U.S. ATTORNEY

Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Michigan, details the trickle effect Roe V. Wade’s possible removal could have on other laws that were once set in place before 1973.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Kalamazoo resident Mark Totten, former legal counsel for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has been sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. He was serving as chief legal counsel for the governor’s office before becoming U.S. Attorney. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan covers the western half of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula. The main office is in Grand Rapids with staffed offices in Lansing and Marquette and an unstaffed office in Kalamazoo.

A Detroit-area man has been charged in connection with a scheme to use more than $1 million in federal pandemic relief funding to buy a condominium in the Middle East.

Federal agents on Tuesday morning arrested three Fort Campbell soldiers in connection to an illegal gun pipeline to Chicago.

Federal agents on Tuesday morning arrested three Fort Campbell soldiers in connection to an illegal gun pipeline to Chicago.

"60 Minutes" interview about Capitol riot investigation sparks internal watchdog review On Tuesday a federal judge said it was "troubling" that Michael Sherwin, the former acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, spoke about potential sedition charges in the ongoing Capitol riot investigation during an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes." Washington Post national security reporter Devlin Barrett joins CBSN "Red & Blue" anchor Elaine Quijano with the details, and the latest on upcoming plea talks.

Pamela Karlan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, James P. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, and Stephen A. Belongia, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Buffalo Field Office, released the following statement:“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are aware that a grand jury empaneled by the New York State Attorney General’s Office has concluded its investigation of the various officers of the Rochester Police Department who encountered Daniel Prude on March 23, 2020, and determined that no charges would be filed. We intend to review the comprehensive report issued by the New York State Attorney General, as well as any other relevant materials, and will determine whether any further federal response is warranted.”

A federal judge has signed off on an agreement between the U.S. Attorney’s office and the United Auto Workers union that settles a long-running corruption investigation and dictates reforms. A consent decree was signed Friday, Jan. 29 by U.S. District Judge David Lawson in the Eastern District of Michigan. Nearly 15 former officials and spouses have been charged or convicted as part of the UAW scandal since 2017, including former UAW President Gary Jones. Federal prosecutors alleged that Edward “Nick” Robinson, 73, helped at least 15 other executives and UAW employees skim millions from union coffers over a nine-year period to lavish themselves with cash and other luxuries. More from MLiveWinter Weather Advisory for southern Michigan including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, LansingCOVID-19 numbers alone shouldn’t trigger Michigan reopenings, Whitmer says.

Eric S. Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin released the following statement related to the Aug. 23, 2020, shooting of Jacob Blake:“As previously announced, a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting of Jacob Blake is ongoing. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation. The federal investigation is being overseen by prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division who will make an independent charging decision. Also ongoing are federal investigations into the arson, rioting, and other violent crimes that occurred in Kenosha in August 2020. U.S. Attorney Krueger and Assistant Attorney General Dreiband urged everyone to act peacefully and abide by the law.”

Hunter Biden confirmed the existence of the investigation on Wednesday, saying he learned about it for the first time the previous day. Federal investigators served a round of subpoenas on Tuesday, including one for Hunter Biden, according to another person familiar with the investigation. Hunter Biden has a history of international affairs and business dealings in a number of countries. Hunter Biden has been caught up in controversies before. In a CNN interview last week, President-elect Biden addressed the business dealings of his son Hunter and his brothers, pledging that they would avoid any perceived conflicts of interest during his time in office.

Johnny Roman Garza, 21, a member of the Neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, was sentenced today to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a plot to threaten and intimidate journalists and advocates who worked to expose anti-Semitism. “The United States and other nations fought a global war to rid the world of murderous threats and violence by Nazis. “Threats motivated by religious intolerance are unacceptable, and so too are threats aimed at those who work to end such discrimination. Garza, along with his conspirators, targeted and intimidated journalists from minority groups with communications threatening violence. The group focused primarily on journalists and advocates who were Jewish or people of color.

HOLLAND, MI — An animal rights group is calling on the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan to launch a criminal investigation into a Holland-area beef company for the inhumane treatment and slaughter of cattle. A representative from Fillmore Beef Company who answered the phone Tuesday declined to comment and would not give his name. The employee shot the animal three additional times, each of which was unsuccessful at making the cow unconscious, the suspension letter says. “The occurrence of this inhumane handling incident as described is egregious and a violation of the humane handling requirements,” the suspension letter states. The USDA letter states that a similar incident occurred at Fillmore Beef Company on Aug. 28.

A federal grand jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, returned an indictment today charging an Upper Marlboro tax return preparer with conspiracy to defraud the United States and aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur. According to the indictment, Anita Fortune provided tax preparation services under multiple business names, including Tax Terminatorz Inc. Fortune allegedly prepared and filed returns using co-conspirators’ electronic filing identification numbers and identifiers. In addition, Fortune allegedly provided money and office space in exchange for her co-conspirators’ electronic filing credentials. For the tax years 2012 to 2018, Fortune, along with her two co-conspirators, allegedly added fictitious or inflated itemized deductions and business losses to clients’ returns, which fraudulently reduced their tax liabilities and increased their refunds. Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

Though the hospitals are not named in the complaint, a spokeswoman for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City confirmed officials there contacted the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations “after At Diagnostics did not return the funds sent in escrow when the purchase was canceled.”

I so enjoyed meeting with you at last year’s Tribal Consultation in Michigan, and I’m honored to be with you again today to provide some closing remarks. Enforcement of Tribal Protection OrdersFinally, let me say a few words about the enforcement of tribal protection orders. At last year’s consultation, some of you expressed concerns about the lack of enforcement of tribal orders by state and local law enforcement. OVW has supported a number of initiatives over the years to improve enforcement of tribal protection orders, including a project focused on Full Faith and Credit enforcement of tribal protection orders in Alaska. For example, in January of this year, the United States Attorney’s Office in Oregon issued joint guidance with the Oregon Attorney General on the enforcement of tribal protection orders.

On Aug. 20, 2020, the National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia filed a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking to forfeit the seized weapons. In August 2020, the District Court issued a warrant for arrest in rem of the cargo. These actions represent the government’s largest-ever civil seizures of fuel and weapons from Iran. These cases also highlight that enforcement of the sanctions against Iran remains one of the department’s national security priorities. I would like to thank prosecutors from the National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia for their work on both of these matters.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department charged eight people Wednesday with conspiring to work on behalf of the Chinese government to harass, stalk and intimidate Chinese citizens into returning to their home country. Five were arrested by the FBI on Wednesday, while the other three are believed to be in China, John Demers, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's National Security division, said during a virtual press conference. According to the complaint unsealed Wednesday in federal court in Brooklyn, the defendants participated in an "international campaign to threaten, harass, surveil and intimidate John Doe-1, a resident of New Jersey, and his family in order to force them to return to the People's Republic of China." The international campaign, dubbed "Operation Fox Hunt," is part of the Chinese government's global campaign aimed at reducing the country's diaspora, officials said. "Operation Fox Hunt is just one of many ways in which China disregards the rule of law," Demers said.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and individuals from other agencies across the state spoke regarding an alleged militia plan to kidnap Gov. More: 6 accused in militia plan to kidnap Gov. Whitmer as hostage, overthrow Michigan government, feds sayMichigan State Police Col. Joseph Casper is expected to be in attendance. So is Andrew Birge, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan and Matthew Schneider, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Watch in the video player above

A Shreveport, Louisiana, business owner was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Sept. 30, 2020, for filing false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Alexander C. Van Hook. According to documents and information provided to the court, Robert C. Poimboeuf was a part owner of D&G Holdings LLC, a medical laboratory in the Shreveport area. From 2011 through 2015, Poimboeuf filed false tax returns that underreported gross receipts earned from his business. Poimboeuf concealed from his tax return preparers at least two bank accounts reflecting income earned, and falsely characterized business receipts as non-taxable loans. As a result of these actions, Poimboeuf caused a tax loss of more than $1.9 million to the IRS.

(Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP, Pool, File)CHICAGO Electric utility ComEd has agreed to pay $200 million to resolve a federal criminal investigation into a long-running bribery scheme that implicates Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, federal prosecutors announced Friday. A deferred prosecution agreement for ComEd filed in federal court states that Public Official A is the Illinois House Speaker, but Madigan the the longest-serving state House speaker in modern American history is not mentioned by name. The U.S. Attorney's office scheduled a Friday afternoon news conference to announce developments in a public corruption investigation." The U.S. Attorneys Office said it filed a one-count criminal information on Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charging ComEd with bribery. A deferred prosecution agreement that's subject to approval by the U.S. District Court requires ComEd to pay a $200 million fine.

Attorney General William P. Barr announced today the appointment of Stephen J. Cox as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. As U.S. Attorney, Cox will serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Eastern District of Texas. I am pleased to appoint Stephen J. Cox as U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Texas. Steve has been a consummate professional and dedicated leader throughout his time in the Office of the Associate Attorney General, said Attorney General William P. Barr. For more information about the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Texas, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx.

The complaint and complaint affidavit were unsealed this evening after Angs initial appearance in court before The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks at the United States District Court in Fayetteville. In the one-count complaint, Ang was charged with one count of Wire Fraud. The complaint charges that Ang had close ties with the Chinese government and Chinese companies, and failed to disclose those ties when required to do so in order to receive grant money from NASA. These materially false representations to NASA and the University of Arkansas resulted in numerous wires to be sent and received that facilitated Angs scheme to defraud. The charges set forth in a complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Today, I am here to talk about the former Maduro regime and its direct participation in narco-terrorism, corruption, money laundering, and drug trafficking. Joining me today is the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoff Berman; the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Ariana Fajardo; the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, Brian Benczkowski, and; DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. Further, the Southern District of Florida unsealed charges this morning against the Chief Justice of the Venezuelan Supreme Court, involving money laundering. With that, I will turn it over to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoff Berman. As alleged, the Maduro regime is awash in corruption and criminality.

Attorney General William P. Barr today announced that Erin Nealy Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, has been elevated from Vice Chair to Chair of the Attorney Generals Advisory Committee (AGAC). Attorney General Barr also announced Justin Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, will become the new Vice Chair. I am pleased to have them leading my AGAC team.U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox replaced former Chair, Jessie Liu who resigned this week as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. In addition, Attorney General Barr appointed U.S. Attorney John Bash to the Attorney Generals Advisory Committee. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on policy, management and operational issues impacting the Offices of the U.S.

Hector Garza Jr., 49, was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Throughout this period, much of the renewable fuel claimed to be produced at the Gen-X facilities was either not produced or it was re-processed multiple times. Several conspirators have previously pled guilty and been sentenced in connection with their role in the fraud. In June 2017, Scott Johnson, the former CEO of Gen-X, was sentenced to 97 months in prison in connection with his role in the fraud scheme. In December 2017, Donald Holmes, the former vice president of Gen-X, was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment.

Thomas is expected to be presented in White Plains federal court later today. Every American should be free to live and worship in safety, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. The federal penalties for this type of attack are severe and justified. Thomas declared to dozens of assembled congregants, no one is leaving, and attacked the group with an 18-inch machete. Following the attack, Thomas traveled in a car to New York City, and he was stopped in Harlem by members of the New York City Police Department.

McCormick was arrested on Oct. 21, 2019, and charged by federal criminal complaint. On Oct. 30, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging McCormick with the offense. It is further alleged that, on Oct. 19, 2019, McCormick made a video during which he pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. The charge of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, Norwich Police Department, Hartford Police Department, Stamford Police Department, Norwalk Police Department, Town of Groton Police Department, UConn Police Department, Yale Police Department, and New York Police Department.

A Raleigh, North Carolina, man was sentenced to 45 months in prison today for conspiring to defraud the United States, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Departments Tax Division and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon Jr. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2011 through 2014, Garvey Imhotep conspired with others to file false tax returns for clients of several tax return preparation businesses, including Tax Kings, Two Brothers Tax Service, and Taxes Done Right. To conceal his involvement and evade Internal Revenue Service (IRS) detection, Imhotep used tax preparer identification numbers that are assigned to other individuals. Imhoteps conduct caused a tax loss of more than $1.5 million to the United States. Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the divisions website.

Stuart Kurt Rollins, 58, was indicted this week for two violations of 42 U.S.C. Rollins shouted derogatory comments about the familys perceived national origin, told family members to go back to their country, and threatened both to burn down the familys home and to set family members on fire. Rollins appeared in the District Court of Vermont in Burlington today. This case was investigated by the FBI Albany Division, Burlington Resident Agency, with the support of the Barre City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julia Torti, Civil Division Chief, District of Vermont and Trial Attorney Olimpia Michel of the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division.

A Long Island, New York-based company and seven of its current and former employees have been charged with illegally importing Chinese-made surveillance and security equipment and selling it to U.S. government agencies, military branches and private customers. The company, Aventura Technologies, was raided early Thursday for selling the equipment, which, according to prosecutors, the firm had allegedly claimed was made in the United States. Aventura claimed its equipment was being manufactured in Commack, New York, while prosecutors say the hardware was actually being made in China. The alleged scheme included adding fake "Made in the USA" labels to the equipment, prosecutors said. The company has allegedly been engaged in importing and reselling the equipment for more than 13 years, Donaghue said.

DETROIT Here is what you missed on Sunday's episode of Flashpoint:Rooting out corruption means more cases in Michigan than anywhere else. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Matthew Schneider discussed the issue Sunday. The second segment of Flashpoint featured Nolan Finley, editorial page editor of The Detroit News and Stephen Henderson, host of Detroit Today on WDET. Both discussed how to maintain civility in today's heated political climate. Segment One:U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Matthew SchneiderSegment Two:Nolan Finley, editorial page editor of The Detroit News and Stephen Henderson, host of Detroit Today on WDET.

A former Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Police Officer, Andra Vance, 45, was indicted today on charges that he used unreasonable force on an individual, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, and Metro Transit Police Chief Ronald A. Pavlik. According to the indictment, on Feb. 16, 2018, Vance, while on duty as a Metro Transit Police Officer, assaulted an individual by striking the individual with a baton multiple times on the head and then using the baton to choke the individual. Vance faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the two civil rights violations. The Metro Transit Police Department conducted a routine review of Vances use of force within hours of the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendra Briggs of the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Nicholas Reddick of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.