News published on Federal Newswire in July 2020

News from July 2020


News Release: WASHINGTON - The House today passed, on a 224 to 189 vote, a package of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills. The package consists of four bills that fund federal departments including State, Agriculture, Interior, and Veterans Affairs from Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021.


High Desert Man Charged with Unlawfully Importing Ancient Mosaic

News Release: LOS ANGELES - A Palmdale resident was charged today with illegally importing a mosaic depicting the Roman god Hercules that is believed to have been made nearly two millennia ago.


Two Owners of Tony Luke’s Philadelphia Cheesesteak Restaurant Indicted for Tax Evasion

News Release: Father and Son Allegedly Concealed More than $8 Million in Sales and Paid Employees “Off the Books" for Over a Decade.


Federal Inmate Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison Assault Case

News Release: OKLAHOMA CITY - ROBERT GONZALEZ, 40, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for an assault that resulted in serious bodily injury, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.


News Release: For public safety, a black bear was euthanized yesterday in Grand Teton National Park. The decision to remove the bear from the population was based on recent activities in which the bear exhibited no fear of humans and was approaching humans looking for food. The bear was highly food conditioned and routinely visiting campsites and picnic tables and approaching vehicles in the Jenny Lake and String Lake areas.


Convicted Sex Offender from Underhill Charged with Possessing Child Pornography

News Release: The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Ryan Beaulieu, 43, of Underhill, Vermont, was arrested today and charged with possession of child pornography. Beaulieu appeared today before the Honorable John M. Conroy, United States Magistrate Judge, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing.


U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.5 Million to Make Critical Roadway Infrastructure Improvements to Protect Pike County, Missouri Businesses from Future Floods

News Release: WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to Pike County, Missouri, to make critical roadway and detour route infrastructure improvements needed to ensure commerce continues during severe weather events. The EDA grant, to be matched with $376,393 in local investment, is expected to retain nearly 40 jobs.


News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A Newark man made his initial appearance today on charges stemming from a July 9, 2020, attempted carjacking in Jersey City during which a victim was shot in the abdomen, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.


News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed on July 26, 1990, and is the nation’s preeminent law for providing access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has played a vital role in enforcing the ADA in order to help eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito today reinforces the Office’s commitment to vigorously enforce the ADA in the years to come.


Chairs DeFazio, Napolitano Decry Trump Administration’s Push to Approve Controversial Pebble Mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay

News Release: Washington, D.C. - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) issued the following statements after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its final Environmental...


Fire Restriction Order issued for BLM-managed lands in northeastern Utah

News Release: Vernal and Price, Utah-The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Green River District has issued a fire restriction order that addresses seasonal and year-round fire restrictions.


News Release: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jason Schwartz, 48, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to possession of child pornography, including prepubescent images. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.


News Release: BECKLEY, W.Va. - The 10th defendant was sentenced for his participation in an extensive drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating between California and the Southern District of West Virginia, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Corey Moore, 47, of Beckley, was sentenced to 60 months in...


Michigan Man Charged For 2019 Threat To Green Mountain Union High School

News Release: The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that a federal grand jury, sitting in Burlington, Vermont, returned an indictment charging Jason Graham, 24, of Michigan, for his role in causing a threat to Green Mountain Union High School. On February 7, 2019, an...


Lockport Woman Sentenced On Wire Fraud Charge For Her Role In Debt Collection Scheme

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Shauniqua Rodriguez, 41, of Lockport, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.


Hazard Couple Sentenced for Labor Trafficking Charges

News Release: LONDON, Ky. - Two defendants, Jordan Allen Otis, 26, and Tiffany Louis Walsh, 34, were sentenced in federal court this week, to 360 months and 108 months in federal prison respectively, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for labor trafficking charges. Otis had previously pled guilty to using force and threats of force to obtain labor and services, and Walsh had previously pled guilty to benefiting financially from labor trafficking.


News Release: The United States has filed a complaint to forfeit $2,372,793, announced the Department of Justice.


Sinclairville Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy Charge

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Tracy Griffin, 38, of Sinclairville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, acetyl fentanyl, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine.


Informational: Federal Court Arraignments

News Release: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.


Cleveland Man Indicted for Robbery and Evidence Tampering During May 30 Demonstrations in Downtown Cleveland

News Release: Justin Herdman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a two-count indictment charging Tandre Buchanan, Jr., age 22, of Cleveland, with one count of interference with commerce by means of robbery and one count of tampering with evidence.