Justice News

Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Detonating an Explosive Device Outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, Alabama, pleaded guilty in federal court to the malicious use of an explosive device.

Second Former Memphis Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights and Conspiracy Charges Tied to Death of Tyre Nichols

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A former Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department (MPD) officer facing federal civil rights charges for the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols pleaded guilty in federal court today.

Justice Department Sues California Towing Company for Auctioning a Servicemember’s Vehicle in Violation of Federal Law

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Tony’s Auto Center Inc., doing business as Tony’s Auto Center, in Chula Vista, California, alleging that it illegally auctioned off a deployed U.S. Navy Lieutenant’s car, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SCRA prohibits a towing company from auctioning off a vehicle owned by a servicemember unless it first obtains an order from a court allowing it to do so.

Iowa Man Charged with Distributing Videos Depicting Monkey Torture and Mutilation

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

An indictment was unsealed today in which an individual was charged based on his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

Justice Department Sues RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of American Renters

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter Delivers Remarks on the Justice Department’s Lawsuit Against RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of American Renters

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Renters deserve the benefits of vigorous competition. In prosperous times, that competition should limit rent hikes; in harder times, competition should bring down rent, making housing more affordable.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Delivers Remarks on the Justice Department’s Lawsuit Against RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of Americans

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Thank you, Mr. Attorney General. Since the beginning of this administration, our approach to corporate misconduct across the Justice Department has been simple, straightforward, and relentless.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks on the Justice Department’s Lawsuit Against RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of Americans

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Good morning. Over a century ago, Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act to protect competition in the marketplace. As the Supreme Court has explained, the “central evil” addressed by Section 1 of that Act is “the elimination of competition that would otherwise exist,” including competition on prices.

Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer Delivers Remarks on the Justice Department’s Lawsuit Against RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of Americans

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Thank you, Deputy Attorney General Monaco. I would like to reiterate the Attorney General’s and the Deputy Attorney General’s thanks to the leadership and staff of the Antitrust Division. They have exhibited the utmost professionalism and dedication throughout the long-running investigation that led to today’s complaint.

Justice Department Sues RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of American Renters

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department, together with the Attorneys General of North Carolina, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today against RealPage Inc. for its unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing and to monopolize the market for commercial revenue management software that landlords use to price apartments. RealPage’s alleged conduct deprives renters of the benefits of competition on apartment leasing terms and harms millions of Americans. The lawsuit was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and alleges that RealPage violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.

Florida Telecommunications and Information Technology Worker Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Act as Agent of PRC Government

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General.

Tennessee Man and Company Plead Guilty to Violating the Clean Water Act

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On Aug. 20, Christopher Domermuth, 49, and Domermuth Environmental Services LLC (DES), based in Knoxville, Tennessee, both pleaded guilty today to violating the Clean Water Act by knowingly discharging pollutants into a navigable waterway without a permit. Sentencing has been set for Dec. 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Former Energy Trader for Vitol Inc. Pleads Guilty to International Bribery Scheme

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A former energy trader pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a scheme to bribe Mexican government officials to secure contracts for his then-employer, Vitol Inc. (Vitol), the U.S. affiliate of the largest independent energy trading firm in the world.

Clean Harbors Inc. Agrees to Clean Up Devil’s Swamp Lake Superfund Site Near Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Clean Harbors Inc. and two of its subsidiaries, Clean Harbors Baton Rouge LLC and Baton Rouge Disposal LLC, have reached an over $5 million agreement with the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up decades-old contamination at the Devil’s Swamp Lake Superfund Site just north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

United States Files Suit Against the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia Tech Research Corporation Alleging Cybersecurity Violations

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The United States joined a whistleblower suit and filed a complaint-in-intervention against the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Georgia Tech Research Corp. (GTRC) asserting claims that those defendants knowingly failed to meet cybersecurity requirements in connection with the Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. GTRC is an affiliate of Georgia Tech that contracts with government agencies for work to be performed at Georgia Tech. The whistleblower suit was initiated by current and former members of Georgia Tech’s Cybersecurity team.

Department of Justice Announces Significant Update in San Antonio Tractor-Trailer Smuggling Case

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Two Former Presidents of Boilermakers International Union Among Seven Indicted for $20M Embezzlement Scheme

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A federal grand jury in Kansas returned an indictment yesterday charging seven defendants, including five current and former high-level officers of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmith, Forgers and Helpers (Boilermakers Union) for their alleged roles in a 15-year, $20 million embezzlement scheme.

Three Florida Men Plead Guilty in Multimillion-Dollar Tax Refund Scheme

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Christopher Johnson, of Orlando, Florida, and Jasen Harvey, of Tampa, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States by promoting a tax fraud scheme called the “Note Program.”

Man Who Threatened to Kill Federal Judges and Other Public Officials Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A man who sent letters from state prison expressing a desire to kill federal judges, U.S. Marshals, and federal prosecutors was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison.

Major Enforcement Operation in Guatemala Secures Arrest of Human Smuggler Indicted by Joint Task Force Alpha for Links to 2022 Mass Casualty Event in Texas

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On Wednesday, extensive coordination and collaboration between the Justice Department and its domestic and international partners resulted in a major enforcement operation that dismantled a human smuggling network based in Guatemala. In June 2022, this network smuggled people into the United States on a journey that ended with the deaths of 53 migrants in a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas. Twenty-one of the deceased migrants were Guatemalan.

PDAAG Argentieri Delivers Remarks on Update to 2022 Human Smuggling Case

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

New York Man Arrested for Operating as an Illegal Agent of the Chinese Government in the United States

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Yuanjun Tang, 67, a naturalized citizen of the United States and resident of Queens, New York, was charged by criminal complaint with acting and conspiring to act in the United States as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and making materially false statements to the FBI. Tang was arrested today in Flushing, Queens, and will be presented this afternoon.

Latvian National Extradited for Scheme to Illegally Export Advanced U.S.-Origin Aircraft Technology to Russia

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Oleg Chistyakov, also known as Olegs Čitsjakovs, 55, of Latvia, made his initial appearance in a federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, today after being extradited from Latvia. Chistyakov is the third defendant in this case to face charges in connection with a years-long conspiracy to sell sophisticated avionics equipment to Russian companies, after Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine and despite heightened additional U.S. economic countermeasures levied against Russia.

OIP Announces New FOIA Training Dates for Fiscal Year 2025

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Office of Information Policy continues to offer virtual FOIA trainings in Fiscal Year 2025

Justice Department Announces an Organizational Assessment of the Charlottesville, Virginia, Police Department under the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced that it will conduct an organizational assessment of the Charlottesville, Virginia, Police Department through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. Over the next year, the Charlottesville Police Department will work with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team to focus on: