TACOMA, Washington, Nov. 17 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Tessa M. Gorman, issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: A woman who was part owner and CEO of Tacoma Baking Co. pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud in connection with nearly $350,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jessica Heinlein, aka Jessica DeVisser, obtained three loans using fraudulent   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Peter Kurdock, General Counsel, and Shaun Kildare, Senior Director of Research, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, have issued a public comment to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The comment was written and posted on Oct. 30, 2023. The comment was on Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0003. * * * Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) files these comments in response to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulema  more

MOBILE, Alabama, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, Sean P. Costello, issued the following news release: A federal jury convicted a Mobile woman this week for conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of a United States Postal Service ("USPS") key. According to court documents and evidence presented at a three-day trial, Kristen Arieale Williams, 31, was employed as a mail carrier at the post office in Prichard. The jury heard evidence that in  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Alliance for Connected Care issued the following news: The Alliance for Connected Care submitted a statement for the record to the Senate Finance Committee, Subcommittee on Health for the hearing, "Ensuring Medicare Beneficiary Access: A Path to Telehealth Permanency." The Alliance focused its comments on: * Recommendations for a permanent telehealth expansion that Congress should consider, including steps to ensure equitable access; * Other non-Medicare recommenda  more

ARNOLD AFB, Tennessee, Nov. 16 -- The U.S. Air Force Arnold Air Force Base issued the following news: By Bradley Hicks, AEDC Public Affairs Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Like others in their line of work, those in the Arnold Air Force Base Office of the Inspector General heed this advice. It is their adherence to this adage that led them to coordinate an active shooter exercise on Sept. 28 at Arnold AFB, headquarters of Arnold Engineering Development Complex. The primary purpo  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- AXON ENTERPRISE, Scottsdale, Arizona, won a federal contract award for $406,645 from the Department of the Treasury Inspector General for fedramp body cameras. Contract Award Number: 2031LL23C00001; ueiSAM: TBW7MGPYURM7; NAICS Code: 334310; Product Service Code (PSC): 5836; Solicitation Number: 2031LL23C00001  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release: The HHS Language Access Plan is a critical step toward making health care and human services accessible to all; it represents a commitment to equal opportunities and improved health care for all Americans. Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took the next step in working to ensure greater access to the life-saving services that it provides for people with Limited  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement following reports of a toxic work culture at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). "The reports are extremely concerning. I am calling for the FDIC's Office of the Inspector General to conduct an independent and thorough investigation  more

LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Attorney for Central District of California, Martin Estrada, issued the following news release: Prema Thekkek, her Vacaville-based management company, Paksn Inc., and six skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) owned by Thekkek and/or operated by Paksn have agreed to enter into a $45.6 million consent judgment to resolve allegations that they submitted or caused the submission of false claims to Medicare by paying kickbacks to physicians to induce patient   more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Ismail J. Ramsey, issued the following news release on Nov. 13, 2023: A federal grand jury has indicted Tjoman Buditaslim (a/k/a "Joe Lim"), Travis Holasek, Jose Alfonso Tellez, and Jose De Jesus Martinez, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a years-long mortgage fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Ismael J. Ramsey and Special  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Supporting Seniors with Opioid Use Disorder Act. This bipartisan legislation would implement recommendations from a 2021 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report, along with a follow-up 2022 report, both of which found Medicare beneficiaries face challenges accessi  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Republican Finance Committee members called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for greater accountability, transparency and a detailed explanation of specific steps it is taking to address security weaknesses at the agency in a letter to IRS Commissioner Werfel. The letter comes in the wake of continued oversight reports revealing serious d  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following remarks on Nov. 16, 2023, by Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero at the Consumer Federation of America's Financial Services conference: * * * It's an honor to speak at your Financial Services Conference. You are an important voice in Washington, a leader advocating for sensible financial regulation for consumers. I'm proud to join you in advancing consumer protection. Today, I will talk about how financial   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced the Supporting Seniors with Opioid Use Disorder Act. This bipartisan legislation would implement recommendations from a 2021 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report, along with a follow-up 2022 report, both of which found Medicare beneficiaries face challenges accessing  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Rep. Norma J. Torres, D-California, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) - a member of the House Appropriations Committee - sent a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General Robert P. Storch to request the Inspector General review the Defense Department's Military Criminal Investigative Organizations (MCIOs) and their efforts to deliver justice for victims like Army Spc. Enrique Roman-Martinez. The Congre  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board has issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on Nov. 20, 2023, entitled "Senior Executive Service Performance Review Board." The notice was issued by Joyce Connery, Chair. * * * SUMMARY: This notice announces the membership of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Senior Executive Service (SES) Performance Review Board (PRB). DATES: These appointments are effective on November 30, 2023. ADDRESSES:   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has issued a proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on Nov. 17, 2023, entitled "Inapplicability of Additional Defense-Unique Laws and Certain Non-Statutory Clauses to Commercial Item Contracts." The proposed rule was issued by Jennifer D. Johnson, Editor/Publisher. COMMENT DEADLINE: January 16, 2024 * * * SUMMARY: DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to impl  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news release: The Department of Defense (DoD) fiscal year 2023 audit of the Department's consolidated financial statements resulted in a disclaimer of opinion. Of the 29 Components undergoing standalone financial statement audits, seven received an unmodified audit opinion, and one received a qualified opinion. The results of the financial statement audits of the U.S. Marine Corps, the Defense Information Systems Agency   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General issued the following news on Nov. 16, 2023: Inspector General (IG) Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) released the "Report of Investigation: Mr. Jacques T. Grimes, SES, former Director, Commonwealth and Partner Engagement, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence and Security)." The report substantiates misconduct alleg  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The Defense Inspector General issued the following report on Nov. 15, 2023, entitled "FY 2024 Top Management and Performance Challenges." Here are excerpts: * * * The DoD Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) is required by statute to prepare an annual statement on the most serious management and performance challenges facing the DoD, and on the DoD's progress to address those challenges. I am pleased to submit the FY 2024 Top DoD Management and Performance Challenges (  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Nov. 16 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is making progress toward the goal of a clean audit, said Michael J. McCord, the undersecretary of defense comptroller and DOD's chief financial officer. McCord briefed the press yesterday on the results of the massive audit of the department -- the sixth since 2018. Getting a clean audit   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news: By Jim Garamone, DOD News The Defense Department is making progress toward the goal of a clean audit, said Michael J. McCord, the undersecretary of defense comptroller and DOD's chief financial officer. McCord briefed the press yesterday on the results of the massive audit of the department -- the sixth since 2018. Getting a clean audit is crucial so leaders can manage and lead the department. DOD is one of the  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. QC2024006) on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Quality Control Review of the Independent Auditor's Report on the Federal Aviation Administration's Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for Fiscal 2023 and 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * What We Looked At We contracted with the independent public accounting firm KPMG, LLP to audit the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) consolidated financial st  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. QC2024003) on Nov. 13, 2023, entitled "Quality Control Review of the Independent Auditor's Report on the National Transportation Safety Board's Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal 2023 and 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * What We Looked At We contracted with the independent public accounting firm Allmond & Company, LLC (Allmond), to audit the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) fin  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. QC2024004) on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Quality Control Review of the Independent Auditor's Report on the Surface Transportation Board's Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal 2023 and 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * What We Looked At We contracted with the independent public accounting firm Allmond & Company, LLC (Allmond), to audit the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) financial statements  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. QC2024005) on Nov. 13, 2023, entitled "Quality Control Review on the Independent Auditor's Report on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation's Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal 2023 and 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * What We Looked At We contracted with the independent public accounting firm Allmond & Company LLC (Allmond) to audit the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: San Francisco, California - The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis today announced the EXIM Board of Directors' approval of an historic $169 million dollar loan to BETA Technologies, a Burlington, Vermont-based company, which manufactures electric aircraft and charging infrastructure, to finance a net-zero Final Assembly   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest: * * * Commission meetings and hearings On November 14 and 16, the Commission met in executive session. On November 16, the Commission held an open meeting. * * * Advisory Opinions Opinion issued Advisory Opinion 2023-07 (https://www.fec.gov/data/legal/advisory-opinions/2023-07/) (Upshur County Republican Executive Committee) On November 16, the Commission approved an advisory opinion in response to  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C.--In the wake of continued oversight reports revealing serious data security concerns at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the recent indictment of an IRS consultant for the disclosure of private individuals' tax information, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Republicans, led by Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), called on the IRS for greater accountability, transparency and a detailed explana  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: In the wake of continued oversight reports revealing serious data security concerns at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the recent indictment of an IRS consultant for the disclosure of private individuals' tax information, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Republicans, led by Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), called on the IRS for greater accountability, trans  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and fellow Senate Finance Committee Republicans are demanding the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provide the specific steps it is taking to address security weaknesses at the agency. The lawmakers' latest call for greater transparency and accountability comes amid oversight reports of data security concerns and an IRS consultant's indictment for disclosing private individuals  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-North Carolina, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release: The Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Patrick McHenry (NC-10), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Bill Huizenga (MI-04), and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy, Andy Barr (KY-06), sent a letter to FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg informing him of the Comm  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Nov. 18 -- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued the following news release: Attorney General Ashley Moody's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is announcing the arrest of the owner of a home and community-based services company for Medicaid provider fraud. Leslie Diane Minor, owner of Minors Helping Hands Support Services, allegedly caused a loss of more than $12,000 to Florida Medicaid for billing for services never rendered. Attorney General Ashley Moody said, "This ho  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Nov. 15 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following quality assessment review (No. 2024-049) on Nov. 3, 2023, involving Department of Juvenile Justice - Office of Inspector General, Internal Audit Activity. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY In our opinion, the quality assurance and improvement program related to the Department of Juvenile Justice, Office of Inspector General's internal audit activity was adequately designed and complied with during the review p  more

TAMPA, Florida, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Roger B. Handberg, issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces today that 4 Corners Pharmacy, located in Spring Hill, Florida, has agreed to pay $800,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing the U.S. Department of Labor for a compound supplement that was either not ordered by a licensed healthcare provider or was  more

TAMPA, Florida, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Roger B. Handberg, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2023: Three men were sentenced today in connection to a $54 million bribery and kickback scheme involving TRICARE, a federal program that provides health insurance benefits to active duty and retired service members and their families. David Byron Copeland, 55, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison following  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (TNSrpt) -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: The Federal Trade Commission issued its Fiscal Year 2023 Agency Financial Report. The report highlights the FTC's accomplishments in protecting consumers and promoting competition and reaffirms the agency's commitment to responsible stewardship of resources and sound financial operations. This report, required by the Office of Management and Budget, includes annual audited financial  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan K. Buchanan, issued the following news release: Brett Weiner and Valerie Desalvo have pled guilty to federal conspiracy charges for their role in buying and selling fake doctors' orders used to obtain over $1.5 million in fraudulent payments from Medicare. "Durable Medical Equipment fraud schemes involve much more than simply bilking the Medicare system," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. "These scheme  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan K. Buchanan, issued the following news release: A Texas man and owner of two durable medical equipment companies has pleaded guilty to conspiracy for his role in a scheme to pay illegal kickbacks, resulting in more than $20 million submitted in claims to, and $11 million in payment from, Medicare. "Medicare is a vital program that exists to assist our most vulnerable citizens," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K.   more

GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Air Force Goodfellow Air Force Base (17th Training Wing) issued the following news: Goodfellow Air Force Base Airmen demonstrated total force integration during the most recent active shooter emergency response exercise, Nov. 16. Exercises are pivotal in aligning all elements on Goodfellow to respond to disasters as a unified command. The 17th Training Wing is committed to maintaining the highest level of preparedness to ensure the safety of its perso  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Government Accountability Project and Public Citizen have issued a public comment to the U.S. Department of Labor. The comment was written on Nov. 7, 2023, and posted on Nov. 8, 2023. The comment, on Docket No. OSHA-2018-0005, was sent to James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. * * * Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the administration of whistleblower s  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON--United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today in a hearing obtained a commitment from Cardell Richardson Sr., nominee to be the State Department's Inspector General to proceed, if confirmed, "independently, expeditiously, and with appropriate transparency" as the Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigates conduct related to  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Health and Human Services Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. A-03-22-00206) on Nov. 8, 2023, entitled "Pennsylvania Could Better Ensure That Nursing Homes Comply With Federal Requirements for Life Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Infection Control" filed under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Here are excerpts: * * * Report in Brief Why OIG Did This Audit In 2016, CMS updated its life safety and emergency preparedness regula  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, urged the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, to take steps to improve the way the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) handles major disasters across the services. "Over the last half decade, the Department of Defense has experienced a spate of major disaster  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-North Carolina, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release: The House Financial Services Committee, led by Chairman Patrick McHenry (NC-10), is holding a hearing to conduct oversight of the prudential regulators. Republican lawmakers will address the regulators' harmful Basel III endgame proposal, ceding of regulatory authority to global governance bodies, failure to adhere to statutory rulemaking proce  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-North Carolina, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 16, 2023: * * * The Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Patrick McHenry (NC-10), issued the following statement regarding allegations of widespread and entrenched misconduct within the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), including by Chairman Martin Gruenberg. "Chairman Gruenberg has a lot of explaining to do. Ye  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-North Carolina, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release: The Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Patrick McHenry (NC-10), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Bill Huizenga (MI-04), and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy, Andy Barr (KY-06) sent a letter to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Federal  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy issued the following testimony by Bryan Bashur, director of financial policy at Americans for Tax Reform, involving a hearing on Nov. 7, 2023, entitled "The Tangled Web of Global Governance: How the Biden Administration is Ceding Authority Over American Financial Regulation": * * * Chairman Barr (R-Ky.), Ranking Member Foster (D-Ill.), and members of the subcommittee, thank you for th  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, issued the following news release: 11 of Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's bipartisan amendments to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill passed the House. In addition, 14 of Congresswoman Boebert's appropriations requests were included in the base bill. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) said, "Redirecting wasteful spending in the bill to important Third Congressional District prioriti  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance issued the following testimony by Bureau of Prisons Director Colette S. Peters involving a hearing on Nov. 7, 2023, on the oversight of the agency: * * * Good morning, Chairman Biggs, Ranking Member Jackson Lee, and Members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate this opportunity to discuss the significant mission and the impactful work happening at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP or Bureau). I a  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity issued the following testimony by Margarita Devlin, deputy assistant secretary of Labor for operations and management, involving a hearing on Nov. 2, 2023, on veteran programs and services related legislation: * * * Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Levin, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify at today's legislative hearing. The mission of the Department o  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations issued the following testimony by Joe Spielberger, policy counsel at the Project On Government Oversight, at an oversight hearing on Nov. 2, 2023, entitled "Trust in Transparency: Holding VA Accountable and Protecting Whistleblowers": * * * Chairwoman Kiggans, Ranking Member Mrvan, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on whistleblower protection and account  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations issued the following testimony by Bruce Gipe, acting assistant secretary in the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, at an oversight hearing on Nov. 2, 2023, entitled "Trust in Transparency: Holding VA Accountable and Protecting Whistleblowers": * * * Good Morning Chairwoman Kiggans, Ranking Member Mrvan and distinguished Members of the Su  more

BOISE, Idaho, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho, Joshua D. Hurwit, issued the following new release: A federal jury in Boise convicted a Georgia woman today for fraudulently obtaining and misusing a $338,958 Paycheck Protection Program loan that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Relief Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Khadijah X. Chapman, 59, of Atlanta, worked with   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Nov. 17 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on Nov. 16, 2023, involving Legislative Inspector General. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION The Office of the Legislative Inspector General (Office) was created in November 2003 by the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (Act) (5 ILCS 430/25 et seq.). There were no material findings of noncompliance disclosed during our examination. * * * ACCOUNTANT'S OPINION The accountan  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Nov. 18 (TNSres) -- The Illinois Senate Republicans issued the following news: A historically high number of complaints were reported in the annual Executive Inspector General's report for Fiscal Year 2023. The 66-page report, reveals that 3,078 complaints were filed and 450 investigations were opened based on the information received by the OEIG. The Office of the Executive Inspector General oversees public agencies and officials holding jurisdiction over state agencies suc  more

HAMMOND, Indiana, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Clifford D. Johnson, issued the following news release: United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson and Purdue University announced a pre-suit settlement resolving allegations that an associate professor of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology in Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine falsified documentation provided to the National Institutes of Health and Department of the Army. The university will pay the governm  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2023: Three men were sentenced today in connection to a $54 million bribery and kickback scheme involving TRICARE, a federal program that provides health insurance benefits to active duty and retired service members and their families. David Byron Copeland, 55, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison following his conviction at trial in June for paying an  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: A Florida man was sentenced today to four years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $21.7 million in restitution for his role in a health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy that resulted in over $50 million in false and fraudulent claims being submitted to Medicare. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven King, 45, of Miramar, was the chief compliance  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: A federal jury in Boise, Idaho, convicted a Georgia woman today for fraudulently obtaining and misusing a $338,958 Paycheck Protection Program loan that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Khadijah X. Chapman, 59, of Atlanta, worked with co-conspirators to falsi  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: A doctor and a clinic owner were sentenced yesterday for their roles in a pill mill scheme. Jonathan Rosenfield, M.D., 40, of Atlanta, and Elmer Taylor, 44, of Houston, were sentenced to 10 and 12 years in prison, respectively, following their guilty pleas to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances. According to court documents, Rosenfield owned, operated, a  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2023: A former Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) correctional officer was sentenced today to 96 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sexually abusing multiple female inmates and making false statements while he was a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin, California. Andrew Jones, 36, of Clovis, California, pleaded guilty to the   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-007) on Nov. 15, 2023, entitled "Office of Justice Programs Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Grant Awarded to the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, Hartford, Connecticut." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary Objectives The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (CT OPM) one grant totali  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: Two Lawrence men have been sentenced in federal court in Boston for conspiring to distribute fentanyl to individuals at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Deiby Bladimil Casado Ruiz, 30, was sentenced on Nov. 1, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Pedro Anto  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General issued the following news: This Lead Inspector General (Lead IG) report to the United States Congress is the 8th report on Operation Enduring Sentinel (OES). The report summarizes significant events involving OES and describes completed, ongoing, and planned Lead IG and partner agency oversight work. This report covers the period from July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023. During the quarter, t  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron, issued the following news release: Michael Akame Ngwese Ay Makoge, a/k/a "Hype" and "2Hype", age 28, of Laurel, Maryland pleaded guilty yesterday to a wire fraud conspiracy and to aggravated identity theft, in relation to a Maryland and California unemployment insurance scheme totaling more than $1.5 million. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following transcript of a news briefing on Nov. 15, 2023, by Michael J. McCord, Under Secretary of Defense, Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer on the results of FY 2023 department-wide financial statement audit: * * * STAFF: Okay, good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for being here and to those on the phone as well. I'm Christopher Sherwood, I'll be moderating the press briefing and follow-on discussion. The topic of today'  more

MOODY AFB, Georgia, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Air Force Moody Air Force Base (23rd Air Wing) issued the following news: By Staff Sgt. John Crampton, 23d Wing Public Affairs Observers from across Air Combat Command and beyond are attending Mosaic Tiger 24-1 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, from Nov. 13-17, 2023, to gain insight into how Moody is applying Agile Combat Employment and Mission Command concepts to its simulated deployed operations. Approximately 30 observers came from various wings to s  more

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Dena J. King, issued the following news release: A U.S. Postal Service employee and two co-conspirators have been arrested on federal charges for a scheme involving stolen checks worth over $24 million, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The federal indictment was unsealed following the defendants' initial court appearances. Nakedra Shannon, 29, Do  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release on Nov. 17, 2023: A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man admitted that he conspired to illegally obtain over $400,000 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Christopher Valerio, 33, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Nov. 16, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch to an information charging him wit  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release: A Middlesex County, New Jersey, woman was arrested on charges that she fraudulently obtained Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and unemployment insurance benefits totaling $694,212, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Damaris Valerio, 41, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with on  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, Nov. 16 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2023: An owner of several New Jersey businesses was charged with fraudulently obtaining over $3.2 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Daniel Dadoun, 47, formerly of South Plainfield, New Jersey, and who holds French, Canadian and Israeli passports, was charged by complaint w  more

TRENTON, New Jersey, Nov. 16 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2023: A Pennsylvania man admitted to his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $4.8 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for himself and others, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Darryl Duanne Young, aka "Darryl Duanne Isom Young," 60, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, plea  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Philip R. Sellinger, issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: A Sussex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 36 months in prison for defrauding several financial institutions and illegally obtaining more than $2 million in COVID-19 funding meant to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. John Jhong, 54, of Sparta, New Jersey, previously plead  more

BROOKLYN, New York, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, issued the following news release: Today, at the conclusion of a removal hearing, a federal court in Houston, Texas ordered Elmer Canales-Rivera, also known as "Crook de Hollywood," a high-ranking leader of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, to be transferred in custody to the Eastern District of New York where he and 13 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders were indicted in December 2020 on te  more

BUFFALO, New York, Nov. 13 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, Trini E. Ross, issued the following news release on Nov. 13, 2023: U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Angel Elliot Dalfin, 58, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of making a false document, was sentenced to serve five years' probation, to include eight months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Dalfin was also ordered to perform 600 hours of   more

NEW YORK, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, issued the following news release: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), announced the unsealing of a 34-Count Superseding Indictment charging 28 members and associates of the Young Gunnaz Gang ("YG"), including the gang's high-rank  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: SAN ANTONIO - A Nepali national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) passed away at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center (KCIPC) in Karnes City, Texas, Nov. 13. An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death. Subash Shrestha, 34, a citizen of Nepal, entered the United States at or near Lukeville, Arizona   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (TNSrep) -- The National Science Foundation Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-2-001) on Nov. 9, 2023, entitled "Performance Audit of Information Security Program for Fiscal 2023:" * * * At a Glance AUDIT OBJECTIVE The National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General engaged Kearney & Company, P.C. (Kearney) to conduct a performance audit of NSF's Information Security Program for fiscal year 2023, as required by the Federal Information Secu  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The White House Office of Management and Budget issued the following statement of administration policy on Nov. 13, 2023, on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 5893), which was introduced by Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas: * * * The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 5893, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year (FY) ending Septembe  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Eric G. Olshan, issued the following news release: A resident of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 20 months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release on her conviction for violating federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, U  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Eric G. Olshan, issued the following news release: A resident of Olanta, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction for violating federal narcotics and firearms laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and A  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Eric G. Olshan, issued the following news release: A resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Alleghen  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (TNSrpt) -- The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: * * * Financial Positions of PBGC Insurance Programs Continue to Strengthen * * * The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) today released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Annual Report. The report shows continued financial strength in PBGC's insurance programs. PBGC's Multiemployer Program had a positive net position of $1.5 billion at the end of FY 2023, compared with $1.1  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Mark D. Annas, Emergency Services Administrator and Urban Areas Security Initiative Administrator, Riverside Office of Emergency Management, California, has issued a public comment to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The comment was posted on Nov. 8, 2023. The comment was on Docket No. FEMA-02023-0024. * * * 1. How would you describe the cadence of FEMA preparedness grant programs communication to your stakeholder group? * How often is too often, and how infre  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2023: U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, today led a bipartisan hearing with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Subcommittee Chair, examining federal COVID-era spending. Senator Romney's opening remarks and line of questioning shed light on the amount of waste, frau  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz today chaired a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to consider six nominees to the U.S. Department of State. The nominees include Jeffrey Prescott to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Charlie Crist to be U.S. Representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Sean Patrick Maloney to be U.S  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee - initiated an investigation with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) after being alerted by current and former VA employees of substantial evidence of mismanagement, creating a danger to the health and safety of veterans nationwide. "VA's history with secret waitin  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Martin Gruenberg, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), demanding answers into the alleged harassment and discrimination that went unpunished under his leadership. According to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal, the FDIC fostered a toxic workplace that perpetuated sexual harassment, misogyny, and other unacceptable   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 16, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement following reports of a toxic work culture at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). "The reports are extremely concerning. "I am calling for the FDIC's Office of the In  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, led 11 members of the Senate Banking and Housing Committee in calling for an independent investigation into the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) after reports that the agency has failed to fix a toxic culture of sexual haras  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation issued the following written testimony by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Rich Santa involving a hearing on Nov. 9, 2023, entitled "Addressing Close Calls to Improve Aviation Safety": * * * Thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, AFL-CIO (NATCA) at today's hearing titled "Addr  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued the following information for a nominations hearing at 10 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2023, at 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building: Panel 1 * Mr. Jeffrey Prescott, of the District of Columbia, to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, with the rank of Ambassador * The Honorable Charlie Crist, of Florida, to be Representative of the United States of America on the Council of the International Civi  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to open an investigation into the use of the federal Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) to provide health   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, requested information from two of the largest community health center (CHC) systems as part of his ongoing investigation into how health care providers use revenue generated from the 340B Drug Pricing Program.   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, secured a commitment from Teamsters President Sean O'Brien to return $127 million in taxpayer dollars that was wrongfully paid to the Central States Pension Fund as part of the Democrats' pension bailout. The Ce  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBC), sent a letter today to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG). The letter asks for them to prioritize the $14 million funding request from the Biden administration for  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 16, 2023: * * * Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester issued the following statement today after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released its National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, revealing an increase in veteran suicides from 2020 to 2021: "The epidemic of suicide continues to do irreparable damage to families in   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following testimony by Tracey Therit, chief human capital officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security and Preparedness, involving a hearing on Oct. 25, 2023, entitled "VA Accountability and Transparency: A Cornerstone of Quality Care and Benefits for Veterans": * * * Good afternoon, Chairman Tester, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the Committee.  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee - initiated an investigation with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) after being alerted by current and former VA employees of substantial evidence of mismanagement, creating a danger to the health and safety of vete  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (TNSrep) -- The State Department Inspector General issued the following report entitled "Work Plan for Fiscal 2024." Here are excerpts: * * * Message from Acting Inspector General, Diana R. Shaw I am pleased to present the Office of Inspector General's (OIG) work plan for FY 2024. Our annual plan identifies audits, inspections, evaluations, investigations, and other activities planned to advance OIG's oversight mission and serves as a catalyst for positive change within t  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Cara Simaga, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, Stericycle Inc., Bannockburn, Illinois, has issued a public comment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The comment was written on Nov. 10, 2023, and posted on Nov. 14, 2023. The comment was on Docket No. EPA--HQ--OAR--2004--0489. * * * Stericycle, Inc. (Stericycle) is a leading provider of compliance-based solutions that protect people, promote health, and safeguard the environment. Stericycle specializes in th  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Steve Ellis, President, Taxpayers for Common Sense, has issued a public comment to the U.S. Department of Energy. The comment was written on Sept. 29, 2023, and posted on Nov. 8, 2023. The comment, on Docket No. DOE-HQ-2023-0054-0001, was sent to Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. * * * Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) respectfully submits the following comments in response to the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Manageme  more

FAIRCHILD AFB, Washington, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Air Force Fairchild Air Force Base (92nd Air Refueling Wing) issued the following news: Airmen assigned to the 92nd and the 141st Air Refueling Wings conducted exercise Titan Fury 24-1 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Nov. 13-17, 2023. During the exercise, Airmen demonstrated how various support activities contribute to mobilizing KC-135 Stratotankers at a moment's notice if called upon to support strategic deterrence and other National De  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Alamdar S. Hamdani, issued the following news release: A 48-year-old Katy resident has been sentenced to prison for defrauding Medicaid of more than $600,000, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Kay Le Farmer pleaded guilty March 22. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Farmer to serve 56 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing,  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on Nov. 17, 2023: Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston with allegedly scheming to defraud the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and collecting income that he failed to report to the IRS. Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on 25 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing fa  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 18 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on Nov. 17, 2023: A Worcester psychiatrist was convicted by a federal jury today of illegally prescribing controlled substances. Mohamad Och, 67, was convicted following an 11-day jury trial of three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2024. Och was arrested and  more

SAN DIEGO, California, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release: A federal grand jury has indicted a former civilian employee of the Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego and the owner of a Virginia-based defense contractor for a bribery scheme. According to the indictment, Phillip Flores, owner of Intellipeak Solutions, bribed James Soriano, the former employee, with free dinners at San Diego restaurants inclu  more

SAN DIEGO, California, Nov. 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: An indictment partially unsealed today charges 14 defendants with fraud and money laundering offenses for a scheme centered around fraudulent unemployment applications submitted to the California Employment Development Department during the pandemic. The indictment alleges the fraud netted the defendants almost $5.2 million in funds from t  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Agriculture Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 06403-0006-11) on Nov. 8, 2023, entitled "Commodity Credit Corporation's Financial Statements for Fiscal 2023 and 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * TO: Board of Directors, Commodity Credit Corporation Lucas Castillo, Chief Financial Officer, Farm Production and Conservation Business Center ATTN: Roy Brown, Acting Performance, Accountability, and Risk Division Director, Farm Production and   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Agriculture Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 05401-0015-11) on Nov. 8, 2023, entitled "Federal Crop Insurance Corporation/Risk Management Agency's Financial Statements for Fiscal 2023 and 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * OBJECTIVE The objectives of our audits were to review the FCIC/RMA's financial statements for fiscal years 2023 and 2022. Specifically, we determined whether: (1) the financial statements present information fairly,   more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, Trina A. Higgins, issued the following news release: A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a Utah resident with wire fraud after he allegedly lied about his criminal history when applying for multiple small business loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to court documents, Carter Lane Lucas, 47, of Herriman, Utah, defrauded the COVID-19 relief programs dubbed the Paycheck Prot  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 24-00821-01) on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Financial Efficiency Inspection of the VA Augusta Health Care System in Georgia." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts financial efficiency inspections to assess the oversight and stewardship of funds used by VA healthcare systems and to identify opportunities for achieving cost effic  more

ROANOKE, Virginia, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Christopher R. Kavanaugh, issued the following news release: A doctor from North Carolina, who was assigned to several pain clinics in Virginia but was rarely physically on-site at any of them, pled guilty this week in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Virginia. Wendell Lewis Randall, 70, of Millers Creek, North Carolina, conspired with others to use, in the course of dispensing and distributing   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news: Today, members of Virginia's congressional delegation wrote to the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to request an investigation into concerns raised by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the site selection process for a new FBI headquarters. The letter was signed by US Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Representativ  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, members of Virginia's congressional delegation wrote to the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to request an investigation into concerns raised by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the site selection process for a new FBI headquarters. The letter was signed by US Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Representatives Ger  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, members of Virginia's congressional delegation wrote to the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to request an investigation into concerns raised by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the site selection process for a new FBI headquarters. The letter was signed by US Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON- Today, members of Virginia's congressional delegation wrote to the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to request an investigation into concerns raised by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the site selection process for a new FBI headquarters. The letter was signed by US Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and Repre  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 16 -- The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources issued the following news release: The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) is dedicated to providing quality services at its health care facilities and will not tolerate patient abuse, neglect, or exploitation. To address recent issues with contract staff violating policies at William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital, DHHR will conduct an internal review and will meet with all vendo  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2023: On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-6) questioned Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko on the Biden Administration's Afghanistan policy after U.S. withdrawal during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. Watch the full exchange here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0fjNMOcYvI). Waltz questioned SIGAR Sopko about auditing the Special Immi  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Barry Jones, Supervisor, Cybersecurity Information Assurance, Western Area Power Administration, has issued a public comment to the Office of the National Cyber Director. The comment was posted on Nov. 7, 2023. The comment was on Docket No. ONCD-2023-0001-0001. Here are excerpts: * * * The following are the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) response to the request for information (RFI) regarding the harmonization of cybersecurity regulations. Foreword There ar  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2023: The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing today titled "Oversight of the U.S. General Services Administration." Members examined the operations of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and explored how the agency can achieve significant savings for taxpayers. Under the Biden Administration, federa  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - In the wake of continued oversight reports revealing serious data security concerns at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the recent indictment of an IRS consultant for the disclosure of private individuals' tax information, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Senate Finance Committee Republicans called on the IRS for greater accountability, transparency, and a detailed explanation of specifi  more