GOLDEN VALLEY, Minnesota, Dec. 4 -- The Center of the American Experiment, a civic and educational organization that says it creates and advocates policies, issued the following commentary on Dec. 2, 2024: * * * Three Strikes for the U.S. Dept. of Education Written by Catrin Wigfall The U.S. Department of Education has failed its audit for the third year in a row due to accounting errors, reports (https://oig.ed.gov/reports/audit/fy-2024-financial-statement-audit-us-department-education) the more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Nov. 12, 2024, from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living: * * * To: Ms. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244-8013 Re: CMS-10913 Subject: Agency Information Co more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Nov. 12, 2024, from Sabina Lim, vice president of behavioral health safety and quality at the Mount Sinai Health System, New York: * * * To: Chiquita Brooks-LaSure Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services c/o Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs Division of Regulations Development Attention: C more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the following public communication dated Nov. 12, 2024, from the Ohio Hospital Association. Here are excerpts: * * * To: The Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 7500 Security Blvd Baltimore, MD 21244 RE: CMS-10913 Medicare Part C Utilization Management Annual Data Submission and Audit Protocol Data Request * *  more ST

DENVER, Colorado, Dec. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado issued the following news release: The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announced today that Denver-based Assure Holdings Corp. and its subsidiary Assure Neuromonitoring LLC (together "Assure"), Assure's founder Preston Parsons, Denver-based neurosurgeon Dr. Brent Kimball, and California businessman James Mathew McAlpin have entered into settlements totaling more than $2 million to resolv more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11646) on Nov. 27, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Clayton Thomas: * * * Afghan Women and Girls: Status and Congressional Action Afghan women and girls live under what is considered to be the world's most repressive set of restrictions, ranging from Taliban prohibitions on employment and education opportunities to orders for women to hide their faces and voices in pub more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12611) on Dec. 2, 2024, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security specialist: * * * DOD Replicator Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction Replicator, unveiled on August 28, 2023, is a Department of Defense (DOD) initiative, led by DOD's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), to field thousands of uncrewed systems by August 2025. Replicator's firs more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12843) on Dec. 5, 2024, by aviation policy specialist Bart Elias: * * * Federal Aviation Administration Oversight of Boeing Commercial air travel is one of the safest forms of transportation, and fatal crashes are extremely rare. Between 2013 and 2022, U.S. air carriers flew more than 175 million cumulative flight hours and experienced six fatal crashes resulting in 15 total fat more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12840) on Dec. 4, 2024, by defense policy analyst Jennifer DiMascio and Air Force fellow Robert Switzer. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: U.S. Space Command U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations in space. As a geographic combatant command (CCMD), USSPACECOM receives personnel and equipment from each of the military services to execut more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12467) on Dec. 3, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Syria: Conflict Resurgence Two coalitions of armed groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar Al Asad (alt. Assad) made rapid and unexpected advances in late November 2024, taking Aleppo, the country's second largest city, and other parts of northwestern Syria (Figure 1) more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12467) on Dec. 5, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Syria: Conflict Resurgence Two coalitions of armed groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar Al Asad (alt. Assad) have made rapid and unexpected advances since late November 2024, taking Aleppo, the country's second largest city; other parts of northwestern Syria; and t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Rep. Mike Flood, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood, joined by House Veterans' Affairs (VA) Committee Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12), Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03), and Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), introduced the "BONUS Transparency Act." This bill enhances communication transparency in bonus pay to Career Senior Executive Service (SES) employees across federal agencies. "The VA' more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at an executive session to vote on the nomination of David Johnson to be Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). As prepared for delivery: "Mr. Johnson has been nominated to serve as Inspector General for Tax Administration at the Department of the Treasury. "Mr. Johnson has strong qualifications an more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 3, 2024: * * * A Working Group of Justice Department Experts Recommends Reforms to Reduce the Risk of Suicide by Adults in Federal Pretrial and Correctional Custody * * * Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco today announced over 50 new actions the Justice Department will take to reduce the risk of death by suicide of adults who are detained or incarcerated in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The Defense Inspector General issued the following report on Nov. 25, 2024, entitled "Operation Enduring Sentinel and Other U.S. Government Activities Related to Afghanistan." Here are excerpts: * * * We are pleased to present this Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) report to Congress on Operation Enduring Sentinel (OES). This report discharges our quarterly reporting responsibilities pursuant to Section 419 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. In October 202 more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The Defense Inspector General issued the following semiannual report to the Congress - April 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024 on Nov. 22, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Message from the Inspector General On behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General (OIG), I am pleased to present this Semiannual Report to Congress. This report highlights the independent oversight my office conducted on the programs, operations, and personnel of the DoD from  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The Defense Inspector General issued the following report (No. DODIG-2025-047) on Dec. 2, 2024, entitled "Sufficiency of Staffing at Logistics Hubs in Poland for Conducting Inventories of Items Requiring Enhanced End-Use Monitoring." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY COMMANDER, U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND DIRECTOR, DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGENCY CHIEF, OFFICE OF DEFENSE COOPERATION-UKRAINE SUBJECT: Follow-up Evaluation of Ma more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release on Dec. 2, 2024: Evaluation Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the "Annual Report to Congress Pursuant to FY 2021 NDAA, Section 554." Section 554 directs the DoD OIG to report annually to Congress on findings and recommendations related to the effects of DoD policies, programs, syste more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release on Dec. 4, 2024: Evaluation Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the "Follow-up Evaluation of Management Advisory: Sufficiency of Staffing at Logistics Hubs in Poland for Conducting Inventories of Items Requiring Enhanced End-Use Monitoring." Enhanced end-use monitoring (EEUM) is the pr more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2024: Audit Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released an unclassified summary of the "Audit of the Test and Evaluation of CH-53K Helicopter Survivability." The audit assessed the Department of the Navy's test and evaluation of the CH-53K helicopter's survivability against munition more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release on Dec. 4, 2024: Administrative Investigations Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the report, "Whistleblower Restriction Investigation: Georgia Army National Guard, B Company, 221st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gillem, Georgia." The DoD OIG conducted an investi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit announcement on Oct. 7, 2024, entitled "Federal Railroad Administration 's Management of Accountable Personal Property:" * * * From: Dormayne "Dory" Dillard-Christian, Assistant Inspector General for Financial Audits To: Federal Railroad Administrator In a recently concluded audit of the Department of Transportation's (DOT) capitalized equipment,/1 we reported that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit announcement on Nov. 14, 2024, entitled "Fiscal 2024 Implementation of the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019:" * * * From: Dormayne "Dory" Dillard-Christian, Assistant Inspector General for Financial Audits To: Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer For fiscal year 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) reported approximately $75.5 billion in payments for prog more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit announcement on Nov. 12, 2024, entitled "Fiscal 2025 Federal Information Security Modernization Act Review:" * * * From: Kevin Dorsey, Assistant Inspector General for Information Technology Audits To: Chief Information Officer The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014/1 (FISMA) requires Federal agencies to implement information security programs. The Act also requires agencies to conduct an more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit announcement on Oct. 15, 2024, entitled "Purchase Card Program:" * * * From: Dormayne "Dory" Dillard-Christian, Assistant Inspector General for Financial Audits To: Senior Procurement Executive, Department of Transportation Director, Audit and Evaluation, Federal Aviation Administration During fiscal year 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) had 193,370 purchase card transactions totaling $183.1 mi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit announcement on Nov. 13, 2024, entitled "Supplemental Type Certificates:" * * * From: Nelda Z. Smith, Assistant Inspector General for Aviation Audits To: Director, Audit and Evaluation The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 mandated that our office conduct a series of audits/1 focused on FAA's consistency of interpretation and application of policy regarding supplemental type  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair and Founder of the Senate DOGE Caucus, unveiled a detailed report showing how federal bureaucrats have abused telework and locality pay to fleece taxpayers out of billions of dollars. Based off her investigations, Ernst's report lays out a roadmap for fixing the broken federal workforce that she will work to implement with the Trump administration and the Department of Go more PR

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Dec. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Luis Lacerda (37, West Palm Beach) to three years and five months in federal prison, Omar Solari (36, Fort Lauderdale) to 2 years and six months in federal prison, Michael Murphy (38, Fort Lauderdale) to 15 months in federal prison, and Joelson Viveros (45, Boca Raton) to 5 years' probation for their respecti more PR

MIAMI, Florida, Dec. 7 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release on Dec. 6, 2024: A Florida man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud Medicare by billing over $67 million for medically unnecessary genetic testing. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jose Goyos, 38, of West Palm Beach, was employed at a call center that engaged in deceptive tel more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Bipartisan Senators Request Defense Department Inspector General Investigate DOD Multibillion-Dollar Wireless Contracts with Major Phone Networks, Despite Known Cyber Weaknesses that Threaten National Security Senator Eric Schmitt and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) called for the Defense Department's top watchdog to investigate the Pentagon's insufficient efforts to secure its unclassified communications from for more PR

ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia issued the following news release: American Health Imaging, Inc. ("AHI") and its former founder and CEO, Scott Arant, will pay the United States and the State of Georgia $5,250,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by: (1) providing physicians with meals, tickets to sporting events, and other gifts to induce those physicians to refer diagnostic scans to AHI's independent more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement regarding his meeting today with Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be the next Attorney General. "Pam Bondi is a well-qualified nominee with an impressive legal career, including eight years as Attorney General of the State of Florida and nearly two decades spent as a prose more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. A-06-22-01004) on Oct. 23, 2024, entitled "California Used CARES Act Funds for Unallowable Nutrition Services Program Expenditures" filed under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are excerpts: * * * Report Highlights Why OIG Did This Audit * The COVID-19 pandemic created extraordinary challenges for the delivery of health care and human services to the American peop more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. A-01-24-00001) on Oct. 23, 2024, entitled "Massachusetts Could Better Ensure That Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities Comply With Federal Requirements for Life Safety and Emergency Preparedness" filed under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are excerpts: * * * Report Highlights Why OIG Did This Audit * Intermediate care facil more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. OEI-03-23-00380) on Oct. 21, 2024, entitled "Medicare Advantage: Questionable Use of Health Risk Assessments Continues To Drive Up Payments to Plans by Billions" filed under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are excerpts: * * * Report Highlights Why OIG Did This Review * Medicare Advantage (MA) companies receive higher risk-adjusted payments from CMS for enrollees  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. A-06-24-05000) on Oct. 28, 2024, entitled "National Government Services Inc. Reopened and Corrected Cost Report Final Settlements With Obvious Errors To Collect Overpayments Made to Medicare Providers" filed under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are excerpts: * * * Report Highlights Why OIG Did This Audit * Medicare providers are required to submit to their Medic more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: America's taxpayers could see recoupment of billions of dollars in misspent Medicare, Medicaid, and other health and human services funds as a result of work by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), according to a new report. The Fall 2024 Semiannual Report to Congress (SAR) highlights over $7 billion in e more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 3, 2024: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) today asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General to conduct an investigation of incidents in which Federal Emergency Managemen more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced today policy updates for the use of Special Management for detained noncitizens. This update closes out recommendations contained in a 2021 report by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General. The updated Enforcement and Removal Operations policy focuses on how ICE tracks and reports the use more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service issued the following news release on Dec. 4, 2024: * * * Taxpayers beware of those promoting fraudulent schemes * * * The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to avoid promoters of fraudulent tax schemes involving donations of ownership interests in closely held businesses, sometimes marketed as "Charitable LLCs." These promotions often target higher-income filers and are considered abusive transac more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Dec. 2, 2024: Gen Digital Inc. (formerly known as Symantec Corp.), located in Tempe, Arizona, paid $55.1 million to satisfy a judgment, concluding a decade of False Claims Act litigation. The judgment required the company to pay $16.1 million in damages and $36.8 million in civil penalties, plus post-judgment interest and costs. "The department will hold accountable contractors that knowingly overcharge t more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Operation Resulted in Seizure of Several Pit Bull-Type Dogs * * * A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today to possessing dogs at his home for participation in a dogfighting venture. John D. Murphy, 51, of Hanson, pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Murphy was indicted by a federal grand jury in M more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: * * * Defendant Admits He Acted as Courier Visiting Homes of Defrauded Elderly Victims * * * A New York man pleaded guilty yesterday to serving as a courier for a Dominican Republic-based "grandparent scam" that targeted elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 40, of the Bronx, New York, was charged in District of New Jersey with one count of wire fraud conspiracy for his role in the scam. According to more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following investigative summary (No. 25-003) on Oct. 24, 2024, entitled "Findings of Misconduct by an Assistant U.S. Attorney for Conduct Prejudicial to the Government and Misuse of Government Property." * * * The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation after receiving information from a local police department that an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) had used his governme more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following investigative summary (No. 25-008) on December 4, 2024, entitled "Findings of Misconduct by an Assistant U.S. Attorney for Lack of Candor:" * * * The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation after receiving information that an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) had engaged in misconduct. During its investigation, the OIG found indications that the AUSA lacked candor more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following investigative summary (No. 25-004) on Nov. 6, 2024, entitled "Findings of Misconduct by an FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination Against an Applicant Based on Applicant's Disability, and Lack of Candor and by an FBI Special Agent in Charge for Failing to Properly Report Harassment Allegations." * * * The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) ini more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General issued the following semiannual report to Congress, April 1, 2024 - Sept. 30, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * MESSAGE FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL It is my pleasure to submit this Semiannual Report to Congress on the operations of the U.S. Department of Justice (the Department or DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which covers the period from March 31, 2024, to September 30, 2024. Within the past 6 months, more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General issued the following report (No. xxx) on Nov. 25, 2024, entitled "Top Management and Performance Challenges." Here are excerpts: * * * Memorandum For: The Attorney General, The Deputy Attorney General From: Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General Subject: Top Management and Performance Challenges Report Attached to this memorandum is the Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) 2024 report on the top management a more PR

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Dec. 7 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky issued the following news release on Dec. 6, 2024: A four-count indictment was unsealed today charging Hang Sun, also known as Cody Sun, with conspiracy, wire fraud, smuggling, and a violation of the Arms Export Control Act for his role in an illegal scheme to send export-controlled defense-related technical data to China and to unlawfully supply the Department of Defense (DOD) with Chinese-orig more PR

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 -- The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund issued the following news on Dec. 2, 2024: Today, LDF sent a letter urging the Atlanta City Council to reject Resolution 24-R-4518 which recommends ill-conceived changes to the OIG's functions and would impede the Inspector General's independence and ability to investigate without interference. It is concerning that just three months after the sentencing of an official charged in the federal corruption probe,4 a task force is iss more PR

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 3 -- North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein issued the following news release on Dec. 2, 2024: Attorney General Josh Stein today announced a $2,505,000 settlement to resolve allegations that Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare Services, LLC, a behavioral health business in Lumberton and Maxton, and its owners, Bertha Hutchinson and Virgil Hutchinson, submitted false claims to the North Carolina Medicaid program. The settlement was reached in partnership with the more PR

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina issued the following news release on Dec. 2, 2024: United States Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. announced today that Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare Services, LLC ("Southeastern"), a behavioral health business in Lumberton and Maxton, and its owners Bertha Hutchinson and Virgil Hutchinson ("the Hutchinsons"), have agreed to pay $2,505,000.00 to settle civil allegations that they fal more PR

CONCORD, New Hampshire, Dec. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire issued the following news release: A Hudson man was sentenced today in federal court for stealing $342,650 in COVID-19 relief funds and attempting to steal an additional $150,000 U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Matthew Dispensa, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 21 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release. The defendant also agreed to resolve h more PR

ALBANY, New York, Dec. 6 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2024: * * * Hudson Valley and Capital Region Taxi Companies and Their Owners Plead Guilty to Illegally Overcharging Medicaid Millions in Fees for Transportation Services * * * NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that five individuals and their seven transportation companies have pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4.4 million from New York's Medica more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security issued the following news release on Dec. 3, 2024: LOS ANGELES - A San Bernardino County man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging that he exported to North Korea shipments of firearms, ammunition and other military items that were concealed inside shipping containers bound from Long Beach. Shenghua Wen, 41, of Ontario, is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has issued a 157-page annual report for 2024 in November 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR The Biden-Harris Administration remains dedicated to protecting and strengthening the retirement security of America's workers, retirees, and their families. Through two insurance programs, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is essential in making sure that American workers are paid the retirement benefits more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-New York, issued the following news release on Dec. 3, 2024: * * * On Tuesday AM, Rep. Torres holds press conference outside City Hall calling for action * * * On Monday, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) wrote to Lucy Lang, Inspector General of New York, and Christi Grimm, Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The letter reads as follows (https://d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/ritchietorres.house.gov/uplo more PR

FLORENCE, South Carolina, Dec. 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina issued the following news release: A federal grand jury in Florence returned a four-count indictment against Samual Earl Ramu, 33; Kathy Denise Roberts-Poston, 57; Michael Allen Dorsey, 56; Justin Allen Cox, 40; and Ryan Marie Lovell, 37, all of Florence, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The indictment alleges that the five  more PR

SPARTANBURG, South Carolina, Dec. 5 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina issued the following news release: The final defendant in an Upstate drug trafficking conspiracy, Jeffrey Michael Wilson, 54, of Commerce, Georgia, was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, after having served a prior federal sentence on similar charges. Evidence presented to the court showed that on Feb. 22, 2023, more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on Dec. 5, 2024: Today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan pressed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about the United States Postal Service (USPS)'s proposed plan to move postal operations from Manchester, New Hampshire to Boston and from White River Junction, Vermont to Hartford, Connecticut. Senator Hassan has repeatedly raised concerns about these plans, and previously worked with her colleagues to temporarily  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Dec. 3, 2024: * * * FTC and CFPB Announce New Actions to Limit the Sale of Americans' Private Information, Following Wyden's Efforts to Spotlight Abuses that Threaten Safety and National Security * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded two federal privacy regulators for announcing new actions to limit data brokers' ability to sell the personal data of regular Americans, including U.S. service m more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement from a Nov. 14, 2024, confirmation hearing for David Samuel Johnson to be inspector general for tax administration at the Treasury Department: * * * First, on Mr. Johnson's background. This is a non-partisan, down-the-middle nominee for a position that requires exactly that type of individual. Mr. Johnson currently serves as the Assistant Inspector General for Investigati more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by David Samuel Johnson, President Biden's nominee to be inspector general for tax administration at the Treasury Department, from a Nov. 14, 2024, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Wyden, Ranking Member Crapo, and distinguished Members of this Committee: I am honored to appear before you today for consideration to be the Inspector General for Tax Administration at the Department of the Treasury. I want to  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following remarks from a Nov. 14, 2024, confirmation hearing for David Samuel Johnson to be inspector general for tax administration at the Treasury Department: * * * "Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to our nominee, Mr. Johnson. Congratulations on your nomination and thank you for your willingness to serve. "This position you have been nominated for carries great responsibility.  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The Senate Finance Committee issued the following information for an executive session at 10 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2024, at 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building: Agenda: * Nomination of David Samuel Johnson, of Virginia, to be Inspector General for Tax Administration, Department of the Treasury Member Statements * Ron Wyden (D - OR) * Mike Crapo (R - ID) * * * Original text here: https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/open-executive-session-to-consider-favorably-reporting-t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee released the following testimony by Zack Smith, a senior legal fellow in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation, from a Nov. 13, 2024, hearing entitled "How Bump Stocks and Other Conversion Devices are Amplifying the Gun Violence Epidemic": * * * Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Graham, and distinguished Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. My name i more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. questioned the United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on mail delays experienced across Kansas during a Senate Governmental Affairs hearing today. As a member of this committee, Senator Marshall has oversight of the USPS and continues to push for meaningful reform to address mail delays. During the hearing, Senator Marshall asked Postmaster General De more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Claudia Wigglesworth of Daleville as the December "Veteran of the Month." Excerpts from Senator Tuberville's remarks can be found below, and his complete remarks can be found here. "We often think of the holiday season as a time for giving. For Lieutenant Colonel Claudia Wigglesworth of Daleville, she exhibits this sp more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Army issued a notice in the Federal Register on Nov. 22, 2024, entitled "Performance Review Board Membership". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: Notice is given of the names of members of a Performance Review Board for the Department of the Army. DATES: Applicable November 5, 2024. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4314(c)(1) through (5) of title 5, U.S.C., requires each agency to establish, in accordance with regulations, one or more Senior Executive Ser more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release: Gen Digital Inc. (formerly known as Symantec Corp.), of Tempe, Arizona, paid $55.1 million to satisfy a judgment, concluding a decade of False Claims Act litigation. The judgment required the company to pay $16.1 million in damages and $36.8 million in civil penalties, plus post-judgment interest and costs. The judgement was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the  more PR

RICHMOND, Virginia, Dec. 4 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release on Dec. 3, 2024: Two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers pled guilty to, and a third soldier was charged with, obtaining fraudulent loans through a COVID-19 relief program while stationed at Fort Gregg-Adams. Major Eduwell Jenkins, 42, pled guilty today to defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) by obtaining a fraudulent loan through the Paycheck Protection more PR

SPOKANE, Washington, Dec. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington issued the following news release: On December 5, 2024, United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Tyler Keith Andrews, age 39, of Russellville, Arkansas, to 196 months in federal prison in connection to a scheme to obtain millions of dollars in COVID-19 funds by directing, assisting, facilitating, and submitting false and fraudulent loan applications. Judge Rice also imposed 3 years more PR