Tag:

Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division

Middlesex NJ
Police & Fire
GOTCHA! Federal, State Team Seize Local Man, 24, In Rutgers Islamic Center Vandalism GOTCHA! Federal, State Team Seize Local Man, 24, In Rutgers Islamic Center Vandalism
Gotcha! Federal, State Team Seize Local Man, 24, In Rutgers Islamic Center Vandalism UPDATE: An elite law enforcement team captured a 24-year-old local man on Monday who authorities said broke in and trashed the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University in New Brunswick earlier this month. Jacob Beacher was due for an initial afternoon appearance on federal hate crime charges in U.S. District Court in Newark on April 22. Beacher broke into the CILRU shortly after 2:30 a.m. April 10 and did an estimated $40,000 worth of damage, state and federal authorities said. It was during the Eid-al-Fitr -- the Islamic holiday commemorating the end of sunrise-to-dusk fasting during…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Arlington
News
Former DC Metro Officer Gets Prison Time For Beating Unarmed Transit Rider Former DC Metro Officer Gets Prison Time For Beating Unarmed Transit Rider
Former DC Metro Officer Gets Prison Time For Beating Unarmed Transit Rider A former Washington DC Metro Transit (MTPD) officer will spend time on the other side of the prison bars for beating an unarmed rider with a metal baton during a bout of rage, federal authorities announced. Former Officer Andra Vance was sentenced on Wednesday to one year and one day in prison, followed by a year of supervised release for a civil rights violation that was reported in February 2018. “This sentencing should make clear that officers who abuse their authority will be held accountable, regardless of whether their actions occur on public streets or inside public transit systems,”…

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by Zak Failla
Alexandria
News
Couple Tricked Cousin Into Indentured Servitude In Virginia: Feds Couple Tricked Cousin Into Indentured Servitude In Virginia: Feds
Couple Tricked Cousin Into Indentured Servitude In Virginia: Feds A couple who attempted to bring slavery back to Virginia are facing captivity of their own after being convicted by a federal jury of coercing a family member into the country to work for them under false pretenses. Harmanpreet Singh, 30, and Kulbir Kaur, 43, are facing prison time after being found guilty following a two-week trial for enticing the former's cousin to provide services for them at a gas station and convenience store in North Chesterfield in questionable conditions. “(This couple) engaged in an egregious bait-and-switch, luring the victim with false promises of an education i…

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by Zak Failla
Howard
News
Howard County Man Who Targeted, Threatened LGBTQ+ Group In DMV Gets Prison Time: Feds Howard County Man Who Targeted, Threatened LGBTQ+ Group In DMV Gets Prison Time: Feds
Howard County Man Who Targeted, Threatened LGBTQ+ Group In DMV Gets Prison Time: Feds The Howard County man who made death threats targeting an LGBTQ+ advocacy group during an unhinged voicemail he left hours after a mass shooting will be having his phone calls monitored by prison guards for the foreseeable future, according to officials. Adam Michael Nettina, 34, of West Friendship, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release after admitting to making threats and sending messages to Maryland and Virginia state delegates who made statements in support of transgender people following the mass shooting in Nashville last March…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington
News
Former US Capitol Police Officer Admits To Violating Civil Rights In Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutors Former US Capitol Police Officer Admits To Violating Civil Rights In Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutors
Former US Capitol Police Officer Admits To Violating Civil Rights In Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutors The former US Capitol Police officer who engaged in an illegal pursuit and attempted to cover it up has copped to the crime, federal authorities announced. Thomas Smith, 46, pleaded guilty this week to violating civil rights by "recklessly engaging in a dangerous pursuit and being deliberately indifferent to the danger he created."  According to court documents, on June 20, 2020, Smith was on duty conducting security checks at the homes of members of Congress in Georgetown when he began to pursue a pair riding motorized cycles, even though such pursuits are prohibited by the department…

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by Zak Failla
Mercer
Police & Fire
Feds Probe Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Unlawful Searches Feds Probe Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Unlawful Searches
Feds Probe Trenton Police For Excessive Force, Unlawful Searches The Trenton Police Department and the City of Trenton are under federal investigation for a pattern of excessive force and unlawful stops and searches, authorities said. Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington and U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger made the announcement on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The investigation seeks to determine if there are systemic violations of the Constitution and federal law by Trenton police, they said. The probe will include a comprehensive review of TPD policies, training and s…

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by Jon Craig
Howard
News
Man Threatened LGBTQ+ Group, Messaged DMV Officials Supporting Trans People After Shooting: DOJ Man Threatened LGBTQ+ Group, Messaged DMV Officials Supporting Trans People After Shooting: DOJ
Man Threatened LGBTQ+ Group, Messaged DMV Officials Supporting Trans People After Shooting: DOJ The Howard County man who made death threats targeting an LGBTQ+ advocacy group during an unhinged voicemail he left hours after the mass shooting in Nashville earlier this year has copped to the crime. Adam Michael Nettina, 34, of West Friendship, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to making threats and sending messages to Maryland and Virginia state delegates who made statements in support of transgender people following the Nashville shooting in March. Specifically, Nettina targeted the Washington, DC-based Human Rights Campaign, federal prosecutors said. “Bias-motivated threats of violence te…

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by Zak Failla
Howard
News
Howard County Man Threatened To 'Slaughter' LGBTQ+ Group After Nashville School Shooting: DOJ Howard County Man Threatened To 'Slaughter' LGBTQ+ Group After Nashville School Shooting: DOJ
Howard County Man Threatened To 'Slaughter' LGBTQ+ Group After Nashville School Shooting: DOJ The Howard County man who made death threats targeting an LGBTQ+ advocacy group during an unhinged voicemail he left hours after the mass shooting in Nashville earlier this year has copped to the crime. Adam Michael Nettina, 34, of West Friendship, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to making threats and sending messages to Maryland and Virginia state delegates who made statements in support of transgender people following the Nashville shooting in March. Specifically, Nettina targeted the Washington, DC-based Human Rights Campaign, federal prosecutors said. “Bias-motivated threats of violen…

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by Zak Failla
Worcester
Police & Fire
Feds Open Investigation Into Worcester Police Potential Bias, Use Of Force Feds Open Investigation Into Worcester Police Potential Bias, Use Of Force
Feds Open Investigation Into Worcester Police Potential Bias, Use Of Force The Department of Justice has opened a civil investigation into the Worcester Police Department to determine if the agency uses excessive force or engages in racial or gender bias.  The US Attorney's Office didn't say what sparked the investigation but said the probe would be comprehensive. Analysts will scrutinize Worcester's training, policies, procedures, evidence handling, interactions with the public, accountability systems, how superiors handle complaints, and disciplinary procedures.  "The purpose of this civil investigation is to determine – through objective and thorough …

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by Josh Lanier
Baltimore
News
DOJ Launches Civil Rights Probe Into Maryland State Police Hiring Practices DOJ Launches Civil Rights Probe Into Maryland State Police Hiring Practices
DOJ Launches Civil Rights Probe Into Maryland State Police Hiring Practices A federal investigation has been launched by the Department of Justice into alleged racially discriminatory hiring practices within the Maryland State Police. On Friday, July 15, US Attorney Erek Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced that they have opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the department under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion, according to the DOJ. The investigation wil…

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by Zak Failla
Ocean
News
Feds Charge NJ Man With Hate Crimes For Series Of 'Blood Bath' Assaults On Orthodox Jews Feds Charge NJ Man With Hate Crimes For Series Of 'Blood Bath' Assaults On Orthodox Jews
Feds Charge NJ Man With Hate Crimes For Series Of 'Blood Bath' Assaults On Orthodox Jews UPDATE: An antisemitic Jersey Shore man who authorities said warned of a “blood bath” before an hours-long spree of violent attacks on members of the Orthodox Jewish community in and around Lakewood has been charged with federal hate crimes. Dion Marsh, 27, of Manchester, originally was charged locally with three counts of attempted murder and bias intimidation after police said he ran down two men and stabbed another in the chest last weekend. U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger announced on Wednesday, April 20 that his office and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Gloucester
News
'Coming To Rape Your Family': NJ Man Admits Texting Racist Threats To Black MD Woman 'Coming To Rape Your Family': NJ Man Admits Texting Racist Threats To Black MD Woman
'Coming To Rape Your Family': NJ Man Admits Texting Racist Threats To Black MD Woman A New Jersey man admitted that he sent racist texts to a Maryland woman threatening to hurt her and her family, federal authorities said. "I know where you live now, I'm coming to rape your family," Michael Marotta, 26, of Sewell (Gloucester County) texted the woman using an anonymizing messaging service, they said. Marotta "used racial epithets" in the texts, which included "eat my bullets," according to an FBI complaint. Taking a deal from the government rather than face trial, Marotta pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Baltimore on Tuesday, March 8 to making threatening interstat…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Hampden
News
Massachusetts Landlord, Tenants Reach Settlement Over Sexual Harassment Claims Massachusetts Landlord, Tenants Reach Settlement Over Sexual Harassment Claims
Massachusetts Landlord, Tenants Reach Settlement Over Sexual Harassment Claims A property landlord in Massachusetts and one of his employees have reached a resolution for allegedly sexually harassing female tenants, the US Attorney’s Office announced. Mohan Prashad, who is a landlord in Worcester, and his employee David Besaw agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants.  Acting US Attorney Nathaniel Mendell said that the settlement also resolves claims against Lanaton LLC and Savton LLC, which, along with Prashad, owned the properties where the harassment occurred. The lawsuit alleged that beginning …

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by Zak Failla
Pascack Valley
News
Feds Sue Woodcliff Lake Over Orthodox Worship Center Rejection Feds Sue Woodcliff Lake Over Orthodox Worship Center Rejection
Feds Sue Woodcliff Lake Over Orthodox Worship Center Rejection The government filed a religious discrimination lawsuit in federal court Wednesday against the borough of Woodcliff Lake over its denial of an Orthodox Jewish congregation's attempts to build a new worship center in town. The borough and its zoning board violated the “Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act” when it denied Valley Chabad zoning approval to build a house of worship on its property at the corner of Werimus Road and Woodcliff Avenue, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Borough officials also “took steps to keep it from building a house of worship anywhere else in t…

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by Jerry DeMarco