Legal Newsline News
Attorney General Garland recognizes Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has acknowledged Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day by emphasizing the importance of addressing the crisis affecting American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Garland announced intensified efforts aimed at tackling the issues of missing or murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP), human trafficking, and other significant public safety challenges.Garland highlighted the disproportionate impact of the fentanyl crisis on Native Americans, exacerbating levels of violence and addiction within already vulnerable communities....
West Virginia Ambulance Services Business Owner Convicted of Tax Crimes
A federal jury in Beckley, West Virginia, convicted Christopher Jason Smyth for failing to pay taxes withheld from employees' wages at his ambulance service and for obstructing the IRS.According to evidence presented at trial, Smyth operated Stat EMS LLC in Pineville, West Virginia, from 2012 through part of 2017. Smyth caused Stat EMS to be founded in the name of a nominee owner but continued to operate the business in the same manner as before.Smyth was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from employees' wages and paying them to the...
Justice Department Strengthens Efforts, Builds Partnerships to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) by stating, “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured.”FBI Director Christopher Wray affirmed the FBI's commitment to addressing the violence affecting Tribal communities, stating, “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the...
Justice Department Sues Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Religious Discrimination
The Justice Department has taken legal action against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for religious discrimination. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, accuses TDCJ of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by denying an employee's religious accommodation request.Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized, "Employers cannot require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or improperly question the sincerity of those beliefs." She...
Opioid Manufacturer Endo Health Solutions Inc. Ordered to Pay $1.536B In Criminal Fines and Forfeiture for Distributing Misbranded Opioid Medication
Endo Health Solutions Inc. (EHSI) faced a significant legal outcome today as they were ordered to pay $1.536 billion in criminal fines and forfeiture for their involvement in distributing misbranded opioid medication. This marks the second-largest set of criminal financial penalties ever imposed on a pharmaceutical company for violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.EHSI pleaded guilty to introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, acknowledging their deceptive marketing tactics related to the opioid medication Opana ER. The company marketed the...
BTC-e Operator Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy
A Russian national, Alexander Vinnik, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with his involvement in operating the cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e from 2011 to 2017. Vinnik, who was one of the operators of BTC-e, oversaw a platform that processed over $9 billion in transactions and catered to more than one million users globally, including a significant number of customers in the United States.Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the significance of this case, stating, “Today’s result shows how the Justice Department, working...
Minnesota law on hazardous materials on trains challenged by railroad group
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - The State of Minnesota has overstepped its authority by placing extra charges on trains carrying hazardous materials, the Association of American Railroads says in a new lawsuit.
Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Miami-Dade County, Florida, Tax Return Preparer
The Justice Department has taken legal action against Dieuseul Jean-Louis, also known as DJL Multiservices, by filing a civil injunction suit to prevent him from preparing federal tax returns for others. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accuses Jean-Louis of engaging in fraudulent activities related to tax preparation from 2019 to 2023.According to the complaint, Jean-Louis intentionally misrepresented customers' tax liabilities and exaggerated their refunds through various deceptive methods. This included falsifying...
U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar and His Wife Charged with Bribery, Unlawful Foreign Influence, and Money Laundering Schemes
Houston, TX - An indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Texas has charged U.S. Congressman Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, with involvement in bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering schemes. The couple, residents of Laredo, Texas, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo in Houston.According to court documents, the Cuellars allegedly accepted about $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities, an oil and gas company owned by the Government of Azerbaijan and a bank in Mexico City. These funds were...
Readout of Annual Principals Meeting of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group
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...
Biden Administration Disbands "Homeland Intelligence Experts Group" Following Lawsuit Victory
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal (AFL) achieved victory in its lawsuit on behalf of former Ambassador Ric Grenell against the Biden Administration’s so-called “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group.” Conceding defeat, the Biden Administration has agreed to disband this illegal Group and provide its records to AFL.DHS formed the “Homeland Intelligence Experts Group” in September 2023 to “provide advice and perspectives on intelligence and national security efforts.” However, it was not intended to provide unbiased, expert advice to advance the Department of...
OVW Commemorates Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
OVW, the Office on Violence Against Women, recently commemorated Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, highlighting the theme of "Building Connected Communities." The agency emphasized the importance of collaboration and community support in preventing sexual assault and aiding survivors. According to OVW, creating strong, connected communities is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals.Speaking about the impact of sexual assault, OVW expressed a commitment to addressing systemic barriers and providing support to survivors. They...
Lawsuit questions how StubHub estimates estimated fees
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers say they've tested StubHub's method for figuring out "estimated" fees on tickets and discovered the company shows the same discrepancy every time.
Colorado groups challenge new climate rules
DENVER (Legal Newsline) - A group representing Colorado apartment building owners is challenging new regulations requiring them to decrease their energy consumption.
Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs and Commercial Equipment Lenders
A Maryland man, Andra Shirone Thompson, has pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act loan programs and commercial equipment financing companies. Thompson admitted to his involvement in a scheme that involved submitting fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for companies he controlled, resulting in a fraudulent gain of $716,375.Furthermore, Thompson was part of a conspiracy that defrauded equipment financing companies by submitting false...
America First Legal Issues Warning to Northwestern University Over Alleged Violation of Federal Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, America First Legal (AFL) has issued a legal demand letter to Northwestern University President Michael Schill concerning allegations of violating federal laws in order to appease pro-Hamas protestors on campus.The letter from AFL addresses the recent "Agreement on Deering Meadow" entered into by Northwestern University, which AFL claims violates multiple federal laws, including Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as 8 U.S.C. §§ 1324b.According to AFL, the agreement aims to support Palestinian faculty and students,...
Sixty-Two Members of Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in Puerto Rico
Sixty-two alleged gang members from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, have been charged with drug trafficking and firearms violations following a federal grand jury indictment. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed gratitude to various law enforcement agencies for their efforts in the operation, stating, "The residents of public housing projects deserve better than to be terrorized by violent drug trafficking gangs." ATF Director Steven Dettelbach emphasized the commitment of law enforcement to protect innocent residents from gun violence and drug dealing in public housing...
Justice Department Supports Private Citizens’ Right to Sue Under Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Justice Department has filed a statement of interest in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, backing the right of private citizens to bring lawsuits to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the importance of this right, stating, “The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and it is the right on which all other rights depend.” She highlighted the role of private parties in enforcing the Voting Rights Act, enabling countless Americans to vote free from discrimination.U.S....
School Incident in Village of Mount Horeb, Wis.
MOUNT HOREB, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is currently investigating an incident that occurred in the Village of Mount Horeb, Wis. on the morning of Monday, May 1, 2024.According to the DCI, the Mount Horeb School District was placed on lockdown due to a safety threat. The Mount Horeb Police Department responded to a report of an individual with a weapon outside the middle school and subsequently used deadly force to address the threat. The subject involved, who was a student from the Mount Horeb School...
Readout of Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Meeting with Jewish Community Stakeholders
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...