Justice Department Sues Four States for Denying Undercover License Plates to Federal Agents

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice filed lawsuits Wednesday against Maine, Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts, accusing the states of adopting unconstitutional policies that deny confidential license plates to federal law enforcement agents—a practice the DOJ says endangers officers and allows dangerous criminals to evade capture.

The lawsuits come after each state refused to rescind its policies following a warning letter from the department.

“This Department of Justice will exercise any and all lawful authorities to support the brave men and women of law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “By denying undercover license plates to DHS components, including ICE, while issuing them to their own state agencies, these governors are pursuing discriminatory and obstructionist policies against federal law enforcement.”

DOJ Alleges ‘Targeted Harassment’ of Federal Agents

In the complaints, the DOJ alleges that the states’ policies threaten the operational effectiveness and safety of federal agents who have faced “a wave of targeted harassment.” Without confidential plates, the department argues, dangerous individuals can track and evade law enforcement.

The department noted that the states issue such confidential plates to their own state agencies but refuse to provide them to federal components such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“These actions undermine federal immigration enforcement, allow dangerous criminals to escape justice, and terrorize American communities,” Blanche said.

Part of a Broader Crackdown

Acting Attorney General Blanche has previously instructed the Civil Division to identify state and local laws that facilitate violations of federal law or impede lawful federal operations. Wednesday’s lawsuits are the latest in a series of legal actions targeting what the DOJ describes as “illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country.”

“The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect the operational effectiveness and safety of law enforcement from these unconstitutional state policies,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Civil Division.

The four states have not yet publicly responded to the lawsuits. The DOJ is seeking court orders declaring the policies unconstitutional and enjoining the states from continuing to deny confidential plates to federal agents.

Justice Department Sues UCLA Over ‘Deliberate Indifference’ to Antisemitic Attacks on Jewish Students

LOS ANGELES — The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against the University of California, alleging that UCLA fostered a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students in violation of federal civil rights law, including physical assaults, encampment blockades, and exclusion from campus.

The complaint, filed in the Central District of California, charges that UCLA showed “deliberate indifference” to pervasive antisemitic discrimination following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023—violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“Earlier this year, we sued UCLA for subjecting its Jewish and Israeli employees to an antisemitic hostile work environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Now, the Department of Justice calls UCLA to account for its toleration of the equally appalling hostile educational environment against its Jewish and Israeli students.”

‘Physically Assaulted, Injured, Excluded’

According to the complaint, Jewish and Israeli students were physically assaulted, injured, blocked from academic buildings, and deprived of educational opportunities because of their perceived heritage. The alleged mistreatment reached a flashpoint in April 2024, when masked demonstrators erected an encampment outside Royce Hall.

“Students were slapped, kicked, beaten with sticks, doused with pepper spray, and knocked unconscious,” the DOJ alleged. Occupiers formed “human phalanxes” to prevent Jewish and Israeli students from entering academic buildings.

The lawsuit also claims that UCLA breached its federal funding contracts by certifying compliance with Title VI while allowing discrimination to “infect its campus.”

Federal Investigation Preceded Lawsuit

The action stems from a DOJ investigation into reports of antisemitic incidents on campus. The department said it had issued written findings concluding that UCLA failed to fulfill its legal obligations in responding to those incidents.

“Universities have an obligation to maintain safe and inclusive campuses for all students,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “Universities that violate our nation’s civil rights laws by repeatedly failing to shield Jewish students from antisemitism will be held accountable.”

UCLA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The university has previously stated its commitment to combating discrimination and ensuring campus safety.

The Justice Department is seeking a court order declaring UCLA’s conduct unlawful and mandating corrective actions to prevent further discrimination.

$400 Million Recovered: Justice Department Opens Compensation Fund for AirBit Club Crypto Pyramid Scheme Victims

WASHINGTON — More than a decade after promoters began luring investors with promises of “passive, guaranteed daily returns” from virtual currency mining, the Department of Justice announced last week that over $400 million in forfeited assets are now available to compensate victims of the AirBit Club fraud scheme.

The announcement marks a significant milestone in one of the largest cryptocurrency pyramid scheme prosecutions to date. Beginning in late 2015, AirBit Club operated as a multilevel marketing club, convincing victims through lavish expos and community presentations to purchase memberships supposedly backed by virtual currency mining and trading. In reality, no such mining or trading ever occurred.

“Investor euphoria over new technology is all too often fertile ground for fraudsters,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “It is our job to root out those fraudsters. Here, the defendants led a multimillion-dollar pyramid scheme based on lies about virtual currency trading and mining.”

Criminal Convictions and Asset Seizure

In August 2020, federal prosecutors charged five defendants, including AirBit co-founders Pablo Renato Rodriguez and Gutemberg Dos Santos. Both were sentenced in September 2023. Promoters Cecilia Millan and Karina Chairez, along with attorney Scott Hughes, were sentenced the following month and ordered to forfeit all fraudulent proceeds, including substantial amounts of virtual currency.

The government has now seized over $400 million, which will be distributed to eligible victims through a remission process managed by RCB Fund Services, LLC.

How Victims Can File Claims

Victims who previously provided information to the FBI or the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be contacted directly. Others can visit the official claims website at https://www.airbitvictimfund.com/ or call (800) 765-7551.

“The Department will vigorously pursue those that abuse new technologies to steal millions from hard-working individuals,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants took advantage of virtual currency’s popularity to promote the scheme and recruit additional victims.”

Warning About Secondary Scams

Officials cautioned that neither the Remission Administrator nor the Justice Department will ask victims to pay any fee to participate. They urged potential claimants to be wary of individuals or organizations claiming to represent the government in this matter.

Since 2000, the Justice Department’s Asset Forfeiture Program has returned more than $12.5 billion to crime victims. The AirBit Club compensation process is expected to move forward in the coming months.