Latest news with #UnitedStatesJusticeDepartment
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Makes Final Legal Decision on Boeing
On Friday, May 23, the United States Justice Department announced it reached a deal with Boeing for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about its 737 Max airplane before two crashes five months apart that killed 346 people. Under the non-prosecution agreement, Boeing will have to 'pay or invest' more than $1.1 billion, the DOJ said in its filing in federal court in Texas on Friday, including a $487.2 million criminal fine, though $243.6 million it already paid in an earlier agreement would be credited. It also includes $444.5 million for a new fund for crash victims, and $445 million more on compliance, safety and quality programs, according to CNBC. 'Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law, and Department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits,' a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement, via the Associated Press. 'Nothing will diminish the victims' losses, but this resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers.' The airplane manufacturing giant was accused of misleading the Federal Aviation Administration regarding its new software system called MCAS that could turn the plane's nose down without inputs from pilots. In the two accidents that killed 346 people, a faulty reading from a sensor pushed the nose of the plane down and pilots were not able to regain control of the aircraft. Following the second crash, Max aircraft were grounded worldwide until Boeing redesigned MCAS. In 2024, prosecutors said Boeing violated the terms of the 2021 agreement by failing to make promised changes to detect and prevent violations of federal anti-fraud laws. That decision came after a door panel blew off of a nearly new 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines on Jan. 5, 2024, after the aircraft left Boeing's factory without key bolts installed.U.S. Makes Final Legal Decision on Boeing first appeared on Men's Journal on May 23, 2025
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Felon in Wisconsin sentenced to 78 months for gun possession, strangled partner to prevent 911 call
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin Timothy M. O'Shea announced on Tuesday that a 23-year-old Wisconsin man was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison on an illegal firearm possession charge. According to the release, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley sentenced Donald Spivey Jr. of Madison after a guilty plea on December 18, 2024. Former Green Bay tennis coach convicted of child enticement, sexual exploitation after no contest plea, sentencing in May On July 15, 2024, Spivey Jr. abused his partner following her kicking him out of the house, during the incident, he strangled her and grabbed her phone to stop her from calling police. He also pointed a gun at her and stole a Glock 19 nine-millimeter from her. Police found him two days later sleeping in a stolen Jeep, and subsequently tried to bring him into custody. Spivey Jr. drove away, forcing officers to jump out of the way, and he led them on a pursuit at speeds reaching 115 miles per hour; however, he crashed, rolling the vehicle into landing on top of two parked cars as he tried to flee. Through the assistance of a K9 unit, officers were able to bring him under arrest, and found the victim's stolen Glock 19 nine-millimeter along his path near the stolen vehicle. Officers also located a Glock 20 10 millimeter handgun, equipped with a machine gun conversion device in the Jeep. As Spivey Jr. is a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from legally owning any firearms, and owning a machine gun conversion device, or 'switch,' is also illegal, as it is considered a machine gun, converting handguns to fully automatic. Judge Conley noted at sentencing that Spivey Jr.'s criminal history began in his youth, including assaults he committed against the two mothers of his children, where he shot at them. He had already spent time in prison and was currently on state supervision, and he once again committed acts of domestic violence. Wisconsin man gets three years in prison for attempts to distribute cocaine Judge Conley concluded the sentencing, noting Spivey Jr. is a 'danger to society.' The case was brought forth partially through Project Safe Neighborhoods, a United States Justice Department program to reduce violent crime. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Newest federal immigration court opens in Indianapolis
The country's newest federal immigration court officially opened its doors in Indianapolis earlier this week, after first being announced in 2022. Before Monday, most Indiana-based cases were funneled through Chicago's Immigration Court, but now seven judges will have federal dockets in the Hoosier State. Over the years, Chicago's court saw a rise in Indiana-based cases, which ultimately led to the Executive Office for Immigration Review opening this new court. The new court is in downtown Indianapolis inside the Minton-Capehart Federal Building, at 575 North Pennsylvania St., in Suite 600. The seven judges placed in Indiana's court are Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Robert P. Driscoll, Judge Sarjo Barrow, Judge Scott Bratton, Judge Valerie Burch, Judge Daniel Conklin, Judge Jane Miller, and Judge Scott Thomsen, according to the United States Justice Department's website. By the end of 2024, U.S. immigration courts had approximately 3.6 million pending deportation cases, with the Illinois court having 281,937 pending cases, according to a database published by the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit organization aimed at improving the criminal legal and immigration systems. For people who may have had a case pending in the Chicago immigration court and are unsure if their case has been moved to Indiana, they can check online at the Executive Office for Immigration Review's automated case information system at The Indiana Immigration Court will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@ follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Newest federal immigration court opens in downtown Indianapolis
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Yahoo
Conspirators brought $200M in Chinese contraband through L.A. ports, feds say
Nine people are facing federal charges for their roles in an alleged conspiracy to 'smuggle hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of counterfeit and other illegal goods from China into the United States via the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,' the United States Justice Department said. The accused include executives of logistic companies, warehouse owners and truck drivers who worked together to import counterfeit goods and evade inspections in 2023 and 2024, the DOJ said in a news release on Monday. 'The defendants allegedly took containers flagged for off-site secondary inspection, unloaded the contraband, then stuffed the targeted containers with filler cargo to deceive customs officials and evade law enforcement,' officials explained. That scheme was enabled by the use of false customs seals, officials said. 'Co-conspirators broke the security seals on the shipping containers and removed the contraband from inside,' the release said. 'Then, they affixed counterfeit security seals onto the containers to conceal that cargo had been removed from them.' Eight of the nine people involved have been taken into custody — seven on Friday, one on Saturday — and the ninth remains a fugitive, officials said. The accused are: Weijun Zheng, 57, aka 'Sonic,' of Diamond Bar, the lone fugitive in the case, who controls several logistics companies operating in the Los Angeles area Hexi Wang, 32, of El Monte, who manages K&P International Logistics LLC, a City of Industry-based company that hires commercial truckers to transport shipping containers from the Port of Los Angeles Jin 'Mark' Liu, 42, of Irvine, the owner of K&P International Logistics LLC and who managed the finances of one of the warehouses where contraband was unloaded and issued payments to truck drivers who transported smuggled goods Dong 'Liam' Lin, 31, of Hacienda Heights, who – along with Zheng – controlled and operated one of the contraband warehouses Marck Anthony Gomez, 49, of West Covina, the owner and operator of Fannum Trucks LLC, a West Covina-based company that coordinated the movement of shipping containers from the Port of Los Angeles, including large shipments of contraband smuggled into the United States from China Andy Estuardo Castillo Perez, 32, of Apple Valley, a driver for M4 Transportation Inc., a Carson-based company that transports shipping containers from the Port of Los Angeles Jesse James Rosales, 41, of Apple Valley, who coordinated truckers from the ports to warehouses Daniel Acosta Hoffman, 41, of Hacienda Heights, worked with Rosales to bring cargo containers from the Port of Los Angeles to warehouses Galvin Biao Liufu, 33, of Ontario, directed and managed truck drivers to bring the contraband into the warehouses Authorities said the investigation yielded $130 million in seized contraband like luxury handbags, shoes and perfumes, though at least $200 million worth of goods is believed to have been smuggled through the ports by this group. This group is not alone in using these types of tactics, however. Federal officials estimate that about $1.3 billion in contraband has been seized during seal-swapping schemes like this one. 'Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles and its partners are committed to enforcing customs laws and practices, facilitating legitimate trade, and protecting the integrity of the nation's supply chain,' said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. 'The $1.3 billion dollars' worth of contraband seized during the investigation into this type of scheme illuminates how complex smuggling schemes try to exploit our legitimate trade practices and the American consumer.' 'Secure seaports and borders are critical to our national security,' added Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. 'The smuggling of huge amounts of contraband from China through our nation's largest port hurts American businesses and consumers.' In this specific case, the seven arrested on Friday have pleaded not guilty to all charges, while the eighth is expected to be arraigned soon. The indictment includes 15 counts, and if convicted on all of them, the defendants could be sentenced to five years in federal prison for each conspiracy count, up to 10 years in federal prison for each count of breaking customs seals and up to 20 years in prison for each smuggling count. The trial is expected to begin on March 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
