News from February 2026
By F. E. Simons | Feb 24, 2026
A Kodiak man, Gerry Pugal, 38, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy that led to a fatal fentanyl overdose in August 2022.
By F. E. Simons | Feb 24, 2026
A Mexican citizen, Estevan Barron-Ruiz, 49, was sentenced to eight months in prison and one year of supervised release for unlawfully reentering the United States after being previously removed.
By H. B. Edwards | Feb 24, 2026
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, opened a markup session today to consider 12 bills aimed at updating veterans’ benefits programs.
By T. J. Graves | Feb 24, 2026
Patrick Shane Johnson, a 51-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank robbery and bank theft.
By H. B. Edwards | Feb 24, 2026
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and Representative Nancy Mace, acting chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, led a joint hearing to receive legislative presentations from several...
By T. P. Broyles | Feb 24, 2026
A group of 216 Democratic lawmakers from the Senate and House have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in defense of birthright citizenship, as oral arguments approach in the case Trump v. Barbara.
By F. E. Simons | Feb 24, 2026
A tax preparer from Port Saint Lucie has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after being convicted of tax fraud and making false statements on a naturalization application.
By T. J. Graves | Feb 24, 2026
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported the arrest of several individuals over the weekend who were previously convicted of serious crimes, including sexual assault of minors, rape, assault, and battery.
By C. M. Ingle | Feb 24, 2026
A Ross Township resident, Ralph Talerico, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
By T. J. Graves | Feb 24, 2026
A Lancaster resident, Alexander Grupp, age 33, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for receiving child pornography.
By F. E. Simons | Feb 24, 2026
Kyle White, operator of the online pornography marketplace known as “The Ho Zone,” has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for advertising and distributing child pornography.
By C. M. Ingle | Feb 24, 2026
A pharmacist and business owner from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a scheme that resulted in more than $3 million in losses to Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
By F. E. Simons | Feb 24, 2026
An Arizona resident has admitted to federal assault and firearms charges following an incident in which he threatened a woman with a rifle after she tried to intervene in what appeared to be a domestic violence situation.
By F. E. Simons | Feb 24, 2026
Selena Crespo Dumeng was sentenced to 10 months in prison and two years of supervised release for her involvement in a conspiracy to provide contraband at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
By C. M. Ingle | Feb 24, 2026
Juan Carlos Cruz-Hernández was sentenced to 24 months in prison by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado on February 23, 2026, for his involvement in a bribery and wire fraud scheme that targeted the Puerto Rico Department of...
By T. P. Broyles | Feb 24, 2026
At a joint hearing of the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committees, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), ranking member of the Senate committee, recognized the efforts of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and other Veterans Service Organizations...
By F. E. Simons | Feb 24, 2026
Angel Hall, a 25-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 70 months in prison for her involvement in an armed carjacking that took place in Southeast Washington in 2024.
By T. P. Broyles | Feb 24, 2026
Three bipartisan bills from the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee have passed the House under suspension.
By F. E. Simons | Feb 24, 2026
William Christopher Swett, a 42-year-old attorney from Johns Island, has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly defrauding his employer and clients of at least $1.5 million.
By H. B. Edwards | Feb 24, 2026
Following the release of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) final report on the midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342, which resulted in 67 fatalities, there is renewed pressure...
