News published on Federal Newswire in May 2021

News Release: A Florida man was sentenced today to more than six years in prison for fraudulently obtaining approximately $3.9 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and using those funds, in part, to purchase a $318,000 Lamborghini luxury car for himself.

Two Indicted for $2 Million Scheme that Defrauded Over 20 Investors

News Release: An indictment charging a District of Columbia man and Connecticut woman with perpetrating an advance fee and investment fraud scheme that defrauded more than 20 victims of more than $2 million was unsealed today in the District of Columbia.

Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty in False Returns Scheme

News Release: A Georgia woman pleaded guilty today to preparing false tax returns for clients.

Prison Official Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes to Smuggle Contraband to Inmates

News Release: A North Carolina man pleaded guilty today to a bribery and smuggling scheme in which he abused his position as a prison official to funnel drugs and other contraband into Caledonia Correctional Institution.

Call for Recommendations: 2021 Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence

News Release: On behalf of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs is soliciting public input for recommendations for this year’s Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE). Now in its 22nd year, the ACE honors U.S. companies demonstrating ...

Designation of People’s Republic of China Official Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights

News Release: Today, the Department of State transmitted its 2020 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom to the United States Congress. This Annual Report provides a detailed and factual account of the status of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories and documents reports of violations and abuses committed by governments, non-state actors, and individuals. The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those responsible for such abuses.

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

News Release: The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Secretary Blinken and Minister Lavrov discussed the upcoming Arctic Council Ministerial, where they will meet next week, and the potential to cooperate during ...

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

News Release: The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Secretary expressed his concerns regarding the barrage of rocket attacks on Israel, his condolences for the lives lost as a result, and the United ...

Secretary Antony J. Blinken on Release of the 2020 International Religious Freedom Report

News Release: MR PRICE: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to introduce Secretary Blinken, who will speak to the Department’s International Religious Freedom Report. We will then hear from Office of International Religious Freedom senior official Dan Nadel, who will be happy to take your questions on this year’s report.

United States Trains Ukraine To Identify and Respond to the Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Targeted Assassinations

News Release: The United States recently conducted a virtual training exercise with partners from Ukraine to help domestic security services, law enforcement, and first responders identify, respond to, and investigate assassinations involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). This is part of a series of engagements the Department of State is conducting across Europe.

Briefing with Senior Official Daniel Nadel, Office of International Religious Freedom on Release of the 2020 International Religious Freedom Report

News Release: MR NADEL: Good morning, and Eid Mubarak to all of our Muslim friends celebrating the end of Ramadan. Thank you, Secretary Blinken, for those clear and forceful remarks underscoring our unyielding commitment to promote and defend – excuse me – let me take this off so you can hear me – to promote and defend ...

Briefing with Senior Official Daniel Nadel, Office of International Religious Freedom, on the Release of the 2020 International Religious Freedom Report

News Release: MR ICE: Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us for today’s on-the-record briefing on the 2020 International Religious Freedom Report , which Secretary Blinken presented just about an hour and a half ago here at the State Department.

On the Occasion of Eid al-Fitr

News Release: I extend my warmest wishes to all Muslims in the United States and around the world celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Palestinian Authority President Abbas

News Release: The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Secretary and the President discussed the violence in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and the Secretary expressed his condolences for the lives ...

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry Travels to Europe

News Release: Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry will travel to Rome, London, and Berlin, May 13-19, 2021, to meet with European government officials and business leaders on enhancing global climate ambition ahead of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ...

US Department of Labor secures court order requiring Tennessee disaster relief company and officer to pay $87K in back wages and damages to employees who worked in US Virgin Islands

News Release: ST. CROIX, VI – The District Court of the Virgin Islands has ordered a Gallatin, Tennessee, construction management and disaster relief company and its then officer and current CEO to pay $87,000 to 26 employees to resolve violations of the minimum wage , overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

South Florida H-2A employer pays $21K after US Department of Labor uncovers guest worker visa program violations

News Release: LEHIGH ACRES, FL – Eighty-one workers harvesting squash and zucchini at a Homestead farm discovered the contractor who hired them was not going to provide meals or kitchen facilities. Workers were forced to spend more on meals than $12.46 per day, the amount promised by the contractor, a violation of the federal H-2A guest worker visa program.

South Florida H-2A employer pays $21K after US Department of Labor uncovers guest worker visa program violations

News Release: LEHIGH ACRES, FL – Eighty-one workers harvesting squash and zucchini at a Homestead farm discovered the contractor who hired them was not going to provide meals or kitchen facilities. Workers were forced to spend more on meals than $12.46 per day, the amount promised by the contractor, a violation of the federal H-2A guest worker visa program.

US Department of Labor secures court order requiring Tennessee disaster relief company and officer to pay $87K in back wages and damages to employees who worked in US Virgin Islands