CHICAGO —(ENEWSPF)–February 2, 2016. An Aurora native who operated several fraudulent Mexican real estate businesses was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for his role in a $4.8 million swindle of timeshare owners. GILBERT BRETT FREEMAN, 44, led a scheme to defraud more than 1,400 owners by falsely promising[Read More…]
Law and Order
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Dept. of Justice Reach Resolution with Toyota Motor Credit to Address Loan Pricing Policies with Discriminatory Effects
Minority Borrowers Who Paid Higher Rates for Auto Loans Will Receive Up to $21.9 Million WASHINGTON, D.C. –(ENEWSPF)–February 2, 2016. Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Department of Justice (DOJ) resolved an action with Toyota Motor Credit Corporation, under which Toyota Motor Credit will change its pricing and[Read More…]
FTC Charges Manufacturer of Kwik Frame, Kwik Fix, and Krylex Glues with Making Misleading ‘Made in USA’ Claims
Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 2, 2016. The Federal Trade Commission filed suit against Chemence, Inc., an Ohio corporation, alleging that the company is deceiving consumers by making Made in USA claims for their strong, fast-acting glues such as Kwik Frame, Kwik Fix, and Krylex, which are produced using a significant amount of[Read More…]
Attorney General Madigan Sues Chicago Tax Preparer for Fraud
Attorney General Alerts Illinois Consumers to Illegal Tax Preparation Fees Tied to Costly Refund Anticipation Products Chicago —(ENEWSPF)—February 2, 2016. Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit yesterday to shut down a Chicago tax preparer for defrauding consumers out of an estimated $200,000 in outlawed fees. Madigan filed the lawsuit[Read More…]
North Carolina Man Indicted for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL
NORTH CAROLINA–(ENEWSPF)–February 1, 2016. A North Carolina man has been charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and related offenses, announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose[Read More…]
Lumber Liquidators Inc. Sentenced for Illegal Importation of Hardwood and Related Environmental Crimes
Virginia Hardwood Flooring Company to Pay $13 Million, Largest Lacey Act Penalty Ever VIRGINIA–(ENEWSPF)–February 1, 2016. Virginia-based hardwood flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators Inc. was sentenced today in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, and will pay more than $13 million in criminal fines, community service and forfeited assets related to its[Read More…]
Former Owner and Operator of California Medical Equipment Supply Company Sentenced for Their Roles in $1.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
CALIFORNIA–(ENEWSPF)–January 29, 2016. The former owner and the former operator of a durable medical equipment supply company based in Long Beach, California, were sentenced today for their roles in a $1.5 million Medicare fraud scheme. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Eileen[Read More…]
U.S. Navy Officer Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Selling Classified Ship Schedules as Part of Navy Bribery Probe
CALIFORNIA–(ENEWSPF)–January 29, 2016. A U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander was sentenced today to 40 months in prison for accepting cash, hotel expenses and the services of a prostitute from foreign defense contractor Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) in exchange for classified U.S. Navy ship and submarine schedules and other internal Navy[Read More…]
Al-Shabaab Member Sentenced to Nine Years for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to the Terrorist Organization
Defendant Traveled to Somalia to Join Foreign Fighter Corps NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–January 29, 2016. Mahdi Hashi, 26, a Somali national, was sentenced to nine years in prison by U.S. District Judge John Gleeson of the Eastern District of New York for conspiring to provide material support to al-Shabaab, a designated foreign[Read More…]
Northwest Side Pharmacist Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Federal Prison for Selling Counterfeit Viagra and Cialis
CHICAGO —(ENEWSPF)–January 29, 2016. A suspended Chicago pharmacist was sentenced today to a year and a day in federal prison for dispensing counterfeit erectile-dysfunction pills he had imported from China. MICHAEL MARKIEWICZ sold approximately 1,600 counterfeit Viagra and Cialis tablets without a prescription to customers at his Northwest Side pharmacy. [Read More…]
