News published on Federal Newswire in December 2024

News from December 2024


Maryland men charged over $1 million unemployment insurance fraud scheme

A federal grand jury has indicted two Maryland men for their alleged involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $1 million in unemployment insurance benefits.


Springfield man receives lengthy sentence for role in drug trafficking conspiracy

A Springfield, Illinois man, Derrick Bailey, has been sentenced to 180 months in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy linked to the street gang Boss Playas.


Billings woman sentenced for role in multi-state meth trafficking operation

A Billings woman, Anita Mae Ballesteros, 36, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for her role in trafficking methamphetamine.


Deputy Secretary Hicks extends holiday greetings to deployed service members

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks engaged in video calls with deployed service members from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy to extend holiday greetings.


Pennsylvania man sentenced for assaulting police during Jan. 6 Capitol breach

A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to four years in prison for assaulting law enforcement officers with a weapon during the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.


New Mexico man sentenced for shooting elderly Navajo during attempted robbery

Lovell Cassius Benallie, a 27-year-old resident of Kirtland, New Mexico, has been sentenced to 166 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence on the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation.


US officials travel to Syria to discuss political transition

Assistant Secretary Barbara A. Leaf, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, and Ambassador Daniel Rubinstein have traveled to Damascus, Syria.


Federal charges filed against Arizona man for alleged sexual abuse

A Whiteriver man has been charged with two counts of sexual abuse, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office.


Omaha man receives federal sentence for distributing fentanyl

Lucas Ehly, a 31-year-old resident of Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for his involvement in distributing fentanyl.


Two plead guilty to defrauding Arizona Medicaid program

CoEric Riley, 38, and Britney Gooch, 37, both from Mesa, Arizona, have entered guilty pleas in a case involving healthcare fraud.


Pennsylvania man receives prison sentence for assaulting officer during Capitol breach

A Pennsylvania resident, Joseph Pastucci, has been sentenced to 26 months in prison for assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol.


EPA announces $850M initiative to curb methane emissions in oil and gas sector

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have announced a significant funding initiative to tackle methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.


U.S. Attorney highlights key prosecutions on crimes against children in Eastern Washington

U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref of the Eastern District of Washington has underscored several significant prosecutions related to crimes against children over the past year.


House passes American Relief Act 2025 providing extensive disaster aid

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 10545, known as the American Relief Act, 2025.


International envoys meet in Geneva over concerns about Afghanistan

Special Envoys and Representatives from several countries, including Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States convened in Geneva on...


University of Cincinnati resolves discrimination complaint with federal education office

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has reached a resolution agreement with the University of Cincinnati to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.


Kalispell woman pleads guilty to fraud using hospital patient data

A Kalispell woman has admitted to charges of fraud and aggravated identity theft in a case involving the use of stolen credit or debit cards activated with personal information from hospital patient records. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced...


Des Moines man receives 35-year sentence for armed robbery-related charges

A Des Moines man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for his involvement in an armed robbery and related charges.


Fort Wayne man receives 15-year sentence for fentanyl distribution

Zavian I. Kizer, a 23-year-old resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been sentenced to 180 months in prison by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady.


Judiciary Committee questions asset managers about ESG involvement

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Chairman Thomas Massie have requested information from over 60 U.S.-based asset managers.