Stories by T. J. Graves on Federal Newswire


Sioux City man receives ten-year sentence for child pornography conviction

Andrew Gross, a 42-year-old resident of Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison on January 16, 2026, after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.


CBP reports record-low migrant encounters at U.S.-Mexico border for eighth consecutive month

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported that for the eighth consecutive month, there have been no releases of migrants at the border, according to operational statistics released for December 2025.


Tennessee man admits hacking Supreme Court e-filing system and federal agency accounts

A Tennessee man has pleaded guilty in federal court to hacking into the electronic filing system of the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as accounts at AmeriCorps and the Department of Veterans Affairs Health System.


Death of Mexican national under investigation at Georgia ICE detention center

A 34-year-old Mexican national, Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Robert A. Deyton Detention Center in Lovejoy, Georgia.


Builder confidence drops amid affordability concerns and rising construction costs

Builder confidence in the single-family home market declined at the beginning of 2026, as ongoing affordability issues and increasing construction costs continue to affect buyers and builders.


DHS reports rise in attacks on border patrol amid Portland gang incident

Yesterday in Portland, Oregon, two individuals suspected of being associates of the Tren de Aragua gang attempted to evade arrest by U.S. Border Patrol agents.


Former Steuben County deputy sentenced to over nine years for child pornography

A former deputy with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office has been sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after being convicted of possessing child pornography involving a prepubescent minor.


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...


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...


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.