Reports

A Texas man was charged in an indictment unsealed today with wire fraud, false statements to a financial institution and money laundering for his alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $3 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

A Massachusetts man was arrested today and charged with allegedly filing fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $13 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Seattle - A 41- year-old Bonney Lake, Washington, man was charged today in U.S. District Court in Seattle with theft of government property for his scheme to profit by stealing and selling respiratory support equipment from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.

A new online tool designed to help the public report civil rights violations United States Attorney for the Virgin Islands, Gretchen C.F. Shappert, announced that earlier this week, the United States Department of Justice launched its new Civil Rights Reporting Portal. This new online tool will make it easier for the public to report civil rights violations.

The owner and operator of several information technology companies based in the Chicago area has been charged in a complaint with allegedly filing a bank loan application fraudulently seeking more than $400,000 in a forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

BOSTON – Two Nigerian nationals were arrested on Friday, June 12, 2020 and charged in connection with defrauding victims using various online scams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A federal grand jury this afternoon indicted a Huntington Beach man on fraud charges that allege he solicited people around the nation to invest in a companies that would market pills he claimed would prevent coronavirus infections and produce an injectable cure for those already suffering from COVID-19.

Seattle—The U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Washington and the U.S. Department Justice today filed a statement of interest in Roque v. Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) as part of DOJ’s work to safeguard the civil rights of all Americans, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.

The Justice Department today announced that Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband sent a letter to Montgomery County Maryland executives expressing First Amendment concerns regarding county orders. The letter urges County Executive Elrich and the County Council to ensure that the county’s executive orders and enforcement of them respect both the right of residents to assemble and practice their faith.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia today announced that Ohio County received $58,008 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Department of Justice today filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in support of a lawsuit by plaintiffs Ron Givens and Christine Bish, two individuals seeking to hold peaceful in-person protests of 500 to 1,000 people with social distancing on the grounds of the California State Capitol Building.

Good morning Chairman Graham, Ranking Member Feinstein, and members of the Committee. Thank you for inviting us to appear before you today to discuss the Department of Justice’s (the Department) efforts to detect and prosecute those who seek to exploit the COVID- 19 pandemic and the economic dislocation it has caused for personal financial gain. We have been tasked by the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General to lead the Department’s Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force (Mr. Carpenito) and to coordinate more generally the Department’s response to criminal conduct relating to the COVID...

The president of a California-based medical technology company was charged in a complaint unsealed today in the Northern District of California, in connection with his alleged participation in schemes to mislead investors, to manipulate the company’s stock price and to conspire to commit health care fraud in connection with the submission of over $69 million in false and fraudulent claims for allergy and COVID-19 testing.

Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, is urging law enforcement and community partners to join with the United States Attorney’s Office in eradicating sexual harassment in housing amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams issued the following statement:

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia today announced that the Marion County received $45,952 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Department of Justice has awarded more than $4.143 million to help public safety agencies in Maryland respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19, as part of the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program.

RENO, Nev. – Peter Lucas, 35, of Reno, pleaded guilty today to stealing hundreds of surgical masks from a supply cart at the Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center in Reno, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

A project manager employed by a major retailer was charged in a complaint unsealed Wednesday for allegedly filing fraudulent bank loan applications seeking more than $8 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider for the Eastern District of Michigan, and U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge for the Western District of Michigan issued the following statement:

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia today announced that the city of Wheeling received $145,513 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Norfolk man with submitting fraudulent disaster-related loan applications in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in the disbursement of over $190,000 in proceeds.

The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in a Michigan federal court in support of a lawsuit filed by seven businesses challenging the restrictions imposed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced that various jurisdictions across the Eastern District of Virginia have recently been awarded over $764,000 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in a Colorado federal court supporting the First Amendment religious freedom claims of High Plains Harvest Church and its pastor.

The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in a Maine federal court in support of a lawsuit filed by campgrounds in Maine—and New Hampshire residents who wish to enjoy them—challenging a measure by Governor Janet Mills in response to COVID 19 that treats Maine residents more favorably than out-of-state residents when they seek to patronize campgrounds and RV parks within Maine.

A Georgia woman who sold an unregistered pesticide, which she claimed protected against viruses such as COVID-19, has pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Thomas Cooper, a mail carrier in Pendleton County, was charged today in a criminal complaint with attempted election fraud, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced. Cooper, age 47, of Dry Fork, West Virginia, is charged with “Attempt to Defraud the Residents of West Virginia of a Fair Election.”

The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in an Illinois federal court in support of a lawsuit filed by Illinois state representative Darren Bailey challenging certain actions of Governor J.B. Pritzker in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced that various jurisdictions across the Eastern District of Virginia have recently been awarded over $972,500 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger and Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division today announced an update on the status of the Department of Justice’s efforts to protect religious liberties during the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting a lawsuit brought in federal district court by Lighthouse Fellowship Church, a congregation in Chincoteague Island, Virginia that serves, among others, recovering drug addicts and former prostitutes.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia today announced that the city of Morgantown received $44,250 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

A software engineer was charged in a complaint unsealed today for allegedly filing fraudulent bank loan applications seeking more than $1 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The recently ousted head of Aviron Pictures was arrested this morning on federal fraud charges that allege he applied for $1.7 million in loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), falsely certified that the money would be used to finance the operations of other Aviron entities, and then used some of the relief funds for his personal expenses.

A California man has been charged with allegedly filing bank loan applications fraudulently seeking more than $1.7 million dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last week, two federal grand juries in the District of Puerto Rico returned 14 indictments charging 21 defendants during the first week that the United States District Court in Puerto Rico reconvened grand jury proceedings after implementation of health and safety precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The indictments include charges of firearms violations, drug trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, cash smuggling, assault on a federal employee, and illegal reentry. The...

Tampa, Florida– United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging James Jamal Curry (31, St. Petersburg) with perpetrating a biological weapon hoax. If convicted, Curry faces up to 5 years in federal prison. Curry had been initially charged by criminal complaint on April 7, 2020.

West Valley City, Midvale Receive Emergency DOJ Funding To Support Law Enforcement, First Responders

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Justice Department is committed to ensuring that all citizens are free from harassment or discrimination because of their ethnicity.

A Texas man has been charged in the Eastern District of Texas with allegedly filing bank loan applications fraudulently seeking more than $5 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

United States Attorney Nick Hanna is asking anyone who has witnessed or experienced sexual harassment by a landlord, property manager, maintenance worker, or anyone with control over housing to report that conduct to the Department of Justice.

TULSA, Okla. – U.S. Attorney Trent Shores of the Northern District of Oklahoma today announced that the Broken Arrow Police Department received $40,210 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Murray, West Jordan Get Emergency Supplemental Funding To Support Efforts To Respond To Coronavirus

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – A federal court in Muskogee, Oklahoma, has entered a temporary restraining order halting the sale of an unapproved colloidal silver product to treat COVID-19. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma entered the temporary restraining order on May 14, 2020 in response to a civil complaint and accompanying court papers filed by the Department of Justice. In its complaint, the department alleges that Xephyr LLC, doing business as N-Ergetics, and its owners Brad Brand, Derill J. Fussell, and Linda Fussell, sell and distribute a colloidal silver product...

A Georgia woman was arrested today for her alleged role in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare, a federally funded health care benefit program, by submitting false and fraudulent claims for cancer genetic (CGX) testing, as well as her role in conspiring to submit fraudulent claims related to COVID-19 and other tests.

A reality TV personality who stars in Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, has been arrested on federal bank fraud charges arising from a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan that he obtained in the name of Flame Trucking.

An engineer has been charged in the Eastern District of Texas with allegedly filing bank loan applications fraudulently seeking more than $10 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The Department of Justice has awarded more than $12.3 million to help public safety agencies in Maryland respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19, as part of the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia today announced that the city of Clarksburg received $37,272 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd issued the following statement in support of efforts to streamline payments under the Public Safety Officer Benefit Program (PSOB) to public safety officers fatally injured while working during COVID-19: