U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Six People Arrested and Indicted in Alleged Illicit Massage Parlor Operation

RALEIGH, N.C. – Six women from Flushing, New York, and Little River, South Carolina, were arrested on June 16 and 17, 2021, on charges involving conspiracy, bribery, and operating illegal massage parlors offering prostitution and indicted on June 22, 2021.

According to court documents, Ok Hwa Lee, Shanyu Song, OgBun Park, XueJin Bai and Ming Ji Cao allegedly conspired to pay bribes to a law enforcement officer (who was actually an undercover agent posing as a corrupt law enforcement officer) to provide protection for the operation of illegal massage parlors in Cary and Wilmington, where sexual services were offered. An indictment charges them with conspiracy, bribery, and operating an illegal prostitution enterprise in interstate commerce.

Xiang Yue Jin, charged separately, allegedly also bribed an undercover agent, believing that he would protect her illegal massage parlors (where sexual services were offered) from law enforcement scrutiny. An indictment charges her with bribery and operating an illegal prostitution enterprise in interstate commerce.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, the Cary Police Department, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilmington Police Department, the Horry County Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and other state and local investigators. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin C. Blondel and Bryan Stephany are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 7:21-mj-1165-RJ and 5:21-mj-1569-RN.

>>13963582

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/six-people-arrested-and-indicted-alleged-illicit-massage-parlor-operation-0

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021SENATE HEARINGS BUN

9:30 AM – SH-216 Judiciary

Hearings to examine the nominations of Gustavo A. Gelpi, of Puerto Rico, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit, Angel Kelley, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts, Christine P. O'Hearn, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, and Helaine Ann Greenfeld, of Maryland, and Christopher H. Schroeder, of North Carolina, both to be an Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice.

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/06/16/2021/nominations

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

10:00 AM – SD-138 Appropriations

Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2022 and 2023 advance appropriations requests for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-the-fy-2022-budget-and-fy-2023-advance-appropriations-requests-for-the-department-of-veterans-affairs

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

10:00 AM – SD-192 Appropriations

Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2022 for the Department of Energy, including the National Nuclear Security Agency.

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-the-fiscal-year-2022-budget-submission-for-the-us-department-of-energy-including-the-national-nuclear-security-administration

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:00 PM – SD-138 Appropriations

Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2022 for the Department of the Treasury.

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/fiscal-year-2022-budget-for-the-department-of-the-treasury

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:00 PM – SD-192 Appropriations

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2022 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2022-funding-request-for-the-federal-bureau-of-investigation

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:00 PM – SD-366 Energy and Natural Resources

Subcommittee on Energy Hearings to examine examine existing programs and future opportunities to ensure access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy for rural and low-income communities.

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:00 PM – SH-219 Intelligence

Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:00 PM – SR-222 Armed Services

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity Hearings to examine recent ransomware attacks..

https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-receive-testimony-on-recent-ransomware-attacks-

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:30 PM – SD-226 Judiciary

Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety Hearings to examine immigration and citizenship policies for U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families.

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/honoring-veterans-and-military-families-an-examination-of-immigration-and-citizenship-policies-for-us-military-service-members-veterans-and-their-families

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:30 PM – SD-538 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Subcommittee on Economic Policy Hearings to examine the role of child care in an equitable post-pandemic economy.

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:30 PM – SD-628 Indian Affairs

Hearings to examine building a successful foundation for Native communities' infrastructure development.

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:30 PM – SD-G50 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Hearings to examine markets, transparency, and prices from cattle producer to consumer

.

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

2:30 PM – SR-253 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation Hearings to examine aviation infrastructure for the 21st century.

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

3:00 PM – SR-418 Veterans' Affairs

Hearings to examine pending calendar business.

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

4:00 PM – TBA Printing

Organizational business meeting to consider the selection of the Chair and Vice Chair, and committee rules of procedure for the 117th Congress.

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

4:10 PM – TBA Library

Organizational business meeting to consider the selection of the Chair and Vice Chair, and committee rules of procedure for the 117th Congress.

@WoodrowForCO

The problem isn’t both sides. Stop equating the desire for everyone to have access to healthcare with a belief in Qanon.

5:46am · 23 Jun 2021

https://twitter.com/WoodrowForCO/status/1407681523541708802

>>13963630

1. S.2184 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to institute a trading prohibition for certain issuers that retain public accounting firms that have not been subject to inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (1)

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions)

1. S.2183 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reinstate the financing for the Hazardous Substance Superfund, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: Senate - Finance

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)

1. S.2182 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a national evictions database, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: Senate - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions)

1. S.2181 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act to authorize the Elder Justice Initiative, to require that online resources of such initiative are made available in Spanish, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)

1. S.2180 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to provide a civil action against a foreign state for deliberate concealment or distortion of information with respect to an international public health emergency, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)

1. S.2179 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to provide grants to owners of intergenerational dwelling units, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: Senate - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions)

1. S.2178 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to provide collective bargaining rights for fire fighters and emergency medical services personnel employed by States or their political subdivisions, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)

1. S.2177 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to ensure sufficient bonding and complete and timely reclamation of land and water disturbed by Federal and Indian oil and gas production, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (All Actions)

1. S.2176 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that floor plan financing includes the financing of certain trailers and campers.

Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate - Finance

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)

>>13963665

1. S.2175 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage of preventive home visits under Medicare, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Finance

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)

1. S.2174 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the annual wellness visit under the Medicare program.

Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Finance

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)

1. S.2173 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to permit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recognized virtual diabetes prevention program suppliers to be included in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Expanded Model conducted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation under section 1115A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315a).

Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (7)

Committees: Senate - Finance

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (All Actions)

1. S.2172 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve grants, payments, and technical assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to serve homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (All Actions)

1. S.2171 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to prohibit Presidential appointees from subsequently acting on behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and Chinese military companies.

Sponsor: Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)

1. S.2170 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to provide for transparency and landowner protections in the conduct of lease sales under that Act, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (All Actions)

1. S.2169 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect more victims of domestic violence by preventing their abusers from possessing or receiving firearms, to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish a grant program relating to the removal of firearms from adjudicated domestic violence offenders, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (11)

Committees: Senate - Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)

1. S.2168 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to modify the definition of navigable waters, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] (Introduced 06/22/2021) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (All Actions)

>>13963668

1. S.2093 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

For the People Act of 2021

Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 06/16/2021) Cosponsors: (2)

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 246. (All Actions)

1. S.2000 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

U.S.-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021

Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] (Introduced 06/09/2021) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (All Actions)

1. S.1340 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to redefine the eastern and middle judicial districts of North Carolina.

Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thom [R-NC] (Introduced 04/22/2021) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate - Judiciary

Latest Action: House - 06/22/2021 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. (All Actions)

1. S.1041 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

RENACER Act

Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] (Introduced 03/25/2021) Cosponsors: (6)

Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (All Actions)

1. S.409 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A bill to provide for the availability of amounts for customer education initiatives and non-awards expenses of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Whistleblower Program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (Introduced 02/24/2021) Cosponsors: (4)

Committees: Senate - Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Latest Action: House - 06/22/2021 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. (All Actions)

1. S.93 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Reauthorization Act

Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] (Introduced 01/28/2021) Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (All Actions)

1. S.51 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE] (Introduced 01/26/2021) Cosponsors: (45)

Committees: Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. (All Actions)

1. S.14 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

Combating Global Corruption Act of 2021

Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] (Introduced 01/22/2021) Cosponsors: (8)

Committees: Senate - Foreign Relations

Latest Action: Senate - 06/22/2021 Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (All Actions)

1. S.J.Res.15 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of the Comptroller of Currency relating to "National Banks and Federal Savings Associations as Lenders".

Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (Introduced 03/25/2021) Cosponsors: (9)

Committees: Senate - Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Latest Action: House - 06/22/2021 Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 486 Reported to House. The resolution provides that House Resolution 485 is hereby adopted. The resolution provides that at any time through the legislative day of Friday, June 25, 2021, the Speaker may entertain motions offered… (All Actions)

1. S.J.Res.14 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review".

Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (Introduced 03/25/2021) Cosponsors: (23)

Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works

Latest Action: House - 06/22/2021 Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 486 Reported to House. The resolution provides that House Resolution 485 is hereby adopted. The resolution provides that at any time through the legislative day of Friday, June 25, 2021, the Speaker may entertain motions offered… (All Actions)

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Kentucky

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Middlesboro Man Convicted of Child Pornography Charges

LONDON, Ky. – A Middlesboro firefighter was convicted late Monday, by a federal jury sitting in London, of receiving and possessing child pornography, on a Middlesboro Fire Department laptop.

The jury convicted Robert Christopher England, 35, after 30 minutes of deliberations, following a five-day trial.

According to the evidence at trial, England received child pornography on three separate occasions and possessed a collection of over 600 images, between April of 2017 and June 23, 2018. England’s fire department laptop was seized, on June 23, 2018, by the Middlesboro Police Department. At the time, England was serving as a Lieutenant within the Middlesboro Fire Department. A forensic review conducted by the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch showed evidence of dark web access via Tor Browser and child pornography “playlists” created in ManyCam, a web conferencing program.

England was indicted in October of 2018.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James R. Brown, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Louisville Division; and Acting Commissioner Col. Phillip Burnette, Jr., Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed.

England will appear for sentencing, before U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, on March 16, 2021. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing the sentence.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

-END-

@deborahblum

California's yoga, wellness and spirituality community has a QAnon problem: "yogis, energy healers, sound bathers, crystal practitioners, psychics, quantum magicians — embraced QAnon’s conspiratorial worldview and sprayed it across social media."

https://twitter.com/deborahblum/status/1407686372375285760

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, March 5, 2021

Construction Company Owners Pleaded Guilty to Defrauding Federal Program Intended for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

Two Texas construction company owners have pleaded guilty in a long-running scheme to defraud the United States.

Michael Wibracht of San Antonio, Texas, the former owner of several companies in the construction industry, conspired to defraud the United States in order to obtain valuable government contracts under programs administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for which neither his nor his co-conspirators’ companies were eligible. One co-conspirator, Ruben Villarreal, also of San Antonio, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2020, to participating in the same conspiracy.

“For many years, this conspiracy undermined the integrity of the federal procurement process,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division. “This conduct robbed opportunities from honest businesses, especially those owned by historically disadvantaged individuals and service-disabled veterans.”

According to court documents filed in the Western District of Texas in San Antonio, Wibracht, Villarreal, and other co-conspirators conspired to defraud the United States by interfering with the function of the SBA and fraudulently obtaining money from agencies of the United States as early as 2004 continuing at least through 2017. As part of this scheme, the conspirators installed Villarreal, a service-disabled veteran, as the ostensible owner of a general construction company held out as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Wibracht and other co-conspirators, however, exercised disqualifying financial and operational control over the construction company. The conspirators concealed that control in order to secure over $250 million in government contracts that were “set aside” for SDVOSBs in order to benefit their larger, non-qualifying businesses. The SBA administers the SDVOSB program, which is designed to increase the number of government contracts awarded to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. To qualify as an SDVOSB, a company, among other things, must be owned and controlled by a service-disabled veteran.

“These plea agreements showcase the unique expertise of the U.S. Army CID’s specialized unit, the Major Procurement Fraud Unit,” said Special Agent in Charge Ray A. Rayos of the Southwest Fraud Field Office of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “Together, with our partner agencies and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, those individuals responsible for engaging in a complex and long running scheme to defraud the United States government have been brought to justice.”

Wibracht pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and defraud the United States. Villarreal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Xavier Rodriguez on June 23, 2021. Both men face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum fine for an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime, or twice the loss suffered by victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The SBA Office of Inspector General, Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit, General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and DCIS are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas and the Army Audit Agency.

The Department of Justice Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal II Section is prosecuting the case. Special thanks are extended to Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Lewis, Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

Anyone with information in connection with this investigation is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal II Section at 202-598-4000, or visit https://www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html.

In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact procurement and grant and program funding at all levels of government — Federal, state, and local. For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.

June 22, 2021 DOJ Public Affairs Bun

Texas Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Running Child Obscenity Website

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/texas-man-sentenced-40-years-prison-running-child-obscenity-website

Department of Justice Announces Formation of Firearms Trafficking Strike Forces to Crack Down on Sources of Crime Guns

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-announces-formation-firearms-trafficking-strike-forces-crack-down-sources

Owner and CEO of Government Contracting Firm Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/owner-and-ceo-government-contracting-firm-pleads-guilty-bribery-scheme

Joint EU-U.S. Statement Following the EU-U.S. Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-seizes-websites-used-iranian-islamic-radio-and-television-union-and-kata-ib

United States Seizes Websites Used by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union and Kata’ib Hizballah

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-seizes-websites-used-iranian-islamic-radio-and-television-union-and-kata-ib

June 21, 2021

Turkish Businessman Arrested in Austria on Charges that He Allegedly Laundered Over $133 Million in Fraud Proceeds

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/turkish-businessman-arrested-austria-charges-he-allegedly-laundered-over-133-million-fraud

Former Deutsche Bank Commodities Trader Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Scheme

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-deutsche-bank-commodities-trader-sentenced-prison-fraud-scheme

Five Charged in Scheme to Export Thermal Imaging Scopes and Night Vision Goggles to Russia, in Violation of Arms Export Control Act

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/five-charged-scheme-export-thermal-imaging-scopes-and-night-vision-goggles-russia-violation

Naturalized U.S. Citizen from Ethiopia Arrested on Charge of Fraudulently Obtaining Citizenship

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/naturalized-us-citizen-ethiopia-arrested-charge-fraudulently-obtaining-citizenship

Indiana Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Making Racially Motivated Threats Toward Black Neighbor and for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indiana-man-sentenced-46-months-prison-making-racially-motivated-threats-toward-black

Former Supplement Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Distribution of Anabolic Steroids and Steroid-like Drugs

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-supplement-company-owner-pleads-guilty-unlawful-distribution-anabolic-steroids-and

Endeavor Executives Resign from Live Nation Board of Directors after Justice Department Expresses Antitrust Concerns

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/endeavor-executives-resign-live-nation-board-directors-after-justice-department-expresses

June 17, 2021

Two Former Tennessee Correctional Officers Sentenced for Civil Rights Offenses

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-former-tennessee-correctional-officers-sentenced-civil-rights-offenses

Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime After Unprovoked Stabbing of Black Man

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/colorado-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-after-unprovoked-stabbing-black-man

Justice Department Settles with North Carolina Dental Offices Over HIV Discrimination

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-settles-north-carolina-dental-offices-over-hiv-discrimination

Justice Department Settles with North Carolina School District to Provide Equal Opportunities to English Learner Students

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-settles-north-carolina-school-district-provide-equal-opportunities-english

CITGO Petroleum Corp. Will Pay Over $19 Million for Injuries to Natural Resources Resulting from its Oil Spill at its Refinery in Lake Charles, Louisiana

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/citgo-petroleum-corp-will-pay-over-19-million-injuries-natural-resources-resulting-its-oil

Poll numbers plummet on the Democrat inspired and paid for Russian Witch Hunt. With all of the bias, lying and hate by the investigators, people want the investigators investigated. Much more will come out. A total scam and excuse for the Dems losing the Election!

@realDonaldTrump 06/23/2018 07:33:01

https://www.justice.gov/osg/supreme-court-briefs?ap=6&sc_term=All&subject=All&text=&type=All&order=field_brief_filing_date&sort=desc

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/slipopinion/20

>>13963630

Wednesday, Jun 23, 2021

10:00 AM – SD-366 Energy and Natural Resources

Subcommittee on National Parks Hearings to examine S.31, to limit the establishment or extension of national monuments in the State of Utah,

S.172, to authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs,

S.192, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain river segments in the State of Oregon as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System,

S.270, to amend the Act entitled "Act to provide for the establishment of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in the State of Kansas" to provide for inclusion of additional related sites in the National Park System,

S.491, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain river segments in the York River watershed in the State of Maine as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System,

S.535, to authorize the location of a memorial on the National Mall to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces that served on active duty in support of the Global War on Terrorism,

S.753, to reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act, to authorize States to use funds from that Act for administrative purposes,

S.1317, to modify the boundary of the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in the State of Arizona,

S.1320, to establish the Chiricahua National Park in the State of Arizona as a unit of the National Park System,

S.1321, to modify the boundary of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument,

S.1354, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Chilkoot National Historic Trail and to provide for a study of the Alaska Long Trail, S.1526, to authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in certain areas of the Capitol Reef National Park, Utah,

S.1527, to amend title 54, United States Code, to provide that State law shall apply to the use of motor vehicles on roads within a System unit,

S.1769, to adjust the boundary of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley Corridor, and

S.1771, to authorize reference to the museum located at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, as the "National Cold War Center".

[D]eportation