Federal Executive Branch
Here's a look at documents from the U.S. Executive Branch
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TVA Turbines at Johnsonville Ready to Meet Winter Demand
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Tennessee Valley Authority issued the following news release:
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TVA Turbines at Johnsonville Ready to Meet Winter Demand
Release Summary
* TVA officially dedicated 10 new state-of-the-art aeroderivative natural gas units at Johnsonville on Monday, November 17.
* These units are online in time for peak demand this winter. Along with existing combustion turbine natural gas units, the Johnsonville site includes more than 1,300 megawatts of reliable, flexible generation.
* Editor's Note - Click here for interviews, b-roll and photo gallery (https://storestuff.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/14125_164831949?response-content-disposition=attachment%3B%20filename%3D%22Johnsonville%2520Release%2520Content.zip%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Johnsonville%2520Release%2520Content.zip&AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAVSTDGYGYUYHTGN4D&Expires=1763449287&Signature=cNLq%2BvYxzL3s2C0J823tBBVKuHw%3D).
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KNOXVILLE,
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Tennessee Valley Authority issued the following news release:
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TVA Turbines at Johnsonville Ready to Meet Winter Demand
Release Summary
* TVA officially dedicated 10 new state-of-the-art aeroderivative natural gas units at Johnsonville on Monday, November 17.
* These units are online in time for peak demand this winter. Along with existing combustion turbine natural gas units, the Johnsonville site includes more than 1,300 megawatts of reliable, flexible generation.
* Editor's Note - Click here for interviews, b-roll and photo gallery (https://storestuff.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/14125_164831949?response-content-disposition=attachment%3B%20filename%3D%22Johnsonville%2520Release%2520Content.zip%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Johnsonville%2520Release%2520Content.zip&AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAVSTDGYGYUYHTGN4D&Expires=1763449287&Signature=cNLq%2BvYxzL3s2C0J823tBBVKuHw%3D).
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KNOXVILLE,Tenn. - As the energy landscape evolves and seasonal demands intensify, the Tennessee Valley Authority is reinforcing its commitment to building more American energy with the official dedication of 10 new state-of-the-art aeroderivative natural gas units at its Johnsonville site. The dedication ceremony, held Monday, November 17, featured TVA President and CEO Don Moul alongside state, local, and federal officials and local power providers.
"This is more than a milestone for TVA, it's a promise kept to power the region, strengthen the economy, and serve the people who call this Valley region home," said Moul. "TVA is building the energy system that will power next-generation industries and technologies - one that is flexible, resilient, and ready to meet the evolving needs of our communities. These new units represent our long-term vision for a more reliable grid that supports economic growth and energy security across the Southeast."
The new turbines, located west of Nashville, add 530 megawatts of fast-start, flexible generation capacity--enough to power approximately 300,000 homes. Combined with 14 existing combustion turbine units, the Johnsonville site can deliver more than 1,300 megawatts of dispatchable power to TVA's grid, which serves more than 10 million people across seven southeastern states.
The Johnsonville units are TVA's first deployment of aeroderivative gas technology, designed to ramp up or down quickly to meet fluctuating demand. These units have already proven their value during the summer's extreme heat and are now positioned to support peak winter demand.
TVA's strategic foresight extends beyond Johnsonville. Construction is underway on 16 additional aeroderivative units at the Kingston Energy Complex in Roane County, Tennessee. In total, TVA is building approximately 6,200 megawatts of new generation capacity--over 3,500 megawatts of which are already under construction, enough to power 2 million homes.
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About TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation's largest public power supplier, delivering energy to more than 10 million people across seven southeastern states. TVA has one of the most diverse energy systems - including nuclear, hydro, coal, gas, solar and advanced technologies. TVA is making significant investments in its power system toward new generation and transmission.
TVA is a corporate agency of the United States, receiving no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. TVA maintains some of the lowest energy costs and highest reliability in the nation. TVA's residential rates are lower than those paid by 80% of customers of the top 100 U.S. utilities, and its industrial rates are lower than those paid by over 90% of customers of the top 100 U.S. utilities. In addition, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation. Learn more at tva.com.
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Original text here: https://www.tva.com/news-media/releases/new-tva-turbines-at-johnsonville-ready-to-meet-winter-demand
State Dept.: Terrorist Designations of Cartel De Los Soles
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. State Department posted the following statement on Nov. 16, 2025, by Secretary Marco Rubio on the terrorist designations of Cartel de los Soles:
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The Department of State intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), effective November 24, 2025. Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela's military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary.
Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela's legitimate
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. State Department posted the following statement on Nov. 16, 2025, by Secretary Marco Rubio on the terrorist designations of Cartel de los Soles:
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The Department of State intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), effective November 24, 2025. Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela's military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary.
Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela's legitimategovernment. Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.
The United States will continue using all available tools to protect our national security interests and deny funding and resources to narco-terrorists.
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Today's action is taken pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register. Cartel de los Soles was previously designated by the Department of the Treasury pursuant to Executive Order 13224
[https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0207].
Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/11/terrorist-designations-of-cartel-de-los-soles/
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Conspiracy
PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine posted the following news release:
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Conspiracy
Rocky Buth distributed approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine pills
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A Lowell, Massachusetts, man pleaded guilty on November 12, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing methamphetamine.
According to court records, Rocky Buth, 32, was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between November 2024 and
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PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine posted the following news release:
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Conspiracy
Rocky Buth distributed approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine pills
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A Lowell, Massachusetts, man pleaded guilty on November 12, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing methamphetamine.
According to court records, Rocky Buth, 32, was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between November 2024 andJanuary 2025. In late November 2024, an FBI confidential source met with Buth and a co-conspirator in southern Maine and received approximately 220 grams of methamphetamine pills. On two subsequent dates in December 2024 and January 2025, Buth provided the FBI source with approximately 361 grams of methamphetamine pills and 419 grams of methamphetamine pills, respectively.
Buth faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10 million fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Portland Police Department, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
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Editor's Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/massachusetts-man-pleads-guilty-methamphetamine-conspiracy
Hammond Man Indicted for False Statements and Theft of Government Funds Related to The Cares Act
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana posted the following news release:
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Hammond Man Indicted for False Statements and Theft of Government Funds Related to The Cares Act
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to the government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
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Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DARRELL HARLAND ("HARLAND"), age 43, of Hammond, Louisiana, was charged on October 15, 2025
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NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana posted the following news release:
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Hammond Man Indicted for False Statements and Theft of Government Funds Related to The Cares Act
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to the government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
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Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DARRELL HARLAND ("HARLAND"), age 43, of Hammond, Louisiana, was charged on October 15, 2025in a bill of information for making false statements and for theft of government funds related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the CARES Act, which provided emergency assistance, administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), to small business owners affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. One of the primary sources of funding for small businesses was the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to the charging documents, on or about April 19, 2021, HARLAND, on behalf of a business that he owned, made false statements to an approved lender to obtain approximately $20,833 for an SBA backed PPP loan. Then, on or about April 8, 2020, HARLAND committed theft from the government when he obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan in the amount of $127,200 from the SBA based upon false declarations about the number of employees and gross revenues.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If found guilty, HARLAND faces up to five years in prison for the false statement count and up to ten years in prison for the money laundering count. All of the counts include up to $250,000 in fines, up to three years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
For more information on the Department of Justice's response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/hammond-man-indicted-false-statements-and-theft-government-funds-related-cares-act
Greene Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking
PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine posted the following news release:
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Greene Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking
John Labbe carried a handgun while distributing drugs
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A Greene man was sentenced on October 8, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced John Labbe, 44, to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years
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PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine posted the following news release:
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Greene Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking
John Labbe carried a handgun while distributing drugs
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A Greene man was sentenced on October 8, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced John Labbe, 44, to 120 months in prison followed by 5 yearsof supervised release. Labbe pleaded guilty on July 1, 2025.
According to court records, in January 2025, Lewiston police officers approached and detained Labbe after they observed him operating a vehicle unlawfully. Officers recovered from Labbe a handgun with a laser sight. Inside a backpack he was wearing, officers found quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base. A later search of Labbe's cell phone revealed communications in which he arranged for the distribution of controlled substances.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, with the assistance of the Lewiston Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Attorney General's Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Editor's Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated, but the press release was not published at that time due to the federal government shutdown. The release was posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/greene-man-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-armed-drug-trafficking
Brad D. Schimel Appointed as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin posted the following news release:
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Brad D. Schimel Appointed as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Brad D. Schimel has been appointed as the Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. United States Attorney Schimel was appointed to the position by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Today, Mr. Schimel has taken the oath of office - administered by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Pamela Pepper.
As Interim United States
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MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin posted the following news release:
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Brad D. Schimel Appointed as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Brad D. Schimel has been appointed as the Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. United States Attorney Schimel was appointed to the position by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Today, Mr. Schimel has taken the oath of office - administered by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Pamela Pepper.
As Interim United StatesAttorney, Mr. Schimel is the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He supervises the prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters for the United States within the district. He leads an office of approximately 82 prosecutors, civil litigators, support personnel and professional staff members.
Mr. Schimel said, "I am deeply honored to be appointed Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. For more than three and a half decades, public service has been my calling - first as a young prosecutor in Waukesha County, then as District Attorney, Attorney General, and most recently as a judge. In every one of those roles, I've had the privilege of working alongside dedicated professionals who believe, as I do, that justice isn't just a system - it's a promise we make to the people we serve.
I want to thank everyone who has placed their trust in me once again. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead an office filled with exceptional attorneys, investigators, and staff whose work often goes unseen, but whose impact is felt every single day in communities across this district. I am well aware that the word "interim" appears in front of my title. I am optimistic that this will become a longer-term opportunity, but whatever the case, I intend to work hard to support the team here to do great things for the people we serve."
Richard G. Frohling, who had served in an acting capacity, will return to his position as First Assistant United States Attorney.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr/brad-d-schimel-appointed-interim-united-states-attorney-eastern-district-wisconsin
Baltimore Woman Sentenced For Money Laundering And Wire Fraud Scheme
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland posted the following news release:
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Baltimore Woman Sentenced For Money Laundering And Wire Fraud Scheme
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Lakeisha Parker, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, including six months of home detention, for her role in a large, multi-member money laundering conspiracy. Judge Maddox also ordered Parker to pay more than $8 million in restitution.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland posted the following news release:
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Baltimore Woman Sentenced For Money Laundering And Wire Fraud Scheme
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Lakeisha Parker, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, including six months of home detention, for her role in a large, multi-member money laundering conspiracy. Judge Maddox also ordered Parker to pay more than $8 million in restitution.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for theDistrict of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) - Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG).
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act -- a federal law enacted in March 2020 -- provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives financial assistance including forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. Established by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) -- administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) -- along with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), helped businesses meet their financial obligations. An EIDL advance does not have to be repaid, and small businesses can receive an advance, even if they are not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount is $10,000.
On July 22, 2025, Parker pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of her plea agreement, Parker admitted that beginning in 2019, and continuing into November 2023, she conspired with Adanegbe Gift Osenmwenkhae, Yahya Sowe, aka "Cash," Gedeon Agbeyome, Victor Killen, Areal Harris, Bright Boateng, Faizou Gnora, Emily Gil Arias, Fatoumata Boiro, Lawrence Ogunsanwo, Martin Ogisi, Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, Kevin Colon, Lorena Perez Herrera, and others to launder proceeds of a large-scale wire fraud. The co-conspirators engaged in various financial transactions to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the wire-fraud proceeds, while carrying out the wire-fraud schemes. Parker also admitted to laundering money obtained from fraudulent loan applications for COVID-19 relief benefits from the EIDL program.
Victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others. Parker personally laundered more than $1 million of fraud proceeds.
According to the plea agreement, Parker created a limited liability company to serve as a shell entity, opening at least five bank accounts in its name, and then used it to receive and launder fraud proceeds. Parker also used and controlled several different encrypted electronic communication accounts to coordinate with co-conspirators.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department's response to the pandemic, please visit justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud/Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force, IRS-CI, and EPA-OIG for their assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Bijon A. Mostoufi, and Jared M. Beim, who are prosecuting the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber, for her assistance.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/baltimore-woman-sentenced-money-laundering-and-wire-fraud-scheme
