CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on Jan. 25, 2024: The owner of a suburban Chicago construction company has pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges for conspiring to bribe an employee of the Cook County Assessor's Office in return for favorable property assessments. ALEX NITCHOFF, 56, of Lemont, Ill., pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiring to corruptly give something of value to   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2024: A federal jury today convicted a woman and her two daughters on child labor trafficking charges for forcing two undocumented West African children to work in the Chicago suburbs. NAWOMI AWOGA, 75, of Hazel Crest, Ill., and her two daughters, MARINA OKE, also known as Marina Fandohan, 38, of Country Club Hills, Ill., and ASSIBA LEA FANDOHAN, 35,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families has proposed an information collection entitled "Application Requirements for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Model Plan." The notice was issued by Mary B. Jones, ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer. * * * SUMMARY: The Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting to exten  more

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, Jan. 25 -- The U.S. Air Force Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (16th Air Force) issued the following news: JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - The Air Force Reserve Command Inspector General's team completed its final on-site visit to the 340th Flying Training Group Jan. 16-19, 2024. The group was last inspected in 2018, outside of the normal two- to three-year inspection cycle, which is why the group earned an OSV in lieu of a Unit Effectiveness Ins  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General issued the following news on Jan. 23, 2024: Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General released the "Audit of the DoD's Plans to Address Longstanding Issues with Outdated Financial Management Systems." The report highlights enduring concerns with the DoD's financial management systems. These financial management systems must provide  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (TNSres) -- Better Markets, an organization that says it promotes pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies to help build a better financial system, issued the following statement on Jan. 22, 2024: * * * Dennis Kelleher, Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Better Markets, released the following statement in connection with a Federal Reserve Inspector General (OIG) Report on the Fed Trading Scandal of 2020 (https://bettermarkets.org/newsroom/everythin  more

LOS ANGELES, California, Jan. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: The former president and CEO of a Whittier medical clinic was sentenced today to 124 months in federal prison for submitting fraudulent billings to a Medi-Cal health care program that provides family planning services to low-income Californians who lack health insurance. Vincenzo Rubino, 59, of Valencia, was sentenced by United States Distri  more

SAN DIEGO, California, Jan. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release on Jan. 25, 2024: Jimmy and Ashley Collins, a married couple living in Birchwood, Tennessee, were sentenced in federal court today for orchestrating a health care fraud scheme that bilked TRICARE - the health care program that covers United States service members - out of more than $65 million. Jimmy Collins received a 10-year prison sentence and was immed  more

SAN DIEGO, California, Jan. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release on Jan. 26, 2024: Imperial County dentist Javad Aghaloo was sentenced in federal court today to 37 months in prison for defrauding Medicare and then covering it up. His former billing manager, Melissa Rosas, was sentenced to three years of probation with one year of home confinement for obstructing Medicare's efforts to audit Aghaloo's dental offices by pro  more

SAN JOSE, California, Jan. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California issued the following news release on Jan. 26, 2024: A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Dory Lindsay Ford with charges related to COVID fraud, including bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office; and Small   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12101) on Jan. 24, 2024, by Megan Stubbs, agricultural conservation and natural resources policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Disaster Assistance A number of federal programs help agricultural producers recover from the effects of natural disasters, including the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), livestock and fruit tree disaster programs, and   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11808) on Jan. 22, 2024, by public finance analyst Gary Guenther: * * * The Internal Revenue Service's Free File Program (FFP): Current Status and Policy Issues The Internal Revenue Service first allowed individual income tax returns to be filed electronically (e-filed) through a pilot program that began in 1986 and involved five tax preparers. Since then, e-filing has grown to the point  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12263) on Jan. 23, 2024, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 NDAA: Military Mental Health Strategy Development and Program Assessment Provisions Background Congress authorizes, through the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Department of Defense (DOD) mental health programs and services that support servicemembers,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12268) on Jan. 23, 2024, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 NDAA: Military Mental Health Workforce Provisions Background Congress authorizes, through the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Department of Defense (DOD) mental health programs and services that support servicemembers, military retirees, and their fami  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45106) on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Medicare and Budget Sequestration" by health care financing analyst Ryan J. Rosso. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Medicare and Budget Sequestration Sequestration is the automatic reduction (i.e., cancellation) of certain federal spending, generally by a uniform percentage. The sequester is a budget enforcement tool that was established by Congress in the   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47627) on Nov. 13, 2023, entitled "Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government: A Primer" government organization and management analyst Ben Wilhelm. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY This report provides an overview of statutory inspectors general (IGs) in the federal government, including their structure, functions, and related issues for Congress. Statutory IGs - established by   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47627) on Nov. 13, 2023, entitled "Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government - A Primer:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Reporting Requirements Statutory IGs have various reporting obligations to Congress, the Attorney General, agency heads, and the public. Some reporting requirements are periodic, while others are triggered by a specific event. The subsections below highlig  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: Today, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) celebrated the swearing in of former Congressman Spencer Bachus III to the Board of Directors for a second term. Director Bachus was officially sworn in on January 3, 2024, for a term through January 2027 and sworn in by EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis today.  "I am enthusiastic about rejoining the pr  more

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Jan. 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2024: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. today announced that RAMON RAMOS-ACEVEDO, 48, of New Britain, pleaded guilt  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2024: On November 18, 2023, at approximately 3:31 p.m., a Border Patrol agent assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol Clint Station in Clint, Texas, while operating a Mobile Video Surveillance System, observed one person on top of the International Border Barrier and two others north of the barrier exiting a drainage canal located approximately 6.76 miles sout  more

FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Virginia, Jan. 25 -- The Defense Contract Management Agency issued the following news: By Misha King, DCMA Public Affairs The Defense Contract Management Agency released its new Out-Processing and Transfers application this week. This foundational step automates the current manual personnel out-processing and transfers checklist and is the first phase of three in an overall boarding modernization program. According to the program's charter, the need came about because agency  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 -- The U.S. Department of Defense, General Services Administration and NASA have proposed an information collection entitled "Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 3: Improper Business Practices and Personal Conflicts of Interest." The notice was issued by Janet Fry, Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Governmentwide Policy. COMMENT DEADLINE: March 18, 2024 * * * SUMMARY: In acc  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. QC2024013) on Jan. 22, 2024, entitled "Quality Control Review of the Management Letter for the Surface Transportation Board's Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * What We Looked At This report represents the results of our quality control review (QCR) of Allmond & Company, LLC's (Allmond) management letter regarding the audit conducted, under co  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit announcement on Jan. 25, 2024, entitled "FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment Program:" * * * From: Nelda Z. Smith, Assistant Inspector General for Aviation Audits To: Director, Audit and Evaluation Safety in the National Airspace System is a top priority for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Since 2013, four accidents and incidents at U.S. airports involving international aircraft/1 hav  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit announcement on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled "STB's Information Security Program and Practices for FY 2024:" * * * To: The Honorable Martin J. Oberman, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001 Dear Mr. Oberman: The Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA)1 requires agencies to implement information security programs. The act also requires agencies   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - After Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin failed to notify Congress or President Biden that he was undergoing anesthesia in the midst of global threats, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) called out President Biden and his administration for going AWOL and is demanding every agency head's schedule is posted, so taxpayers know who is showing up to work. She pointed out this trend in the Biden administrat  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - With wars in Europe and the Middle East, and the Pacific teetering on the brink, America's defense chief went AWOL for four days this past month. Meanwhile, the Commander-in-Chief and de facto head of the Pentagon were both out of the office, on tropical islands far away from Washington. President Biden was not aware his Secretary of Defense was away from the job until he was informed days later duri  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) are launching an investigation to find out why U.S. defense dollars are being diverted, either purposely or inadvertently, to China or paying for risky research on pathogens of pandemic potential. This probe is mandated through a provision Ernst and Gallagher secured in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. In a letter sen  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General issued the following news on Jan. 25, 2024: Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the DoD OIG released an unclassified summary of the previously issued classified report, "Evaluation of the DoD's Actions Regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena." The report reviewed the extent to which the DoD, Military Services, Defense agencies, and Military Department Counterintelligence Organizations   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: Davos, Switzerland - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis traveled to Davos, Switzerland last week to attend the World Economic Forum's 2024 Annual Meeting. While in Davos, Chair Lewis participated in discussions and meetings where she underscored the role EXIM financing can play in deepening economic relationships between   more

F.E. WARREN AFB, Wyoming, Jan. 27 -- The U.S. Air Force F.E. Warren Air Force Base (90th Missile Wing) issued the following news: By Airman Andrew Poynter, 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs Ray Guest, a civilian in the 90th Missile Wing Inspector General's Wing Plans and Programs office, organized and held a Next-of-Kin Notification training seminar on F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. Jan. 24, 2024. The training prepared officers and leaders across the 90th Missile Wing for the responsibil  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Jan. 24 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following operational audit (No. 2024-112) on Jan. 19, 2024, involving Southwest Florida Water Management District. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY This operational audit of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) focused on selected District processes and administrative activities. Our operational audit disclosed the following: Finding 1: District security measures over buildings, facilities, and   more

MIAMI, Florida, Jan. 26 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On Jan. 24, a former federal agent was sentenced to prison for his role in an operation that involved illegal oxycodone distribution, federal witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. Alberico Ahias Crespo, 48, formerly a special agent with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), was convicted at trial of three  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations issued the following testimony by Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute, involving a hearing on Jan. 18, 2024, entitled "A Threat to Every Community: Assessing the Safety, Health, and Economic Consequences of President Biden's Border Policies": * * * Chairman Griffith, Ranking Member Castor, and distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia issued the following written testimony by Michael Schiffer, assistant administrator of the Bureau for Asia at the U.S. Agency for International Development, involving a hearing on Jan. 11. 2024, entitled "Examining the Biden Administration's Afghanistan Policy Since the U.S. Withdrawal: Part II": * * * Chairman Wilson, Ranking Member Phillips, and distinguished members of the Subcomm  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, issued the following news release: House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Pat Fallon (R-Texas.) are raising concern of a potential pattern of waste, fraud, and abuse in reimbursement overpayments at the Department of Energy (DOE) and are calling on the Office of  more

NEW YORK, Jan. 23 -- Human Rights Watch issued the following letter on Jan. 22, 2024: * * * To: Joseph Cuffari, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 254 Murray Lane SW, Washington, D.C. 20528 Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Building 410, Mail Stop #0190, Washington, D.C. 20528 Re: The de facto digital metering system created by the Department of Homeland Security's implementation of the Circumven  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 [Category: Health Care] -- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine issued the following news release: LANSING, MICH.--Wednesday morning, the Michigan House Agriculture Committee heard testimony from experts supporting House Bill 4849, which would outlaw painful dog experiments at public institutions in Michigan. They also received written testimony from acclaimed actress and comedian Lily Tomlin, who grew up in Detroit and attended Wayne State University. The bill was   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 24 -- Color of Change, a nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization, issued the following statement on Jan. 22, 2024: * * * On January 24th, Chicago's City Council is set to vote on a recently reaffirmed ruling by Arbitrator Edwin Benn. If accepted, the ruling would allow Chicago Police Department officers accused of serious misconduct to bypass the Police Board and, instead, have their cases reviewed in closed-door, private arbitration. In advance of this vote, Color  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Jan. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana issued the following news release: A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging three individuals for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to defraud the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) through their operation of two online charter schools, Indiana Virtual School (IVS) and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy (IVPA): Defendant ... Charges Tom Stoughton Sr., 74, of Carmel, India  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 26, 2024: Three former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees were sentenced today in the District of Columbia for a conspiracy to steal proprietary software and sensitive law-enforcement databases from the U.S. government for use in a commercial venture. Charles K. Edwards, 63, of Sandy Spring, Maryland, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison. In January 2022, Edwards pleaded g  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 25, 2024: An Ohio man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison and three years supervised release after pleading guilty to dogfighting and fentanyl distribution. For today's sentence, he will serve nine months concurrent with, and 12 months after, the 10 years he is already serving on the drug charges. Michael Valentine, 40, of Bidwell, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of raising and traini  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-024) on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled "U.S. Trustee Program's Administration of the Panel Trustee and Debtor Audit Programs and Associated Procurements Awarded to Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary Objectives The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of the U.S. Trustee Program's (USTP) administration of panel trustee a  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 -- Anthony A. Barrueta, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., has issued a public comment on behalf of Kaiser Permanente to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The comment was written and posted on Jan. 2, 2024. The comment, on Docket No. HHS-ONC-2023-0018-0001, was sent to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. * * * Kaiser Permanente appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the above-captioned Proposed Rule,/1 whi  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement in response to the United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General's report that uncovered operational problems at the St. Paul Processing and Distribution Center and regional post offices in Eagan, New Brighton, and Apple Valley. The Inspector General is now expanding to other areas of the state as requested by Senators  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland issued the following news release: A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging brothers Dwayne and Wayne Henry, age 32 and 34, respectively, both of Landover Hills, Maryland, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in connection with a lottery scheme where victims believe that they have won a lottery or sweepstakes and are required to send payment in advance for taxes and other fees  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan issued the following news release: A Detroit man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison today for leading a drug organization that trafficked methamphetamine across the country, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. United States District Judge David M. Lawson sentenced the leader of that organization for his role overseeing the drug conspiracy and in a separate $2.1 million pa  more

BILLINGS, Montana, Jan. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana issued the following news release on Jan. 22, 2024: A Helena man who admitted to falsely claiming to have served in the U.S. Navy so he could receive healthcare benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was sentenced today to three years of probation, with 180 days of home confinement, and ordered to pay $46,075 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Patrick John McKenna, 66, pleaded  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina issued the following news release: Felicia Moore Jones, 52, pled guilty to conspiring to defraud North Carolina Medicaid ("Medicaid") in a scheme that resulted in more than $400,000 in fraudulent billing. Jones faces up to 10 years in prison and a potential fine. "Ms. Jones' was a social worker who was supposed to help poor Medicaid recipients get healthcare. Instead, she stole and so  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina issued the following news release: Two members of a New Bern family pled guilty for their role in a scheme to defraud a program designed to help struggling North Carolina residents stay in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Takeeia Hawkins, age 43, and her daughter, Shanasia Hawkins, age 22, both pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and face up to 30 years at sentencin  more

BROOKLYN, New York, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York issued the following news release: Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today that New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH) has agreed to pay $801,000 to resolve claims that two radiology practices improperly billed Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE for images used in image guided radiation therapy treatments (IGRT) provided to cancer patients. The settlem  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The America First Legal, a civil rights organization, issued the following news release: * * * America First Legal Reveals Partisan Preservation of Government Records * * * Recent reporting reveals that the House Administration Committee's Oversight Subcommittee was due to receive "about four terabytes of data from the outgoing Democrats but was given only about half that much...117 files were deleted, according to a House digital forensics examination seen by Fox News  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 -- The National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, Maryland, has issued a public comment to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The comment was written and posted on Jan. 12, 2024. The comment was signed by Mark A. Riccobono, President. The comment, on Docket No. DOT-OST-2018-0068, was sent to Secretary Pete Buttigieg. * * * The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans strongly opposes the Department   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division have announced that RAMON RAMOS-ACEVEDO, 48, of New  more

TULSA, Oklahoma, Jan. 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2024: A woman was sentenced today to 18 months and for wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Terence, C. Kern, sentenced Carmen Leann Oliver, 34. Judge Kern further ordered Oliver to 5 years of supervised release and to pay $170,832 in restitution. According to court documents, from August 2020 through July 2021, Oliver  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2024: United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Jai Shri Krishna LLC, the current owner of Pennmark Pharmacy in Philadelphia, and Pennmark Pharmacy Inc., the former owner of the pharmacy, have separately agreed to pay, in total, over $4.6 million to resolve the False Claims Act liability of Jai Shri Krishna and its p  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Partnership for Public Service has issued a public comment to the Office of Personnel Management. The comment was written on Jan. 12, 2024, and posted on Jan. 18, 2024. The comment was signed by Max Stier, President and CEO. The comment was on Docket No. OPM-2023-0027-0001. * * * On behalf of the Partnership for Public Service, I am writing to share comments on the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) proposed changes to the use of recruitment and relocation ince  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility issued the following news release: After years of development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has produced a new version of its scientific integrity policy, but, unfortunately, it offers few discernible improvements, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The draft policy repeatedly declares its intent to prevent political suppression of scientific information, ensure prompt and fu  more

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Jan. 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico issued the following news release: * * * Two Business Owners Pleaded Guilty to Federal Program Theft in Relation to the Misappropriation of Operational Funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) * * * Martin D. Cruz-Vazquez, President of FiveStar Pest Control Inc. (FiveStar), and Luis O. Agosto-Melendez, President of CoolBreeze Air Conditioning, Inc. (CoolBree  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing titled, "Oversight of Toxic Substances Control Act Amendments Implementation," which featured testimony from Dr. Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Below is the opening statement of Ranking Member Shelley Moore C  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: EAGAN, MN - Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig slammed U.S. Postal Service leadership following the publication of the results of an investigation into the Eagan and Apple Valley Post Offices. The USPS Office of the Inspector General announced their investigation in December, after more than a year of advocacy from Rep. Craig on this issue. And today, following Rep. Craig's bipartisan call for a statew  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release on Jan. 24, 2024: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester today met with Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, the government's top watchdog, to discuss improving accountability and oversight at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). GAO issues dozens of oversight reports about VA each year with recommendations to improve services and protect taxpayer funds. "  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 24, 2024: Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing titled, "Oversight of Toxic Substances Control Act Amendments Implementation," which featured testimony from Dr. Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and P  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 -- Sen. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pennsylvania, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, issued the following news release: Today, after the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General (VA OIG) issued a report on VA's compliance with the accessibility standards set by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, released the following statement: "I called for this report   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news on Jan. 24, 2024: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester today met with Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, the government's top watchdog, to discuss improving accountability and oversight at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). GAO issues dozens of oversight reports about VA each year with recommendations to imp  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, issued the following news release: Senator JD Vance (R-OH) provided a memo to his Republican colleagues in the House and Senate regarding a recent Department of Defense Inspector General report which found widespread failures in the oversight and tracking of American weapons sent to Ukraine. The memo reads, in part: Background: A recent Department of Defense Inspector General report "undermines two years of lavish assurances from the administrat  more

WOODLAWN, Maryland, Jan. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General issued a 17-page audit report (No. 042312) on Jan. 25, 2024, entitled "Implementation of Mail Procedures." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM To: Martin O'Malley, Commissioner From: Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General Subject: Follow-up: The Social Security Administration's Implementation of Mail Procedures The attached final report presents the results of the Office of Audit's revi  more

WOODLAWN, Maryland, Jan. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General issued a six-page management advisory report (No. 022332) on Jan. 18, 2024, entitled "Match of Puerto Rico Death Information Against Social Security Administration Records:" * * * MEMORANDUM To: Martin O'Malley, Commissioner From: Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General Subject: Match of Puerto Rico Death Information Against Social Security Administration Records The attached final report  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: A 68-year-old man has pleaded guilty in a $6 million Medicaid fraud and kickback scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Rene Gaviola was the operator of Floss Family Dental Care clinic located in Houston. From 2018 until April 2021, Gaviola admitted to submitting fraudulent claims to Medicaid for pediatric dental services, including numerous cavity filli  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight, and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, today demanded answers from IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel regarding a report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration that found devices used by certain IRS e  more

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri issued the following news release on Jan. 24, 2024: A former professional basketball player has been arrested in Missouri after an indictment accused him of fraudulently obtaining pandemic relief funds. Lorenzo Gordon, 40, of Chesterfield, Missouri, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis January 17 on three counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government money. He pleaded no  more

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania, Jan. 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release on Jan. 26, 2024: * * * Former Scranton Police Officer and Police Union President Pleads Guilty to Federal Program Fraud in Connection With Overtime Patrol Shifts at Scranton Area Housing Complexes * * * The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Paul Helring, age 47, a former Scranton police officer  more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri issued the following news release on Jan. 24, 2024: A Columbia, Mo., physician has been indicted by a federal grand jury for making false statements relating to Medicare orders. Jerry Joseph Bruggeman, M.D., 52, was charged in a 13-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The federal indictment alleges that Bruggeman, a licensed physician, p  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Sen. Tina Flint Smith, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement in response to the USPS Inspector General's report that found glaring issues at the St. Paul Processing and Distribution Center and post offices in Eagan, New Brighton and Apple Valley: "The Postal Service Inspector General's audit reports on St. Paul and south Metro mail service are alarming and confirm wha  more

RICHLAND, Washington, Jan. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington issued the following news release on Jan. 24, 2024: Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that the United States filed a Complaint in federal district court against Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, LLC (HMIS), alleging fraudulent labor overcharging at the Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Nuclear Site. DOE's Hanford Nucl  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: All Republican Members of the Ways and Means Committee sent a letter on Tuesday to the U.S. District Court for District of Columbia, respectfully asking the court to sentence the IRS leaker, Charles Edward Littlejohn, to the maximum sentence for the crimes he committed when he stole and subsequently leaked private and confidential American taxpayer information,  more