Stories by T. J. Graves on Federal Newswire


Federal prosecutors charge 26 people with fixing NCAA basketball games

Federal authorities have charged 26 individuals in an alleged scheme to fix NCAA Division I men’s basketball games and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) games through bribery and point-shaving.


Small business optimism rises heading into 2026

Small business optimism is showing signs of improvement as the new year begins, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).


Cedar Rapids man receives 40-year sentence for child exploitation crimes

A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple child exploitation offenses.


Lackawanna man sentenced for kidnapping conspiracy involving forced marriage abroad

Khaled Abughanem, a 53-year-old resident of Lackawanna, New York, has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison after being convicted by a jury for his involvement in an international kidnapping conspiracy. U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra,...


Brevard County woman receives over 17 years in prison for meth distribution

Jaime Pelletier, a 39-year-old resident of Melbourne, Florida, has been sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.


Southern District of Texas announces indictments in rideshare sexual assault cases

Federal authorities in the Southern District of Texas have announced four indictments against Houston-area men accused of kidnapping women while working as rideshare drivers.


CBP lifts import restrictions on Malaysian palm oil producer after forced labor remediation

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced a modification to the Withhold Release Order (WRO) placed on FGV Holdings Berhad, a Malaysian palm oil producer.


Two plead guilty to drive-by shooting that killed bystander in Washington

Iesha Marks, 31, of Bowie, Maryland, and Daniel Bangura, 22, of Washington, D.C., have pleaded guilty in connection with the July 2023 shooting that resulted in the death of 46-year-old Donald Childs.


CBP highlights agent safety, major drug seizure in Tucson, and firm immigration message

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted several updates between January 14-15, 2026 addressing officer safety concerns after assaults on agents, announcing a large methamphetamine and fentanyl seizure in Tucson, Arizona, and issuing a...


Auburn man sentenced to over 24 years for advertising child sexual abuse material

A federal judge has sentenced Jacob Parker, a 49-year-old resident of Auburn, Alabama, to 292 months in prison for conspiracy to advertise child sexual abuse material.


Jacksonville woman faces federal charges for assaulting officers during immigration operation

A Jacksonville woman, Jennifer Susan Cruz, age 40, has been charged by federal complaint with assaulting officers during an immigration operation in Jacksonville, Florida.


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement comments on MS-13 arrest, local policy disputes, and agent memorial

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued several tweets on January 14–15, highlighting an MS-13 gang member’s arrest, criticizing Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's stance on immigration detainers, and honoring fallen agent C.N. Titcomb’s...


Colorado Springs woman sentenced for role in staged hate crime targeting political candidate

Ashley Blackcloud, a 40-year-old resident of Colorado Springs, has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison following her conviction for conspiring to threaten or convey false information about a threat.


Former state worker sentenced for smuggling K2-laced papers into federal prison

A former employee of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Tasha Hammock, was sentenced on January 16, 2026, in federal court in Worcester for providing synthetic cannabinoids to an inmate at FMC Devens.


Missouri man pleads guilty again to possession of child sexual abuse material

A Butler County, Missouri man has pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing child sexual abuse material while staying at a halfway house.


Judge rules on leadership at U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of New Mexico

On January 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge David Nuffer issued a decision concerning the leadership at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.


Kristi Noem appoints Charles Wall as deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Secretary Kristi Noem has named Charles Wall as the new Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).


Georgia man convicted for illegal firearm possession after prior felony

A federal jury has convicted Cleveland David Hall, II, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, for illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction.


Jacksonville minister pleads guilty to obstructing IRS tax collection

A Jacksonville minister has admitted to obstructing the Internal Revenue Service’s efforts to collect his tax debts.


Waterloo man sentenced to over eight years for drug trafficking and gun offenses

A man from Waterloo, Iowa, has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for drug and firearm offenses.