Former Ole Miss Football Star Rufus French Sentenced to 16 Years for Medicare Fraud, Ordered to Pay $110 Million The U.S. Department of Justice announced on May 8 that former Ole Miss football star Rufus French has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for orchestrating a Medicare fraud scheme that defrauded the government of over $197 million. French, 47, was also ordered to pay $110,753,619 in restitution and forfeit approximately $17 million in assets seized by authorities. The sentencing follows his conviction in February for conspiracy to commit Medicare fraud, money laundering, and other charges tied to a scheme that exploited vulnerable patients. French’s crimes involved defrauding the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) by selling patient information and falsifying doctors’ orders for unnecessary medical equipment. Prosecutors alleged that French colluded with overseas telemarketing call centers to pressure elderly Americans and disabled veterans into providing personal health details and accepting orthopedic braces they did not need. In some cases, calls were manipulated to mislead victims into believing they had ordered braces when they had not. The fraudulent activity led to the billing of Medicare for unnecessary devices, costing taxpayers millions. French, who resides in Armory, Mississippi, played for Ole Miss from 1996 to 1998. During his collegiate career, he was an All-America selection in 1998 but was not drafted by the NFL. Over three seasons, he appeared in 32 games, recording six catches for 83 yards in 1996, 43 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns in 1997, and 35 catches for 386 yards and two touchdowns in 1998. After college, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers but did not play in any regular-season games.#ole_miss #us_department_of_justice #rufus_french #colin_m_mcdonald
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ's Voter Data Request Against Arizona A federal judge in Phoenix ruled Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Arizona for access to the state’s detailed voter records was invalid, marking another significant legal defeat for the Trump administration’s nationwide effort to obtain such data. U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich, a Trump appointee, concluded that Arizona’s statewide voter registration list is not a document subject to federal legal requests under existing statutes. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice, stating that any attempt to amend the lawsuit would be “legally futile.” The dismissal follows a series of similar rulings against the DOJ in other states. The department has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia to compel the release of detailed voter information, including dates of birth, addresses, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. However, judges in Rhode Island, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oregon have already rejected these requests. In Georgia, a judge dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit due to a procedural error, prompting the government to refile the case elsewhere. The DOJ’s lawsuit against Arizona targeted Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who was accused of failing to comply with the department’s request for the detailed voter data. Fontes responded by calling the demand a violation of voter privacy, stating, “I will never comply with illegal requests that put Arizona voters in harms way.” The DOJ has not yet issued a public statement addressing the ruling. Federal officials argue that the voter data is necessary to ensure compliance with federal election laws, particularly regarding the maintenance of accurate voter registration lists.#arizona #us_department_of_justice #rhode_island #susan_brnovich #adrian_fontes
Tennessee Governor Signs Bill Blocking State Medical Marijuana Legalization Review Following Federal Rescheduling Tennessee’s governor has signed a bill to block an automatic review that could have potentially legalized medical marijuana under state law following the federal rescheduling of the drug. Under Tennessee law, federal reclassification of a substance generally triggers an automatic review by the state’s commissioner of health and commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services. However, the newly approved SB1603, signed by Governor Bill Lee (R) on Thursday, prevents this process from applying to cannabis. The bill explicitly states that if marijuana is rescheduled or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law, the state commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services will not reschedule or delete marijuana under state drug laws unless the state legislature establishes a regulatory framework and authorizes the commissioner to do so. The governor’s action coincided with the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement that it is formally moving forward with marijuana rescheduling. Last month, House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R) had emphasized that the federal effort to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act could remove roadblocks at the state level. Lamberth noted that his primary objections to medical marijuana legalization were being addressed by the federal government, allowing doctors to determine the therapeutic use of cannabis. With Lee’s bill, Tennessee will no longer automatically review cannabis rescheduling under state law, though lawmakers could still pass legislation to legalize medical marijuana if they choose. Rep.#us_department_of_justice #tennessee_governor #bill_lee #sb1603 #house_majority_leader_william_lamberth
Michigan AG Rejects Trump Administration's Ballot Request Amid Election Probes Michigan’s attorney general, Dana Nessel, has rejected a request by the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain ballots and voting materials from Wayne County, a key target of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to scrutinize election records in states the former president falsely claimed he won in 2020. The dispute centers on a letter sent by Harmeet Dhillon, the DOJ’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, to Wayne County clerk officials, demanding access to all ballots, ballot receipts, and envelopes from the 2024 election within two weeks. Nessel swiftly responded, calling the Trump administration’s claims of widespread voter fraud “baseless” and vowing to defend Michigan’s electoral process against what she described as “unlawful interference.” The DOJ’s request is framed as a legal necessity to ensure the validity of ballots from the 2024 election, citing Wayne County’s “history” of alleged election irregularities. However, Nessel and other state officials argue that the federal government’s pursuit of these materials lacks a credible legal foundation. She emphasized that multiple federal, state, and local investigations have consistently found no evidence of systemic voter fraud in Michigan, dismissing the few cases her office prosecuted in 2020 as “infinitesimal” compared to the state’s vast electorate. Nessel’s letter to Dhillon explicitly rejected the DOJ’s rationale, stating that “speculative evidence of election fraud” does not meet the legal threshold required to compel states to surrender ballots. She also criticized the scope of the request as overly broad, arguing it infringes on the jurisdiction of local election clerks who retain 2024 ballots.#us_department_of_justice #wayne_county #michigan_ag #dana_nessel #harmeet_dhillon
Anna Kepner's Stepbrother Indicted as Adult in Cruise Ship Murder Case The 16-year-old stepbrother of Anna Kepner, a Florida teenager who died on a cruise ship last year, has been indicted as an adult in her murder and aggravated sexual abuse, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The indictment was announced on Monday, marking a significant shift in the legal proceedings of the case. T.H., identified as the suspect, is 16 years old and resides in Titusville, Florida. He was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse following a federal grand jury’s decision to pursue adult prosecution. Anna Kepner’s death occurred in November 2025 aboard the Carnival Cruise Line’s Horizon, a ship that was en route to Miami. The incident took place in international waters, and the victim was traveling with family members, including T.H. According to court records released by the DOJ, T.H. allegedly sexually assaulted Kepner and then intentionally killed her. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation. The details of the attack and the subsequent investigation have been central to the case since its inception. The case initially proceeded under juvenile jurisdiction, but the legal proceedings took a dramatic turn when U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom ordered the transfer of the case to adult court. This decision came after the case remained sealed for some time, with the court records only becoming publicly available after the indictment. The transfer to adult prosecution was a critical development, as it allows for more severe penalties, including life imprisonment if T.H. is convicted. The indictment highlights the severity of the alleged crimes. T.H.#us_department_of_justice #anna_kepner #th #carnival_cruise_line #miami_dade_medical_examiner
Faith Kates: The Modeling Executive Linked to Jeffrey Epstein's Network A high-ranking executive in the modeling industry, Faith Kates, had a long-standing relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a Guardian investigation. Kates, who founded and led Next Management, a prominent talent agency representing stars like Alexa Chung, Milla Jovovich, and Billie Eilish, was found to have introduced models to Epstein and maintained a close friendship with him even after his 2009 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution. Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Kates regularly communicated with Epstein, discussing business strategies and multimillion-dollar loans. Emails show she offered him unconditional support after his 2009 arrest and continued to send friendly messages until his 2019 arrest. The files also indicate that Kates introduced several models to Epstein over nearly four decades, raising concerns about her role in connecting young women to a known predator. Kates, 68, stepped down from her position at Next Management just weeks before the release of the Epstein files, citing a focus on charity work. The agency has since distanced itself from her, stating that her relationship with Epstein was unknown to its leadership. A spokesperson for Kates denied allegations that she placed models in harm’s way, claiming Epstein was a manipulator who controlled the narrative around him. The emails between Kates and Epstein reveal a deep bond, with Kates frequently expressing affection and loyalty. In 2009, she wrote, “I am and will always be your friend… Unconditionally… will always be there for you.” She reiterated these sentiments weeks after his release from prison.#jeffrey_epstein #us_department_of_justice #faith_kates #next_management #stacey_williams
Live Nation settles antitrust case with DOJ, avoids Ticketmaster breakup Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, avoiding a potential breakup of the company. The agreement, announced on Monday, concludes a high-profile antitrust case that had threatened to split the world’s largest live entertainment firm. The deal comes after a week of testimony during the trial, which had raised concerns about Live Nation’s dominance in the industry. The settlement includes several key provisions. Ticketmaster will provide a standalone ticketing system that allows third-party companies like Seat Geek and StubHub to offer primary tickets through the platform. A senior justice official described this as “open sourcing” their ticketing model. The company will also divest up to 13 amphitheaters and reserve 50% of tickets for non-exclusive venues. Additionally, Ticketmaster is prohibited from retaliating against venues that choose alternative primary ticket distributors. The agreement was reached after negotiations between Omeed Assefi, the acting assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division, and Michael Rapino, Live Nation’s CEO, on March 5. A senior justice official emphasized that the deal aims to increase competition by giving artists and consumers more choices, potentially lowering prices. While the DOJ and 40 states, including Washington, D.C., had previously accused Live Nation of using its control over venues and ticketing relationships to stifle competition, the settlement allows the company to retain its structure. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined the DOJ in the case, stated that her office will continue pursuing its own claims against Live Nation to protect consumers and restore fair competition.#ticketmaster #taylor_swift #live_nation #us_department_of_justice #letitia_james
DoJ renews fight against law firms that stood up to Trump in abrupt reversal The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) abruptly reversed its earlier decision to abandon legal battles against four law firms that resisted Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting companies that opposed his policies. The reversal came just days after the agency had announced it would drop its appeal against a court ruling that blocked Trump’s retaliatory measures against the firms. On Monday, the DoJ had filed a court document stating it would withdraw its appeal against a district court’s decision to halt the implementation of Trump’s sanctions against the four companies. The move was celebrated by at least two of the firms, which had previously criticized the administration’s actions. However, on Tuesday, the government submitted a new, one-paragraph request to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, declaring its intent to pursue the appeal. The agency provided no explanation for the sudden change in stance. The law firms, including Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey, and Jenner & Block, had initially resisted Trump’s executive orders, which aimed to penalize them for representing clients or causes the president opposed. In a statement, Susman Godfrey condemned the DoJ’s initial withdrawal, calling it a “capitulation” and reaffirming its commitment to defending itself and the rule of law. The firm’s statement emphasized its fight against what it called an “unconstitutional attack” on the legal profession and the Constitution itself. The reversal followed a broader pattern of Trump’s administration seeking to pressure law firms through executive actions.#donald_trump #us_department_of_justice #perkins_coie #wilmerhale #susman_godfrey
The concert ticket industry is broken, the U.S. Department of Justice claims as a trial against Ticketmaster and Live Nation begins. During opening statements in Manhattan, a DOJ attorney argued that the companies have created a monopolistic system that harms artists, venues, and fans. The case involves dozens of states seeking compensation for consumers who allegedly overpaid for tickets. An attorney for New York state testified that Ticketmaster retains an average of $7.58 from each ticket sold at major concert venues. This fee, which exceeds the charges of competitors like AXS, is central to the allegations that the company exploits its market dominance. The DOJ and state attorneys general argue that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have used their control over ticketing and venue operations to suppress competition and inflate prices. The trial centers on claims that Live Nation, through its Ticketmaster subsidiary, has maintained illegal monopolies in key markets. The DOJ alleges that the company forces artists to use its promotion services when performing at its owned outdoor amphitheaters. Additionally, Ticketmaster is accused of dominating ticket sales through long-term exclusive contracts with venues and threatening rivals to secure its position. Attorney David Dahlquist, representing the DOJ, told jurors that the concert industry is "controlled by a monopolist" and that Live Nation’s practices have distorted the market. He emphasized that fans have paid excessive fees, with estimates suggesting overpayments ranging from $1.56 to $1.72 per ticket. Jonathan Hatch, another state attorney, described the financial impact as "real money coming out of people’s wallets." Live Nation’s defense claims the company is not a monopolist and operates in a competitive industry.#ticketmaster #manhattan #federal_trade_commission #live_nation #us_department_of_justice
