Washington, DC - The Department of Justice announced that it will not challenge a proposal by the American Optometric Association (the Association) to expand its group purchasing organization’s (GPO) activities to include the purchase of optometric products for resale to consumers, namely corrective eyeglass lenses, eyeglass frames, and contact lenses.  The department said that the proposed expansion is unlikely to produce anticompetitive effects.  Moreover, the expansion could produce discounts for the Association’s members and ultimately lead to lower prices for optometric products for consumers. 

Washington, DC - Five men, all associated with the front company “Business World” in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and including Muhammad Kamran Wali (Kamran), 41, of Pakistan; Muhammad Ahsan Wali (Ahsan), 48, and Haji Wali Muhammad Sheikh (Haji), 82, both of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Ashraf Khan Muhammad (Khan) of Hong Kong; and Ahmed Waheed (Waheed), 52, of Ilford, Essex, United Kingdom, were indicted in federal court for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Control Reform Act. The grand jury returned the indictment on Oct. 16, 2019, and it was unsealed Wednesday.

Miami, Florida - A Florida couple pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the Lacey Act for their role in trafficking protected wildlife, announced Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Atlanta, Georgia - Maria Christina “Meta” Ullings, the former senior vice president of cargo sales and marketing for Martinair N.V. (Martinair Cargo) and a Dutch national, was extradited from Italy, the Department of Justice announced Monday.

Detroit, Michigan - A federal court in eastern Michigan permanently enjoined a Hamtramck, Michigan, firm from processing or distributing ready-to-eat seafood salads as well as non-seafood salads, pierogis, and dips processed under insanitary conditions, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. 

Washington, DC - Attorney General William P. Barr Announces the Findings of the Criminal Investigation into the December 2019 Shooting at Pensacola Naval Air Station: