Chief Judge Merrick B. Garland
Law & Courts |
Judges- State Circuit/County
First Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001
Recent News About Chief Judge Merrick B. Garland
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A Mexican national, accused of supplying the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG or Jalisco Cartel) with precursor chemicals for controlled substances production, was extradited from Mexico to Washington, D.C., today to face trial. Francisco Pulido Coracero, 66, is set to make his initial court appearance on May 13 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya in the District of Columbia.
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland joined international and national partners at the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group (FELEG) Annual Principals Meeting this week. The meeting focused on discussions surrounding technology, innovation, encryption, and their impacts on global safety.ICE Acting Director Lechleitner highlighted the importance of FELEG partnerships in enhancing law enforcement investigations on a global scale and increasing cooperation between partner nations. He stated, “FELEG partnerships enhance law enforcement investigations on the national and...
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On May 1, 2024, the Justice Department held a significant meeting with Jewish community stakeholders, coinciding with the commencement of Jewish American Heritage Month. The gathering was aimed at addressing the surge in antisemitic hate crimes and ensuring the safety and well-being of Jewish communities across the nation.During the meeting, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland reiterated the Department's commitment to combating antisemitic hate crimes. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division provided insights into the...
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A Ukrainian national, Yaroslav Vasinskyi, has been sentenced to 13 years and seven months in prison and ordered to pay over $16 million in restitution for his involvement in conducting over 2,500 ransomware attacks and demanding more than $700 million in ransom payments. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the Department's commitment to holding cybercriminals accountable, stating, "As this sentencing shows, the Justice Department is working with our international partners and using all tools at our disposal to identify cybercriminals, capture their illicit...
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed deep sorrow following a tragic incident in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a Deputy U.S. Marshal and two Task Force Officers lost their lives in the line of duty. The operation, which was part of a U.S. Marshals Task Force mission, resulted in multiple other officers being wounded."Every single day, Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers put their lives on the line to apprehend some of our country’s most dangerous criminals. Today, three of those dedicated public servants made the ultimate sacrifice. Multiple other...
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Jareh Sebastian Dalke, 32, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced today to 262 months in prison for attempted espionage in connections with his efforts to transmit classified National Defense Information (NDI) to an agent of the Russian Federation.According to court documents, Dalke pleaded guilty in 2023 to six counts of attempting to transmit classified NDI to a foreign agent. From June 6 to July 1, 2022, Dalke was an employee of the National Security Agency (NSA) where he served as an Information Systems Security Designer. Dalke admitted that between August and September...
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and ATF Director Steven M. Dettelbach dedicated the new “Faces of Gun Violence” exhibit during ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit. Garland expressed, “As we remember those we have lost to gun violence, the Justice Department promises that we will strive every single day to honor their lives in our work,” emphasizing the commitment to ensuring safety from gun violence for all. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco commended the survivors of gun violence for sharing their stories and engaging in discussions to prevent further...
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Director Steven M. Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) dedicated a new “Faces of Gun Violence” exhibit today at a ceremony hosted during ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit. The exhibit honors and memorializes those whose lives have been tragically lost to gun violence."As we remember those we have lost to gun violence, the Justice Department promises that we will strive every single day to honor their lives in our work," expressed Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "We promise...
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland addressed a gathering at ATF’s Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit, expressing gratitude for the introduction he received and acknowledging the hard work of the ATF professionals in protecting communities.Garland also highlighted the importance of meeting gun violence survivors, stating, "They shared with me their stories, their grief, and their devotion to preventing other families from experiencing the profound loss that they have experienced."Reflecting on the victims of gun violence, Garland emphasized the impact each...
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland took a moment to reflect on the 29th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing that occurred on April 19, 1995. Garland expressed his sentiments in a statement released by the Justice Department.Garland acknowledged the solemn occasion by stating, "Twenty-nine years after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, we continue to remember the 168 people, including 19 children, who were stolen from their loved ones, as well as the hundreds who were injured and forever changed."Recalling his personal experience during the...
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The Justice Department has unveiled an updated voting and elections website, www.justice.gov/voting, aimed at providing essential information for voters and election officials at the state and local levels. The update includes the publication of new informational guides on voting rights and the revision of existing guides to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in the electoral process without facing discrimination or intimidation.Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the importance of voting, stating, "The right to vote is the cornerstone of our...
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Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, Civil Rights Division, explains how to report voter intimidation. In a brief statement released recently, Clarke highlighted the importance of addressing voter intimidation and provided guidance on the necessary steps to take when encountering such actions. The message serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to safeguard voting rights and ensure fair and accessible elections.For individuals who witness or experience voter intimidation, Clarke's instructions offer a clear pathway for reporting such incidents. By outlining the...
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An Illinois man, Byron Taylor, of Homewood, has made his initial appearance on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Chicago. The indictment charges Taylor with 21 counts of preparing false tax returns for others through his business, We Are Taxes Inc.The indictment alleges that Taylor prepared false tax returns for clients for tax years 2017 through 2020. The returns contained false information, leading clients to claim refunds they were not entitled to. The false information included fraudulent business losses, false deductions like medical expenses, gifts...
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The Justice Department has seized four web domains used in a cybercrime scheme that involved creating over 40,000 spoofed websites and storing the personal information of more than a million victims. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “Together with our international partners, the Justice Department has disrupted another cybercrime scheme originating from Russia that enabled criminals to steal from over a million victims in the United States and around the world.”The domains were seized as part of an investigation into a spoofing service operated through the...
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The Justice Department has reached a settlement agreement with the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to enhance access for individuals with disabilities, including Veterans, to city buildings and civic programs. According to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, "The ADA mandates equal access to civic life for people with disabilities." U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia emphasized that "Ensuring that individuals who have disabilities are afforded equal access to local government...
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A Colombian national, Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, has been extradited from Chile to the United States to face charges related to the kidnapping and assaulting of two U.S. Army soldiers in Bogota, Colombia. Silva Ochoa, also known as Tata, is set to make his initial court appearance today in Miami, Florida.Court documents reveal that Silva Ochoa and his accomplices targeted and kidnapped the two soldiers in Bogota with the intention of robbing them. The victims were drugged at a pub in Bogota and then taken to a waiting car where they were robbed of their valuables including...
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The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have unveiled an online portal named HealthyCompetition.gov for the public to report potential anticompetitive practices in the health care sector. The initiative aims to address concerns regarding unfair competition and monopolistic practices that could impact healthcare affordability and quality in the United States.Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter emphasized the importance of competition in healthcare, stating, "Competition in health care is crucial to...
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The Justice Department has announced the establishment of 11 carjacking task forces in various U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country to combat the rising public safety threat posed by carjackings. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe." She highlighted the success of existing task forces in cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Tampa, where carjacking rates have shown a significant decline.The newly formed task...
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Aleksandr Pikus, the New York man at the center of a multimillion-dollar health care kickback and tax avoidance conspiracy, has been resentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay $39 million in restitution. The scheme orchestrated by Pikus involved referring Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to health care providers in exchange for illegal kickbacks. As a result, the health care providers submitted millions of dollars in false and fraudulent claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs."Pikus failed to report that cash income to the IRS, instead using sham...
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recently delivered an opening statement before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, discussing the Justice Department’s funding request for Fiscal Year 2025. Garland expressed gratitude for the opportunity to address the Subcommittee, stating, "Thank you, Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, for the opportunity to discuss the Justice Department’s funding request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025."Reflecting on the challenges faced during his...
