DOJ Alleges Massachusetts Department of Corrections Conditions Violate the Constitution
A Department of Justice (DOJ) press release dated November 17, 2020 alleges that conditions at the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (MDOC) are violating the Constitution. A DOJ investigation concluded that the MDOC violates the eighth amendment rights of prisoners by denying them access to mental health services, not providing proper assistance when inmates are in a mental health crisis, and putting inmates on prolonged mental health watch in restrictive housing conditions. Prisoners in mental health crisis have engaged in self-harm leading to serious injury or death as a result of MDOC’s failures, according to the release.
U.S. Marshals Locate 27 Missing Children
A Department of Justice press release from October 30, 2020, applauded the conclusion of Operation Find Our Children, which resulted in the location of 27 missing children across Virginia.
Man Pleads Guilty to Arson of African-American Churches
A Department of Justice press release from November 2, 2020 announced the sentencing of Holden Matthews, 23, for intentionally setting fire to three African-American Baptist churches. St. Mary Baptist Church, Greater Union Baptist Church, and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church were all burned to the ground by Matthews.
CBP Seizes Drugs in Second Largest Border Bust
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced their second largest methamphetamine bust along the southern border in a press release on October 11, 2020. With help from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), CBP officers seized over 3,100 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills and heroin at the Otay Mesa commercial facility.
Billionaire Indicted in Largest Tax Fraud Scam in U.S. History
Texas billionaire Robert Brockman was charged with tax evasion, wire fraud, money laundering, and other crimes in service of a $2 billion tax fraud scheme, the Department of Justice said at a recent press conference. Over the course of 20 years, Brockman allegedly used offshore bank accounts to hide his money with the help of a private equity firm CEO named Robert Smith. Brockman is the CEO of Reynolds & Reynolds, a software company in Ohio.
Former Commander of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Sentenced to Prison
According to a Department of Justice press release dated October 9, 2020, a former Commander of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) was sentenced to prison for obstructing justice and making false statements. Captain John Nettleton, 53, of Jacksonville, Florida was sentenced to 24 months in prison related to his actions during the Navy’s investigation of the death of Christopher M. Tur, the Loss Prevention Safety Manager at GTMO’s Naval Exchange.
Two Leaders of Notorious Videogame Piracy Group Arrested
A Department of Justice (DOJ) press release dated October 2, 2020 exposes two leaders in “one of the world’s most notorious videogame piracy groups,” Team Xecuter, who were recently arrested and are in custody facing charges filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
345 Defendants Charged in $6 Billion National Health Care Fraud and Opioid Takedown
A Department of Justice (DOJ) press release dated September 30, 2020 announced the largest health care fraud and opioid enforcement action in Department of Justice history with the indictment of 345 defendants across 51 federal districts, including more than 100 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals.
International Law Enforcement Effort Leads to Prosecution of Darknet Drug Traffickers
A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) press release announced the conclusion of Operation DisrupTor, a coordinated multinational effort to combat opioid distribution on the Darknet. This operation was conducted in the United States and Europe.
Three Iranian Nationals Indicted for Hacking into U.S. Satellite Companies
A Department of Justice press release on September 17, 2020 announced an indictment alleging that three hackers from Iran engaged in a coordinated campaign of identity theft and hacking on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization, to steal information related to U.S. aerospace and satellite technology and resources.
Operation Apex Leads to the Dismantling of International Money Laundering, Drug Trafficking, and Wildlife Trade Group
According to a DOJ press release from September 3, 2020, an international conspiracy profiting from the illegal trade of drugs and wildlife has been shut down in a multi-agency law enforcement operation.
Two Defendants Sentenced for Fraudulent Sale of Native American Goods
Two defendants who previously pled guilty to the misrepresentation of Native American-style goods and services in an amount greater than $1,000 were sentenced in federal court, according to a Department of Justice press release dated August 27, 2020.
Defendants in Pensacola Dog Fighting Conspiracy Sentenced to Federal Prison
Four defendants who were convicted for their roles in a dog fighting conspiracy recently received their prison sentences, according to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release dated August 25, 2020.
Former CIA Employee Charged with Espionage
Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer who worked for the agency from 1982-1989, allegedly conspired with his relative, also a former CIA officer, to communicate classified information from the U.S. government to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). He was charged with conspiracy to communicate national defense information to aid a foreign government and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
Public Corruption Indictments in North Carolina and Illinois
The Department of Justice recently announced two high-profile indictments of public corruption.
Alleged Hackers Charged for Roles in Twitter Breach and Scam
On July 15th, 2020, Twitter experienced a widespread hack that affected over 100 prominent Twitter accounts. There were three hackers allegedly responsible for perpetrating the attack. Mason Sheppard, aka “Chaewon,” 19, of Bognor Regis in the United Kingdom and Nima Fazeli, aka “Rolex,” 22, of Orlando, Florida were charged in criminal complaints in the Northern District of California. The third defendant is a juvenile whom the DOJ referred to the State Attorney for the 13th Judicial District in Tampa, Florida.
Narco-Money Launderer and Cyber Exploiter Extradited to the United States from Cyprus
A Lebanese national named Ghassan Diab, wanted in Florida for the alleged laundering of drug proceeds to support Hezbollah, and a Cypriot national named Joshua Polloso Epifaniou, wanted in Arizona and Georgia for cyber intrusion and extortion, were both extradited to the United States from the Republic of Cyprus.
ICE HSI Leads Collaborative Effort to Take Down MS-13 Gang Members
From the Oval Office last week, President Donald J. Trump announced the conclusion of a multi-year investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that led to the takedown of 17 members of the MS-13 gang. These arrests took place in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with the assistance of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). During this bust, HSI seized five pounds of methamphetamine, $28,000 in cash, and 14 firearms. Gang members were charged on 21 counts, including a violation of the Kingpin statute and transporting large quantities of methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
Member of Chinese Talent Plan Charged for Illegally Using U.S. Grants to Help China
Song Guo Zheng, a professor of rheumatology and researcher at various American universities, was charged with grant fraud after it was discovered that he used approximately $4.1 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to further China’s knowledge of immunology and rheumatology. Not only did he allegedly make false statements to his employers regarding his ties to the Chinese government, but he also allegedly attempted to steal intellectual property from the United States with the intention of taking it back to China.
DOJ Concludes Investigation into Massachusetts Narcotics Bureau with Findings of Constitutional Violations
The Department of Justice announced its findings relating to an investigation into the Narcotics Bureau of the Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department (SPD) this week. The DOJ found reasonable cause to believe the bureau engaged in a “pattern or practice of using excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”