Category: U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice Cases

New Fed Report: African Elephant Population Declining, One in Twenty Wild Rhinos Killed by Poachers Last Year

Posted on March 3, 2016

The escalation of wildlife trafficking in recent years poses an urgent threat to conservation and global security, according to the 2015 Annual Progress Report by U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking.
African elephant populations have declined by about 20 percent in the last decade to just over 400,000, and one out of every twenty wild rhinos was killed by a poacher in the last year alone, the report which was released today states.

Man Admits He Made Death Threats to Employees of Abortion Clinics

Posted on March 2, 2016

Federal prosecutors said Michael John Harris, 33, plead guilty today to making telephonic threats to two clinics that provide reproductive health services in Minneapolis, according to officials.
Harris is facing up to a year in prison for each of the two counts.

70-Year-old Priest Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Two Boys During Honduras Trips (Video)

Posted on March 2, 2016

A federal judge sentenced a priest, of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to more than 16 years in prison in connection with sexually abusing two boys during trips to Honduras over a five-year-period, according to officials.
Joseph D. Maurizio Jr., 70, of Central City, Pennsylvania, was convicted on Sept. 22, 2015, following an eight-day jury trial, of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places, possession of child pornography and international money laundering.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Supervisor Sentenced for Taking Bribes on Smuggled Goods

Posted on March 2, 2016

A federal judge sentenced a former supervisor with U.S. Customs and Border Protection who conspired with his ex-wife to smuggle goods into the U.S. in exchange for bribes to serve three years and nine months in prison.

U.S. District Court Judge Dean D. Pregerson also ordered Sam Herbert Allen Jr., 54, of San Juan Capistrano, to pay $781,632 in restitution to compensate for duties that were not paid on the smuggled goods.

Man Disruptive, Interferred with a Flight Crew, “Promised” to Take Aircraft “Down” and Threatened Law Enforcement

Posted on March 1, 2016

A federal jury deliberated for about three hours before finding Joseph Wayne Lynch II guilty of interfering with flight crew members and attendants.
Lynch will be sentenced on May 16 and is facing up to 20 years in prison, according to officials.
The evidence indicated that Lynch while on the flight was drunk, disruptive, loud, grabbed and kissed a flight attendant on the neck and threatened law enforcement officials.

Attorney Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Stealing $8 Million from Dozens of Clients

Posted on February 29, 2016

An attorney who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion charges – and who prosecutors say defrauded a dozen clients out of at least $8 million in an investment fraud scheme – was sentenced today to five years and three months in federal prison.

Stephen Young Kang, 46, of Newport Beach, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George H. Wu, who rejected the defendant’s request for a three-year sentence.