News published on Federal Newswire in December 2013

News Release: Jackson, Miss - Marco Laquin Rogers, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to forty years in federal prison for human trafficking of a minor child, and thirty years for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special...

The Owners Of Ohio Head Shops Among Five Indicted For Distribution Of Synthetic Cannabinoids Sold As Spice Or K2

News Release: The owners of a chain of head shops were among five people indicted for conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids for their sale of products with names such as spice and K2, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Levin Floor Speech: House Republicans Will Deliver the Unemployed an Empty Box this Christmas

By Commerce Newswire | Dec 12, 2013

News Release: WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) delivered the following statement on the House floor today. He urged his House colleagues to allow a vote on an extension of the federal unemployment insurance program, which is set to expire on Dec. 28, immediately cutting off insurance for 1.3 million Americans and another 1.9 million in the first six months of 2014.

Three Buffalo Men Charged in Seperate Bank Robberies

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael Tynes, 53, Michael Bland, 18, and Demetrian Bell-Bradley, 22, all of Buffalo, N.Y., were charged in separate indictments with bank robbery. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000,00 fine or both.

Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts Against Former Indian Casino Cashier and her Husband

News Release: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Kimberly Dawn Logsdon, of Chickasha, Oklahoma, was convicted yesterday of embezzling from an Indian casino, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. The jury also convicted both her and her husband, William Michael Logsdon, of failing to file federal tax returns.

USDA Creates Multi-Agency Emergency Response Framework to Combat Devastating Citrus Disease

News Release: USDA Providing $1 million to Jump Start Citrus Response Framework WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the creation of a new, unified emergency response framework to address Huanglongbing (HLB), a serious disease of citrus that affects several U.S. states ...

USDA Announces Grants to Help Small Business Strengthen Innovation in Private Industry

News Release: WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced more than $18 million in grants to small businesses to conduct research and development that will lead to technological innovations in the agriculture industry. The awards were made by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

USDA and DOE Fund 7 Research Projects to Develop Plant Feedstocks for Bioenergy

News Release: WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2013 - The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) today announced $8 million in research grants to develop non-food feedstocks that can be used for bioenergy. The grants are part of a broader effort by the Obama administration to develop domestic renewable energy and advanced biofuels, providing a more secure future for America's energy needs and enhancing rural economies.

FACT SHEET: Supporting Innovation That Boosts Agriculture and Creates Jobs in Rural America

News Release: Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the importance of Farm Bill research programs that enable USDA researchers and those at Land Grant Universities across the nation to carry out groundbreaking discoveries, strengthen agriculture and grow business opportunity in rural America. Secretary Vilsack has called on Congress to expedite passage of a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill that continues record efforts to spur innovation and create jobs across rural America.

Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Hacking into Multiple Computer Networks

News Release: A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to hack into computer networks and sell access to those networks.

First Deadline Approaches for Participation in the Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements or Non-Target Letters for Swiss Banks

News Release: The Tax Division of the Department of Justice today strongly encouraged Swiss banks that want to seek non-prosecution agreements to resolve past cross-border criminal tax violations to submit letters of intent by the Dec. 31, 2013 deadline required by the Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements or Non-Target ...

Two Patient Recruiters for Miami Home Health Companies Sentenced for Roles in $48 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

News Release: WASHINGTON - Two patient recruiters for Miami health care companies were sentenced today for their participation in a $48 million home health Medicare fraud scheme.

Ukrainian National Who Co-founded Cybercrime Marketplace Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison

News Release: One of the world’s most prolific cybercriminals was sentenced today to serve 18 years in prison for his role in co-founding the notorious website CarderPlanet. At the time of his arrest, Vega possessed more than half a million stolen credit card numbers.

Therapist Pleads Guilty in Miami for His Role in $63 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

News Release: A former licensed mental health counselor at the defunct health provider Health Care Solutions Network Inc. (HCSN) pleaded guilty today in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for his role in a $63 million health care fraud scheme.

Agencies issue final rule to exempt subset of higher-priced mortgage loans from appraisal requirements

News Release: WASHINGTON--Six federal financial regulatory agencies today issued a final rule that creates exemptions from certain appraisal requirements for a subset of higher-priced mortgage loans. The exemptions are intended to save borrowers time and money while still ensuring that the loans are financially sound.

Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with Farmers & Miners Bank

News Release: The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced the execution of the following enforcement action: Farmers & Miners Bank (PDF), Pennington Gap, Virginia Order of assessment of civil money penalty dated Dec. 3, 2013 Search of Federal Reserve enforcement actions. For media inquiries, call 202-452-2955.

Federal Reserve Board announces approval of applications by United Bankshares, Inc., and its subsidiary, George Mason Bankshares, Inc.

News Release: The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday announced its approval of the applications under section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act, section 18(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act for United Bankshares, Inc., Charleston, West Virginia, and its subsidiary, George ...

Federal Reserve Board requests comment on proposed amendments to check collection and return rules