Showing posts with label CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
MAN SENTENCED FOR HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING
The following excerpt is from the Department of Justice website:
Monday, January 30, 2012
“WASHINGTON - Charles Kizer, 53, from Memphis, Tenn., was sentenced late Friday by U.S. District Judge Samuel H. Mays, Jr. to 10 years in prison for violating the Mann Act.
Kizer pleaded guilty in federal court on Aug. 31, 2011, to violating the Mann Act by transporting a woman across state lines for the purpose of having her engage in prostitution. As part of the plea, Kizer admitted that between Aug. 1, 2010, and Sept. 1, 2010, he drove an 18 year-old woman across state lines from Memphis, Tenn., to West Memphis, Ark., to engage in prostitution at a truck stop. Evidence presented at the sentencing showed that Kizer used threats of force and violence to create a climate of fear to cause the woman to engage in prostitution for his financial gain.
“The defendant’s actions robbed this vulnerable young woman of her freedom and dignity,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to prosecute those who engage in such reprehensible conduct of coercion and exploitation.”
“Human trafficking is tragically a widespread form of modern-day slavery. This office – in particular, our dedicated Civil Rights Unit - will continue our efforts to rescue victims of trafficking by vigorously pursuing and prosecuting those who seek to exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III.
“Sex trafficking is an unconscionable crime and a violation of human rights that the FBI is dedicated to eradicating from our free society ,“ said Aaron T. Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the FBI. “ FBI Memphis is proud of the role that it played in bringing this matter to justice, and protecting and defending those who may not be able to evade or escape the grip of sex trafficking .”
The case has been investigated by the FBI and the Memphis Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Skrmetti and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Saeed Mody.”
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION OF DOJ INCREASES EFFORTS TO FIGHT DISCRIMINATION IN LENDING
The following is an excerpt from the Department of Justice website:
Fair Lending
September 1st, 2011 Posted by Tracy Russo
In April, we told you about the Civil Rights Division’s increased efforts to combat lending discrimination with the establishment of a new Fair Lending Unit, and about strengthened partnerships with other federal agencies to more effectively enforce fair lending laws.
In recent months, these efforts have yielded a record number of fair lending enforcement actions. Since the beginning of May, the department has resolved or filed seven fair lending actions that protect individuals from unfair or discriminatory lending practices, more than the department has ever filed in such a short time period. The cases cover a variety of types of discrimination, and aim to remedy discrimination against a number of different communities.
Below are some highlights of our recent work.
Several of the cases have involved allegations of discrimination based on race or national origin:
On May 5, the Civil Rights Division announced a fair lending settlement with Citizens Republic Bancorp Inc. and Citizens Bank of Flint, Michigan, to resolve allegations of redlining. The division’s lawsuit, which was dismissed in light of the settlement, alleged that the bank failed to offer credit in African-American communities in the Detroit area on an equal basis with white communities. The bank agreed to open a loan production office in an African-American neighborhood in Detroit and invest approximately $3.6 million in Wayne County, Michigan.
On June 16, the division reached a fair lending settlement with Midwest BankCentre of St. Louis County, Missouri, to resolve allegations of redlining. The suit alleged that the bank failed to offer credit in African-American communities of the St. Louis area on an equal basis with white communities. The bank agreed to open a branch in an African-American neighborhood in St. Louis and invest approximately $1.45 million in those neighborhoods.
On June 17, the division settled another recent fair lending case against Nixon State Bank in Nixon, Texas, in which the lender was alleged to have charged higher prices on unsecured consumer loans made to Hispanic borrowers through the bank’s branch offices. As part of the settlement agreement, the bank agreed to establish uniform pricing policies to ensure non-discrimination, and to pay nearly $100,000 to Hispanic victims of discrimination.
Another recent case alleges discrimination against women on maternity leave:
On July 5, the division filed suit against the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC), the nation’s largest mortgage insurance company, and two of its underwriters, alleging that MGIC required women on paid maternity leave to return to work before the company would insure their mortgages. Most mortgage lenders require applicants seeking to borrow more than 80 percent of their home’s value to obtain mortgage insurance, meaning MGIC’s denials to women on maternity leave could cost those women the opportunity to obtain a home loan.
The division has also taken aggressive action to protect our members of the military against unfair lending practices.
On May 26, the division announced two multi-million dollar settlements under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) resolving allegations that servicers unlawfully foreclosed on servicemembers. Both servicers also agreed to enact new policies and take other corrective action to ensure that in the future they fully comply with the (SCRA).
Bank of America/Countrywide agreed to pay a minimum of $20 million to resolve allegations that it unlawfully foreclosed on approximately 160 servicemembers. This is the largest SCRA settlement ever reached by the department.
Saxon Mortgage Services Inc., a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, will pay a minimum of $2.35 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that Saxon foreclosed on approximately 17 servicemembers.
On May 26, the division also resolved allegations that Bank of America charged servicemembers interest in excess of 6 percent on credit card debt, in violation of the SCRA.
The Fair Lending Unit works closely with the banking regulatory agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, and HUD, receiving from them fair lending referrals where the agency believes there is a pattern or practice of discrimination. In 2010, the division received 49 referrals from partner agencies, more than it had received in a single year in at least 20 years.
Critics of our increased enforcement efforts believe we must choose between vigorous enforcement of fair lending laws and a strong, sound climate for lending. This is a false choice. The truth is that fair lending enforcement is essential for a well functioning market where borrowers can access credit based on their qualifications and not be denied opportunity because of their race, national origin or gender.
In fact, the department’s enforcement efforts support sound lending practices. The department’s fair lending settlement agreements repeatedly refer to the extension of credit to “qualified applicants” only. The department makes clear that no provision in the agreements require banks to make any unsafe or unsound loan.
As we recover from our nation’s housing crisis, we all have a shared interest in ensuring that communities are rebuilt in a sustainable way that allows them to flourish not only in the near term, but for generations to come. This can only happen if all qualified homebuyers can access safe, sustainable credit, free from discrimination, on the same basis as their peers as is required by law. The Justice Department will unapologetically continue to ensure they can do so by vigorously enforcing fair lending laws.”
Fair Lending
September 1st, 2011 Posted by Tracy Russo
In April, we told you about the Civil Rights Division’s increased efforts to combat lending discrimination with the establishment of a new Fair Lending Unit, and about strengthened partnerships with other federal agencies to more effectively enforce fair lending laws.
In recent months, these efforts have yielded a record number of fair lending enforcement actions. Since the beginning of May, the department has resolved or filed seven fair lending actions that protect individuals from unfair or discriminatory lending practices, more than the department has ever filed in such a short time period. The cases cover a variety of types of discrimination, and aim to remedy discrimination against a number of different communities.
Below are some highlights of our recent work.
Several of the cases have involved allegations of discrimination based on race or national origin:
On May 5, the Civil Rights Division announced a fair lending settlement with Citizens Republic Bancorp Inc. and Citizens Bank of Flint, Michigan, to resolve allegations of redlining. The division’s lawsuit, which was dismissed in light of the settlement, alleged that the bank failed to offer credit in African-American communities in the Detroit area on an equal basis with white communities. The bank agreed to open a loan production office in an African-American neighborhood in Detroit and invest approximately $3.6 million in Wayne County, Michigan.
On June 16, the division reached a fair lending settlement with Midwest BankCentre of St. Louis County, Missouri, to resolve allegations of redlining. The suit alleged that the bank failed to offer credit in African-American communities of the St. Louis area on an equal basis with white communities. The bank agreed to open a branch in an African-American neighborhood in St. Louis and invest approximately $1.45 million in those neighborhoods.
On June 17, the division settled another recent fair lending case against Nixon State Bank in Nixon, Texas, in which the lender was alleged to have charged higher prices on unsecured consumer loans made to Hispanic borrowers through the bank’s branch offices. As part of the settlement agreement, the bank agreed to establish uniform pricing policies to ensure non-discrimination, and to pay nearly $100,000 to Hispanic victims of discrimination.
Another recent case alleges discrimination against women on maternity leave:
On July 5, the division filed suit against the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC), the nation’s largest mortgage insurance company, and two of its underwriters, alleging that MGIC required women on paid maternity leave to return to work before the company would insure their mortgages. Most mortgage lenders require applicants seeking to borrow more than 80 percent of their home’s value to obtain mortgage insurance, meaning MGIC’s denials to women on maternity leave could cost those women the opportunity to obtain a home loan.
The division has also taken aggressive action to protect our members of the military against unfair lending practices.
On May 26, the division announced two multi-million dollar settlements under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) resolving allegations that servicers unlawfully foreclosed on servicemembers. Both servicers also agreed to enact new policies and take other corrective action to ensure that in the future they fully comply with the (SCRA).
Bank of America/Countrywide agreed to pay a minimum of $20 million to resolve allegations that it unlawfully foreclosed on approximately 160 servicemembers. This is the largest SCRA settlement ever reached by the department.
Saxon Mortgage Services Inc., a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, will pay a minimum of $2.35 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that Saxon foreclosed on approximately 17 servicemembers.
On May 26, the division also resolved allegations that Bank of America charged servicemembers interest in excess of 6 percent on credit card debt, in violation of the SCRA.
The Fair Lending Unit works closely with the banking regulatory agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, and HUD, receiving from them fair lending referrals where the agency believes there is a pattern or practice of discrimination. In 2010, the division received 49 referrals from partner agencies, more than it had received in a single year in at least 20 years.
Critics of our increased enforcement efforts believe we must choose between vigorous enforcement of fair lending laws and a strong, sound climate for lending. This is a false choice. The truth is that fair lending enforcement is essential for a well functioning market where borrowers can access credit based on their qualifications and not be denied opportunity because of their race, national origin or gender.
In fact, the department’s enforcement efforts support sound lending practices. The department’s fair lending settlement agreements repeatedly refer to the extension of credit to “qualified applicants” only. The department makes clear that no provision in the agreements require banks to make any unsafe or unsound loan.
As we recover from our nation’s housing crisis, we all have a shared interest in ensuring that communities are rebuilt in a sustainable way that allows them to flourish not only in the near term, but for generations to come. This can only happen if all qualified homebuyers can access safe, sustainable credit, free from discrimination, on the same basis as their peers as is required by law. The Justice Department will unapologetically continue to ensure they can do so by vigorously enforcing fair lending laws.”
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
FORMER SHERIFF'S SERGEANT IN ALABAMA PLEADS GUILTY TO TASING INMATES WHILE THEY WERE RESTRAINED
The following excerpt is from the Department of Justice website:
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
"WASHINGTON – Former Tuscaloosa, Ala., Sheriff’s Sergeant, Althea Mallisham, 52, pleaded guilty today in a federal court in Birmingham, Ala., to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon while acting under color of law for wrongfully using a Taser during three separate incidents over a four month period in 2008, announced the Justice Department.
In the factual basis supporting her plea, Mallisham admitted that on three separate occasions while she was on duty as a Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s sergeant, she used an X26 Taser to electro-shock three different pre-trial detainees as a means of punishment. In each instance, the pre-trial detainee was either restrained in handcuffs or securely locked in a jail cell. At no time, however, did the three detainees pose a physical threat to any officers or other detainees when they were electro-shocked. In each instance, Mallisham willfully exceeded and abused her authority under state law.
“This correction officer deliberately inflicted significant pain on those entrusted to her care for no legitimate law enforcement purpose,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “Her criminal behavior undermines the dedicated efforts of the vast majority of officers who serve honorably. The Justice Department is committed to holding officers who engage in such criminal acts accountable.”
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with great power so they can do their job and protect the public,” said Joyce White Vance, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. “Most officers respect that power and the laws they are sworn to uphold, performing their duties with honor and integrity. It is important that officers who use unreasonable force have to answer for their action.”
Sentencing for Mallisham is scheduled for March 15, 2012. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, for each count.
This case was investigated by the Tuscaloosa resident agency of the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney D.W. Tunnage of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamarra Matthews Johnson for the Northern District of Alabama.
Civil Rights Division”
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
"WASHINGTON – Former Tuscaloosa, Ala., Sheriff’s Sergeant, Althea Mallisham, 52, pleaded guilty today in a federal court in Birmingham, Ala., to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon while acting under color of law for wrongfully using a Taser during three separate incidents over a four month period in 2008, announced the Justice Department.
In the factual basis supporting her plea, Mallisham admitted that on three separate occasions while she was on duty as a Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s sergeant, she used an X26 Taser to electro-shock three different pre-trial detainees as a means of punishment. In each instance, the pre-trial detainee was either restrained in handcuffs or securely locked in a jail cell. At no time, however, did the three detainees pose a physical threat to any officers or other detainees when they were electro-shocked. In each instance, Mallisham willfully exceeded and abused her authority under state law.
“This correction officer deliberately inflicted significant pain on those entrusted to her care for no legitimate law enforcement purpose,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “Her criminal behavior undermines the dedicated efforts of the vast majority of officers who serve honorably. The Justice Department is committed to holding officers who engage in such criminal acts accountable.”
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with great power so they can do their job and protect the public,” said Joyce White Vance, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. “Most officers respect that power and the laws they are sworn to uphold, performing their duties with honor and integrity. It is important that officers who use unreasonable force have to answer for their action.”
Sentencing for Mallisham is scheduled for March 15, 2012. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, for each count.
This case was investigated by the Tuscaloosa resident agency of the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney D.W. Tunnage of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamarra Matthews Johnson for the Northern District of Alabama.
Civil Rights Division”
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