U.S. Department of Justice
Recent News About U.S. Department of Justice
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Seven sentenced for 2020 D.C. clinic invasion and FACE Act violations
Seven individuals have been sentenced following their convictions for federal conspiracy against rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act offenses. These sentences are the result of three separate trials related to the forceful blockade of a Washington, D.C., area reproductive health clinic on Oct. 22, 2020.
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Maryland woman admits guilt in plot to disrupt Baltimore power grid
Sarah Beth Clendaniel, a 36-year-old woman from Catonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to damage or destroy electrical facilities in the state. Court documents reveal that Clendaniel became acquainted with Brandon C. Russell, a Florida resident currently awaiting trial on similar charges, in 2018. Both individuals espouse white supremacist ideologies and advocate for a concept known as “accelerationism.”
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Attorney General Merrick Garland commemorates 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board decision
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recently delivered remarks to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The event took place in the Justice Department’s Great Hall, with Secretary Cardona representing the Department of Education.
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Justice Department accuses Nebraska of violating civil rights laws
The Justice Department has declared that Nebraska is in violation of federal civil rights laws, due to the unnecessary segregation of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) in assisted living and day program facilities. This segregation breaches the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Olmstead v. L.C.
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Justice Department intervenes in Muscogee (Creek) Nation's lawsuit against Tulsa
The U.S. Justice Department, representing the Department of the Interior, has filed a motion to intervene in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s lawsuit against the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The lawsuit, which also includes the city's mayor, chief of police and city attorney as defendants, is currently before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
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White House Roundtable drives forward interagency collaboration for legal aid
The White House Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable (LAIR), overseen by the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ), has been actively working this year to enhance collaboration among 28 federal agencies with the aim of advancing access to justice. LAIR's mission is to "improve coordination among Federal programs, so that programs are more efficient and produce better outcomes," including broadening access to legal services.
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Justice Department to monitor Maryland elections for compliance with federal voting rights laws
The Justice Department has declared its intention to monitor the upcoming elections in Prince George’s County, Maryland on May 14. The monitoring aims to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws.
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Ohio man receives prison sentence for violating Clean Air Act
An Ohio man has been sentenced to prison for violating the Clean Air Act through an aftermarket scheme that disabled the emissions control systems of diesel trucks. Davis Owens, 34, from Cleves, Hamilton County, was handed a sentence of 30 days in prison, seven months of home confinement and one year of supervised release. He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the tampering of a monitoring device required under the Clean Air Act.
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Deputy Attorney General addresses Election Threats Task Force on evolving technology-driven crimes
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco recently addressed the Election Threats Task Force, emphasizing the critical role it plays in safeguarding democratic processes and those who facilitate them.
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Kabbage Inc. resolves allegations of defrauding Paycheck Protection Program
The Justice Department has announced that Kabbage Inc., a now-bankrupt financial technology company, has agreed to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act (FCA). The company is accused of knowingly submitting thousands of false claims for loan forgiveness, loan guarantees, and processing fees to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection with its participation in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
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Justice Department addresses surge in threats against election officials
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recently addressed the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, emphasizing the importance of protecting election workers and officials from violent threats. The Task Force was launched three years ago in response to a surge in such threats following the 2020 election.
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Justice Department, Albuquerque seek partial termination of police consent decree
The Justice Department and the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, have jointly filed a motion seeking court approval to terminate certain aspects of the consent decree covering the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). This action follows the independent monitor’s 19th report, which concluded that the city and APD have achieved full compliance with 96% of the consent decree’s terms.
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Ohio man pleads guilty to creating disturbing animal abuse videos
An Ohio man, Ronald P. Bedra of Etna, has pleaded guilty to creating and distributing videos that depict extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys. The plea agreement was unsealed today.
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U.S. Forest Service contractor pleads guilty to bid rigging
The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) has announced that a former owner of contractor companies providing fuel truck services to the U.S. Forest Service’s wildfire fighters pleaded guilty to violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. This announcement comes in the wake of a wiretap investigation that led to the indictment of two executives in December 2023.
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DOJ’s Antitrust Division creates a healthcare monopolies and collusion task force
The U.S. Justice Department has recently set up the Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion (HCMC) to spearhead its Antitrust Division’s enforcement strategy and policy direction in healthcare markets. The primary aim of the task force is to foster policy advocacy, investigations, as well as civil and criminal enforcement in the healthcare sector.
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U.S. law enforcement disrupts over 3,000 money mule networks in anti-fraud initiative
The U.S. Justice Department, FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and other federal law enforcement agencies have announced the completion of the Money Mule Initiative. This annual campaign aims to identify, disrupt, and criminally prosecute networks of individuals who transmit funds from fraud victims to international fraudsters. The initiative targets a range of fraud schemes that predominantly impact older Americans, such as lottery fraud, romance scams and grandparent scams as well as those that target businesses or government pandemic funds.
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Michigan doctor convicted in $6.3 million Medicare fraud scheme
A Michigan-based doctor was found guilty by a federal jury today for instigating the submission of fraudulent claims exceeding $6.3 million to Medicare. These claims were linked to medically unnecessary orthotic braces ordered through a telemarketing scheme.
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Hawaii CEO convicted in $28M decade-long investment fraud scheme
A Hawaii-based man, Curtiss E. Jackson, was convicted by a federal jury for his involvement in a decade-long fraudulent scheme that cost investors of Semisub Inc. and Semisub LLC (collectively referred to as "Semisub") over $28 million.
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Kentucky dentist sentenced to 20 years for unlawful opioid distribution
A Kentucky-based dentist, Dr. Jay M. Sadrinia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the unlawful prescription of opioids, including morphine that led to the death of a patient. Court documents and evidence presented at trial revealed that Sadrinia, 61, owned and operated dental clinics in Crescent Springs, Kentucky.
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Disruptive Technology Strike Force discusses foreign threats at annual conference
The Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a specialized unit focused on advanced technology threats, recently convened with US government and private sector partners. The conference was centered around discussions about the threat posed by hostile foreign governments to advanced U.S. technology and the ongoing efforts to counteract these threats.