Houston drug dealer sentenced to 15 years in prison for trafficking $375K worth of meth, heroin
A 33-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute nearly 4,000 grams of methamphetamine and heroin, the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Houston brothers sent to prison for $13M stolen goods enterprise, ordered to pay restitution to Walgreens and CVS
Two brothers residing in Houston have been sentenced for their roles in large-scale organized retail crime schemes that involved Walgreens and CVS, the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Former Matagorda Co. deputy sentenced to 32 years for using Minecraft to lure child porn victims, abusing family member
A former deputy with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for producing and possessing child pornography, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
‘Used Car King of New York’ sentenced for nationwide scheme to sell thousands of fake Texas paper vehicle tags
A 52-year-old man who advertised himself as the “Used Car King of New York” has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiring to commit wire fraud, the United States Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Judge scolds prosecutors as she delays hearing for co-defendant in Trump classified documents case
A judge has scolded federal prosecutors in the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump as she abruptly postponed a hearing to determine if the lawyer for a co-defendant had a conflict of interest.
Leader of $20M COVID-19 relief fraud ring sentenced to 15 years
A Houston man who was the head of a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud ring and six of his co-conspirators were sentenced for fraudulently obtaining more than $20 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans that the Small Business Administration guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
Houston men plead guilty to fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in PPP loans in COVID-19 relief fraud conspiracy
Five Houston men have pleaded guilty to their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain and launder millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the United States Department of Justice announced Monday.
Ex-DOJ official Jeffrey Clark acted within the scope of official duties in Georgia case, lawyer says
Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark was acting within the scope of his official duties when he wrote a letter expressing concern about alleged concerns with the 2020 election in Georgia, his lawyer said as he sought to move charges against Clark to federal court.
Trump can be held liable in writer’s defamation lawsuit after Justice Department reverses course
The Justice Department has reversed its position that Donald Trump can't be held personally liable for remarks he made about a woman who accused him of rape because he was president when he made the comments.
Drug trafficker who had possession of rocket launcher, grenades and ammo earmarked for Mexican cartel sentenced
A 42-year-old man in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for drug trafficking and unlawfully possessing a rocket launcher, rocket-propelled grenades, guns and ammunition, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Alleged fraudster extradited from France to Houston to face charges in $7M international investment funding scam
The charges allege Uche Victor Diuno helped to orchestrate a scam involving false promises of investment funding by individuals who impersonated U.S. bank officials in person and over the internet to victims around the world.
Massachusetts US Attorney Rachael Rollins to resign after Justice Department ethics probe
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins' attorney says she will resign after a monthslong ethics investigation by the Justice Department’s inspector general into her appearance at a political fundraiser and other potential issues.
US announces criminal cases involving flow of technology, information to Russia, China and Iran
The Justice Department has announced a series of criminal cases tracing the illegal flow of sensitive technology, including Apple’s software code for self-driving cars and materials used for missiles, to foreign adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.
Pasadena man, 24, receives nearly 20-year sentence for shooting HPD officer, trafficking meth
A 24-year-old Pasadena man has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of firearm and drug trafficking offenses related to his role in the shooting of a Houston Police Department officer, announced U.S. Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Men who conducted dope deal outside Houston IKEA while armed with Glocks, AR-15 to serve fed time
A 38-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to distribute meth during a drug transaction that occurred in an IKEA parking lot, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced Monday.
EXPLAINER: What are special counsels and what do they do?
The appointment of a special counsel to oversee the Justice Department probes into the discovery of classified documents at the home and former office of President Joe Biden has focused renewed attention on the role such prosecutors have played in modern American history.
‘We are intensifying our efforts’: DOJ, partners doing more to protect older adults from fraud, scams
The Department of Justice has announced the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the DOJ and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors.
Man pleads guilty to stalking, releasing sexually-explicit photos of woman who refused to move with him, DOJ says
A 47-year-old Colorado man has admitted to threatening a Houston woman with releasing sexually-explicit images unless she moved with him across the country, the US Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday.
‘Played the game and lost’: Judge sentences Houston rapper ‘Da Breadman’ to more than 23 years for drug trafficking, DOJ says
A 43-year-old Houston rapper has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to distribute and distributing meth, cocaine and opioids, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
3 Iranian citizens charged in broad hacking campaign in US
The Justice Department says three Iranian citizens have been charged in the United States with ransomware attacks that targeted power companies, local governments and small businesses and nonprofits, including a Pennsylvania domestic violence shelter.
Prosperity Bank agrees to pay back more than $18K after improperly processing PPP loan for ineligible customer, DOJ says
Prosperity Bank has agreed to pay $18,673.50 to resolve allegations it improperly processed a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan on behalf of an ineligible customer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Feds cite efforts to obstruct probe of docs at Trump estate
The Justice Department says classified documents were “likely concealed and removed” from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate as part of an effort to obstruct the federal investigation into the discovery of the government records.
‘Eight Trey Gangster Crips’ member with lengthy criminal history sentenced to fed time for weapons violation: DOJ
Brandon Deshun Hawkins, 36, pleaded guilty on Sep. 29, 2021, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. For that offense, he was sentenced Wednesday to serve to 37 months in federal prison.
Houston woman sentenced to federal prison after creating bills for fake patients in $10M Medicare fraud scheme, DOJ says
A 59-year-old Houston woman has been sent to federal prison following her conviction of committing and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
2 Houston area men accused of receiving $39M for medical-grade gloves needed during height of COVID, yet delivered nothing
Two suburban Houston men are accused of committing conspiracy and fraud after receiving millions of dollars from companies attempting to purchase much-needed personal protection equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, but did not deliver anything and spent the money on lavish purchases instead, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
NAACP calls on Garland to probe killing of Jayland Walker
The NAACP is making a direct plea to Attorney General Merrick Garland for the Justice Department to open a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Jayland Walker, the Black man who was killed last month by officers in Ohio in a hail of police gunfire.
Gun trafficker accused of purchasing over 90 firearms used in homicide, drug trafficking incidents in Texas: Dept. of Justice
An alleged gun trafficker who purchased firearms that were later used in multiple incidents in Texas, Canada, and other parts of the United States has been charged, the Department of Justice announced Monday.
'Abhorrent': Prison boss vexes DOJ with alleged intimidation
The Justice Department says it is gravely concerned about allegations that a high-ranking federal prison official entrusted to end sexual abuse and cover-ups at a women’s prison may have taken steps to suppress a recent complaint about staff misconduct.
Feds say Harris County man used $3.3 M in fraudulently acquired PPP loans to buy luxe cars, jet travel, diamonds, real estate
A Harris County man was arrested Tuesday, accused of fraudulently acquiring more than $3.3 million in funds through the government’s coronavirus pandemic Paycheck Protection Program.