Law Enforcement

More than a tonne of MDMA valued at $145 million seized, two men charged

Australia’s largest drug haul this year has resulted in more than a tonne of crystal MDMA saved from entering the community and two men facing life behind bars after an Australian Federal Police (AFP) operation in Sydney in the past 48 hours.

Report from Thailand, Part 4: Strengthening Investigations Through Collaboration

As evening falls in Chiang Mai, the street market in the historic district teems with tourists shopping for bargains. Nearby, at one of the city’s ancient gates, an open-air park begins to fill with young people. This is where a different kind of commerce occurs.

Report from Thailand, Part 3: It Takes a Village

On a hot afternoon near the seaside resort town of Pattaya—known as one of the world’s leading sex tourism destinations—preteen and teenage boys and girls lounge on the tile floor in a large common room watching a video.

Report from Thailand, Part 2: A New Emphasis on Helping Child Victims

Generals from the Royal Thai Police—among the highest-ranking officers in the 230,000-member national force—gathered recently in Bangkok for FBI training regarding child victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. The message they received was simple but powerful: Helping victims is the right thing to do, and it makes it easier to put their abusers behind bars.

Report from Thailand: Part 1: Confronting the Child Sex Trade in Southeast Asia

Thailand has long been a popular tourist destination for Westerners charmed by the country’s culture and cuisine, its storied beaches, and its ever-present markets. Unfortunately, a certain type of visitor is also drawn to the well-established sex trade, which too often victimizes children.

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Pleads Guilty in Expanding Bribery and Fraud Investigation

A U.S. Navy lieutenant commander on 13 October pleaded guilty to a bribery charge in federal court and admitted to accepting cash, luxury hotels and prostitutes from a foreign defense contractor in exchange for proprietary Navy information.

Washington State CPA Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax Returns

Understated Gross Receipts by Approximately $1.8 Million

A Spokane, Washington certified public accountant was sentenced to 15 months in prison for making and subscribing false corporate income tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo, head of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Michael C. Ormsby for the Eastern District of Washington, on October 11.

Owner of Los Angeles Medical Supply Company Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme

A Los Angeles man who was the owner of a medical supply company was sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in a scheme that fraudulently billed more than $4 million to Medicare.

Tax Return Preparer Charged with Preparing False Tax Returns, Bankruptcy Fraud and Naturalization Fraud

A former tax return preparation business owner was indicted by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas for aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false income tax returns, making a false bankruptcy declaration, false testimony under oath in connection with a bankruptcy matter and unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo, head of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Beall of the District of Kansas.

Owner of Tax Preparation Franchises in Illinois, Kansas and Missouri Convicted of Tax Evasion

Underreported More Than $1.5 Million in Gross Receipts

A federal jury sitting in St. Louis, Missouri, found the local owner of a tax return preparation businesses guilty of two counts of tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo, head of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.