News published on Federal Newswire in January 2025

News from January 2025


Central Ohio men receive lengthy sentences for robbery spree and I-70 shootout

Two men from central Ohio have been sentenced for their involvement in a series of armed robberies and a subsequent shootout with police on I-70.


Nigerian national pleads guilty in $6 million U.S. inheritance fraud scheme

A Nigerian national, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, has admitted guilt in a U.S. District Court for orchestrating an inheritance fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable individuals across the United States.


Maryland man convicted for smuggling over two kilograms of cocaine

A federal jury has convicted Gildo Ricci, a 69-year-old resident of Rockville, Maryland, on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.


Charlotte man sentenced for transporting child sexual abuse material

David Williams, a 45-year-old resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 140 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM).


Memphis man sentenced to over eight years for meth distribution

A Memphis resident, Richard Collins, 35, has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for his involvement in methamphetamine distribution.


Survey reveals tech use concerns in K-12 education

Today, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) released a survey highlighting the widespread use of advanced technologies in K-12 schools.


Chicago man receives 108-month sentence for drug conspiracy

Clinton Williams, a 48-year-old resident of Chicago, Illinois, has been sentenced to 108 months in prison.


New Orleans man sentenced for firearm possession and false statement

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Gernell Hankton, a 34-year-old resident of New Orleans, has been sentenced to 135 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance on January 8, 2025.


Guam man sentenced for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

Jesse Fegurgur Belen, a 46-year-old resident of Dededo, Guam, has been sentenced to 105 months in federal prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.


Philadelphia man sentenced for enticing minor into prostitution

A Philadelphia man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for attempting to entice a minor into prostitution.


Oakton doctor admits guilt in illegal prescription operation

An Oakton doctor, David Allingham, has admitted guilt to charges of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and amphetamines, maintaining drug premises, and making false statements related to healthcare matters.


Civil rights risks for immigrant K-12 students in AI-powered campuses

Ongoing discussions have raised questions about the intersection of immigration and K-12 education, particularly focusing on immigrant children in schools.


Johnstown resident pleads guilty in federal narcotics trafficking case

A woman from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, has admitted guilt in federal court to charges related to the violation of narcotics laws.


Former IT director sentenced for defrauding St. Louis-area university

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Ronald Simpson, a former IT director at a St. Louis-area university, to 46 months in prison for fraud.


Biden-Harris Administration reports progress on affordable housing initiatives

The Biden-Harris Administration has made significant investments in affordable housing over the past four years, according to a recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).


DHS teams up with NFL, NASCAR for PSA on protecting kids from online threats

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) in collaboration with the National Football League (NFL) and NASCAR to raise awareness about online child sexual exploitation and abuse.


Biden announces protection for UNITE HERE pensions under American Rescue Plan

Today, President Joe Biden announced that over 91,500 UNITE HERE workers and retirees will have their pension benefits safeguarded from anticipated future reductions.


Laredo man sentenced for possessing over 47,000 images related to child exploitation

A Laredo man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual assault material (CSAM). U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced that Kristopher Santos, 31, pleaded guilty on March 28,...


Lynn man pleads guilty in large-scale drug trafficking case

A Lynn resident, Sebastien Bejin, also known as "Bash," has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Boston for his involvement in a significant drug trafficking organization operating on the North Shore of Massachusetts.


CoreWeave partners with IBM on NVIDIA-powered supercomputer for Granite model training

CoreWeave has announced its partnership with IBM to deliver an AI supercomputer equipped with NVIDIA GB200 Grace Blackwell Superchip-enabled systems.