News published on Federal Newswire in August 2018

News Release: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of Hawaii to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions in the areas affected by Hurricane Lane beginning on Aug. 22, 2018, and continuing.

Secretary Nielsen to Travel to Australia for the Five Country Ministerial

News Release: WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen will be in Australia next week for the Five Country Ministerial. The Five Country Ministerial brings together senior security officials from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States to discuss ways to deepen collaboration on public safety issues and to jointly confront persistent and emerging homeland security threats.

DHS Announces Grant Allocations for Fiscal Year 2018 Preparedness Grants

News Release: WASHINGTON— As part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ongoing efforts to support state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen today announced final allocations of $345 million for six Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 DHS competitive preparedness grant programs. ...

DHS, FBI Hold Joint Briefing for Election Officials with Facebook and Microsoft

News Release: DHS, FBI, Facebook, and Microsoft Update State and Local Election Officials on Recent Actions Taken to Counter Foreign Threats Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was joined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Facebook, and Microsoft to host a briefing for the ...

Maryland Man Sentenced to a Decade in Prison for Sexually Exploiting 12-Year-Old Girl Over the Internet

News Release: A Rockville, Maryland man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for sexually exploiting a minor over the internet, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Lechleitner of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. field office.

Ukrainian Sentenced for Trafficking in Hacked Financial Information

News Release: A Ukrainian national was sentenced today to six years in prison for trafficking stolen financial information obtained through computer hacking.

Virginia Man Sentenced to Prison for Producing Pornography of Children in the Philippines

News Release: A Manassas man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for paying women to sexually abuse children in the Philippines via a web camera while he directed and produced numerous images of the abuse, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, ...

Justice Department Obtains $410,000 Settlement of Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Against Tinley Park, Illinois, for Refusing to Approve Low-Income Housing Development

News Release: The Justice Department today announced that it settled a lawsuit against the Village of Tinley Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, alleging that it violated the Fair Housing Act when it refused to approve a low-income housing development in response to race-based community opposition.

Entertainment Industry Business Manager Convicted of Defrauding Celebrity Clients, Bankruptcy Fraud and Tax Charges

News Release: A federal jury in Columbus, Ohio has convicted Kevin R. Foster, 42, of Montclair, NJ, of 16 charges related to a fraud scheme. He was found guilty of wire fraud, money laundering, bankruptcy fraud, tax evasion and filing a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard ...

CEO and CFO of Utah Biodiesel Company and California Businessman Charged in $500 Million Fuel Tax Credit Scheme

News Release: A federal grand jury sitting in the District of Utah has returned an indictment, which was unsealed today, charging the CEO and CFO of Washakie Renewable Energy (WRE), a Utah-based biodiesel company, and a California businessman with laundering proceeds of a mail fraud scheme, which obtained over $511 ...

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Selection of ZTE Special Compliance Coordinator

By Commerce News Now | Aug 24, 2018

News Release: Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. announced the selection of Roscoe C. Howard, Jr. to be the Special Compliance Coordinator (SCC) for Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation, of Shenzhen, China and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd. of Hi-New Shenzhen, China (collectively, ...

Tennessee Appliance Manufacturer Violates Family and Medical Leave Act, Pays Former Employee $43,014 for Unlawful Termination

News Release: SPRINGFIELD, TN – Appliance manufacturer Electrolux North America Inc. – based in Springfield, Tennessee – has paid a former employee $43,014 in lost wages after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation determined the company violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Alabama Ironworks Contractor Paying $106,046 in Back Wages and Benefits to 77 Employees

News Release: SYLACAUGA, AL – Ironworks subcontractor Hoytt Reinforcing Inc. – based in Sylacauga, Alabama – will pay $106,046 in back wages, overtime, and fringe benefits to 77 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Two Colorado Construction Companies For Safety and Health Hazards after Worker’s Fatal Fall

News Release: GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hammers Construction Inc. and Montes Construction LLC after a fatal fall at a Greenwood Village, Colorado, worksite. The companies face proposed penalties of $177,893.

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Two Anaheim Hotels Paying $59,142 in Back Wages and Damages to 87 Employees

News Release: ANAHEIM, CA – Two hotels in Anaheim, California, have paid $59,142 in back wages and liquidated damages to 87 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Announces New Policies