News published on Federal Newswire in February 2021

News Release: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On Feb. 10, 2021, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Rey Omar Pagán-Hernández with the armed robbery of gas station, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

Body Located In Zion National Park During Search

News Release: Springdale, Utah - Park rangers located a body this afternoon, Friday, Feb. 19, while searching for an overdue male hiker from Thursday, February 18. The body, also a male, was located below the Angels Landing hiking route. The identity of the man has not yet been confirmed.

Myrtle Beach Convicted Felon Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Federal Prison after Possessing Sawed-off Shotgun

News Release: Florence, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced today that Kevin Richard Dextraze, 32, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Six Individuals Affiliated with the Oath Keepers Indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for Conspiracy to Obstruct Congress on Jan. 6, 2021

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. -This week, six additional individuals associated with an organization known as the Oath Keepers, some of whose members were among those who forcibly entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, were arrested and charged in federal court in the District of Columbia for conspiring to obstruct the United States Congress’s certification of the result of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, among other charges.

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.

Cedar Rapids Man Headed to Prison for Possessing Drugs and Guns

News Release: Also Ordered to Pay a $20,000 Fine.

Purported 501(c)(4) admits to being used to conceal corrupt payments related to passage of legislation

News Release: CINCINNATI - An organization charged as part of a public corruption racketeering conspiracy pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today.

Brady, Comer Demand Transparency for $150 Billion in CARES Act Funding Provided to State and Local Governments

News Release: WASHINGTON - The top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady (R-TX) and the top Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY) today wrote U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Treasury Deputy Inspector General Richard Delmar calling for accountability and transparency regarding the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), part of the CARES Act.

Public Comment Period Open on Proposed Fee Increases

News Release: Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area seeks public comment on a proposal to increase the daily fee for overnight stays at some park campgrounds and for daily use of picnic shelters as well as add a new venue for event reservations. A review completed in fall 2020 recommended fees either remain the same or increase based on other comparable campground facilities nearby. The proposed changes would go into effect on May 1, 2021.

Brady Statement on WTO Director-General Race

News Release: WASHINGTON-The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady (R-TX) released the following statement after the United States announced its support for the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director General of the World Trade Organization...

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park uncovers fascinating story of the Buffalo Soldiers for Black History Month

News Release: Hawaii National Park, HAWAI‘I - Anyone who has hiked even a portion of Mauna Loa Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park knows what a grueling climb it is. Now imagine building the trail, rock by rock, with a 12-pound hammer and a gunny sack, in torrential rain, like the Black servicemen known as the Buffalo Soldiers did more than 100 years ago.

Supai Man Sentenced to 28 Months for Assault

News Release: PHOENIX, Ariz. - Last week, Elias Eddie Quade Chavez, 19, of Supai, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 28 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Chavez previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

Chairs Thompson and Slotkin Send Letter Seeking Answers on Potential Intelligence Failures before the Attack on the Capitol

By Homeland Newswire | Feb 19, 2021

News Release: (WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, sent a letter to Melissa Smislova, Acting Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis, to better understand...

Grothman: In America’s longest war, we are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel

News Release: WASHINGTON - Subcommittee on National Security Ranking Member Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) opened today’s hearing by emphasizing that President Trump spearheaded successful efforts to reduce U.S. armed forces in Afghanistan and negotiated an unprecedented peace agreement which will help create a safe and prosperous Afghanistan by ensuring that the region will no longer provide safe harbor for terrorists.

New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty To Theft of More Than $280,000 in Federal Student Aid

News Release: NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced that ASHLY HOWARD (“HOWARD"), age 33, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on Feb. 18, 2021 in federal court before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641 and Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028(a)(7).

Mexican National Extradited to Face Sex Trafficking and Related Charges

News Release: Defendant and His Siblings Allegedly Conspired to Compel Mexican Women into Prostitution in the United States.

Fairbanks Man Indicted for Murder for Hire Plot

News Release: Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Roger Keeling, 54, of Fairbanks has been indicted by a federal grand jury in a superseding indictment for murder for hire. A federal grand jury indicted Keeling last month for Stalking.

Man Charged with COVID-Relief Fraud

News Release: Man Charged with COVID-Relief Fraud. A New York man was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today for his alleged participation in a scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions by filing bank loan applications that fraudulently sought forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed...

Seeking Input on Roadside Hazard Tree Work in Holiday Farm Fire

News Release: Springfield, Ore. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public input on plans to remove fire damaged hazard trees along 65 miles of BLM roads burnt in the Holiday Farm Fire. The work is needed to restore safe road access for the public who wish to visit public lands. BLM lands affected by the fire are currently closed to the public due to the danger of injury from falling trees. This project would remove these dangerous conditions along roads.

Washington Post: Democrats Are Not Targeting Covid Relief Bill