News published on Federal Newswire in February 2021

News from February 2021


Illegal Alien Sentenced on Federal Meth and Firearm Convictions

News Release: Traveled from CA to IA with 11 pounds of meth and a loaded firearm.


Former correctional officer admits to sexual abuse of an inmate

News Release: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA -Scott Douglas Born, a former correctional officer at Federal Correctional Institution Hazelton’s Female Facility has admitted to the sexual abuse of an inmate, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.


Roanoke Woman Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Disclose Ownership of Show Ponies as Part of Bankruptcy Proceedings

News Release: ROANOKE, Va. - A Roanoke woman, who failed to disclose her family’s ownership stakes in a series of show ponies as part a bankruptcy proceeding, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to six months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release, six months of which must be spent on home confinement, Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar made the announced today.


Chairs DeFazio, Carbajal Announce Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Hearing on COVID-19 Impacts on U.S. Maritime Industry

News Release: Washington, DC- Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Salud Carbajal (D-CA) announced the Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, “State of the U.S. Maritime Industry: Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic." This is the first Subcommittee hearing that newly-elected Chair Carbajal will preside over.


Seattle contract bookkeeper and accountant indicted for Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Destruction of Records

News Release: Defendant used a variety of fraudulent schemes to steal approximately $200,000 from Seattle mountain bike shop.


ICYMI: President Biden: “I Can Hardly Wait to Sit Down with Peter DeFazio to Work on Infrastructure” (VIDEO)

News Release: WASHINGTON, DC-Rep. Peter DeFazio, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today met with President Joe Biden and other members of House Democratic leadership to discuss the urgent need for another COVID-19 relief package.


Connecticut Woman Charged with Defrauding Former Employers in New Jersey

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. - A Connecticut woman was arrested today and charged with engaging in a scheme to divert more than approximately $540,000 in payments owed to her former employers by using an unauthorized PayPal account to misappropriate the funds for personal use, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.


Grand Island Man Sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine

News Release: United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Elias Mendoza, 25, of Grand Island, was sentenced on February 5, 2021, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge John M.


Southeastern Physical Therapy And Owner To Pay $152,000 To Settle False Claims Allegations For Submitting Claims For Medically Unnecessary Durable Medical Equipment To Veterans Administration

News Release: ASHEVILLE, N.C. - U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced today that Asheville-based Southeastern Physical Therapy (SEPT) and owner Darren Cady have agreed to resolve allegations that Cady received illegal kickbacks and violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims for reimbursement for certain durable medical equipment to the Veterans Affairs (VA) while participating in the VA “Choice Provider" program.


White City Man Sentenced for Poaching in Crater Lake National Park

News Release: EUGENE, Ore.-On February 4, 2021, a White City, Oregon man was sentenced for violating the Lacey Act by illegally poaching a trophy bull elk in Crater Lake National Park, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.


Chicopee Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution

News Release: BOSTON - A Chicopee man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to drug distribution charges.


Democrats' Bill Closes Potential Pathways to Work

News Release: Today, the House will vote on H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021. This shortsighted, job-killing legislation doubles down on a flawed 80-year-old system, encourages union giveaways, and limits employers’ abilities to create apprenticeship programs that meet the unique needs of their workers.


Oakland Woman Charged In Million Dollar Scheme To Defraud Pandemic Relief Programs For Struggling Businesses

News Release: Defendant Spent Pandemic Relief Funds On Private Jet Travel, Hotel Stays, Louis Vuitton And Neiman Marcus Purchases, Expensive Automobiles, And Other Personal Luxury Items.


Cumberland County Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

News Release: CAMDEN, N.J. - A Cumberland County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for distributing images of child sexual abuse, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.


Mexican National Pleads Guilty To Illegal Reentry

News Release: NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that GUADALUPE HERRERA-PEREZ, age 41, a citizen of Mexico, pled on Feb. 3, 2021 today to a one-count Bill of Information for illegal reentry of a removed alien after deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. '' 1326(a) and (b)(2).


Mexican Drug Traffickers Charged With Conspiring To Import Large Quantities Of Narcotics Into The United States Based On Seizure Of 2.5 Tons Of Methamphetamine And 100,000 Fentanyl Pills

News Release: Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Raymond P. Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA"), Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of Homeland Security Investigations...


Federal Indictment Charges Department of Veterans Affairs Procurement Supervisor With Pocketing Kickbacks

News Release: CHICAGO - A procurement supervisor at the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago pocketed kickbacks from the president of a medical supply company to steer the company at least $1.7 million in product orders, many of which were never fulfilled, according to an indictment returned in federal court in Chicago.


BLM plans prescribed burn in Socorro County

News Release: Socorro, N.M. - Between Feb. 10 and March 15, the Bureau of Land Management’s Socorro Field Office, in cooperation with the New Mexico State Land Office and private landowners, will be burning sacaton grass draws east of Socorro, N.M., weather permitting. Up to 1,200 acres of grass and brush will be...


Compounding Pharmacy and Owner Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud and Kickback Scheme that Led to $14 Million in Payments

News Release: LOS ANGELES - A West Los Angeles pharmacy and its owner pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges stemming from a scheme in which millions of dollars in reimbursements for compounded drugs were generated through the payment of illegal kickbacks for patient referrals and by fraudulently paying patients’ copayments.


News Release: Each year to protect raptor nesting sites, Rocky Mountain National Park officials initiate temporary closures in areas of the park. To ensure that these birds of prey can nest undisturbed, specific areas within the park are closed temporarily to public use during nesting season and monitored by wildlife...