Asbestos Abatement Contractor Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Environmental Crimes and False Statements to OSHA
On September 21, 2011, United States District Court Judge Charles J. Siragusa sentenced Keith Gordon-Smith, 54, of Rochester, New York, to six years in prison for knowingly violating the Clean Air Act and making false statements to a federal inspector from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Gordon-Smith was also sentenced to serve a […]
Justice Department files USERRA lawsuit against Alaskan company
The Justice Department today announced that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that Air Methods Corp. and LifeMed Alaska LLC willfully violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by discriminating against and failing to reemploy Chief Warrant Officer Third Class Jonathon L. Goodwin of Wasilla, Alaska. The suit was filed […]
Finally, a Lender Admits to Fraud in U.S. Financial Meltdown
A Justice Department Press Release reports that Desiree Brown, the former treasurer of a private mortgage lending company, Taylor, Bean & Whitaker (TBW), pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank, wire and securities fraud for her role in a more than $1.9 billion fraud scheme that contributed to the failures of Colonial Bank and TBW. […]
Casino Cheating Ring Convicted Jan. 2011
The Justice Department announced that they have convicted the last member of a criminal organization that cheated casinos across the United States. The “Tran Organization” crime ring hit casinos the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino and Palace Station in Las Vegas, as well as dozens of casinos in California, Louisiana and throughout the country. The […]
National Guardsman Wins Lawsuit Against Nevada Employer for USERRA Violation
The Justice Department announced October 28, 2009 that it reached a settlement to resolve its suit filed on behalf of former Utah Army National Guardsman and current Air Force Reservist Matthew T. Denning against Stonescape Pavers, LLC. The settlement must be approved by the federal court in Las Vegas. The Department’s complaint, filed in June […]
Justice Department Protects Military Servicemembers from Landlords
When a military Servicemember receives orders to move or deploy, they don’t want to start the move by having a battle with their landlord. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) was designed to remove that stress by requiring landlords to return prepaid rent and security deposits to Servicemembers moving pursuant to valid orders. The law […]
Lease-In/Lease-Out & Sale-In/Sale-Out Tax Shelters Rejected
On July 10, 2009, the Department of Justice issued a press release regarding the verdict in a Federal Court case regarding lease-in, lease-out (LILO), and sale-in, lease-out (SILO) tax shelters. The case involved a tax refund claim filed by Altria Group, Inc. Altria Group claimed the tax refund based on the purported tax shelter characteristics […]