LEGAL NEWSLINE

A Minnesota woman, Kymberly Starr, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for preparing false tax returns on behalf of her clients. Starr, who owned and operated The Tax Lady in Maryland, inflated her clients' tax refunds by submitting false tax returns to the IRS, resulting in approximately $400,000 of tax loss.Furthermore, Starr obtained over $83,000 in COVID-19-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through fabricated IRS forms and filed a false claim for unemployment insurance with the Maryland Department of Labor, receiving over $55,000.U.S. District...

A Richmond man, Walter Lavelle Allen, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. The sentencing comes after Allen, a previously convicted felon, was found with a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol in his possession.According to court documents, Richmond Police observed Allen displaying the firearm in an Instagram story before finding him asleep in a parked vehicle with the weapon under his leg. Allen's previous conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine prohibited him from legally owning a firearm or...

The Departments of Justice and Commerce, in collaboration with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), held the first high-level trilateral summit in Washington, D.C. to launch the Disruptive Technology Protection Network. The summit aimed to strengthen collaboration on technology protection measures and enhance connections between the enforcement agencies of the three countries.Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division emphasized the global importance of preventing sensitive technology from falling into the wrong...

NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Holtec International says the State of New York has usurped the exclusive power of the federal government to regulate discharges at nuclear power plants.

Maryland Payroll Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes and EmbezzlementA Maryland woman, Michelle Leach-Bard, pleaded guilty to failing to pay employment taxes to the IRS and embezzling from an employee benefit plan. Leach-Bard, the owner and sole corporate officer of iProcess Online Inc., was responsible for withholding taxes from employees' wages but failed to pay them to the IRS as required. This resulted in a tax loss of $2,663,264.12.Additionally, Leach-Bard did not pay approximately $207,180.41 in wages withheld from employees' paychecks to the 401(k) Plan,...

BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A Massachusetts couple allege the prescription drug Cipro has given the wife lifelong injuries.

The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have announced that Williams-Sonoma Inc. will be paying over $3 million in civil penalties for falsely marketing imported goods as "Made in the USA." The settlement also requires Williams-Sonoma to cease making misleading claims about the origins of its products.Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton stated, "The Justice Department will vigorously enforce laws to stop deceptive advertisers from making misleading and fraudulent claims to sell products." This comes in response to...

Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon recently delivered remarks at the Elevating Our Profession Corrections Conference and Medal Of Honor Ceremony in Chicago. During her speech, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to honor the distinguished Medal of Honor recipients and acknowledged their exceptional contributions to the corrections field and the safety of communities. Solomon commended One Voice for recognizing heroes in the corrections field and for their leadership on behalf of America's corrections professionals.Reflecting on her extensive career...

A federal grand jury indictment has been unsealed charging Frank Guereca, 22, of Olathe, with stealing 41 firearms from a gun store in Raytown, Missouri. Guereca was arrested while crossing the border from Mexico back into the United States and made his initial court appearance in El Paso, Texas. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the importance of cooperation with Mexican law enforcement in stopping the flow of firearms into Mexico, where they can end up in the hands of violent cartels.Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and...

Attorney General Ashley Moody, leading a coalition of 17 state attorneys general, has taken legal action against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for its new rule mandating accommodations for abortion under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022. Moody expressed concerns stating, "Unelected commissioners under the Biden administration are seeking to hijack protections for pregnant workers by twisting language into an illegal interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022. We are fighting back against the unprecedented, attempted mutation of these...

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul has filed a response brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, arguing against the ban on drop boxes in Wisconsin elections. In a statement, Attorney General Kaul emphasized the importance of safe, secure, and accessible voting, stating, "Voting should be safe, secure and accessible — and drop boxes are. Unfortunately, the use of drop boxes has been swept into the broader and baseless attacks on our elections and our democracy."The Attorney General further explained the rationale behind the filing, saying, "Through our filing,...

Attorney General Josh Kaul of Wisconsin has provided an update on the progress of the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative, as the state marks the three-year anniversary of its launch. The initiative aims to address and investigate cases of abuse by clergy and faith leaders in Wisconsin.In a statement, Attorney General Kaul emphasized the department's commitment to supporting survivors and conducting independent reviews of abuse cases. He urged individuals with information about clergy and faith leader abuse to come forward, stating, “If you have information about...

Three individuals, Michael Elliott Kohn, Catherine Elizabeth Chollet, and David Shane Simmons, have been convicted of conspiring to defraud the United States in a tax shelter scheme. The scheme involved the promotion and operation of a fraudulent tax shelter known as the Gain Elimination Plan.According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants designed the plan to hide clients' income from the IRS by inflating business expenses through fictitious royalties and management fees. These fees were paid to a limited partnership owned by a charity, but...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – America First Legal (AFL) has taken legal action against the Department of Education for allegedly obstructing the release of government records related to pro-Hamas activities on American college campuses. The organization claims that the Biden Administration has chosen to protect pro-Hamas foreign extremists, as reported on April 25, 2024.In a statement, AFL emphasized the importance of upholding existing laws that prohibit support for Hamas and terrorism among individuals on F-1 student visas and naturalized citizens. They also pointed out the...

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco recently delivered remarks at the Disruptive Technology Protection Network Summit, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in combating national security threats. Monaco expressed gratitude to the delegations from Japan and the Republic of Korea for their participation, highlighting the collaborative efforts between the United States and its allies.Monaco underscored the necessity of partnerships in addressing evolving security challenges, stating, "To combat today’s national security threats, we cannot go it alone. We...

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The FTC is using unfair tactics to target MGM after a cyberattack that occurred while Chair Lina Khan was at one of its Las Vegas properties, the company says in a new lawsuit while it also faces more than a dozen private class actions.

A Florida man, Frederick Eugene Pierallini III, 27, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for committing two federal hate crimes by attacking two Black women with a gun. Pierallini had previously pleaded guilty to these crimes on July 6, 2023.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, “The defendant is being held accountable for targeting two Black women with a gun on two separate days because of their race.”U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of...

Four individuals have been charged in connection with an alleged nationwide abusive-trust tax shelter scheme, as reported in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Denver. The indictment alleges that Marcia Predmore, Roderick Prescott, Suzanne Thompson, and Weldon Wulstein conspired with Larry Conner and Timothy McPhee to defraud the IRS by promoting, selling, and implementing the scheme.According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in a scheme that aimed to help business owners avoid paying federal income taxes on their business income....

Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon and Director Kristina Rose of the Office for Victims of Crime honored individuals and organizations for their dedication to helping victims of crime. Solomon expressed gratitude, stating, “We recognize the individuals and organizations represented here that go above and beyond to assist others in their time of crisis.” She emphasized the importance of supporting crime victims and survivors, ensuring they have the help they need.Director Rose highlighted the significance of the event’s theme, “How would you help? Options, services,...

Attorney General Miyares has partnered with the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority (HSEA) to enhance public awareness for the "One Pill Can Kill" campaign. The initiative aims to combat the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs and reduce opioid-related deaths in Virginia. Attorney General Miyares emphasized the importance of education and prevention in the fight against counterfeit medications, stating, “Make no mistake – the rise of fentanyl poisoning is chemical warfare.”The collaboration between Attorney General Miyares and HSEA will utilize the Henrico Sports &...