Month: June 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

FeelGood Natural Health Stores Ltd. (FeelGood) pleaded guilty today to one count of violating the Lacey Act by knowingly transporting and selling harp seal oil capsules in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The MMPA makes it unlawful to transport or sell any marine mammal, including harp seals, or products thereof, for any purpose other than public display, scientific research, or enhancing the survival of a species or stock.

According to the plea agreement, FeelGood is a Canadian corporation located in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. Between at least April 2019 and May 2021, FeelGood offered harp seal oil capsules for sale in the United States on both its own webpage and a third-party platform. It did so even though its website on the third-party platform acknowledged, “NOT ship to USA,” and though FeelGood received a notice that some shipments had been seized by the federal government for violation of the MMPA. Nevertheless, FeelGood shipped at least 936 bottles of capsules valued at over $10,000. FeelGood either shipped purchased items directly from Canada to the customer in the United States (in some instances a covert U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent) or shipped the items from or through fulfillment centers run by a third party in the United States. 

“Our wildlife laws were passed to ensure the continued existence and enjoyment of these natural resources for future generations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Those who deliberately exploit marine mammals for commercial purposes in U.S. markets in violation of our wildlife laws will be criminally prosecuted.”

“This office takes the security of our borders very seriously. The illegal importation of marine mammal products not only violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act but also jeopardizes the safety of protected species such as harp seals,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan.

FeelGood faces a maximum sentence of a fine of $500,000 and five years’ probation. Pursuant to the plea agreement the parties agree to recommend a fine of $20,000 and three years’ probation during which FeelGood must create and implement a compliance plan, train its employees, obtain any necessary licenses, and cooperate fully with the government. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28.

The Lacey Act prohibits trafficking in fish and wildlife, or plants taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of underlying federal, state, foreign or Indian Tribal law. The Lacey Act also prohibits making or submitting a false label, record, or account of fish, wildlife, or plant that has been or is intended to be transported in interstate or foreign commence. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case.

The Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Remarks as Delivered

Thank you, Vanita for that overly generous introduction. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us for the sixth annual Attorney General’s Awards for Distinguished Service in Community Policing.

Can we have another round of applause to the students from McKinley Technology High School and Justice Department’s own Rhea Walker for starting this ceremony on such a lovely note?

I want to thank Director Clements and his entire team at the COPS Office for making today’s ceremony possible. And for the work they do every day to advance community policing.

The Associate Attorney General mentioned my long career at the Justice Department. I was here at the founding of the COPS Office, so I have an extra stake in this particular set of awards.

Today we are awarding 19 outstanding officers with the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. 

These awards acknowledge their exceptional work in criminal investigations, field operations, and innovative community policing strategies.

It is an honor to be here as we recognize these extraordinary individuals.

At the Justice Department, as the Associate Attorney General said, our mission is to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. 

But we do not – and we cannot – do this work alone. 

Every day, law enforcement officers across the country work to protect their communities. 

They forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential to ensuring public safety. 

And they put their lives on the line to make their communities better places to live.

State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies are some of the Department’s most important partners in our efforts to keep our country safe.

We know that you shoulder the heaviest burden when it comes to protecting your communities.

And we are proud to stand next to you and to work alongside you.

It is a special honor to recognize officers like today’s awardees, who represent the very best of this noble work.

You led complex investigations and pursued justice on behalf of victims who can no longer advocate for themselves.

You collaborated with your law enforcement partners across government to get illegal guns and drugs off the streets.

You deescalated dangerous situations and prevented them from ending in tragedy.

You created programs for under-served youth and older adults. And even in the midst of the pandemic, you found ways to connect with your communities.

You are true public servants. You are heroes. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I also am grateful to our awardees’ family members and loved ones, many of whom are with us today. Thank you for supporting these officers as they have pursued their careers in public safety.

At the end of the shift, you are there.

You are there through long hours and late nights.

You are there to support your loved ones as they bear the weight of the stress and the trauma that these jobs can inflict.

And you are there despite the sacrifices these jobs require of both the officers and their families. It is your care and encouragement that makes their service possible. Thank you.

Law enforcement is an indispensable profession.

At the Justice Department, we know it is also a difficult one.

Every day, law enforcement officers are asked to respond to some of the most difficult, most traumatic moments that our communities face.

You are asked to be on the frontlines of combatting violent crime. You are also asked to serve as first responders to some of our most entrenched social problems.

You confront devastating and dangerous situations. You witness horrible tragedies.

You endure extraordinary violence and threats of violence directed at you.

You do all of this as your offices continue to struggle with a crisis in recruitment and retention – increasing the already heavy load on those who serve.

And you did all of this during a global pandemic that strained your offices nationwide and made your jobs even harder.

At the United States Department of Justice, we are committed to doing everything in our power to support you. And to give back to the officers who have given so much to this country.

This year, the Department is seeking $2.7 billion for our COPS Office Hiring Program.

This funding will enable us to help our state and local law enforcement partners hire more full-time law enforcement professionals.

We are also investing in programs that support officer safety, health, and wellness; in incentives to improve recruitment and retention; and in initiatives that help law enforcement build trust between police and the communities they serve.

We are doing this because we know that when our officers are healthy and safe, our communities are, too.

Again, to every officer here today and to our honorees in particular: Thank you for all that you have done for our communities.

And thank you for all that you will continue to do.

The Justice Department, and our country, are grateful to you.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Remarks as Delivered

Thank you, Director Clements, for your tremendous leadership and a huge thanks to the COPS Office staff for all their work on this awards program and today’s ceremony. It is my honor to welcome our honorees, your families and all our distinguished guests to this ceremony and to the Justice Department.

Everyday law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. The public expects this and too often takes it for granted. Today’s award ceremony allows us to take a moment to show appreciation for this immense public service. The Justice Department is proud to celebrate the individuals being recognized today. I have read your stories and know that you epitomize community policing at its best.

Community policing advances community safety by building trust, respect, and collaboration between police and communities. It’s a model of policing that respects civil rights and engages the community as a full partner in creating safer communities for police and residents alike.

The Justice Department knows that as we uplift policing, we must also invest in officer wellness programs. We have to support effective strategies for recruitment and retention, and we must build community-police trust.

Today’s awardees demonstrate problem-solving skills, a willingness to find and engage in innovative community-policing strategies, and above all, a commitment to the communities and people you serve. We received nominations not only from proud supervisors, but also from professional peers and others impacted by your work.

As Director Clements noted, we received hundreds of nominations from across the country, and we went through several stages of review to get to today’s honorees.

We started with a panel consisting of representatives from 10 leading law enforcement associations, some of whom are represented today in this room:

• International Association of Chiefs of Police
• Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies
• Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
• Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association
• Major Cities Chiefs Association
• Major County Sheriffs of America
• National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
• National Sheriffs Association; and
• Police Executive Research Forum

Following that, there was a federal review panel consisting of executives from several Department of Justice components. And then finally, selection and approval by the Attorney General himself.

I hope that today’s honorees know just how much everyone here appreciates and deeply values your contributions to building trust and strengthening police-community relationships. It’s the backbone of safe and healthy communities.

And now, it is my great honor to introduce the Attorney General of the United States, Merrick Garland. I will not attempt to sum up the Attorney General’s entire distinguished career. We don’t want to take up two hours of time on that. But as many of you know, prior to his nomination by President Biden and confirmation as Attorney General in March of 2021, the Attorney General was Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. And before his time on the bench, he spent much of his career here, in the Justice Department, serving under five different Attorneys General in a variety roles, including as a prosecutor overseeing the Oklahoma City bombing, Unabomber and Montana Freemen cases.

As Attorney General, he has set out three coequal priorities for each of us at the Justice Department: upholding the rule of law, keeping this country safe and protecting civil rights. And in carrying out each of these priorities, in his daily work and during visits at U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and with our state and local law enforcement partners across the country, I have seen firsthand the Attorney General’s immense partnership and championing of law enforcement and community policing. And I am honored every day to serve with him.

And so, without further ado, it is my great pleasure to introduce the Attorney General.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 15 jurisdictions across the country.

The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn rank-and-file officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing. This year, the Department received nominations for almost 200 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. Nominations came from 49 states, representing state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types.

“Every day, law enforcement officers across the country are asked to respond to some of the most difficult, most dangerous, and most traumatic moments that our communities face,” said Attorney General Garland. “Today’s awardees exemplify the very best of the noble profession of policing.”

The work being honored this year ranges from individuals who created and run creative programs geared to marginalized youth and senior citizens; officers whose diligent and dedicated efforts solved cold cases after many years; and law enforcement who peacefully resolved situations that could have resulted in great harm to others, were it not for their heroic efforts.

The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing is made possible through the Department’s work with national law enforcement stakeholder groups, who play a vital role in the review process. The various components throughout the Department also play a critical role, providing the review process with a depth of knowledge and experience that is inherent across the Department. The result is this annual awards program, which allows the Department to highlight a group of officers whose commitment to their communities is obvious through their exceptional efforts.   

A list of award winners can be found here. Complete information on the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found here.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced for a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 Presidential election.

            Jorden Robert Mink, 29, of Oakdale, Pennsylvania, was sentenced, on Jun 2, 2023, in the District of Columbia to 51 months in prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon, a felony, theft of government property, and aiding and abetting. In addition to the prison term U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss ordered 36 months of supervised release and restitution of $2,000.

            According to court documents, on January 6, 2021, Mink used a baseball bat to shatter a window in the Capitol Building, entered the building through that broken window, and started removing property including chairs. He handed the property to individuals in the crowd on the exterior of the building. Other individuals can be seen handing out property such as a lamp and drawers through the same window after it was shattered by Mink. Mink was also seen striking an adjacent window repeatedly with a baseball bat, in an apparent attempt to shatter it.

            In video surveillance, Mink is seen engaging in assaultive conduct, spitting at officers guarding one of the doors and then throwing several objects at them – including a traffic cone, a large rectangular-shaped object (possibly a step or drawer), and a stick. Mink then appears armed with a long pole, which he uses to violently and repeatedly strike at the officers at the entrance, hitting their shields at least five times. After a few minutes, in an apparent reaction to smoke or pepper spray, the crowd temporarily retreats backward 15 to 25 feet, allowing the officers to exit the lower west terrace area and respond to the protestors.

            Mink was arrested on January 19, 2021, in McKees Rocks, PA.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office and the Washington Field Office, which identified Mink as #89 in its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 28 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.