TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Jan. 30 -- The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice issued the following news release: A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will complete an on-site assessment on March 20, 2024, to examine all aspects of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice's (DJJ) Office of Inspector General's (OIG) policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The OIG must comply with 49 standards in order to receive re-  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following news on Feb. 1, 2024: By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today addressed journalists at the Pentagon to discuss recent health issues that twice took him away from his official duties, the attacks that occurred in Jordan which resulted in the death of three soldiers, and the ongoing attacks against cargo ships transiting the Red Sea. Early last month, Pentagon officials revealed Austin ha  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, and John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight, 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 employees can a  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued the following news release: BALTIMORE -- An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Washington division, the Prince George's County Police Department, and the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General in Philadelphia resulted in a superseding indictment out of the US. Attorney's Office for th  more

SAN DIEGO, California, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release: Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Hector Hernandez pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he used his official position to smuggle unauthorized immigrants and illegal drugs across the border in exchange for money. According to his plea agreement, Hernandez admitted to using his official position to open border fences and allowing undocumented   more

FRESNO, California, Jan. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2024: Francisco Javier Torres Mora, aka Johnathan Benjamin Torres, 30, a Mexican national residing in McFarland, was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute 60 pounds of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in April 2021, Torres possessed   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. today served as the top Republican during a U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on veterans' mental health. During his opening remarks, Cassidy highlighted the need to address veteran suicide and for increased oversight on the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) failure to adequately meet the needs of those who served. "Veterans in Louisiana and across the count  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on Jan. 30, 2024, entitled "Medicare Program; Request for Information on Medicare Advantage Data." The notice was issued by Secretary Xavier Becerra. COMMENT DEADLINE: May 29, 2024 * * * SUMMARY: This request for information (RFI) seeks input from the public regarding various aspects of Medicare Advantage (MA) data. Response  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release: Hyde Park, NY - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis today hosted a fireside chat at the presidential library with the great-granddaughter Dr. Sara Boettiger of EXIM's founder, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to mark the 90th anniversary of the agency's founding on February 2, 1934. "For the past 90 years, EXIM has prov  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47052) on Oct. 17, 2023, entitled "Legislative Branch: FY2024 Appropriations" by Congress specialist Ida A. Brudnick. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The legislative branch appropriations bill provides funding for the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Capitol Police; Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (formerly Office of Compliance); Congressional Budget Office (CBO); Arch  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42865) on Nov. 20, 2023, entitled "Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * DSH Expenditures The implementation of the DSH allotments effectively controlled the significant growth of DSH expenditures from the early 1990s. As shown in Figure 1, total Medicaid DSH expenditures (i.e., including both federal and state expenditures) have remained rela  more

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2024: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that MICHAEL B. PINES, 75, of Avon, waived his right to   more

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Feb. 2 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut issued the following news release on Feb. 1, 2024: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JASHON SPEARMAN, also known as "J " and "Deuce," 35, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 144 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a New Haven ar  more

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Jan. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2024: United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Boston Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge David Meisenheimer of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Gust of the Tr  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency has issued a notice, published in the Federal Register on Jan. 30, 2024, entitled "Senior Executive Service Performance Review Board Membership." The notice was issued by Douglas Holt, Executive Director, Training Institute. * * * DATES: Applicable October 1, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Holt, CIGIE Executive Director, (202) 292-2600. Individual Offices of Inspectors General at the teleph  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (TNSrep) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission Inspector General issued the following report (No. 24-A-01) on Jan. 31, 2024, entitled "Evaluation of the Management of Cloud Computing, Shared Services and Third-Party Systems." Here are excerpts: * * * TO: Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Chair Peter A. Feldman, Commissioner Richard L. Trumka Jr., Commissioner Mary T. Boyle, Commissioner FROM: Christopher W. Dentel, Inspector General SUBJECT: Evaluation of the CPSC's Managemen  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (TNSrep) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission Inspector General issued the following report (No. 24-O-04) on Jan. 29, 2024, entitled "Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * TO: Alexander D. Hoehn-Saric, Chair Peter A. Feldman, Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr., Commissioner Mary T. Boyle, Commissioner FROM: Christopher W. Dentel, Inspector General SUBJECT: Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Rea  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia issued the following news release: Kevin Thomas, 57, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in Superior Court for one count of criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult or elderly person, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia. Superior Court Judge Deborah J. Israel accepted Thomas' guilty plea today and ordered 180  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The Defense Inspector General issued the following report (DODIG-2024-037) on Jan. 25, 2024, entitled "Evaluation of the Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation of Global Health Engagement Activities in USEUCOM, USINDOPACOM, and USAFRICOM." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY DIRECTOR, DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGENCY DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS) SUBJECT: Evaluation of the Assessment, Monitori  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- The Defense Inspector General issued the following report (DODIG-2024-051) on Jan. 31, 2024, entitled "Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation U.S. Army Cyber Command Fort Belvoir, Virginia." Here are excerpts: * * * Background The Complainant worked in the ARCYBER [text omitted] as the [text omitted] from April 29, 2018, through November 4, 2020. As the [text omitted], the Complainant conducted [text omitted]; and supervised the work of subordinate employees. The Complai  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The Transportation Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. QC2024014) on Jan. 30, 2024, entitled "Quality Control Review of the Management Letter for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation's Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2023." Here are excerpts: * * * What We Looked At This report presents the results of our quality control review of Allmond & Company LLC's (Allmond) management letter for its audit, conducted under   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz to discuss his office's investigation into the non-medical deaths of those in Bureau of Prison (BOP) care. At the request of Durbin, IG Horowitz previously agreed to review the reports of abuse and the death of seven incarcerated men a  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Department of Education Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. A19GA0098) on Jan. 25, 2024, entitled "Puerto Rico Department of Education's Use of Immediate Aid to Restart School Operations Program Funds." Here are excerpts: * * * To: Yanira Raices Vega, Secretary of Education, Puerto Rico Department of Education P.O. Box 190759 Dear Secretary Raices Vega: Enclosed is our final audit report, "Puerto Rico Department of Education's Us  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration has issued a proposed rule (14 CFR Part 21), published in the Federal Register on Jan. 25, 2024, entitled "Disclosure of Safety Critical Information." The proposed rule was issued by Lirio Liu, Executive Director of Aircraft Certification. COMMENT DEADLINE: March 25, 2024 Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: This proposed rule would implement certain mandates in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and   more

MIAMI, Florida, Feb. 3 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On Jan. 5, a former Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) Department of Detention lieutenant was charged with two counts of wire fraud for allegedly fraudulently obtaining a total of $167,750 in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. On April 1, 2021, Ernest Bernard Gonder Jr., 41, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, allegedly submitted a false and fraudulent PP  more

MIAMI, Florida, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On Jan. 31, the former chairman of 1 Global Capital LLC ("1 Global") was sentenced to five years in prison for carrying out a $250 million securities fraud conspiracy scheme. The sentence comes after Carl R. Ruderman, 82, of Aventura, Florida, entered his guilty plea in October 2023. Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga also ordered Ruderman to pay a   more

DUBLIN, Georgia, Jan. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia issued the following news release: A Georgia woman was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to repay more than half a million dollars she fraudulently obtained from COVID-19 small business relief programs. Gladys Harun, 44, of Byron, Ga., was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to lying to a federal investigator, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern Dis  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Iowa senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are calling for accountability and a full review of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF's) unlawful misclassification of administrative positions as "law enforcement." Not only was this decades-long practice illegal, but it also burned millions of taxpayer dollars. ATF for years turned a blind eye to classification errors, even after   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) joined Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) and others to introduce the bipartisan AFIDA Improvements Act to improve the process of tracking purchases of U.S. agricultural land by foreign entities. The legislation follows a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that found that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is ill-equipped to fully combat foreign own  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Homeland Security Inspector General issued the following report (No. OIG-24-16) on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled "ICE Major Surgeries Were Not Always Properly Reviewed and Approved for Medical Necessity." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR: Patrick J. Lechleitner, Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement FROM: Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General SUBJECT: ICE Major Surgeries   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Homeland Security Inspector General issued the following report (No. OIG-24-14) on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled "Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Fiscal 2023 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR: Troy A. Miller, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection FROM: Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General SUBJECT: Review of U.S. Customs and Bor  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Homeland Security Inspector General issued the following report (No. OIG-24-15) on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled "Review of U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's Fiscal Year 2023 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR: January 23, 2024 Patrick J. Lechleitner Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement FROM: Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D.   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Homeland Security Inspector General issued the following report (No. OIG-24-12) on, Jan. 22, 2024, entitled "Review of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Fiscal 2023 Detailed Accounting Report for Drug Control Funds." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR: Patrick J. Lechleitner, Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement FROM: Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., Inspector General SU  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Homeland Security Inspector General issued the following report (No. OIG-24-10) on Jan. 9, 2024, entitled "Summary of Previously Issued Recommendations and Other Insights to Improve Operational Conditions at the Southwest Border." Here are excerpts: * * * MEMORANDUM FOR: Troy A. Miller, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Patrick J. Lechleitner, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Homeland Security Inspector General issued the following report (No. OIG-24-11) on Jan. 11, 2024, entitled "Summary of Selected DHS Components That Did Not Consistently Restrict Access to Systems and Information." Here are excerpts: * * * HIGHLIGHTS Why We Did This Report DHS components use IT access controls to help ensure only authorized users have access to systems and information. When properly implemented, access controls help prevent individuals fro  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a rule, published in the Federal Register on Jan. 31, 2024, entitled "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements." The rule was issued by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: This final rule adjusts certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees charged by USCIS. This rule also provides additional   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced legislation requiring that the Pensions Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) recover, on behalf of American taxpayers, overpayments to p  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security issued the following testimony by Tristan Brown, deputy administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, involving a hearing on Jan. 18, 2024, entitled "Fueling America's Economy: Legislation to Improve Safety and Expand U.S. Pipeline Infrastructure": * * * Chairman Duncan, Ranking Member DeGette, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testif  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) delivered the following opening remarks at today's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing to provide oversight of the EPA's $27 billion green slush fund. Remarks as prepared for delivery: THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT "President Biden and Congre  more

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The House Judiciary Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-339) on the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act (H.R. 788), which aims to limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the U.S. is a party. The report was advanced by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, on Jan. 9, 2024. Here are excerpts: * * * Purpose and Summary H.R. 788, the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023, introduced by Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX), eliminates the practice of slush fund settlements b  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The House Rules Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 118-342) on a resolution (H.Res. 947) that provides for the consideration of the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act (H.R. 788), a House joint resolution (H.J. Res. 98) on a National Labor Relations Board rule relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status" and a Senate joint resolution (S.J.Res. 38) on a Federal Highway Administration rule relating to "Waiver of Buy America Requirements For Electric Vehicle Charge  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics issued the following testimony by Acting NASA Inspector General George A. Scott involving a hearing on Jan. 17, 2024, entitled "Returning to the Moon: Keeping Artemis on Track": * * * Chairman Babin, Ranking Member Sorensen, and Members of the Subcommittee: Our mission is to provide independent, objective, and comprehensive oversight of NASA's programs and projects to help ensure that the Agenc  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, chairman of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 31, 2024: * * * Today, Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, released the following statement after his bill, H.R. 7129, The Put America on Commission Act of 2024, passed out of Committee. "The SBA's Office of Inspector General estimates that $200 billion dollars in fraud flowed through the pandemic lending p  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General issued the following report (No. 2022-OE-0008) on Jan. 19, 2024, entitled "Employee Retention." Here are excerpts: * * * To: Lori A. Michalski, Chief Human Capital Officer, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer, A From: Christopher Backley, Acting Assistant Inspector General for Evaluation, Office of Inspector General, G Subject: Final Report - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developm  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2024: A former IRS contractor was sentenced today to five years in prison for disclosing thousands of tax returns without authorization. "Charles Littlejohn abused his position as a consultant at the Internal Revenue Service by disclosing thousands of Americans' federal tax returns and other private financial information to news organizations. He violated his responsibility to safeguard the sens  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: An Indian national was sentenced today to nine years in prison for orchestrating a nearly $2.8 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy and engaging in money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Yogesh K. Pancholi, 43, of Northville, Michigan, owned and operated Shring Home Care Inc. (Shring),  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: A former project manager for a government contractor pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to inflate project costs by over $200,000 and receive kickbacks related to contracts for commercial flooring services at a U.S. Army facility in Fairbanks, Alaska. Kevin Mahler pleaded guilty to a six-count felony information filed on Jan. 29, in the U.S. District Court for the District   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2024: On Friday, a federal jury convicted two Ohio men of tax, gambling, money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction crimes related to their operation of illegal gambling businesses in Canton and their scheme to conceal the illicit proceeds from those businesses to avoid paying taxes. Two others involved in the conspiracy pleaded guilty. * Convictions According to court documents and evidence   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a rule (28 CFR Parts 0 and 27), published in the Federal Register on Feb. 2, 2024, entitled "Whistleblower Protection for FBI Employees." The notice was issued by Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: This rule updates the Department of Justice ("Department") regulations on the protection of whistleblowers in the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"). This update reflects changes resulting fr  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The Justice Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-025) on Jan. 25, 2024, entitled "Office of Justice Programs STOP School Violence Grants awarded to the Lockport City School District." Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Summary Objectives The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded the Lockport City School District (LCSD) two grants totaling $1,229,925 for the STOP School Violence Grant Program. The objectives of this audit were to determine whe  more

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued the following news release: U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DENT HUNTER, age 45, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on January 30, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion to both making false statements and money laundering, related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The Labor Inspector General issued the following letter (Report No. 24-24-001-50-598) on Jan. 24, 2024, entitled "Quality Control Review for the Single Audit of the American Association of Retired Persons Foundation for the Fiscal Ended December 31, 2022." Here are excerpts: * * * To: Patricia Shannon, Chief Financial Officer, AARP Foundation, 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049 Subject: Quality Control Review for the Single Audit of the American Association of Retir  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: U.S. Representative Brian Mast (FL-21) introduced a bill to disband the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and transfer all refugee responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Specifically, this legislation requires the Administration to coordinate international efforts to achieve t  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Adeyanju Adewale, age 40, of Reisterstown, Maryland, to five years in federal prison, followed by one year of home detention as part of three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy that resulted in a loss of millions of dollars to Medicaid, businesses, law firms, financial institutions, individuals, and   more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2024: En-Wei Eric Chang, age 48, a citizen of the United States and the Republic of Taiwan, residing in Taiwan, pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge, related to the export of defense materials to Iran. Such materials were embargoed under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR). The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Feb. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan issued the following news release on Feb. 1, 2024: Siemens Industry, Inc., a subsidiary of Siemens Corporation, has agreed to pay over $1 million to resolve possible False Claims Act violations, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Siemens Industry,   more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Feb. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2024: A St. Peters, Mo., physician has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to make false statements that resulted in more than $1.4 million in Medicare and Medicaid fraud. "A trusted physician failed his obligation to provide true and accurate information regarding the health care of numerous patients," said U.S. Attorney Ter  more

GREAT FALLS, Montana, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2024: The former operations manager for the Blackfeet Tribe today admitted to stealing more than $78,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funding the tribe received by fraudulently submitting requests for repayments to the tribe after falsely claiming to buy COVID-19 supplies, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. James Cameron McNeely, 43, pleaded guilty to theft f  more

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2024: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General's Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation's laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees and includ  more

CAMDEN, New Jersey, Feb. 2 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey issued the following news release on Feb. 1, 2024: An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was arrested today for his role in procuring, casting, and tabulating fraudulent mail-in ballots submitted in the Nov. 8, 2022, general election, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Craig Callaway, 64, a former member and president of the City Council of Atlantic City and a political organizer who assisted c  more

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that YOHAURIS RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ was sentenced to 79 months in prison in connection with her participation in a fraudulent scheme to obtain over $16 million in Government benefits intended to provide relief to individuals without employment during the COVID-19 p  more

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the arrest of ALAN SWISS on charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. SWISS is the third defendant charged, following the arrests in December of co-defendants ERIN FOLEY and TED ALBIN. As alleged in a four-count Indic  more

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2024: A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to two years and six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for devising a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $42,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications that the Small Business A  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Feb. 1 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2024: United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Korey Wise was sentenced today to 51 months' imprisonment and two years of supervised release by United States District Judge Nitza Alejandro Quinones for defrauding Amtrak and Trailways Transportation Systems of approximately $475,910. Wise was also ordered to pay full restit  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following transcript of news briefing on Jan. 30, 2024, by Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder: * * * MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: Good afternoon, everybody. Just a few things here at the top, and then I'll get right to your questions. Up front, I want to just express again our condolences to the family members and loved ones of the three U.S. soldiers who were killed in Jordan this weekend in the Iran proxy drone attack at Tower 22  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-032-1-R24) on Jan. 22, 2024, entitled "Apple Valley Branch, Saint Paul, MN: Delivery Operations." Here are excerpts: * * * Background The U.S. Postal Service's mission is to provide timely, reliable, secure, and affordable mail and package delivery to more than 160 million residential and business addresses across the country. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General reviews   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-032-2-R24) on Jan. 22, 2024, entitled "Eagan Branch, Eagan, MN: Delivery Operations." Here are excerpts: * * * Background The U.S. Postal Service's mission is to provide timely, reliable, secure, and affordable mail and package delivery to more than 160 million residential and business addresses across the country. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General reviews delivery ope  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-031-R24) on Jan. 22, 2024, entitled "Efficiency of Operations at the St. Paul Processing and Distribution Center, Minn." Here are excerpts: * * * Background The U.S. Postal Service needs effective and productive operations to fulfill its mission of providing prompt, reliable, and affordable mail service to the American public. It has a vast transportation network that moves mail and equ  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-032) onon Jan. 22, 2024, entitled "Minnesota - North Dakota District Delivery Operations Review." Here are excerpts: * * * We performed audits at the Saint Paul Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) and three delivery units serviced by the P&DC in the Saint Paul, Minesota region during the week of November 13, 2023. The delivery units included the Apple Valley Branch, Saint Paul, MN;  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 24-032-3-R24) on Jan. 22, 2024, entitled "New Brighton Carrier Annex, Saint Paul, Minn.: Delivery Operations" Here are excerpts: * * * Background The U.S. Postal Service's mission is to provide timely, reliable, secure, and affordable mail and package delivery to more than 160 million residential and business addresses across the country. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 2, 2024: * * * Today, Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, released the following statement after his bill, H.R. 7129, the Put America on Commission Act of 2024, passed out of Committee. "The SBA's Office of Inspector General estimates that $200 billion dollars in fraud flowed through the pandemic lending programs," said Chairman Williams. "We must think   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced the "Protect Medicaid Act" on Jan. 11, 2023. The text of the bill was released on Jan. 27. S. 3578. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to prohibit Federal Medicaid funding for the administrative costs of providing health benefits to individuals who are unauthorized immigrants; to the Committee on Finance. The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, introduced legislation requiring that the Pensions Benefit Guaranty Corpo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee issued the following information for a hearing entitled "Vet Centers: Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families" at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2024, at 418 Dirksen Senate Office Building: WITNESS LIST * Michael Fisher, MSW, Chief Officer, Readjustment Counseling Service, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs * Julie Kroviak, MD, Principal Deputy Assistant Inspector General  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2024: A California man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for conspiring to conceal his involvement in operating a laboratory and billing Medicare approximately $234 million for various lab tests, including COVID-19 and respiratory pathogen panel tests, despite his decades-long exclusion from the Medicare program. "Criminals who cheat federal health programs and profit at the expense of A  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The State Department Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. AUD-CGI-24-09) entitled "Select Contract Administration Processes Related to the Construction of New Embassy Compound Mexico City, Mexico." Here are excerpts: * * * What OIG Audited The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) directs the worldwide overseas building program for the Department of State (Department) and sets worldwide priorities for the design and construction of   more

HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas issued the following news release: The United States has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Rick Nassenstein, a resident of Florida and formerly the president, chief financial officer and co-owner of Illinois-based Cardiac Imaging Inc. (CII), a provider of mobile cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) scans. The complaint alleges Nassenstein knowingly played a central role in a sc  more

DALLAS, Texas, Jan. 31 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas issued the following news release: Four defendants in separate, but related, cases pleaded guilty for their roles in a scheme to pay and receive kickbacks in relation to toxicology tests, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Mark Rubin, 58, Renee Field, 44, Kelly Nelson, 52, and Carlos Hornedo, 61, were all charged via felony informations in December 2023. Mr. Rub  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued the following audit report (No. 2024-200-009) on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled "Management and Oversight of Cloud Managed Services Contracts and the Enterprise Cloud Program Need Improvements." Here are excerpts: * * * Highlights Why TIGTA Did This Audit Cloud computing is a range of services delivered over the Internet. At the IRS, its cloud environment includes managed services consisting of informati  more

LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 3 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California issued the following news release on Feb. 2, 2024: Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center has agreed to pay nearly $2.1 million to resolve allegations that it overbilled Medi-Cal for prescription medication purchased and reimbursed under a federal drug pricing program, the Justice Department announced today. The settlement agreement finalized on Wednesday is the result of voluntary disclosures   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (TNSrep) -- The Agriculture Inspector General issued the following audit report (No. 09601-0001-24) on Jan. 29, 2024, entitled "Rural Utilities Service's Distance Learning and Telemedicine." Here are excerpts: * * * OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine whether RUS awarded DLT program funds in accordance with laws and regulations. REVIEWED We reviewed applicable laws and regulations, funding opportunity announcements, RUS' guidance, and other supporting documentation.  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- The Agriculture Inspector General issued the following report (No. 24026-0001-31) on Jan. 26, 2024, entitled "Final Action Verification - Food Safety Inspection Service's Oversight of the New Poultry Inspection System." Here are excerpts: * * * TO: Lynn Moaney, Deputy Chief Financial Officer Office of the Chief Financial Officer FROM: Janet Sorensen, Assistant Inspector General for Audit SUBJECT: Final Action Verification - Food Safety Inspection Service's Oversight o  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has asked the Office of Management and Budget to review two information collections. The information collections are Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under Regulations; and 2. Child Nutrition Labeling Program The notice was issued by Levi S. Harrell, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. COMMENT DEADLINE: February 28, 2024 * * * The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection r  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 23-00009-57) on Jan. 25, 2024, entitled "Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the Columbia VA Health Care System in South Carolina." Here are excerpts: * * * Report Overview This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program (CHIP) report provides a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient and outpatient settings of th  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Veterans Affairs Inspector General issued the following oversight report (No. 22-00057-54) on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled "Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of Veterans Integrated Service Network 22: VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network in Long Beach, California." Here are excerpts: * * * Report Overview This VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report provides a focused evaluation of leadership performance and ove  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Jan. 31 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the following news release: QuarterLine Consulting Services, LLC, and its parent company, Planned Systems International, Inc. (PSI), both located in Arlington, agreed to pay $3.9 million to resolve allegations that QuarterLine made false statements about its women-owned small business (WOSB) status to obtain a Defense Health Agency (DHA) task order that was set aside for WOSBs to provide  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, issued the following news: Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) led a bicameral coalition of lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, requesting additional information on the administration's decision to circumvent congressional review of arms transfers to Israel and whether these deals sufficiently considered civilian harm risks. The letter comes aft  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: In October 2023, Warren and Lawmakers Probed Corizon's Use of the "Texas Two-Step" to Evade Liability  YesCare Response to Warren's Earlier Letter (PDF) | Tehum Response to Warren's Earlier Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Tara Twomey, Director of the Executive Office for United States Trustees, and Kevin M. Epstein, U.S. Trustee fo  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Intuit Received $94 Million in Federal Research Tax Credits in 2022, While Spending Millions to Fight Free Direct File Program  "The American public deserves answers--not more deception--about how you are spending their hard-earned dollars." | Intuit's Previous Response to Lawmakers (PDF) Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Bernie Sander  more

SPOKANE, Washington, Jan. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington issued the following news release: Physician Daniel Case has agreed to pay $95,000 to resolve allegations that he participated in a kick-back scheme and ordered medically unnecessary durable medical equipment that Case caused to be billed to Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs, announced Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washingto  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority issued the following news release: Acting Inspector General Kevin B. Muhlendorf announced the launch of the WMATA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Whistleblower Award Program. Effective February 1, 2024, the WMATA OIG's Whistleblower Award Program will begin evaluating information provided by whistleblowers for potential awards of up to $10,000. Information on eligibility requirements, directions on submitting a tip or co  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Feb. 1 -- The West Virginia Legislature issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2024: Thursday, February 1, 2024 - 23rd Day of Session The Senate will convene at 11 a.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS * SCR 23: US Navy LT Lewis Joseph D'Antoni Memorial Road * SCR 24: Recognizing First Responders Honor Board's nominees of Medal of Honor * SCR 25: US Army SGT Wyatt K. Hinton Memorial Bridge * SR 20: Recognizing essential role of CASA for abused and neglected children   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General issued the following news on Jan. 31, 2024: Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General released the report, "Whistleblower Reprisal Investigation: U.S. Army Cyber Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia." The investigation found that, after the Complainant made a series of protected disclosures that reflected poorly on the agency's ability t  more