitting in Providence, Rhode Island, returned the indictment last week.

Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, has been charged by a criminal complaint in the Southern District of Florida with firearms charges related to an incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15.

On Friday, Sept. 13, two Puerto Rican men were sentenced for their destruction, removal, and filling of protected wetlands in Puerto Rico in violation of the Clean Water Act.

The Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement agreement with COBB Tuning Products to resolve claims related to the manufacture and sale of automotive emission defeat devices in violation of the Clean Air Act. The settlement requires COBB to pay a civil penalty of just over $2.9 million, based on the company’s limited ability to pay, and to cease the manufacture and sale of defeat devices.

Siouxland Surgery Center LLP, doing business as Dunes Surgical Hospital (Dunes), United Surgical Partners International Inc. (USPI), and USP Siouxland Inc. have agreed to pay approximately $12.76 million to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations relating to improper financial relationships between Dunes and two physician groups. Dunes is a surgical hospital located in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. Since July 1, 2014, USPI has maintained partial ownership of Dunes through USP Siouxland, a wholly owned subsidiary of USPI. Dunes and USPI disclosed the arrangements at issue to...

Following a 26-day trial, a jury in Kansas convicted Kaaba Majeed, 50, Yunus Rassoul, 39, James Staton, 62, Randolph Rodney Hadley, 49, Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, 43, and Dana Peach, 60, of conspiracy to commit forced labor. The jury additionally convicted Kaaba Majeed of five counts of forced labor. Two other co-defendants, Etenia Kinard, 48, and Jacelyn Greenwell, 45, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit forced labor.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco delivered remarks on September 13, 2024, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The event highlighted the critical work done by leaders, advocates, and survivors in addressing gender-based violence.

A federal jury convicted a California man this week for paying illegal kickbacks for patient referrals to his addiction treatment facilities located in Orange County, California.

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.

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,...

Thank you, Rosie, for that generous introduction and for everything you do for VAWA and justice for violence against women. I am honored to welcome you to the Justice Department for the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

A Dominican national pleaded guilty today to his role in a human smuggling venture that resulted in the deaths of multiple migrants.

A film producer and an Australian accountant were indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for crimes related to their roles in a multi-decade conspiracy to defraud the United States by concealing the movie producer’s income and assets offshore.