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Attorney General Moody Releases New Resource to Combat Florida Jury Duty Scams
Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken action to address the rising issue of jury duty scams in Florida. In response to reports of scams targeting Floridians, Moody has released a new resource called Scams at a Glance: Sham or Summons. The resource aims to educate individuals on how to recognize and avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.In a statement, Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed concern over the increase in jury duty scams, stating, “There has been a recent uptick in reports of jury duty scams, and I have heard personally from many Floridians who...
Attorney General Miyares Challenges DOE's Rule Changes on Title IX
Attorney General Jason Miyares has taken a firm stance against the recent actions of the Department of Education, joining a six-state coalition to challenge the overhaul of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act. Miyares expressed his concerns stating, “The Biden Administration's unlawful rule would jeopardize half a century of landmark protections for women, forcing the Administration’s social agenda onto the states by holding federal funding hostage."Miyares emphasized, "We cannot roll back Title IX in the name of false equity." Title IX has been instrumental in...
Pa. company sues FTC over noncompete ban as Biden admin continues to make rules without lawmakers' approval
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A Pennsylvania tree service company with a history of using noncompete agreements for its employees is suing the Federal Trade Commission over its new rule banning them.
Lebanese bank bought terrorism liability along with assets
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A Lebanese bank that paid $580 million for the assets of Lebanese Canadian Bank also bought New York jurisdiction over lawsuits claiming LCB financed terrorism, the state’s highest court ruled.
Nevada 'ghost gun' ban is constitutional, court rules
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) - A Nevada statute banning the sale of unfinished gun parts that can be assembled into untraceable “ghost guns” is constitutional, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled, even as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a similar ban at the federal level.
Florida lawsuit says health care pro dropped man trying to put him in wheelchair, breaking his hip
TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida urology practice faces litigation claiming one of its employees dropped a patient while trying to return him to his wheelchair and broke his hip.
Former Federal Attorney Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Numerous Children
Former Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) attorney Mark Black, 50, of Arlington, Virginia, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in sexually exploiting numerous children. According to court documents, Black was part of online groups dedicated to persuading prepubescent girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Black and his co-conspirators recorded these acts and shared the videos among themselves. In one instance, Black induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct on a live-streaming application while another minor was...
Lawsuit follows sexual assault charges against Mass. Uber driver
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - A woman who claimed her Uber driver sexually assaulted her has sued the ride-sharing company in Massachusetts state court.
Wisconsin DOJ Provides Resources as Sextortion Cases Increase
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is providing resources for online safety as sextortion cases increase throughout the country, including in Wisconsin. Attorney General Josh Kaul emphasized the importance of protecting children online, stating, "We must keep our kids safe from online dangers."In a recent sextortion case investigated by the Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation, a La Crosse man was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Kaul reaffirmed the department's dedication, saying, "The...
Three Gang Members Convicted for Their Roles in a Murder
Three members of the Hoover Criminal Gang have been convicted for their roles in the murder of a suspected rival gang member, announced federal authorities. Markell Young, Octavius Ferguson, and Jordan Powell, all from Gibson County, Tennessee, were found guilty by a federal jury in connection to the violent crime.The murder took place on Jan. 31, 2017, in Humboldt, Tennessee, when the defendants targeted a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang. Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, and two other co-defendants to carry out the murder by indiscriminately shooting...
Former Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Attempted Espionage
Former defense contractor John Murray Rowe Jr. has pleaded guilty to charges of attempted espionage, admitting to attempting to deliver national defense information to a foreign government. According to court documents, Rowe, who held various national security clearances and worked on sensitive defense projects, disclosed classified information to an undercover FBI agent posing as a Russian government agent.During a meeting with the undercover agent, Rowe revealed specific operating details of electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets. In...
California Man Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Violations
A California man, Shane Brightpath Mike, has pleaded guilty to failing to pay over employment taxes withheld from the wages of his company’s employees. Mike, who owned and was the president and chief operating officer of Excel Behavioral Services Inc., a business in Campbell, California, provided home care to persons with disabilities.According to court documents and statements made in court, Mike failed to pay over $1 million in withheld taxes to the IRS for the fourth quarter of 2014 through the third quarter of 2015. It was revealed that Mike also used Excel’s funds to...
Homeservices of America to pay $250M to settle real estate commission antitrust lawsuits
Attorneys could stand to rake in more than $80 million in fees from the new deal, meaning plaintiffs' lawyers could be in line for more than $300 million in fees from multiple settlements worth more than $940 million so far, with potentially more on the way.
4th Circuit says W.Va., N.C. refusal to pay for transgender surgeries is discriminatory
RICHMOND, Virginia – A federal appeals court has ruled West Virginia and North Carolina’s refusal to cover some health care for transgender people with government-sponsored insurance is discriminatory.
Attorney General Moody Challenges Biden's Title IX Regulations, Protecting Women's Rights
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken a stand against the Biden administration's newly announced Title IX rule, which seeks to redefine "sex" to include "gender identity" and "sexual orientation." In a statement, Attorney General Moody expressed her concerns, saying, “Biden’s new Title IX rules shred protections for women—that so many fought for over decades."The coalition, including Attorney General Moody, raised issues about the new rule's implications, particularly regarding facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms. They stated, “... the rule...
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim Delivers Remarks at One-Year Anniversary of the Launch of the TIMBER Working Group
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim delivered remarks at the Department of Justice on April 29, 2024, marking the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Timber Interdiction Membership Board and Enforcement Resources Working Group.Kim expressed gratitude towards the members of the TIMBER Working Group, non-member interagency partners, NGOs, and his staff from the Environment and Natural Resources Division for their contributions and support. He highlighted the importance of combating timber trafficking and deforestation, emphasizing the significant impact these crimes...
The Justice Department Advocates for Lower Prices and More Competition in Incarcerated People's Communication Services
The Justice Department's Antitrust Division has voiced its support for enhanced competition and reduced prices in incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS). Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter emphasized the importance of affordable communication, stating, "Telephone services are a lifeline between incarcerated people and the outside world." He commended the FCC for its efforts to make rates fairer and more just over the past decade and encouraged further improvements in this area.In a comment submitted to the FCC, the Justice Department highlighted the...
Attorney General Kaul Joins Multistate Coalition to Defend U.S. EPA’s Light-Duty Vehicle Emission Standards
Attorney General Josh Kaul, alongside 23 attorneys general and four cities, has taken a stand in defense of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s final rule for light- and medium-duty vehicles emissions standards for model years 2027-2032. The coalition filed a motion to intervene in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to support the EPA's efforts to set stricter tailpipe emissions standards for harmful air pollutants."In setting high but achievable vehicle emissions standards, the EPA’s final rule is a step forward in addressing climate...
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on Tragic Shootings of Law Enforcement in North Carolina
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...
Former NSA Employee Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Prison for Attempted Espionage
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...