News published on Federal Newswire in March 2018

News from March 2018


News Release: WINNEMUCCA, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca District, assisted local fire departments in fighting two controlled burns that escaped recently due to high winds. It is very important to remember that Nevada has received less than 50 percent of its average precipitation between October 2017 and February 2018 and temperatures were above normal for the month of February when these incidents occurred.


News Release: SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Thomas Wayne Capenhurst, 33, of Dixon, and Robert Lee McGraw, 20, of Fairfield, charging both men with conspiracy, malicious use of explosive materials, and using a destructive device during a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. The indictment also charges McGraw with possessing an unregistered destructive device.


U.S. Department of Labor Orders JetBlue to Reinstate and Pay Back Wages and Damages to Flight Attendant

News Release: BOSTON, MA - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered JetBlue Corporation to reinstate and compensate a flight attendant who was fired for raising safety concerns about a flight. The order requires JetBlue Corporation to clear the affected personnel file and pay $143,783.66 in back pay, compensatory damages, and attorneys’ fees, and post a notice informing all employees of their whistleblower protections.


Former Oregon Department of Energy Employee Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy

News Release: PORTLAND, Ore. - On Thursday, March 15, 2018, Joseph J. Colello, 57, of Salem, Oregon, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from specific unlawful activity, conspiracy to defraud the IRS and filing a false income tax return.


Pallone on FDA Proposal to Lower Nicotine in Cigarettes

News Release: Washington, DC - Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today in response to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s issuance of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to consider a product standard to lower nicotine in cigarettes to minimally or non-addictive levels...


News Release: Skagway - Mike Tranel, a 33-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), has been named superintendent of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and group superintendent of the eastern Montana-Wyoming Group of parks by NPS Intermountain Region Director Sue Masica.


Federal Jury Convicts Man of Gun Charges

News Release: St. Croix, USVI - After a two-day trial, a federal jury on Tuesday found Nathaniel Thomas, Jr., 28, of St. Croix, guilty of being a felon in possession of a Firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.


News Release: Jackson, Miss. - Mark Longgrear, 53, of Jackson, Mississippi was arrested yesterday and charged in a federal criminal complaint with rolling back the odometers of multiple high mileage vehicles and selling such fraudulently altered vehicles with doctored titles, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Supervisory Special Agent David W. Sparks with the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation.


News Release: “Last year Congress enacted the most comprehensive and sweeping rewrite of our tax laws in over three decades.


Climbing Routes Temporarily Closed to Protect Falcons and Climbers

News Release: Devils Tower, WY -. Climbing routes on the west face and southwest shoulder of Devils Tower have been temporarily closed to protect nesting peregrine and prairie falcons. The closure is implemented to provide the falcons with an undisturbed nesting location during this critical courtship and nest-selection...


Pallone on FDA Proposal to Lower Nicotine in Cigarettes

News Release: Washington, DC - Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today in response to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s issuance of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to consider a product standard to lower nicotine in cigarettes to minimally or non-addictive levels...


News Release: A Cleveland man was indicted for two separate firearms crimes, as well as one involving drugs, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.


Leader of Redding-Based Methamphetamine Distribution Operation Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison

News Release: SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Rafael Pahua Martinez, 41, a Mexican national residing in Orland, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to 21 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.


Pittsburgh Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Narcotics Laws

News Release: PITTSBURGH, PA - An Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to a 48-month term of imprisonment on a charge of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, and a 60-month term of imprisonment on a charge of distribution of oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, to run concurrently, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.


Titusville Woman Charged with Social Security Fraud

News Release: ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Titusville, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on a charge of social security fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.


Long Island Man Charged With Possession With Intent To Distribute Over Two Kilograms Of Heroin

News Release: BROOKLYN, N.Y. - A complaint was filed in federal court in Central Islip, New York, charging Juan Jimenez, also known as “Jason," with possession with intent to distribute over two kilograms of heroin in Brentwood. Jiminez was arrested Wednesday night and ordered detained after his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Gary R. Brown.


Baltimore Man Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Carjackings And Shooting

News Release: Baltimore, Maryland - United States District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jerome Pittman, age 23, of Baltimore, Maryland today to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit carjacking, carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.


News Release: Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Dennis Michael Martin, age 51, of Columbia, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for Distributing Child Pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252S(a)(5)(B). United States District...


News Release: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On Tuesday, March 13, 2018, Mark A. Stallings, 58, of Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, was arrested for the March 5, 2018, robbery of the Suntrust Bank on Andrew Johnson Highway in Knoxville. Stallings appeared before the Honorable Dennis H. Inman, U.S. Magistrate Judge on March 14, 2018. He will remain in custody pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 21, 2018.


Missing Hiker Found in Joshua Tree National Park

News Release: 54 year old attorney, Paul Hanks was found late Thursday afternoon by park search and rescue personnel. Hanks left San Diego on Sunday, March 11 to go hiking in Joshua Tree National Park and never checked into his hotel room reserved for that evening. His white pick-up was located in the parking lot at the Maze Loop trail on Wednesday and search operations were put into motion.