News published on Federal Newswire in November 2017

News from November 2017


Prineville District BLM accepting applications for new special recreation permits on Lower Deschutes River

News Release: Prineville, Ore. - As a supporter of commercial recreation on our public lands that creates jobs and helps local communities grow, the Bureau of Land Management, Prineville District, is accepting applications for new Special Recreation Permits from individuals and companies interested in guiding activities that will require a watercraft on the Lower Deschutes River. The application period opens Nov. 2, 2017 and will close Jan. 2, 2017.


Lancaster Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography

News Release: Orlando Rivera, 29, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was charged by Indictment with enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, production of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.


Two Californians Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud

News Release: Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that GEOFFREY RICKETTS, age 48, and SAMUEL KIM, age 42, both of Porter Ranch, California, were sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.


Local Businessman Convicted of Credit Card Fraud and ID Theft

News Release: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The owner of American Auto Pros in Corpus Christi has admitted he used numerous credit card accounts belonging to others in order to obtain things of value without authorization, announced Acting United States Attorney Abe Martinez. Antonio Arteaga, 38, of Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty to one count of credit card fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.


Murray Statement on Trump Administration Move to Slash Medicare Payments to Hospitals Providing Care to Low-Income Patients

News Release: (Washington, D.C.) - Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the final rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) drastically reducing resources for the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) 340B drug pricing program.


Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm

News Release: PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to a term of one day imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served on home detention, on his conviction of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.


Democrats Ask Commerce Secretary Ross about Marine Monuments Report

News Release: Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and 19 House Democrats sent a letter to President Trump today urging him to release the Department of Commerce report sent to the White House last week on Secretary Wilbur Ross’ review of 11 National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments.


Oversight Committee Republicans Block All Debate and Votes on Subpoenas

News Release: Washington, D.C. -Today, during a business meeting of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Republican Committee Members blocked all consideration of requests by Democrats to debate and vote on six subpoenas for critical documents that are being withheld by the White House and others.


Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

News Release: United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on Oct. 30, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.


Postal Employee Charged with Opening Mail

News Release: PITTSBURGH - A resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Opening of Mail by Postal Employee, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.


Former University of Iowa Student Appears on Computer Fraud Charges

News Release: DAVENPORT, Iowa - On Nov. 2, 2017, Trevor Graves, 19, a former University of Iowa student, appeared in federal court in front of United States Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr., on a complaint charging from March of 2015 to November of 2016, Graves exceeded authorized access, knowingly caused...


Foxx Praises Introduction of Comprehensive Tax Reform Legislation

News Release: Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, issued the following statement on the introduction of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act-historic legislation to reform America’s tax code...


Former Dallas Businessman Sentenced for Nearly $2 Million Bank Fraud

News Release: DALLAS - James Edward McIntire, 54, of Dallas, was sentenced today before Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn to 27 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,997,215 in restitution for bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.


2017 Strom Thurmond Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement

News Release: COLUMBIA, SC -The United States Attorney’s Office’s Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association (SCLEOA), and the Strom Thurmond Foundation will host a luncheon on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, for the presentation of the 2017 Strom Thurmond Awards...


Forest City Man Pleads Guilty to Making Fake Money

News Release: A man who manufactured counterfeit twenty dollar bills pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.


Armed career criminal in possession of a firearm and ammunition sentenced to prison

News Release: ATLANTA - Stanley Lamar Bailey has been sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing ammunition and a firearm on November 7, 2015, after leading police on a dangerous high-speed chase.


Sentencings for October 27, 2017

News Release: Roman Daniel Vanberkom, 31, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on Oct. 27, 2017, for being a felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms. Vanberkom was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received 43 months of imprisonment...


Rochester Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Jail For Sex Trafficking

News Release: ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Thaddeus Grice, 38, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of sex trafficking of a minor, was sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.


Houston Man Sentenced For Beaumont Drug Trafficking Violations

News Release: BEAUMONT, Texas - A 27-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.


Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Hampton Roads Robberies

News Release: NORFOLK, Va. - A Norfolk man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for a series of armed robberies.