Washington D.C. - Houston Stringer

Department of Justice files largest-ever forfeiture action tied to $15 billion in bitcoin from global crypto fraud scheme

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

U.S., Washington D.C.

Department of Justice files largest-ever forfeiture action tied to $15 billion in bitcoin from global crypto fraud scheme

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Justice announced the unsealing of an indictment and the filing of the largest civil forfeiture action in its history involving approximately 127,271 bitcoin, currently worth about $15 billion, now in U.S. government custody. The indictment, filed in the Eastern District of New York, charges UK and Cambodian national Chen Zhi, also known as Vincent, 37, with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Zhi is the founder and chairman of Prince Holding Group, a Cambodia-based conglomerate alleged to be operating fraudulent forced-labor compounds used to carry out large-scale cryptocurrency investment fraud, commonly referred to as “pig butchering” scams. These scams targeted victims in the United States and globally. The defendant remain...

DEA targets CJNG in week-long operation, seizes over a million counterfeit pills and 77,000 kg of drugs

30Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

DEA targets CJNG in week-long operation, seizes over a million counterfeit pills and 77,000 kg of drugs

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration announced today the results of a five-day surge targeting the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), resulting in 670 arrests and the seizure of more than 77,000 kilograms of narcotics, including over a million counterfeit pills. The operation, conducted from September 22 through September 26, 2025, involved DEA agents across 23 domestic field divisions and seven foreign regions. The surge led to the following seizures: Fentanyl powder: 92.4 kg Counterfeit pills: 1,157,672 Methamphetamine: 6,062 kg Cocaine: 22,842 kg Heroin: 33 kg U.S. currency: $18.6 million Assets: $29.6 million Firearms: 244 CJNG, designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February, is considered one of the most violent and prolific ...

DOJ: New York auto finance company to pay $120K for illegal repossessions from servicemembers

30Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

DOJ: New York auto finance company to pay $120K for illegal repossessions from servicemembers

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that New City Funding, a regional auto finance company based in Stony Point, New York, will pay over $120,000 to resolve allegations it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by repossessing vehicles owned by active-duty military personnel without the required court orders. According to the Department, New City Funding repossessed at least five vehicles from servicemembers without first determining their military status, as mandated under federal law. In some instances, the company allegedly proceeded with repossessions even after being informed that the vehicle owners were on active duty. “By repossessing these vehicles, New City Funding disregarded the law and the duties it owed to members of our Armed...

DOJ secures settlement with TekisHub over discrimination against U.S. workers in recruiting practices

30Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

DOJ secures settlement with TekisHub over discrimination against U.S. workers in recruiting practices

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has reached a settlement with TekisHub Consulting Services, LLC, a Delaware-based IT staffing and recruitment company, over allegations that it unlawfully restricted job opportunities to individuals holding H-1B visas, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). According to the DOJ, TekisHub limited recruitment for certain positions to non-citizen workers on H-1B visas, excluding qualified U.S. citizens and other workers with legal work authorization. The Department alleged this practice constituted unlawful discrimination based on citizenship status. Under the settlement agreement, TekisHub will: Pay $200,000 in civil penalties to the United States Revise its employment and recruiting ...

Latvian national pleads guilty in conspiracy to illegally export U.S. avionics to Russia after invasion of Ukraine

30Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

Latvian national pleads guilty in conspiracy to illegally export U.S. avionics to Russia after invasion of Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC – Oleg Chistyakov, also known as Olegs Čitsjakovs, 56, of Latvia, pleaded guilty today in federal court for his role in a years-long conspiracy to violate U.S. export laws by unlawfully sending controlled U.S.-origin avionics equipment to customers in Russia, including after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to court documents, Chistyakov conspired with U.S. citizens Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 62, and Douglas Edward Robertson, 58, both of Kansas, to purchase and export sophisticated avionics equipment to Russian entities, including the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Both Buyanovsky and Robertson were arrested in March 2023 and have since pleaded guilty. Despite tightened U.S. export restrictions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukrai...

DOJ sues Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Hennepin County over sanctuary city policies

30Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

DOJ sues Minnesota, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Hennepin County over sanctuary city policies

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit today against the State of Minnesota, the Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna S. Witt, challenging sanctuary city policies that allegedly obstruct federal immigration enforcement. The complaint asserts that these policies violate federal law and have resulted in the release of individuals subject to removal, including non-citizens convicted of aggravated assault, burglary, and drug and human trafficking offenses. “Minnesota officials are jeopardizing the safety of their own citizens by allowing illegal aliens to circumvent the legal process,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will continue to b...

Man sentenced to 31 months in prison for attempting to export military-grade radios to Russia

30Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

Man sentenced to 31 months in prison for attempting to export military-grade radios to Russia

WASHINGTON, DC – Bence Horvath, 47, a dual citizen of Hungary and Spain residing in the United Arab Emirates, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 31 months in prison for conspiring to illegally export U.S.-origin radio communications equipment to Russian end users without the required license. Horvath pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully export goods to Russia. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates ordered Horvath to serve three years of supervised release and pay a $5,000 fine. He will be deported following completion of his sentence. According to court records, beginning in or around January 2023, Horvath and co-conspirators initiated contact with a small U.S.-based radio distribution company to proc...

China-based toy maker Apitor settles COPPA case over collection of children’s data

30Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

China-based toy maker Apitor settles COPPA case over collection of children’s data

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice, in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced today that a federal court has entered a stipulated order resolving allegations that Apitor Technology Co., Ltd., a China-based toy manufacturer, violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) through its programmable robotic toys and associated mobile app. According to the civil complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Apitor allegedly collected geolocation data from children under 13 who used its mobile app to control robotic toys, without notifying parents or obtaining verifiable parental consent as required by COPPA. “The Justice Department will vigorously work to ensure businesses respect parents’ rights...

Justice Department launches civil rights investigation into UNLV over possible discrimination

30Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

Justice Department launches civil rights investigation into UNLV over possible discrimination

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today the launch of a civil rights investigation into the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) to determine whether the institution has violated federal laws by denying individuals equal treatment based on race or national origin. According to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the investigation will review whether UNLV, a recipient of federal financial assistance, has engaged in discriminatory practices in violation of Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The focus of the investigation centers on the university’s handling of antisemitism on campus. “Publicly-funded universities are barred from discriminating based on race, national origin, or religion,” said Assistant Attorney General Harme...

Attorney General Bondi: Comey indictment proves no one is above the law

26Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Washington D.C.

Attorney General Bondi: Comey indictment proves no one is above the law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to accountability following the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey on federal charges related to obstruction and false statements. Photo Courtesy of DOJ via OPA (August 29, 2025) “No one is above the law,” Bondi said in a prepared statement. “Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.” Comey is accused of obstructing a congressional investigation and making false statements about authorizing an anonymous source within the FBI, according to the indictment. He is charged under 18 U.S.C. § 1505 and 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Com...