title: Precision Toxicology Agrees to Pay $27M to Resolve Allegations of Unnecessary Drug Testing and Illegal Remuneration to Physicians

component: Civil Division

body_text: Precision Toxicology, doing business as Precision Diagnostics, has agreed to pay $27 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act and similar state statutes for billing Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary urine drug tests, and for providing free items to physicians who agreed to refer expensive laboratory testing business to Precision. Precision, headquartered in San Diego, is one of the nation’s largest urine drug testing laboratories. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that laboratory tests are ordered based on each patient’s medical needs and not just to increase laboratory profits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will not tolerate practices that unnecessarily increase the costs of federal health care programs and result in the misuse of taxpayer funds.” In the settlement agreement, the United States alleged that Precision systematically billed federal health care programs for excessive and unnecessary urine drug testing from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2022. In particular, the United States contended that Precision caused physicians to order excessive numbers of urine drug tests, in part through the promotion of “custom profiles,” which were, in effect, standing orders that caused physicians to order a large number of tests without an individualized assessment of each patient’s needs. This practice violated federal health care program rules limiting payment to services that are reasonable and medically necessary for the treatment and diagnosis of an individual patient’s illness or injury. The United States also alleged that Precision’s provision of free point of care urine drug test cups to physicians — expressly conditioned on the physicians’ agreement to return the urine specimens to Precision for additional testing — violated the Anti-Kickback Statute. The Anti-Kickback Statute generally prohibits laboratories from giving physicians anything of value in exchange for referrals of tests. “We aggressively pursue those who defraud these critical healthcare programs and take money meant for needy patients. Taxpayers deserve nothing less, “ said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “When laboratories ignore medical needs and increase testing for their own profits, the Department of Justice will act to protect the taxpayers and the integrity of our vital federal health programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Kirsch for the District of Colorado. In connection with the False Claims Act settlement, Precision has also entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s settlement demonstrates that investigating violations of the False Claims Act is a top priority,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of HHS-OIG. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with the Department of Justice to ensure the integrity of federal health care programs.” Of the settlement amount, $18.2 million will be paid to the United States and the remainder will be paid to the impacted states, including Maryland, Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, Georgia and Colorado, for the states’ share of Medicaid. The False Claims Act allegations resolved by this settlement were originally brought in three lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. Two of the cases are captioned United States and Maryland ex rel. Hudak v. Precision Toxicology LLC , ELH-18-1510 (DMD) and United States, Illinois and Minnesota ex rel. Buonauro v. Precision Diagnostics LLC et al., ELH-21-3231 (DMD). The third qui tam case against Precision, brought in the District of Colorado, remains partially sealed. Under the Act, the United States can elect to intervene in an action filed by a whistleblower, as it did here in part. Bryce Hudak will receive $2,743,002 from the federal False Claims Act recovery. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between federal and state partners lead by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, along with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Districts of Maryland, Colorado and Connecticut; the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Office of the General Counsel; the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Maryland Office of Attorney General; and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units. Attorneys Vanessa Reed and Vince Vaccarella of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roann Nichols for the District of Maryland, David Moskowitz for the District of Colorado and Rick Molot for the District of Connecticut handled the matter, with assistance from Assistant Attorneys General Raja Mishra of the State of Maryland, and Ian Garland of the State of Florida. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced To 14 Years In Federal Prison For A Series Of Armed Bank And Commercial Robberies

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Dexter Nikoe Eaton, age 34, of Baltimore, to 14 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for armed bank robbery, related to a series of bank and armed commercial robberies. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. According to Eaton’s plea agreement, between June 3 and July 30, 2022, Eaton committed six separate robbery incidents-five robberies and one attempted robbery of banks and other businesses and used a firearm in four of the robberies. Specifically, Eaton admitted that on June 3, 2022, he robbed a bank in the 3200 block of West North Avenue in Baltimore, providing a note to the teller that demanded money and threatened to kill the teller’s family if the teller did not comply with Eaton’s demands. On June 9, 2022, Eaton attempted to rob a check cashing and financial services business located in the 1600 block of West North Avenue, again by passing a note to the teller. The teller refused to read the note, instead activating an alarm, and Eaton fled. Law enforcement collected the note passed by Eaton, which again demanded money and threatened to kill the family of the employee if Eaton’s demands were not met. On June 10, 2022, Eaton, armed with a handgun, entered a bank in the 3200 block of West North Avenue wearing a black head covering and a surgical mask and pointed the gun at customers and employees stating, “Nobody move. Give me $4,000 or everyone in this b***h is dead.” Eaton forced a customer to the ground at gunpoint and took the customer’s wallet and cash. With the gun still pointed at the customer’s head, Eaton demanded that an employee get him $4,000 or Eaton would shoot the customer. The bank employee, fearing for her safety and the safety of others, gave Eaton cash, and Eaton fled the bank. On June 27, Eaton, armed with a handgun, robbed a bank in the 4700 block of Liberty Heights Avenue in Baltimore, pointing a gun at the security guard’s head and forcing the security guard to accompany Eaton to the teller window, where a customer was conducting a transaction. With the gun still at the security guard’s head, Eaton demanded that the teller give him $7,000-$8,000 and threatened to shoot the security guard and the customer if the teller did not give him money or pushed any alarms. Fearing for her safety, the teller gave Eaton cash and he fled the bank. Finally, on July 23, 2022, and July 30, 2022, Eaton robbed two businesses in the 3100 block of West North Avenue. In both robberies, Eaton held employees at gunpoint and demanded money, threatening an employee in the second robbery for moving too slow. The employees in both robberies gave Eaton cash and he left the stores. U.S. Attorney Barron praised the FBI and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema Sood and Paul E. Budlow, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Precision Toxicology Agrees To Pay $27 Million To Resolve Allegations Of Unnecessary Drug Testing And Illegal Remuneration To Physicians

body_text: Washington - Precision Toxicology, doing business as Precision Diagnostics, has agreed to pay $27 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act and similar state statutes for billing Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary urine drug tests, and for providing free items to physicians who agreed to refer expensive laboratory testing business to Precision. Precision, headquartered in San Diego, is one of the nation’s largest urine drug testing laboratories. “We aggressively pursue those who defraud these critical healthcare programs and take money meant for needy patients. Taxpayers deserve nothing less, “said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that laboratory tests are ordered based on each patient’s medical needs and not just to increase laboratory profits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will not tolerate practices that unnecessarily increase the costs of federal health care programs and result in the misuse of taxpayer funds.” In the settlement agreement , the United States alleged that Precision systematically billed federal health care programs for excessive and unnecessary urine drug testing from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2022. In particular, the United States contended that Precision caused physicians to order excessive numbers of urine drug tests, in part through the promotion of “custom profiles,” which were, in effect, standing orders that caused physicians to order a large number of tests without an individualized assessment of each patient’s needs. This practice violated federal healthcare program rules limiting payment to services that are reasonable and medically necessary for the treatment and diagnosis of an individual patient’s illness or injury. The United States also alleged that Precision’s provision of free point of care urine drug test cups to physicians—expressly conditioned on the physicians’ agreement to return the urine specimens to Precision for additional testing—violated the Anti-Kickback Statute. The Anti-Kickback Statute generally prohibits laboratories from giving physicians anything of value in exchange for referrals of tests. “When laboratories ignore medical needs and increase testing for their own profits, the Department of Justice will act to protect the taxpayers and the integrity of our vital federal health programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Matthew Kirsch. In connection with the False Claims Act settlement, Precision has also entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s settlement demonstrates that investigating violations of the False Claims Act is a top priority,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for HHS-OIG. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with the Department of Justice to ensure the integrity of federal health care programs.” Of the settlement amount, $18.2 million will be paid to the United States and the remainder will be paid to the states of Maryland, Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, Georgia and Colorado for the states’ share of Medicaid. The False Claims Act allegations resolved by this settlement were originally brought in three lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. Two of the cases are captioned United States and Maryland ex rel. Hudak v. Precision Toxicology, LLC, ELH-18-1510 (D. Md.) and United States, Illinois and Minnesota ex rel. Buonauro v. Precision Diagnostics, LLC et al., ELH-21-3231 (D. Md). The third qui tam case against Precision, brought in the District of Colorado, remains partially sealed. Under the Act, the United States can elect to intervene in an action filed by a whistleblower, as it did here in part. Bryce Hudak will receive $2,743,002 from the federal False Claims Act recovery. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between federal and state partners lead by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; along with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Maryland, Colorado and Connecticut; the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Office of the General Counsel; the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Maryland Office of Attorney General; and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units. Attorneys Vanessa Reed and Vince Vaccarella of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roann Nichols for the District of Maryland, David Moskowitz for the District of Colorado and Rick Molot for the District of Connecticut handled the matter, with assistance from Assistant Attorneys General Raja Mishra of the State of Maryland, and Ian Garland of the State of Florida. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Former Jail Nurse Indicted on Federal Charges for Fraud, Drug Distribution, and Perjury

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TONYA DENISE BROWN (“BROWN”) , age 48, of Tangipahoa Parish, a licensed practical nurse, has been charged on September 26, 2024 in a nine-count indictment. The indictment charges BROWN with four counts of wire fraud, with each count alleging a different scheme. In one alleged scheme, BROWN obtained money with false promises of assistance with state criminal prosecutions. The indictment alleges that BROWN used a nursing job at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail to conduct the scheme. The other three alleged schemes relate to disaster assistance. Specifically, BROWN is accused of defrauding people by claiming that, in exchange for money, she would help them obtain disaster assistance benefits. BROWN is also accused of defrauding the HUD-funded Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program, which provided grant funding to homeowners affected by disasters. Additionally, BROWN is accused of defrauding FEMA’s rental assistance program that provided grants to help displaced disaster victims pay their rent. BROWN is also charged with Aggravated Identity Theft for allegedly misusing a notary’s identity in the rental assistance scheme. Further, BROWN is charged with two counts related to the sale of controlled substances. Specifically, she is charged with Use of a Facility in Interstate Commerce in Aid of an Unlawful Activity, by using the internet to sell drugs, including oxycodone and dextroamphetamine-amphetamine. She is also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by offering to sell oxycodone hydrochloride pills. Finally, BROWN is charged with two counts regarding false statements. One count charges BROWN with making a False Statement to the FBI. The other count charges her for making a False Declaration Before the Court by allegedly lying to a judge. The wire fraud counts alleging false promises of assistance with state criminal cases and false promises of assistance with disaster benefits are each punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release. The wire fraud counts related to the Restore program and the FEMA rental assistance program are each punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment and five years’ supervised release due to enhanced penalties for fraud involving disaster benefits. The aggravated identity theft count is punishable by two years’ imprisonment and up to one year’s supervised release. The False Statement count, the False Declaration Before the Court count, and the Use of a Facility in Interstate Commerce in Aid of an Unlawful Activity count are each punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release. A fine of up to $250,000 may be imposed for each count except the Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance count, for which a fine of up to $1,000,000 may be imposed. As to each charged count, BROWN also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. United States Attorney Evans thanked the FEMA Fraud Investigations & Internal Inspections Division, Fraud Prevention and Investigations Branch for its assistance in this matter. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Three Big Game Guides Indicted for Conspiracy and Lacey Act Violations

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: POCATELLO – A federal grand jury sitting in Pocatello returned a thirteen-count indictment on August 27, 2024, charging Chad Michael Kulow, 44, and Andrea May Major, 44, both of Kuna, Idaho, along with LaVoy Linton Eborn, 47, of Paris, Idaho, with conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and additional Lacey Act violations, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. In connection with illegal big game outfitting and guiding, Kulow was indicted on twelve counts including one felony count of conspiracy and eleven counts of felony Lacey Act violations. Major was indicted on seven counts including one felony count of conspiracy and six felony Lacey Act violations. Eborn was indicted on eight counts including one felony count of conspiracy and seven counts of felony Lacey Act violations. The thirteen-count indictment returned on August 27, 2024, alleges that in late 2021, Kulow, Major, and Eborn were licensed guides in the State of Idaho, employed by a licensed outfitter. During late 2021, Kulow, Major, and Eborn conspired together to commit Lacey Act violations, when they began illegally acting in the capacity of outfitters, by independently booking mountain lion hunting clients, accepting direct payment, and guiding hunts in southeast Idaho and Wyoming, outside of the licensed and federally permitted outfitting service for which they worked. Between December 2021 and February 2022, the defendants unlawfully sold hunts and carried out guiding activities on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest in southeast Idaho and the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. The illegally guided hunts resulted in the kills of at least eleven mountain lions in Idaho, and a Boone and Crockett record mountain lion in western Wyoming. Several Big Game Mortality Reports were falsely submitted to Idaho Fish and Game with inaccurate outfitter business information, and at least three mountain lions were shipped directly to Texas, without having been presented to Idaho Fish and Game for completion of the required Big Game Mortality Reports. Mountain lions killed during the hunts were transported from National Forest land, to or from Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Texas, and North Carolina, in violation of the federal Lacey Act and multiple Idaho state laws. Kulow and Major were both arrested on September 24, 2024, and booked with the U.S. Marshals Service in Boise. Eborn was arrested on September 25, 2024, and booked with the U.S. Marshals Service in Pocatello. Major attended her initial court appearance on September 26, 2024, Kulow attended his initial court appearance on September 27, 2024, and Eborn attended his initial court appearance on September 30, 2024. All three defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham and entered not guilty pleas. A jury trial is scheduled for November 18, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Pocatello, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill. The alleged Lacey Act violations are punishable by up to five years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the U.S. Forest Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett is prosecuting this case. An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: WASHINGTON – Precision Toxicology, doing business as Precision Diagnostics, has agreed to pay $27 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act and similar state statutes for billing Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary urine drug tests, and for providing free items to physicians who agreed to refer expensive laboratory testing business to Precision. Precision, headquartered in San Diego, is one of the nation’s largest urine drug testing laboratories. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that laboratory tests are ordered based on each patient’s medical needs and not just to increase laboratory profits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will not tolerate practices that unnecessarily increase the costs of federal health care programs and result in the misuse of taxpayer funds.” In the settlement agreement, the United States alleged that Precision systematically billed federal health care programs for excessive and unnecessary urine drug testing from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2022. In particular, the United States contended that Precision caused physicians to order excessive numbers of urine drug tests, in part through the promotion of “custom profiles,” which were, in effect, standing orders that caused physicians to order a large number of tests without an individualized assessment of each patient’s needs. This practice violated federal health care program rules limiting payment to services that are reasonable and medically necessary for the treatment and diagnosis of an individual patient’s illness or injury. The United States also alleged that Precision’s provision of free point of care urine drug test cups to physicians — expressly conditioned on the physicians’ agreement to return the urine specimens to Precision for additional testing — violated the Anti-Kickback Statute. The Anti-Kickback Statute generally prohibits laboratories from giving physicians anything of value in exchange for referrals of tests. “We aggressively pursue those who defraud these critical healthcare programs and take money meant for needy patients. Taxpayers deserve nothing less, “ said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “When laboratories ignore medical needs and increase testing for their own profits, the Department of Justice will act to protect the taxpayers and the integrity of our vital federal health programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Kirsch for the District of Colorado. In connection with the False Claims Act settlement, Precision has also entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s settlement demonstrates that investigating violations of the False Claims Act is a top priority,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of HHS-OIG. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with the Department of Justice to ensure the integrity of federal health care programs.” Of the settlement amount, $18.2 million will be paid to the United States and the remainder will be paid to the impacted states, including Maryland, Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, Georgia and Colorado, for the states’ share of Medicaid. The False Claims Act allegations resolved by this settlement were originally brought in three lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. Two of the cases are captioned United States and Maryland ex rel. Hudak v. Precision Toxicology LLC , ELH-18-1510 (DMD) and United States, Illinois and Minnesota ex rel. Buonauro v. Precision Diagnostics LLC et al., ELH-21-3231 (DMD). The third qui tam case against Precision, brought in the District of Colorado, remains partially sealed. Under the Act, the United States can elect to intervene in an action filed by a whistleblower, as it did here in part. Bryce Hudak will receive $2,743,002 from the federal False Claims Act recovery. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between federal and state partners lead by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, along with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Districts of Maryland, Colorado and Connecticut; the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Office of the General Counsel; the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Maryland Office of Attorney General; and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units. Attorneys Vanessa Reed and Vince Vaccarella of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roann Nichols for the District of Maryland, David Moskowitz for the District of Colorado and Rick Molot for the District of Connecticut handled the matter, with assistance from Assistant Attorneys General Raja Mishra of the State of Maryland, and Ian Garland of the State of Florida. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Settlement Agreement


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Being Felon in Possession of Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that EDMOND TRUEBLOOD (“TRUEBLOOD”) , age 38, of New Orleans, was sentenced on September 26, 2024 by Chief U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). TRUEBLOOD was sentenced to 62 months imprisonment, three (3) years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, TRUEBLOOD was previously convicted of felony offenses in Orleans Parish. Due to his criminal history, he is prohibited from having a firearm. However, on May 22, 2023, TRUEBLOOD possessed a stolen Glock Model 48, nine-millimeter, semi-automatic pistol in a bag he carried around his person in New Orleans. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James N. Ollinger of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: የፍትህ ዲፓርትመንት እና የኮሎራዶ የህግ ተርጓሚ በፍርድ ቤት ውስጥ ውስን የሆነ የእንግሊዘኛ ቋንቋ ችሎታ ያላቸውን ሰዎች የቋንቋ ተደራሽነት አሻሽለዋል።

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: የኮሎራዶ የህግ ተርጓሚ አካላት ውስን የሆነ የእንግሊዘኛ ቋንቋ ችሎታ ያላቸው ሰዎች (LEP) እና የፍርድ ቤት ጉዳይ ያላቸው ሰዎች ትርጉም ያለው የቋንቋ ተደራሽነት እንዲኖራቸው ትልቅ እርምጃ መውሰዳቸውን የህግ ክፍል በዛሬው እለት አሳውቋል። ጁላይ 2023 ላይ የዲፓርትመንቱ የሲቪል መብቶች ክፍል የኮሎራዶ ህግ ተርጓሚን ያገኘ ሲሆን ይህም የሆነው ፍርድ ቤቶች ውስን የሆነ የእንግሊዘኛ ቋንቋ ችሎታ ላላቸው ሰዎች በሲቪል መብቶች አዋጅ 1964 (ርእስ VI) መሰረት አስፈላጊ የሆነ የቋንቋ አገልግሎት ካለማቅረባቸው ጋር በተያያዘ ቅሬታ ከተቀበለ በኋላ ነው። ርእስ VI በዘር፣ ቀለም እና የፌደራል ፋይናንስ ድጋፍን ለሚቀበሉ በብሄራዊ መገኛ መሰረት ማግለልን ይከለክላል። ክፍሉ ባቀረበው የምርመራ ጥያቄ መሰረት የኮሎራዶ የህግ ተርጓሚ የተነሱትን ቅሬታዎች በሚመለከት ቀድመው የተወሰዱ እርምጃዎችን የለየ ሲሆን ከቋንቋ ተደራሽነት ፕሮግራም ጋር በተያያዘ ተጨማሪ የተለያዩ ማሻሻያዎችን ለማድረግ ከክፍሉ ጋር ስራ ሰርቷል። “ትክክለኛ እና ጊዜውን የጠበቀ የማስተርጎም አገልግሎት በፍርድ ቤት ውስጥ ማቅረብ ሁሉም የፍርድ ቤት ተጠቃሚዎች እኩል የሆነ የፍትህ ተደራሽነት እንዲኖራቸው የሚያደርግ ቁልፍ ነገር ነው” ሲሉ የፍትህ ክፍሉ የሲቪል መብቶች ምክትል አቃቤ ህግ ክሪስቲን ክላርክ ተናግረዋል። “በኮሎራዶ የህግ ተርጓሚ የተወሰዱት እርምጃዎች ለሌሎች ምሳሌ የሚሆኑ ሲሆን ጠንካራ የሆነ የቋንቋ ተደራሽነትን ለማቅረብ ያለውን እውነተኛ ቁርጠኝነትን የሚያሳይ ነው።" DOJ ከኮሎራዶ የህግ ተርጓሚ ጋር መስራት ከጀመረበት አመት ጀምሮ ፍርድ ቤቱ አዲስ የቋንቋ ተደራሽነት አስተባባሪን ቀጥሯል፣ የቋንቋ ተደራሽነት ፋይናንስ ፖሊሲን ከልሷል፣ አዲስ የቀጠሮ ስርአትን ለአስተርጓሚዎች ዘርግቷል፣ የጆሮ ማዳመጫ እና አይፓዶችን ጨምሮ ለፍርድ ቤት ማስተርጎም አገልግሎት እንዲሆን አዳዲስ መሳሪያዎችን ገዝቷል፣ የፍርድ ቤት ሰራተኞችን እና አስተርጓሚዎችን አሰልጥኗል እና ሌሎች ቁልፍ የሆኑ ማሻሻያዎችን ተግብሯል። ክፍሉ የእነዚህን ለውጦች መተግበር መቆጣጠር ይቀጥላል እና ከህዝቡ ደግሞ ግብረመልሶችን ይቀበላል። ከማግለል ጋር ግንኙነት ያላቸው ቅሬታዎች በሲቪል መብቶች ክፍል ድረገጽ civilrights.justice.gov በኩል መቅረብ ይችላሉ። ስለ ሲቪል መብቶች ክፍል ተጨማሪ መረጃ በ www.justice.gov/crt ይገኛል። ውስን የሆነ የቋንቋ ችሎታ መረጃ እና ርእስ VI www.lep.gov ላይ የሚገኝ ሲሆን ከፍርድ ቤቶች ጋር ግንኙነት ያለው መረጃ ደግሞ www.lep.gov/state-courts ላይ ይገኛል።


title: وزارة العدل والقضاء في كولورادو يحسنان توفير الخدمات اللغوية في المحاكم للأفراد ذوي الكفاءة المحدودة في اللغة الإنجليزية

body_text: أعلنت وزارة العدل اليوم أن القضاء في كولورادو اتخذ خطوات مهمة لضمان إتاحة هامة للخدمات اللغوية للأشخاص ذوي الكفاءة المحدودة في اللغة الإنجليزية (LEP) الذين يتعاملون مع نظام المحكمة بالولاية. في يوليو/تموز 2023، تعاقد قسم الحقوق المدنية التابع للوزارة مع القضاء في كولورادو بعد تلقي شكاوى تفيد بأن المحاكم لم تقدم الخدمات اللغوية اللازمة للأفراد ذوي الكفاءة المحدودة في اللغة الإنجليزية كما هو مطلوب بموجب الباب السادس من قانون الحقوق المدنية لعام 1964 (الباب السادس). يحظر الباب السادس التمييز على أساس العرق واللون والأصل القومي من قبل المتلقين للمساعدات المالية الفيدرالية. حدد القضاء في كولورادو، ردًا على استفسار الوزارة، خطوات استباقية تم اتخاذها بالفعل لمعالجة المخاوف التي أثيرت في الشكوى وعمل مع القسم لإجراء مجموعة متنوعة من التحسينات الأخرى على برنامج إتاحة الولوج للغة. "صرحت مساعدة المدعي العام كريستين كلارك من قسم الحقوق المدنية بوزارة العدل: "إن توفير خدمات الترجمة الدقيقة وفي الوقت المناسب داخل قاعة المحكمة وخارجها أمر بالغ الأهمية لضمان تكافئ اللجوء إلى العدالة لجميع مَن يترددون على المحكمة". "تشكل الإجراءات التي اتخذتها السلطة القضائية في كولورادو نموذجًا وتُظهر التزامًا حقيقيًا ببناء برنامج قوي لإتاحة الولوج للغة". قامت المحكمة في العام الذي مرّ، منذ أن بدأت وزارة العدل العمل مع السلطة القضائية في كولورادو، بتعيين منسق جديد لإتاحة الخدمات اللغوية؛ ومراجعة السياسة المالية لمكتب إتاحة الخدمات اللغوية؛ وبدأت في إنشاء نظام جدولة جديد للمترجمين؛ وشراء معدات جديدة لاستخدامها في الترجمة في المحكمة بما في ذلك سماعات الرأس وأجهزة iPad؛ وتدريب موظفي المحكمة والمترجمين؛ وتنفيذ تحسينات رئيسية أخرى. سوف تستمر الوزارة في مراقبة تنفيذ هذه التغييرات، وترحب بملاحظات عامة الناس. يمكن الإبلاغ عن الشكاوى المتعلقة بالممارسات التمييزية من خلال موقع قسم الحقوق المدنية عبر الإنترنت على civilrights.justice.gov تتوفر المزيد من المعلومات حول قسم الحقوق المدنية على موقعه عبر الإنترنت على www.justice.gov/crt . تتوفر معلومات حول الكفاءة المحدودة للغة الإنجليزية والباب السادس على الموقع www.lep.gov ، ويمكن العثور على معلومات خاصة بالمحاكم على الموقع www.lep.gov/state-courts .


title: Justice Department and Colorado Judiciary Improve Language Access in Courts for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency

body_text: Note : View the release in Somali here. The Justice Department announced today that the Colorado Judiciary has taken significant steps to ensure meaningful language access for people with limited English proficiency (LEP) who interact with the state court system. In July 2023, the department’s Civil Rights Division engaged the Colorado Judiciary after receiving complaints that the courts were not providing needed language services to individuals with LEP as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance. In response to the department’s inquiry, the Colorado Judiciary identified proactive steps already taken to address the concerns raised in the complaint and worked with the division to make a variety of other improvements made to its language access program. “Providing accurate and timely interpreter services in and outside of the courtroom is paramount to ensuring that all court users are provided equal access to justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The actions taken by the Colorado Judiciary stand as a model and show a true commitment to building a strong language access program.” In the year since the Justice Department began working with the Colorado Judiciary, the court has hired a new language access coordinator; revised the Office of Language Access Financial Policy; began to create a new scheduling system for interpreters; purchased new equipment to be used for court interpretation including headsets and iPads; trained court staff and interpreters; and implemented other key improvements. The department will continue to monitor the implementation of these changes, and it welcomes feedback from the public. Complaints about discriminatory practices may be reported through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov . More information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt . Information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at www.lep.gov , and information specific to courts can be found at www.lep.gov/state-courts .


title: El Departamento de Justicia y el Poder Judicial de Colorado mejoran el acceso lingüístico en los tribunales para personas con un dominio limitado del inglés

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que el Poder Judicial de Colorado ha tomado medidas importantes para garantizar un acceso lingüístico significativo para las personas con un dominio limitado del inglés (LEP, por sus siglas en inglés) que interactúan con el sistema judicial estatal. En julio del 2023, la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento se enfrentó al Poder Judicial de Colorado después de recibir quejas de que los tribunales no estaban proporcionando los servicios lingüísticos necesarios a personas LEP según lo requerido por el Título VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 (Título VI). El Título VI prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de raza, color de piel y origen nacional por parte de entidades que reciben apoyo financiero federal. En respuesta a la consulta del Departamento, el Poder Judicial de Colorado identificó pasos proactivos que ya se han tomado para abordar las inquietudes planteadas en la queja y ha trabajado con la División para realizar una variedad de otras mejoras en su programa de acceso lingüístico. «La provisión de servicios de interpretación precisos y oportunos dentro y fuera de la sala judicial es primordial para poder garantizar que todos los usuarios del tribunal tengan acceso igualitario a la justicia», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Las medidas adoptadas por el Poder Judicial de Colorado sirven como ejemplo y muestran un verdadero compromiso con la creación de un sólido programa de acceso lingüístico». En el año desde que el DOJ comenzó a trabajar con el Poder Judicial de Colorado, el tribunal ha contratado a un nuevo coordinador de acceso lingüístico; ha revisado la política financiera de la Oficina de Acceso Lingüístico; ha comenzado a crear un nuevo sistema de programación para intérpretes; ha comprado nuevos equipos para su uso en la interpretación judicial, incluidos auriculares y iPads; ha capacitado a personal e intérpretes del tribunal; y ha implementado otras mejoras clave. El Departamento continuará a supervisar la implementación de estos cambios y recibirá con agrado los comentarios del público. Las quejas sobre prácticas discriminatorias pueden notificarse a través del sitio web de la División de Derechos Civiles en civilrights.justice.gov Puede encontrar más información sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt . La información sobre el dominio limitado del inglés y el Título VI está disponible en www.lep.gov y la información específica de los tribunales se puede encontrar en www.lep.gov/state-courts .


title: Le ministère de la justice et le système judiciaire du Colorado améliorent l'accès linguistique aux tribunaux pour les personnes ayant une maîtrise limitée de l'anglais

body_text: Le ministère de la Justice a annoncé aujourd'hui que le système judiciaire du Colorado avait pris des mesures importantes pour garantir un accès linguistique approprié aux personnes ayant une maîtrise limitée de l'anglais (LEP) qui ont affaire au système judiciaire de l'État. En juillet 2023, la division des droits civils du ministère a fait appel à l'appareil judiciaire du Colorado après avoir reçu des plaintes selon lesquelles les tribunaux ne fournissaient pas les services linguistiques nécessaires aux personnes ayant une maîtrise limitée de l'anglais, comme l'exige le titre VI de la loi sur les droits civils de 1964 (titre VI). Le titre VI interdit toute discrimination fondée sur la race, la couleur et l'origine nationale de la part des bénéficiaires de l'aide financière fédérale. En réponse à la demande du ministère, le système judiciaire du Colorado a identifié les mesures proactives déjà prises pour répondre aux préoccupations soulevées dans la plainte et a travaillé avec la division pour apporter une série d'autres améliorations à son programme d'accès linguistique. « Il est essentiel de fournir des services d'interprétation adéquats et opportuns à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur des tribunaux pour garantir à tous les usagers des tribunaux un accès égal à la justice », a déclaré Kristen Clarke, procureur général adjoint de la division des droits civils du ministère de la justice. « Les mesures prises par le système judiciaire du Colorado ont valeur de modèle et témoignent d'un véritable engagement en faveur de la mise en place d'un programme d'accès linguistique solide ». Au cours de l'année qui s'est écoulée depuis que le ministère de la justice a commencé à travailler avec le système judiciaire du Colorado, le tribunal a embauché un nouveau coordinateur de l'accès linguistique, révisé la politique financière du bureau de l'accès linguistique, commencé à créer un nouveau système de planification pour les interprètes, acheté de nouveaux équipements à utiliser pour l'interprétation judiciaire, y compris des casques et des iPads, formé le personnel du tribunal et les interprètes, et mis en œuvre d'autres améliorations clés. Le ministère continuera à surveiller la mise en œuvre de ces changements et invite le public à lui faire part de ses commentaires. Les plaintes concernant des pratiques discriminatoires peuvent être déposées sur le site web de la division des droits civils, à l'adresse suivante : civilrights.justice.gov Pour plus d'informations sur la division des droits civils, rendez-vous sur son site web : www.justice.gov/crt . Des informations sur la maîtrise limitée de l'anglais et le titre VI sont disponibles à l'adresse suivante : www.lep.gov , et des informations spécifiques aux tribunaux sont disponibles sur : www.lep.gov/state-courts .


title: 법무부와 콜로라도 사법부, 영어 능력이 제한된 개인을 위한 법원의 언어 접근성 개선

body_text: 법무부는 오늘 콜로라도 사법부가 주 법원 시스템과 상호 작용하는 제한된 영어 능력(LEP)을 가진 사람들이 의미 있는 언어 접근을 보장하기 위해 중요한 조치를 취했다고 발표했습니다. 2023년 7월, 법원이 1964년 민권법 제6조(Title VI)에 따라 LEP를 갖춘 개인에게 필요한 언어 서비스를 제공하지 않는다는 불만을 접수한 후 법무부 민권부는 콜로라도 사법부와 합의했습니다. 제6조는 연방 재정 지원을 받는 사람들의 인종, 피부색 및 국적을 바탕으로 차별을 금지합니다. 법무부의 조사에 따라 콜로라도 사법부는 불만 사항에서 제기된 우려 사항을 해결하기 위해 이미 취한 사전 조치를 확인하고 부서와 협력하여 언어 접근 프로그램을 다양하게 개선했습니다. 법무부 민권부의 Kristen Clarke 법무차관보는 "법정 안팎에서 정확하고 시기적절하게 통역 서비스를 제공하는 것은 모든 법원 사용자가 사법부에 동등하게 접근할 수 있도록 보장하는 데 가장 중요합니다. 콜로라도 사법부가 취한 조치는 강력한 언어 접근 프로그램을 구축하기 위한 진정한 의지를 보여주는 모델입니다."라고 말했습니다. 법무부가 콜로라도 사법부와 협력하기 시작한 해에 법원은 새로운 언어 접근 코디네이터를 고용하고, 언어 접근 금융 정책국을 개정하고, 통역사를 위한 새로운 스케줄링 시스템을 만들기 시작했으며, 헤드셋과 아이패드를 포함한 법원 통역에 사용할 새로운 장비를 구입하고, 법원 직원과 통역사를 교육하고, 기타 주요 개선 사항을 구현했습니다. 부서는 계속해서 이러한 변경 사항 실행을 모니터하고 대중들의 피드백도 받을 것입니다. 차별적 관행에 대한 불만은 민권부 웹사이트( civilrights.justice.gov )를 통해 신고할 수 있습니다. 민권부에 대한 더 많은 정보는 웹사이트( www.justice.gov/crt )에서 이용 가능합니다. www.lep.gov 에서 제한된 영어 능력과 제6조에 대한 정보를 확인할 수 있으며, 법원별 정보는 www.lep.gov/state-courts 에서 확인할 수 있습니다.


title: Министерство юстиции и судебные органы штата Колорадо упрощают доступ к судебной системе для лиц с ограниченным владением английским языком

body_text: Сегодня Министерство юстиции объявило о том, что судебные органы штата Колорадо предприняли серьезные меры для обеспечения полноценного языкового доступа к судебной системе штата для лиц с ограниченным владением английским языком (LEP). В июле 2023 года Отдел по гражданским правам при Министерстве юстиции обратился в судебные органы штата Колорадо, получив несколько жалоб относительно того, что суды не предоставляют необходимые языковые услуги лицам с ограниченным владением английским языком, как того требует Раздел VI Закона о гражданских правах 1964 года (Раздел VI). Раздел VI запрещает дискриминацию по признаку расы, цвета кожи и национального происхождения в отношении лиц, получающих федеральную финансовую помощь. В ответ на прошение министерства судебные органы штата Колорадо утвердили превентивные меры, которые уже предпринимались ранее для урегулирования вопросов, поднятых в поданных жалобах, а также доработали программу языкового доступа, согласуя свои действия с Отделом по гражданским правам. «Предоставление качественных и своевременных услуг устного перевода в зале суда и за его пределами имеет первостепенное значение для обеспечения равного доступа к системе правосудия для всех участников судебного процесса», — заявила помощник генерального прокурора Кристен Кларк из Отдела по гражданским правам при Министерстве юстиции. «Меры, предпринятые судебными органами Колорадо, являются образцовыми и демонстрируют твердое намерение создать эффективную программу, гарантирующую комплексный языковой доступ». За год, прошедший с тех пор, как Министерство юстиции начало сотрудничать с судебными органами штата Колорадо, суд назначил нового координатора по языковому доступу; пересмотрел финансовую политику Управления языкового доступа; приступил к созданию новой системы планирования для переводчиков; закупил новое оборудование для использования при судебном переводе, в том числе гарнитуру и iPad; провел обучение для сотрудников суда и переводчиков; а также провел иные немаловажные доработки. Министерство продолжит следить за внедрением этих изменений и будет радо обратной связи от общественности. Жалобы на дискриминационные действия можно подавать через веб-сайт Отдела по гражданским правам по адресу civilrights.justice.gov Более подробную информацию о работе Отдела по гражданским правам читайте на сайте по адресу www.justice.gov/crt . Информация об ограниченном владении английским языком и содержание Раздела VI доступны на сайте www.lep.gov , а информация в отношении судов доступна на сайте www.lep.gov/state-courts .


title: Bộ Tư Pháp và Cơ Quan Tư Pháp Tiểu Bang Colorado Cải Thiện Khả Năng Tiếp Cận Ngôn Ngữ tại Tòa Án Cho Những Cá Nhân Có Trình Độ Tiếng Anh Hạn Chế

body_text: Bộ Tư Pháp hôm nay thông báo rằng Cơ Quan Tư Pháp Colorado đã thực hiện các bước quan trọng để đảm bảo quyền tiếp cận ngôn ngữ có ý nghĩa cho những người có trình độ tiếng Anh hạn chế (Limited English Proficiency, hoặc LEP) khi tương tác với hệ thống tòa án tiểu bang. Vào tháng 7 năm 2023, Ban Dân Quyền của Bộ đã liên hệ với Cơ Quan Tư Pháp Tiểu Bang Colorado sau khi nhận được khiếu nại rằng tòa án không cung cấp các dịch vụ ngôn ngữ cần thiết cho những cá nhân có trình độ tiếng Anh hạn chế (LEP) theo yêu cầu của Tiêu Đề VI của Đạo Luật Dân Quyền Năm 1964 (Tiêu Đề VI). Tiêu Đề VI nghiêm cấm hành vi phân biệt đối xử dựa trên chủng tộc, màu da và nguồn gốc quốc gia của người nhận hỗ trợ tài chính liên bang. Để trả lời yêu cầu của Bộ, Cơ Quan Tư Pháp Tiểu Bang Colorado đã xác định các bước chủ động được thực hiện để giải quyết những lo ngại nêu trong khiếu nại và làm việc với Ban để thực hiện nhiều cải tiến khác cho chương trình tiếp cận ngôn ngữ của mình. “Trợ Lý Tổng Chưởng Lý Kristen Clarke thuộc Ban Dân Quyền của Bộ Tư Pháp cho biết: “Việc cung cấp dịch vụ phiên dịch chính xác và kịp thời trong và ngoài phòng xử án là tối quan trọng để đảm bảo tất cả người dùng tòa án đều được tiếp cận công lý một cách bình đẳng”. “Những hành động mà Cơ Quan Tư Pháp Tiểu Bang Colorado thực hiện là hình mẫu và thể hiện cam kết thực sự trong việc xây dựng một chương trình tiếp cận ngôn ngữ mạnh mẽ.” Trong năm kể từ khi DOJ (Bộ Tư Pháp) bắt đầu làm việc với Cơ Quan Tư Pháp Tiểu Bang Colorado, tòa án đã tuyển dụng một điều phối viên tiếp cận ngôn ngữ mới; sửa đổi Chính Sách Tài Chính của Văn Phòng Tiếp Cận Ngôn Ngữ; bắt đầu tạo hệ thống lập lịch trình mới cho phiên dịch viên; mua thiết bị mới để sử dụng cho việc phiên dịch tại tòa án bao gồm tai nghe và iPad; đào tạo nhân viên tòa án và phiên dịch viên; và thực hiện các cải tiến quan trọng khác. Bộ sẽ tiếp tục theo dõi việc thực hiện những thay đổi này và hoan nghênh phản hồi từ công chúng. Khiếu nại về các hành vi phân biệt đối xử có thể được báo cáo thông qua trang mạng của Ban Dân Quyền tại civilrights.justice.gov Quý vị có thể tìm hiểu thêm thông tin về Ban Dân Quyền trên trang mạng của bộ phận này tại www.justice.gov/crt . Thông tin về trình độ tiếng Anh hạn chế và Tiêu Đề VI có tại trang mạng www.lep.gov ,và thông tin cụ thể về tòa án có thể được tìm thấy tại trang mạng www.lep.gov/state-courts .


title: 司法部和科罗拉多州司法机构改善英语水平有限的个人在法庭上的语言使用

body_text: 司法部今天宣布，科罗拉多州司法机构已采取重要措施，确保英语水平有限 (LEP) 与州法院系统互动的人能够获得有意义的语言服务。 2023 年 7 月，司法部民权司收到科罗拉多州司法机构的投诉，称法院没有按照 1964 年《民权法案》第六章的要求向 LEP 个人提供所需的语言服务。《民权法案》第六章禁止接受联邦财政援助的实体基于种族、肤色和民族血统做出歧视行为。 为了回应该部门的询问，科罗拉多州司法机构确定了 已经采取的积极措施解决投诉中提出的问题，并与该司合作对其语言访问计划进行了各种其他改进。 “在法庭内外提供准确、及时的口译服务对于确保所有法庭使用者都能平等诉诸司法至关重要，”司法部民权司助理司法部长克里斯汀·克拉克说。“科罗拉多州司法机构采取的行动堪称典范，体现了对建立强大的语言准入计划的真正承诺。” 自司法部开始与科罗拉多州司法机构合作以来，法院聘请了一位新的语言协调员；修订了语言使用办公室的财务政策；开始为口译员创建新的排班系统；购买了用于法庭口译的新设备，包括耳机和 iPad；培训了法庭工作人员和口译员；并实施了其他重要改进。 该部门将继续监督这些改革的实施，并欢迎公众提供反馈意见。有关歧视性做法的投诉可通过民权部门的网站进行举报： civilrights.justice.gov 有关民权部门的更多信息，请访问其网站： www.justice.gov/crt . 有关英语水平有限和第六章的信息，请访问： www.lep.gov , 关于法院的信息可以在以下网址找到： www.lep.gov/state-courts .


title: 司法部和科羅拉多州司法機構改善英語能力有限人士在法院的無障礙語言使用情況

body_text: 司法部今日宣佈，科羅拉多州司法機構已採取重大措施，確保使用州法院系統的英語能力有限 (LEP) 人士能以有意義的方式無障礙地使用他們的語言。 司法部民權司於 2023 年 7 月收到投訴，指法院未有按照 1964 年《民權法案》第六章下的規定，向英語能力有限的人士提供所需的語言服務。其後，民權司就此事宜與科羅拉多州司法機構聯絡。《民權法案》第六章禁止接受聯邦財務援助的實體因個人的種族、膚色和國籍而作出歧視。 為回應司法部的查詢，科羅拉多州司法機構現已採取積極措施，以解決該投訴提出的問題，並與該部門合作，進一步改善其無障礙語言使用計劃。 司法部民權司助理檢察長 Kristen Clarke 表示：「在法庭內外提供準確及時的口譯服務，能確保所有法庭使用者都能平等地獲得司法保護。“科羅拉多州司法機構所採取的行動堪稱典範，更顯示出他們積極履行建立一個強大的無障礙語言使用計劃的承諾。” 司法部已與科羅拉多州司法機構合作一年。該法院目前已聘請了一名新的語言使用協調員，也修訂了語言使用辦公室的財務政策，更開始為口譯員建立新的排班系統。此外，他們也購置了適用於法院口譯的新設備（包括耳機和 iPad）和對法院工作人員和口譯員進行培訓，也落實了其他重要的改善措施。 司法部會繼續跟進和監測這些改善措施的落實情況，並歡迎公眾提出相關意見。您可以透過民權司網站 civilrights.justice.gov 舉報或投訴任何歧視性行爲。 有關民權司的更多資訊，請前往 www.justice.gov/crt 。 有關英語能力有限和《民權法案》第六章的資訊，請瀏覽 www.lep.gov ，而有關法院的特定資訊，請前往 www.lep.gov/state-courts 。


title: Garden City woman indicted for drug trafficking

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman on charges related to drug trafficking. According to court documents, Nicole Rae Kiesel, 38, of Garden City is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Enrique Alonso Estrada-Barrios, 26, of Belen, New Mexico, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case. Armando Venzor-Marquez, 37, of Great Bend is charged with one count of unlawful re-entry after deportation and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Being Felon in Possession of Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULIUS AUGILLARD (“AUGILLARD”) , age 38, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 26, 2024, before United States District Judge Carl Barbier to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, on February 20, 2023, AUGILLARD possessed a firearm on the 500 block of Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras festivities, after leading Louisiana State Police Troopers on a short foot pursuit. The troopers found a Smith and Wesson Model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol on his person. Later, on December 31, 2023, AUGILLARD possessed an International Model PT609 PRO, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol near 200 Tremé Street while trespassing at an apartment complex. At the time of the apprehension and arrest by Housing Authority of New Orleans police officers, AUGILLARD had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. AUGILLARD is scheduled for sentencing on January 16, 2025. For each count, AUGILLARD faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department, as well as the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with New Jersey to Resolve Claims of Unconstitutional Conditions in State-Run Veterans Homes

body_text: The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey today filed a complaint against the State of New Jersey and joined with the State in filing a proposed consent decree to address findings of unconstitutional conditions at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes (Veterans Homes) at Menlo Park and Paramus. The proposed consent decree, which must still be approved by the court, would resolve the department’s claims that New Jersey violates the Constitution by failing to keep the residents of its Veterans Homes safe from harm and an unreasonable risk of harm. The proposed consent decree requires the state to meet specific standards of clinical care, to overhaul its infection control and emergency operations practices and to implement measures for improved leadership and accountability. The proposed consent decree also asks the court to appoint an independent monitor who will oversee and assess the state’s compliance with the terms of the proposed consent decree. “Our veterans deserve to receive appropriate care, as required by law, and their families deserve to have confidence that their loved ones’ needs will be met,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This agreement requires the state to deliver that care and have the oversight in place to provide families that confidence. The Justice Department will work diligently with the state to ensure the reforms are properly implemented.” “Our veterans, who have sacrificed so much, should never have been subject to deficient care,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “This consent decree provides a detailed roadmap and expert oversight to ensure they are protected, so that they and their families can rely on the Veterans Homes. We look forward to working with the state and the independent monitor to implement this decree and ensure that every resident of the Veterans Homes lives with the safety and dignity that they so richly deserve.” The Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey initiated the investigation into the Veterans Homes in October 2020 under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). CRIPA authorizes the department to take action to address a pattern or practice of deprivation of federal rights of individuals in the custody of state or local governments. In September 2023, the department notified the state that it found reasonable cause to believe the residents of the Veterans Homes at Menlo Park and Paramus face unreasonable harm and risk of harm due to inadequate infection control practices and inadequate medical care. The department also identified the remedial measures necessary to address those unlawful conditions. Specifically, the department concluded that the state failed to provide the residents of its Veterans Homes with conditions of reasonable care and safety, in violation of the 14th Amendment. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt . Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey is available at www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement .


title: Young Houstonians admit to carjacking in failed smuggling attempt

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A second man has now pleaded guilty to carjacking a McAllen resident, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jesus Rodriguez, 19, entered his plea Sept. 23, admitting he had recruited Christian Hardy, 18, to accompany him from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley to smuggle two people because he didn’t have a driver’s license. He also claimed the vehicle they were driving had mechanical problems, and they needed to steal a car. Hardy has now also admitted to his role in the crime. While in McAllen May 19, Rodriguez and Hardy approached a male victim outside his car at a Stripes gas station near a mechanic shop. Rodriguez asked to use the victim’s phone, while Hardy got into the driver’s seat. The victim attempted to stop the theft and jumped into the passenger side, pushed Hardy out of the vehicle and managed to move into the driver seat. However, Rodriguez then got into the passenger seat, pointed a firearm at the victim and said the vehicle was not worth his life. The victim got out of the car, at which time both men fled. Rodriguez still had the victim’s phone, which he later tossed out of the vehicle so the victim would not be able to call authorities. Hardy and Rodriguez then picked up two non-U.S. citizens from a stash house in McAllen and proceeded to the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint. After witnessing nervous behavior, law enforcement referred them to secondary inspection where they found the two undocumented people hiding in the trunk of the vehicle. Upon their arresting Hardy and Rodriguez, authorities discovered a firearm in Rodriguez’s waistband. The investigation also led to the discovery that the car Hardy was driving had been stolen out of Hidalgo County. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos will impose sentencing Jan. 28, 2025. At that time, the pair face up to 15 years in federal prison. Hardy was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing, while Rodriguez is in custody. Homeland Security investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Edinburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Dunn is prosecuting the case.


title: Campaign Treasurer for Candidate for Brooklyn Borough President Charged with Scheme to Defraud New York City's Campaign Finance Board

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Erlene King was charged with wire fraud in connection with her attempt to steal funds from New York City’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB). Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the charge. Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City CFB for its cooperation and assistance during the investigation. CFB Overview The CFB oversees and administers a publicly funded campaign finance system in connection with municipal elections in New York City. This includes a “matching funds program” that provides eligible candidates with public funds based on the number and amount of certain donor contributions. According to the CFB, the program “empowers New Yorkers in every neighborhood to make their voices heard in city elections” and “by encouraging candidates to raise small-dollar contributions from average New Yorkers, the program increases engagement between voters and those who seek to represent them.” Candidates running for the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President in the 2021 election cycle were eligible to participate in the CFB’s matching funds program if they met certain criteria. Among other things, to be eligible to receive public funds, candidates were required to meet a two-part fundraising threshold. Specifically, a candidate had to collect a minimum number of donations and raise a minimum amount of money from New York City residents before the CFB paid any matching funds. For candidates who ran for the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President during the 2021 election cycle, candidates received up to $8 in matching funds for each $1 of eligible contributions, up to $175 per contributor. In other words, if a candidate received an eligible contribution of $175, a candidate for the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President could collect up to $1,400 in matching funds. In total, the matching funds program provided up to $1,457,777 in public matching funds to a candidate for the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. Because campaigns for Brooklyn Borough President during the 2021 election cycle needed to raise at least $50,000 in eligible contributions to receive any matching funds, any candidate who was eligible to receive matching funds necessarily received at least $400,000 in matching funds from the CFB. The Scheme As alleged in court documents, King served as the campaign treasurer for a candidate who ran in a primary for the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President during the 2021 election cycle (Candidate #1). King obtained fraudulent donations for the purpose of inducing the CFB to provide matching funds to the campaign. A number of those contributions, which were obtained at King’s direction, were fraudulent nominee contributions made in the names of individuals who either did not personally fund the contributions or were later reimbursed for their contributions ( i.e. , straw donors). For example, King used CashApp to send money to intermediaries and instructed them to distribute the money to fund contributions from straw donors to Candidate #1. Other fraudulent contributions were made in the names of individuals whose identities were stolen and who had not personally contributed to Candidate #1. The CFB ultimately determined that the campaign submitted fictitious records and did not pay any public matching funds to the campaign. The charges in the information are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Philip Pilmar and Eric Silverberg are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : ERLENE KING Age: 71 Brooklyn, NY E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-374 (CBA)


title: Two defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty in shooting, armed carjacking during drug deal

component: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: Two Chatham County men await sentencing after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an armed carjacking in Savannah, while investigators are seeking the third defendant in the case. Brandon McCall Williams , a/k/a “Doughboy,” 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Heroin; Carjacking Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury; and Conspiracy to Use a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence and a Drug Trafficking Crime, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. At the start of his trial on Sept. 23, Robert Moss , a/k/a “Fat Boy,” 33, of Savannah, agreed to plead guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and also awaits sentencing. Williams faces up to 65 years in prison, while Moss faces up to 10 years. There is no parole in the federal system. “This violent crime exemplifies the dangers of drugs, guns and gangs to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Our law enforcement partners need the public’s assistance in apprehending the fugitive in this case, and delivering justice for the wounded victim.” As described in court documents and testimony, a drug dealer – identified as M.M. – met the defendants in the parking lot of a Savannah apartment complex in October 2021 to sell them large amounts methamphetamine and heroin. Instead, the three men robbed M.M. at gunpoint, taking his bag containing drugs, cash and a firearm, and then shot M.M. in the buttocks when he escaped. The defendants then stole M.M.’s vehicle and fled, leaving behind a pickup that had been rented by Williams. Port Wentworth police recovered Williams’ personally owned car with the bag and drugs in it after a brief car chase from which Williams escaped. Williams and Moss later were located and taken into custody. Also indicted in the case was Graylyn Simmons , a/k/a “Shake,” a/k/a “Crane,” 28, of Savannah. Anyone with information on Simmons is asked to contact the FBI at 800-Call FBI (800-225-5324). The indictment naming Simmons includes only charges. He is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood will schedule sentencing for Williams and Moss upon completion of presentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services. “Williams and Moss participated in a violent act to profit off illegal drugs,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden. “We work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to work hand in hand to disrupt and ultimately triumph over the shadow of drug trafficking, making our communities safer places to live.” “This investigation showcases the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to rid our streets of violent offenders,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “Through close collaboration and relentless pursuit, we will continue to dismantle criminal networks and protect the citizens of Savannah from those who seek to bring chaos and violence.” This case is being investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Frank M. Pennington II.


title: U.S. Attorney Steinberg cautions against disaster fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg reminds residents to be wary of disaster-related fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destructive path. “Like moths to a flame, scam artists and profit-chasing individuals too often prey on vulnerable victims of natural disasters, such as those devastated by Hurricane Helene,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Vigilance is the first defense against fraudsters who would compound the misery of a natural disaster by stealing from those in desperate need of assistance in recovery, and our office stands ready to assist in holding accountable individuals who would take advantage of disaster victims.” President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Georgia, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Of the 43 counties in the Southern District of Georgia, 30 are included in the disaster declaration. Established in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement and regulatory agencies that coordinates detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of fraud. Of more than 200,000 disaster fraud complaints submitted to the NCDF, here are some examples of common complaints: Fake charities soliciting donations either using the names of well-known charities or appearing to be related to the disaster. Scammers impersonating government officials, offering disaster relief in exchange for personal information or money. Individuals posing as insurance provider representatives to collect payments or personal information. Fraudsters promising expedient home repairs requiring upfront or partial payment. Price-gouging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster. Take these measures to protect yourself from disaster fraud: Donate only to well-known charities after verifying them through trusted sources. Do not respond to unsolicited requests for donations via email, phone, or text, and do not click on links in unsolicited messages. Do not assume that online or social media charity solicitations are legitimate. Use credit cards or checks for donations. Don’t send cash, or use wire transfers or mobile payment apps. Remember that government agencies and legitimate organizations will never ask for money or personal information via phone or email. Beware of contractors who knock on your door or make unsolicited contact, and/or make promises that sound too good to be true. Cautiously rely on recommendations from family and friends. Do not be forced into making repair decisions by a high-pressure contractor. Protect yourself and your neighbors. To report disaster-related fraud, contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm .


title: Monroe County Man Charged With Sexual Abuse Of Children

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ivan Nicholas Baez, age 45, of Kunkletown, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of sexual abuse of children. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on multiple occasions Baez produced images of child pornography. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Asbestos Removal Training Center Owner Convicted of Making False Statements to EPA and RIDOH

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – The owner of a Rhode Island-based asbestos abatement training center admitted to a federal judge on Tuesday that he provided false documentation to the Rhode Island Department of Health, attesting that nearly two dozen individuals paid for, attended, and successfully completed an Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)-approved abatement training program when, in fact, no one attended the classes, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. The Toxic Substances Control Act, implemented by the EPA, requires that workers who perform asbestos abatement attend and pass an EPA-approved asbestos training program which, in Rhode Island, is overseen by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). Jose Virgilio Fernandez, owner of Rhode Island Safety Environment Training Center (“RISE”), was accredited by RIDOH to provide asbestos abatement training courses to workers. An investigation by RIDOH and EPA revealed that, on multiple occasions between 2021 and 2023, Fernandez submitted documents to RIDOH falsely certifying that participants attended all days of instruction and achieved passing examination scores. As reflected in charging documents and information provided to the court, Fernandez falsely stated in signed documents that twenty individuals, whose names he provided to the RIDOH, attended and successfully completed a five-day, 40-hour program the week of May 22, 2023. In fact, no one attended the training sessions, with the exception of an EPA agent acting in an undercover capacity who attended for two hours on the first day of classes. Fernandez later admitted to the EPA that, in many cases, he issued certificates to asbestos workers even though they did not actually attend or complete the abatement class. Fernandez pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal charge of making false statements. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7, 2025. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “Asbestos poses significant health risks when handled improperly,” remarked U.S. Attorney Cunha, “and that’s why commonsense environmental regulations require that those working with it be trained to do so safely. Fernandez’ lies put Rhode Island contractors, not to mention those exposed to improperly handled asbestos, at risk. This week's guilty plea should serve as a reminder to those who cut corners with toxic substances that they will be held accountable.” “Proper training ensures protocols are followed for the handling of hazardous substances, lead, and asbestos by workers and supervisors on jobsites throughout Rhode Island,” stated Tyler Amon, Special Agent in Charge for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in New England. “Training providers that cut corners undercut the companies playing by the rules and the integrity of Rhode Island’s important training certification mission.” The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams. The matter was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Rhode Island Department of Health. ###


title: Three Individuals Charged In Gun Trafficking Case

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Naquann Simmons, age 30, of New York, New York, Eva Kelly Smith, age 31, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Eugene David Deininger, age 50, of Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on September 22, 2022, Simmons and Kelly went to a gun store in Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County and provided false information on an application where two firearms were obtained. The indictment further alleges that on that same date Simmons possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. It is further alleged that on August 15, 2023, Simmons and Deininger went to a gun store in Plains Township, Luzerne County and provided false information on an application for two firearms. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is lifetime imprisonment for Simmons and 10 years imprisonment for Smith and Deininger, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Randolph County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Donald Ray Cantrell, Jr., 48, of Mill Creek, West Virginia, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Cantrell was on supervised release after serving time for a drug charge. U.S. Probation officers searched Cantrell’s home during a visit, found a firearm, and arrested him. While incarcerated, Cantrell was recorded on a jail call, asking someone to hide his methamphetamine and cash in his house. Investigators searched Cantrell’s home and seized 220 grams of methamphetamine and $18,219. Cantrell will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the West Virginia State Police investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided. ###


title: Previously Extradited Foreign National Sentenced for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Business Email Compromise Schemes Targeting Educational Institutions and Businesses in Texas and North Carolina

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A dual citizen of Nigeria and the United Kingdom was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar business email compromise (BEC) scheme. According to court documents, Oludayo Kolawole John Adeagbo, 45, conspired with others to participate in multiple cyber-enabled BEC schemes in an attempt to steal more than $3 million from victim entities in Texas, including local government entities, construction companies, and a Houston-area college. Adeagbo and conspirators also defrauded a North Carolina university of more than $1.9 million. Adeagbo, also known as John Edwards and John Dayo, arrived in the United States in August 2022 after he was extradited from the United Kingdom to face criminal charges filed in Charlotte and in Houston. On April 8, Adeagbo pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his criminal conduct in both cases, following the transfer of the case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. A BEC scheme, also referred to as “cyber-enabled financial fraud,” is a sophisticated scam that often targets individuals, employees, or businesses involved in financial transactions or that regularly perform wire transfer payments. Fraudsters are usually part of larger criminal networks operating in the United States and abroad. There are many variations of BEC scams. Generally, the schemes involve perpetrators gaining unauthorized access to legitimate email accounts or creating email accounts that closely resemble those of individuals or employees associated with the targeted businesses or involved in business transactions with the victim businesses. The scammers then use the compromised or fake email accounts to send false wiring instructions to the targeted businesses or individuals, to dupe the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme. Generally, the money is quickly transferred to other accounts in the United States or overseas. The North Carolina BEC Scheme According to court documents and court proceedings, from Aug. 30, 2016, to Jan. 12, 2017, Adeagbo, his codefendant, Donald Ikenna Echeazu, 42, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United Kingdom extradited to the United States, and others defrauded a North Carolina university (the University) of more than $1.9 million via a BEC scheme. Court records show that Adeagbo and his co-conspirators obtained information about significant construction projects occurring throughout the United States, including an ongoing multi-million-dollar project at the victim University. To execute the scheme, Adeagbo, Echeazu, and others registered a domain name similar to that of the legitimate construction company in charge of the University’s project and created an email address that closely resembled that of an employee of the construction company. Using the fake email address, the fraudsters deceived and directed the University to wire a payment of more than $1.9 million to a bank account controlled by an individual working under the direction of Adeagbo and his co-conspirators. Upon receiving the payment, Adeagbo and his co-conspirators laundered the stolen proceeds through a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the fraud. The Texas BEC Scheme According to information contained in court documents, from November 2016 until July 2018, Adeagbo conspired with others to participate in multiple cyber-enabled BECs in an attempt to steal more than $3 million from victim entities in Texas, including local government entities, construction companies and a Houston-area college. As with the scheme in North Carolina, Adeagbo and his co-conspirators registered domain names that looked similar to legitimate companies. They then sent emails from those domains pretending to be employees at those companies to clients or customers of the companies they impersonated and deceived those customers into sending wire payments to bank accounts the co-conspirators controlled. Adeagbo remains in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. On May 16, 2023, Echeazu was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release and was ordered to pay $655,408.87 in restitution for his role in the conspiracy. As part of his sentence yesterday, Adeagbo was sentenced to one year of supervised release following his sentence of incarceration and ordered to pay $942,655.03 in restitution for his role in the schemes. “Oludayo Adeagbo and his coconspirators perpetrated transnational cyber-enabled fraud schemes that targeted schools, government entities, and companies across the United States, and caused millions of dollars in losses,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Adeagbo’s extradition, plea, and sentencing underscore the Criminal Division’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue cybercriminals who target American victims, no matter where that pursuit leads. We are especially grateful to the Government of the United Kingdom for its assistance in this case.” “Adeagbo ran a sophisticated 21st century cyber-criminal operation hiding behind fake email accounts and anonymous internet addresses to steal from the innocent, a crime as old as time itself,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “BEC scams have become an epidemic with individuals and businesses suffering debilitating financial losses, while eroding society’s trust in digital communications and undermining overall economic stability. That’s why prosecutors and agents in two jurisdictions worked tirelessly to identify Adeagbo and reach across the Atlantic to bring him to justice.” “BEC schemes, like the ones perpetrated by Adeagbo and his co-conspirators, are sophisticated and devastating crimes that target the trust businesses and institutions place in their daily operations,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina. “By exploiting this trust, fraudsters steal millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims. This case demonstrates the commitment of my office and our law enforcement partners to pursue justice for those impacted by these schemes and to hold cybercriminals accountable, regardless of where they are operating from.” “Oludayo Adeagbo thought he was pretty slick stealing other people’s money via this scam. His victims, however, strongly disagreed,” said Executive Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI. “Instead of enjoying the fruits of his illegal labors, Adeagbo will now be spending time in a federal prison. The BEC is one of the fastest growing and most costly scams and the only way to fight it is through cooperation, often international cooperation, and this case is a prime example of partnerships working.” “Mr. Adeagbo’s multimillion-dollar BEC scheme inflicted substantial financial damage on trusted educational institutions, government municipalities, and innocent businesses within our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “In a world increasingly reliant on the digital landscape, yesterday’s sentencing serves as a powerful reminder that cybercrime has real consequences. FBI Houston will continue to investigate, attribute, and impose severe consequences on cyber criminals seeking to harm others through deceit and fraud.” “As a North Carolina University planned for growth with a new construction project, Adeagbo worked on a scheme to defraud the school by stealing nearly two million dollars of its funding,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “When he and his conspirators first committed this BEC more than seven years ago, they likely never expected to get caught. This federal prison sentence shows the FBI will do everything possible to find and hold international financial fraudsters accountable.” The FBI’s Houston Cyber Task Force and Charlotte Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the FBI’s Cyber and Criminal Investigative Divisions. The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police, and Crown Prosecution Service also provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs helped secure the arrest and extradition. Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez for the Southern District of Texas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings for the Western District of North Carolina prosecuted the case. If you suspect you are a victim of a BEC scheme, you can file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Complaint Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at bec.ic3.gov . The IC3 staff reviews complaints to detect patterns or other indicators of significant criminal activity for potential criminal prosecution. The FBI provides a variety of resources relating to BEC scams through the IC3, which can be located at www.ic3.gov . For more information on BEC scams, visit www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise .


title: Texas Hospital CEO to Pay Over $5.3M to Settle Kickback Allegations Involving Laboratory Testing

body_text: Former hospital chief executive officer (CEO) Jeffrey Madison, of Georgetown, Texas, has agreed to pay $5,343,630 to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act involving illegal payments to physicians for laboratory referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Madison also has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes. “The Justice Department will continue to pursue individuals — including C-suite executives — who commit health care fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Kickbacks to physicians from laboratories or other healthcare providers can undermine healthcare decision-making, subject patients to unnecessary medical services and waste taxpayer funds.” The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. The settlement announced today resolves allegations in a lawsuit alleging that Madison, the former CEO of Little River Healthcare (Little River), a critical access hospital in Rockdale, Texas, caused the submission of false claims for laboratory testing to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE from January 2015 to June 2018. Madison allegedly agreed to a kickback scheme in which Little River paid commissions to recruiters who used purported management service organizations (MSOs) to pay kickbacks to doctors to induce their laboratory testing referrals to Little River. The settlement resolves allegations that Madison knowingly signed, and caused others to sign, false certifications in Medicare cost reports regarding Little River’s compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute, and thereby caused the submission of false claims to federal health care programs. In addition, the settlement resolves allegations in the same lawsuit that, after defendant Doyce Cartrett Jr., M.D. , of Silsbee, Texas, informed Little River of his potential laboratory testing referral volume, Madison agreed to have Little River pay Cartrett $2,000 per month in kickbacks disguised as purported medical director fees from February 2015 to May 2017, to induce Cartrett to shift his laboratory testing referrals to Little River. Madison allegedly agreed for Little River to pay the monthly fees, even though Little River did not receive any genuine medical director services from Dr. Cartrett. Madison did not contest, and accepted responsibility for, the allegations against him in the United States’ amended complaint. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Madison was excluded from participating in federal healthcare programs for 25 years. The lawsuit is captioned United States, et al. ex rel. STF LLC v. True Health Diagnostics LLC et al. , No. 4:16-cv-547 (EDTX). “Seeing past a corporate entity and holding individuals responsible for making the decisions to engage marketers to pay providers for their laboratory referrals is what justice requires,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “This settlement is a testament to our continued efforts to combat fraud against our federal healthcare programs and to hold accountable all participants who profited from knowingly violating the laws meant to guard against overutilization of medical services and protect the public fisc.” “Illegal kickback payments, even when disguised as medical director fees, undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Both the payer and recipient benefit from these schemes, but it is ultimately the taxpayers who foot the bill. HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutors to protect the Medicare trust fund that millions of Americans depend on.” “Our nation’s uniformed military service members and their families should never have to question the integrity of their healthcare providers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan Settle of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southwest Field Office. “Medical decisions influenced by greed destroy the fundamental element of trust in patient care. This settlement reinforces the commitment the DCIS shares with our law enforcement partners and the Justice Department to pursue all available remedies against those who conspire to commit fraud against our Military Health System.” The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, with assistance from HHS-OIG and DCIS. The United States has recovered over $52 million relating to conduct involving MSO kickbacks to health care providers, which includes recoveries from 46 physicians. Trial Attorneys Christopher Terranova and Gavin Thole of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Gillingham and Betty Young for the Eastern District of Texas handled the case. The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). Settlement


title: Two Luzerne County Brothers Indicted On Drug Trafficking Charges

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Akilees Kadeem Hobson, age 26, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, and Armand Kierran Hobson, age 27 of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that in August and September 2024, Akilees Hobson distributed cocaine and fentanyl over a dozen times in Luzerne County. The indictment further alleges that on September 12, 2024, Armand Hobson assisted Akilees with the distribution of fentanyl. It is also alleged that on September 25, 2024, Akilees Hobson possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and Armand Hobson possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Fox Valley Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Trafficking Fentanyl and Possessing Firearms as Convicted Felon; Co-Defendant Sentenced to 15 Months’ Imprisonment for Straw Purchasing Firearms

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that October 1, 2024, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Joseph D. Charlesworth (age: 35) to a total sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and seven years’ supervised release after Charlesworth pled guilty to Possessing Fentanyl With Intent to Distribute and Possessing Firearms as a Previously Convicted Felon, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), and Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1). According to court records, in August 2023, agents with the Lake Winnebago Area Metro Drug Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) investigated Charlesworth for distributing fentanyl, possessing firearms as a convicted felon, and dealing firearms without a license. In August 2023, agents arrested Charlesworth on outstanding warrants during a traffic stop and found him in possession of fentanyl that he intended to distribute and a 9-mm pistol with a loaded magazine in his waistband. Charlesworth had been previously convicted of felonies, including distributing heroin. He also faces additional charges in state court for distributing fentanyl resulting in two overdose deaths. Those cases remain pending in Outagamie and Waupaca Counties. Charlesworth obtained the 9-mm pistol from Tyler A. Lamers (age: 28), who bought it from a Fox Valley gun dealer at Charlesworth’s request in exchange for drugs. In April 2024, Lamers was convicted and sentenced by Judge Griesbach to 15 months’ imprisonment for Making False Statements to a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6). Lamers bought the pistol by falsely claiming on the federal-background-check form that he was buying it for himself when in fact, he was buying it for Charlesworth, who was prohibited by state and federal law from possessing firearms as a convicted felon. At sentencing, Judge Griesbach stressed that Charlesworth’s serious conduct, which involved potentially lethal drugs and possessing firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition as a previously convicted felon, required significant punishment and lengthy imprisonment to protect the public. The case was investigated by the Lake Winnebago Area Metro Drug Unit and the ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Funnell. # # #