Federal Executive Branch
Here's a look at documents from the U.S. Executive Branch
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U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming Announces Rescission of Marijuana Charging Guidance
CHEYENNE, Wyoming, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming posted the following news release:* * *
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming Announces Rescission of Marijuana Charging Guidance
On September 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice rescinded previous guidance concerning the prosecution of simple marijuana possession. U.S. Attorney Smith promptly notified federal law enforcement agencies that marijuana offenses occurring on federal land, such as national parks, will now be rigorously prosecuted.
This comes after President Biden pardoned ... Show Full Article CHEYENNE, Wyoming, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming posted the following news release: * * * U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming Announces Rescission of Marijuana Charging Guidance On September 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice rescinded previous guidance concerning the prosecution of simple marijuana possession. U.S. Attorney Smith promptly notified federal law enforcement agencies that marijuana offenses occurring on federal land, such as national parks, will now be rigorously prosecuted. This comes after President Biden pardonedcertain U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents for offenses related to simple possession, attempted possession, or use of marijuana and directed U.S. Attorney's not to prosecute those offenses. This significantly curtailed federal prosecutions of misdemeanor marijuana offenses.
U.S. Attorney Smith stated, "Marijuana possession remains a federal crime in the United States, irrespective of varying state laws. The detrimental effects of drugs on our society are undeniable, and I am committed to using every prosecutorial tool available to hold offenders accountable."
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming remains steadfast in its mission to uphold the rule of law, including the enforcement of federal statutes prohibiting the possession of marijuana and other controlled substances.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wy/pr/us-attorneys-office-district-wyoming-announces-rescission-marijuana-charging-guidance
Surface Transportation Board Issues Decision Involving Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Surface Transportation Board issued the following decision (Docket No. FD 36849) entitled "Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad LLC - Lease and Operation Exemption With Interchange Commitment - Union Pacific Railroad Co.":* * *
On August 8, 2025, the Board issued an order (August 2025 Order) setting an amended procedural schedule in this proceeding. However, on October 1, 2025, the Board issued in Docket No. EP 751 an order tolling all deadlines for submission of pleadings, filings, comments, and other material in all proceedings until further ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Surface Transportation Board issued the following decision (Docket No. FD 36849) entitled "Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad LLC - Lease and Operation Exemption With Interchange Commitment - Union Pacific Railroad Co.": * * * On August 8, 2025, the Board issued an order (August 2025 Order) setting an amended procedural schedule in this proceeding. However, on October 1, 2025, the Board issued in Docket No. EP 751 an order tolling all deadlines for submission of pleadings, filings, comments, and other material in all proceedings until furthernotice following a lapse in the Board's appropriations. Materials Due to Be Submitted during the Federal Government Shutdown, EP 751 (STB served Oct. 1, 2025). During the lapse in appropriations, two of the submission deadlines set by the August 2025 Order passed. Therefore, the Board is amending the procedural schedule in this proceeding as follows:
* Colorado Pacific Railroad LLC (CXR), BNSF Railway Company (BNSF), and shippers located on the Lines may submit comments by November 20, 2025.
* Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, LLC (K&O) is directed to file a verified supplement addressing the information described in the decision served on June 25, 2025 (June 2025 Order) in this proceeding by December 4, 2025. Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) is encouraged to participate by either filing its own comment or filing jointly with K&O.
* Weskan Grain LLC may submit evidence and argument in reply by January 5, 2026.
* K&O may submit responsive argument and evidence by January 19, 2026. UP is encouraged to participate by either filing its own comment or filing jointly with K&O.
Due to the statutory deadline established by 49 U.S.C. Sec. 10502 for a Board decision on the merits of K&O's petition, further requests to extend the procedural schedule will be disfavored.
It is ordered:
1. The procedural schedule is amended as outlined above.
2. This decision is effective on its service date.
By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel.
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Original text here: https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/DCMS_External_PROD/1763155477258/52773.pdf
Russellville Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Role in "To The Dirt" Methamphetamine Conspiracy
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas posted the following news release:* * *
Russellville Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Role in "To The Dirt" Methamphetamine Conspiracy
Defendant Supplied Meth to Members of Violent White Supremacist Gang
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Troy R. Loadholt, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 25 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy that involved members of a white supremacist gang. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced ... Show Full Article LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas posted the following news release: * * * Russellville Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Role in "To The Dirt" Methamphetamine Conspiracy Defendant Supplied Meth to Members of Violent White Supremacist Gang * Troy R. Loadholt, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 25 years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy that involved members of a white supremacist gang. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announcedthe 300-month sentence, which was handed down on Thursday, November 13, 2025, by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.
Loadholt, 44, of Russellville, Arkansas, was indicted in a second superseding Indictment on September 3, 2019, on one count for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 9, 2025, Loadholt pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 45 kilograms or more of methamphetamine.
The overall indictment in this case charged more than 50 people from the Pope County area with violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (RICO), and numerous gun and drug violations. The case is named "To The Dirt," a reference to the New Aryan Empire (NAE) slogan referring to the rule that members must remain in the NAE until they die. The charges allege acts involving attempted murder, kidnapping, maiming, and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Another 54 defendants were indicted in the case, all of whom have pleaded guilty, except for Marcus Millsap, who was sentenced to life imprisonment following a guilty verdict at trial. There is no parole in the federal system.
In 2016, local and federal agencies initiated a joint investigation to identify, infiltrate, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations in Russellville. Investigators identified multiple individuals who were trafficking methamphetamine in the Pope County area. During the investigation, it was revealed that Loadholt was the driving force behind this large-scale methamphetamine operation by supplying pound quantities of methamphetamine to known members of the NAE, a white supremacist organization that began as a prison gang, who then sold and distributed the methamphetamine
Based on sworn testimony from codefendants and law enforcement, FedEx records, as well as Loadholt's Facebook records, during the time of the conspiracy, using the corporate account of a restaurant where his brother worked, Loadholt helped facilitate the shipment of numerous multi-pound quality packages of methamphetamine from California to Arkansas to be distributed throughout the Pope County region.
"Thanks to the cooperation of federal, state, and local agencies, a large-scale, violent drug trafficking organization with strong ties to white supremacy gangs in the Pope County, Arkansas, area has been dismantled," Ross said. "Loadholt and the other defendants in this wide-reaching case have received significant sentences, with one, Marcus Millsap, receiving a life sentence in federal prison. Our goal with the case was to make Pope County a safer community and to clean out the "To The Dirt" organization. With today's sentence, we've made significant progress toward that goal. But our work will continue."
"The ATF is working closely with local, state, and federal partners to combat the scourge of deadly illegal drugs in our communities," Joshua Jackson, ATF Special Agent in Charge, said. "The sentence imposed today sends a message that we will continue to focus efforts on repeat offenders so we can remove another violent criminal from our streets and keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF."
"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service's mission is to protect the mail, its employees, and customers from criminal attacks. Individuals who weaponize the mail in furtherance of narcotics trafficking will not be tolerated. The United States Postal Inspection Service will remain dedicated to aggressively pursuing all who attempt to use the U.S. mail to traffic contraband. In addition, we will continue our excellent relationships with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners," Kai Pickens, Inspector in Charge, Fort Worth Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said. "I would like to commend our partners at the U.S Attorney's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Pope County Sheriff's Office, Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Russellville Police Department, for working decisively with us to help eliminate contraband in the U.S. mail. From these collaborations, we will continue to have successful resolutions and hold perpetrators accountable."
"Today marks the final sentencing of the individuals involved in Operation To The Dirt. This brings closure to a lengthy investigation that demanded dedication, patience, and cooperation across multiple agencies," Sheriff Blake Wilson, Pope County Sheriff's Office, said. "I want to thank our deputies, investigators, and partner agencies for their relentless work, and I extend my appreciation to the community for your trust and support throughout this process. Justice has been served, and we remain committed to keeping Pope County a safer place for every family who calls it home."
"This sentence shows a continuing effort to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement to combat the dangerous criminals and drugs that flow through our neighborhoods and communities. These efforts have shown an impact in the reduction of crime providing for a safer Russellville and surrounding communities," Chief David Ewing, Russellville Police Department, said. "This would not have been possible without the dedicated officers, investigators, prosecutors that are unified in the single mission to protect our communities and our state."
"Cooperation is the key to taking down criminal Enterprises. I'm so proud of the cooperation between local law-enforcement agencies and the federal authorities involved in "To The Dirt". I want to specifically recognize the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force who played an integral part in these convictions," Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips, Fifth Judicial District, said.
Loadholt's sentence was enhanced due to his status as a career offender as a result of his criminal history that includes several serious drug convictions, including drug-trafficking convictions.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Pope County Sheriff's Office, the Russellville Police Department, and the Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edar/pr/russellville-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-role-dirt-methamphetamine
IDB Group Launches New Tools to Improve Disaster Risk Management
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:* * *
IDB Group Launches New Tools to Improve Disaster Risk Management
Two technological solutions and a collaboration with Google and the World Meteorological Organization to strengthen regional resilience
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BELEM, Brazil --The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) launched two tools at COP30 to help Latin American and Caribbean countries assess the risks and costs of disasters with greater precision.
RiskMONITOR, a tool developed by the IDB Group, visualizes data on disaster risk and ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release: * * * IDB Group Launches New Tools to Improve Disaster Risk Management Two technological solutions and a collaboration with Google and the World Meteorological Organization to strengthen regional resilience * BELEM, Brazil --The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) launched two tools at COP30 to help Latin American and Caribbean countries assess the risks and costs of disasters with greater precision. RiskMONITOR, a tool developed by the IDB Group, visualizes data on disaster risk andits management and evolution over time across countries. It is based on 20 years of accumulated knowledge and uses specific indicators to assess each country's level of preparedness, disaster-response capacity, resource availability, and degree of vulnerability.
RiskHUB is a platform that uses emerging technology such as artificial intelligence to project potential disaster impacts and apply this information to emergency response, territorial planning, infrastructure design, and the development of fiscal policy. It is intended for experts on risk assessment in both the public and private sectors.
RiskMONITOR and RiskHUB are part of Ready and Resilient Americas, a regional program launched by the IDB Group this year to increase disaster resilience. The program's three pillars are: improving information on disaster risks, strengthening coordination mechanisms for an effective regional response, and implementing innovative financial instruments to enhance resilience and protect against disasters.
In addition, the IDB Group is collaborating with Google and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to expand the region's adoption of two cutting-edge tools: the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and Flood Hub, a Google platform for flood monitoring. Authorities can use CAP to share critical safety alerts simultaneously across multiple communication channels, including sirens, radio, television, smartphones, and the internet. Flood Hub uses artificial intelligence and satellite data to provide flood forecasts up to seven days in advance.
This year, the IDB Group worked with Google in Honduras, one of the most disaster-prone countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, to support the first adoption of CAP and Flood Hub in the region.
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The IDB Group at COP30
The IDB Group is holding more than 80 events at COP30 to present solutions aimed at closing financing gaps for resilient development through partnerships, innovation, and a focus on measurable impact in Latin America and the Caribbean. Journalists present are invited to visit our spaces, with no registration required: the IDB Group Pavilion in the Blue Zone, the IDB Group Pavilion in the Green Zone, and the AMAZONIA SEMPRE Station at the Goeldi Museum. Follow our COP30 page for all news and event schedules.
The IDB Group is acting as a bridge - connecting governments and investors, the public and private sectors, people and communities - to mobilize at least $6 billion in announcements that help close financing gaps for resilient development and support national priorities.
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About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-group-launches-new-tools-improve-disaster-risk-management
ICYMI: Charges, Pleas, Sentencings and Settlements During the Recent Government Shutdown
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri posted the following news release:* * *
During the lapse in government funding, the U.S. Attorney's offices in St. Louis and Cape Girardeau were working hard to continue their mission. Here are just some of the things that happened that we weren't able to discuss at the time:
Wed. Oct. 1
Starr Lumos, 54, admitted committing over $201,000 in fraud by pretending to be disabled and unable to work. Despite those claims, she was working multiple jobs and running multiple businesses, including an ... Show Full Article ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri posted the following news release: * * * During the lapse in government funding, the U.S. Attorney's offices in St. Louis and Cape Girardeau were working hard to continue their mission. Here are just some of the things that happened that we weren't able to discuss at the time: Wed. Oct. 1 Starr Lumos, 54, admitted committing over $201,000 in fraud by pretending to be disabled and unable to work. Despite those claims, she was working multiple jobs and running multiple businesses, including anevent planning company. Lumos is scheduled to be sentenced in January and faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
Friday Oct. 3
A former doctor who pleaded guilty in 2020 to a charge of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or forgery admitted seeking employment using a stolen identity. Angela K. Williams, 40, pleaded guilty to identity theft and admitted seeking employment on the medical staff of the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority in Oklahoma and in other locations by stealing the identity of a St. Louis doctor. Williams submitted forged diplomas with the doctor's name and a forged State of Missouri medical license with her application. She could face up to five years in prison when sentenced in January.
Monday Oct. 6
Victoria Isgriggs, 45, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and admitted stealing over $164,000 from her employer, a Franklin County nursery and florist, in a variety of ways. Sentencing for Isgriggs, formerly known as Victoria Denise Missey, is set for January.
Tuesday Oct. 7
The United States reached a settlement with Fiserv Inc. and Fiserv Solutions LLC in which the companies agreed to pay $8.99 million to resolve allegations - brought forth by a whistleblower - that Fiserv took improper discounts on postage from the U.S. Postal Service.
Four men were indicted in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau and accused of involvement in an arson that destroyed the Midway restaurant in Puxico, Missouri and damaged two other businesses. Two of the men, Steven D. Phillips and his son Matthew S. Phillips, are co-owners of the restaurant and one, Larry D. Doublin, is the Chief of the Puxico Volunteer Fire Department, the indictment says. All have pleaded not guilty and are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Patrick Neistat, 24, of Florissant, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography and admitted soliciting and receiving child sexual abuse material from a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old and engaging in sexual contact with a minor male. Neistat faces between five and 20 years in prison at his January 29 sentencing hearing.
Carlan Travis Penney Jr., 46, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement or a minor and transportation of a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity. He admitted exchanging nude photos with a 15-year-old Missouri teen that he'd met online. Penney then brought the victim from Missouri to his home state of Georgia. He now faces at least 10 years in prison and a maximum prison term of life.
Edgar Love, a felon caught by St. Louis police with ammunition after his girlfriend accused him of assault, was sentenced to 137 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig found that Love obstructed the police investigation by flushing drugs down the toilet and disposing of two guns and ammunition before police could arrest him. Evidence and testimony showed that Love assaulted his girlfriend multiple times and repeatedly threatened her and her relatives with guns. Evidence and testimony also showed that Love possessed a firearm when he was wounded during a gun battle in August of 2022, about 30 days after his release from prison.
Anthony Justin Snelson, 39, of Arnold, was sentenced to 65 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for trying to meet with a 16-year-old to engage in sexual activity.
Wednesday Oct. 8
A superseding indictment was handed down accusing St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery of retaliating against persons he thought were cooperating with a federal investigation. He has pleaded not guilty and is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Sharon Dolisi
, 79, of St. James, Missouri was arrested after having been indicted and accused of acting as a "money mule" and receiving $2.1 million from lottery and sweepstakes fraud victims across the U.S. She has pleaded not guilty and is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Darryl Jaspering, 62, of Warrenton, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with federally protected activities and admitted threatening the St. Louis office of the NAACP. Jaspering admitted writing a racist, profane and threatening message on the NAACP's online contact page, including threats to "blow your... head off" and "bust you... with a... Hatchet." Jaspering is scheduled to be sentenced on February 5.
Friday Oct. 10
Brian K. Ditch, 45, of Salem, Missouri, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted neglecting his uncle, a U.S. Army veteran with quadriplegia, for years and then concealing his death so that he could fraudulently obtain his uncle's $1.8 million in disability benefits.
Bridgette Johnson, 61, of Berkeley, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and admitted fraudulently applying for and receiving $120,000 from the COVID-19 pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program. She also admitted fraudulently applying for $1 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans and receiving $9,000 in advances on those applications. She faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.
Tuesday Oct. 14
Timothy Kelley, 60, of Sullivan, Missouri, was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. He was also ordered to pay $45,000 to victims who have been identified in the CSAM he collected. RWS/Hayes.
Maurice Dowell, 70, of Chesterfield, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography and admitted downloading and sharing child sexual abuse material on a peer-to-peer network.
Stanley E. Alford, 58, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the armed robbery of a Fenton, Missouri store on Jan. 24, 2024, and a pawnshop in St. Louis County two days later. He was also ordered to pay $3,172 in restitution.
Wednesday Oct. 15
A jury found Carl Bowman, 37, guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence and testimony at the two-day trial showed that the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Bowman Aug. 8, 2023, on a supervised release violation warrant at his residence in St. Louis County. At the time, Bowman was in possession of an AK-style rifle with a large capacity magazine, a stolen AR-15 rifle with a large capacity magazine and two semi-automatic pistols, both with large capacity magazines. Bowman is scheduled to be sentenced in January.
Reginald M. Miller, a registered sex offender who molested a 14-year-old boy and provided cash and marijuana in exchange for child sexual abuse material, was sentenced to 400 months in prison. Miller, 57, lived in Park Hills, Missouri.
Jonniece Wilson, 20, of St. Louis, admitted stealing a Hyundai Accent at gunpoint on March 12, 2024, in St. Louis. She was a passenger in that stolen car when it fled from police minutes later before crashing and injuring a pedestrian. Wilson was arrested with a handgun in her backpack. She now faces up to 15 years in prison for carjacking and a mandatory, consecutive term of seven years for brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Rachel Burns, 35, of Franklin County, Missouri, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a one-year-old. Her husband, William Burns, 41, was sentenced to 40 years in prison in September.
Thursday Oct. 16
After a two-day bench trial, U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine found Roosevelt Easley, 40, of St. Louis, guilty of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence and testimony at trial showed that on March 29, 2022, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers stopped a vehicle driven by Easley. Marijuana and a firearm were in plain view in the vehicle. On Sept. 10, 2022, St. Louis police attempted to make a traffic stop of Easley's vehicle, but he sped off. Easley eventually crashed the vehicle into a tree before running away. Officers found two firearms in the vehicle. Judge Divine also found that Easley had at least three previous convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses. At sentencing, if Judge Divine rules that the enhanced penalty provisions of the Armed Career Criminal Act apply, Easley will face at least 15 years in prison.
Registered sex offender Leland Paster, 42, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he admitted possessing child sexual abuse material on a hidden SD card and searching for and viewing CSAM while on supervised release from a prior CSAM conviction in Alaska.
Tuesday Oct. 21
Jeremy S. Crocker, 46, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau and admitted setting a fire on March 2, 2025, in the Mark Twain National Forest in Iron County, Missouri. The fire consumed more than one acre of timber before firefighters were able to put it out. Crocker is scheduled to be sentenced in January.
Wednesday Oct. 22
Steve Allen Hall, 38, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. He admitted unlawfully trying to buy a handgun in Caruthersville, Missouri in June of 2025 while he was facing pending charges of child molestation. The sale was blocked by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Hall is scheduled to be sentenced in January and could face up to five years in prison.
Sean Paul II, 22, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He admitted viewing and possessing child sexual abuse material, including before and after he was interviewed by law enforcement. While on bond, Paul received nude images and images of self-harm from someone purporting to be a 16-year-old girl. At sentencing, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Errion Lavonte-Stallings, 25, of St. Louis County, and four others were indicted and accused of involvement in a conspiracy that stole checks from the mail and then attempted to deposit more than $250,000 in fraudulent checks into bank accounts. Lavonte-Stallings and two others have been arrested and have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Johnika Davis, 37, and Jimmie Moorehead, 47, were indicted on one count of conspiracy and eight counts of making false statements related to health care matters. The indictment accuses them of falsely claiming to have physical disabilities and need Medicaid-funded personal care services in exchange for kickbacks from a co-conspirator. The St. Louis residents have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Thursday Oct. 23
Connie Bobo, 46, of St. Charles, Missouri, was convicted by a jury of three counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and two counts of obstruction of an official proceeding after a three-day trial. Evidence and testimony at the trial showed that Bobo, who was executive director of New Heights Community Resource Center at the time, stole $19.7 million from a program meant to feed the most vulnerable children in the state of Missouri. That loss is the largest theft of child nutrition funds in state history, evidence showed. Bobo spent the money on luxury goods, homes for relatives, a new home for herself, a $200,000 Mercedes for a romantic partner and a $2.2 million commercial real estate investment, evidence and testimony showed. Bobo is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2026. The wire fraud and obstruction charges each carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a penalty of two years in prison, consecutive to any other charge. Bobo will also be ordered to pay restitution.
Pavel "Supreme" Gil, 35, of New York City, was sentenced to 132 months in prison and ordered to repay $517,900 to victims of a bank fraud conspiracy that he masterminded. Gil obtained the names and account information of the customers of regional banks across the country. Giovanni Resto, 34, of New York City, then manufactured counterfeit ID cards containing the photos of co-conspirators and the victims' names and birthdates. Oladiran Ajayi-Obe, 29, Jersey City, new Jersey, ran a crew of conspirators that traveled from the New York metropolitan area to banks around the country to make withdrawals from the victims' bank accounts. Gil and 15 others have pleaded guilty to charges connected to the case.
Jemek'treon Lebrandon Easton, 28, of Charleston, Missouri pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of possession of a machine gun. Easton admitted that a Charleston Police Department officer caught him on May 17, 2025, with a .45-caliber Glock handgun equipped with a "switch," or auto sear, that enables it to fire as a fully automatic weapon. Shell casings from the gun match those recovered from a shooting that injured three on April 26, 2025. Easton now faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced.
Friday Oct. 24
A St. Louis County company, E&A Auto Cores LLC, pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of stolen goods and admitted buying stolen catalytic converters from Missouri, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington and Idaho. The company also agreed to pay a $90,000 fine, a forfeiture money judgement of $50,000 and agreed to forfeit 269 catalytic converters that were seized by the St. Louis County Police Department on Sept. 24, 2020.
Monday Oct. 27
Donald Held, 51, of Warren County, who possessed and shared child sexual abuse material online, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Corey M. Felton, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that during a dispute with a woman on Nov. 27, 2024, he took the woman's gun and then carjacked her. He also admitted robbing a man he met via Grindr on December 2. Felton also stipulated that prosecutors could prove by a preponderance of the evidence that on November 28, he robbed another man he met on Grindr, and on December 10, he exchanged gunfire with others in the 3500 block of South Grand Boulevard in St. Louis, using the stolen gun. Felton is scheduled to be sentenced February 19. The felon in possession charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and the robbery charge has a maximum term of 20 years. The brandishing charge carries a penalty of at least seven years in prison, consecutive to any other charge.
Tuesday Oct. 28
Gordon Lee Smith, 52, of Washington County, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of the possession of unregistered firearms. He admitted illegally possessing five machine guns and seven silencers. He now faces up to 10 years in prison.
Carlos Romero-Salazar, 40, of St. Charles County, Missouri, and five of his nine co-defendants were arrested after having been indicted and accused of involvement in a "jackpotting" conspiracy that stole cash from ATMs. The indictment says Romero-Salazar, a technician for an ATM maintenance service company, installed malware on ATM hard drives that allowed others to take control and force the ATMs to dispense more than $940,000 in one week. Romero-Salazar has pleaded not guilty, as have the others arrested. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Wednesday Oct. 29
A jury found Irven l. White, 47, of St. Louis, guilty of six felonies: two counts each of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence and testimony showed that on Nov. 1, 2023, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer saw White conducting what appeared to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction in the 4400 block of Farlin Avenue. When other officers approached, White fled, discarding a firearm, and was immediately detained. Officers found fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base. On August 26, 2024, officers were notified that White, who had an outstanding warrant for the November 1 incident, was again conducting a hand-to-hand drug transaction. He fled officers again, leaving behind a bag containing two guns. He was arrested in a nearby home, where officers found fentanyl and cocaine base. White is a convicted felon and is thus barred from possessing firearms. Among his prior convictions is one for second degree murder.
Dillon Miller, 31, of Farmington, pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography and admitted possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse material, making images available online and sexually abusing minors when he was a minor.
Alexander Sampson, 39, and Dana Kelly, 47, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and two counts of making a false statement. The indictment accuses them of fraudulently obtaining a $397,210 pandemic relief loan for Reign Restaurant LLC in 2021. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Thursday Oct. 30
Antony C. Campise, 39, of St. Peters, Missouri, was sentenced to 130 months in prison. Campise pleaded guilty in May to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and admitted possessing multiple firearms. During the sentencing hearing, witness testimony showed that Campise possessed the firearm during a violent domestic assault and did so to exert power and control over the victim.
Anton Bolden, 31, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 138 months in prison for selling fentanyl to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 2023, as well as Glock handguns equipped with a "switch" or auto sear that convert them into a machine gun and a standalone conversion device. Thirteen firearms, including one machine gun and three conversion devices, were later found at the home of Bolden, a convicted felon.
Deionte Grice, 31, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He admitted stealing a 2020 Kia Optima at gunpoint from a woman in the 5300 block of Devonshire Avenue in St. Louis on Jan. 5, 2024. Grice also stole the victim's phone and purse. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers caught Grice on a bus with two handguns in the stolen purse. He now faces up to 15 years in prison for the carjacking charge and a mandatory, consecutive term of seven years for the brandishing charge.
Corie M. Boyer, 50, of Jefferson County, Missouri, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and admitted embezzling more than $550,000 from the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in DeSoto, including by stealing cash from the offertory. Boyer was parish bookkeeper and secretary at the time of her crimes. She faces up to 20 years in prison at her January 30 sentencing.
Monday Nov. 3
Anthony Virdure, a former U.S. Postal Service mail handler who stole checks from the mail and committed pandemic fraud, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to repay his fraudulently-obtained Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loan of $20,832. Virdure, 31, pleaded guilty in July to mail theft and wire fraud.
Tuesday Nov. 4
A St. Louis area contractor, Coretta "Cory" Elliott, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and admitted fraudulently obtaining pandemic loans totaling $1.7 million. Elliott obtained a first draw Paycheck Protection Program loan of $875,000 in 2020 and a second draw loan of $833,333 in 2021 by falsely certifying that the loans would be used for business-related purposes and by inflating her company's monthly payroll. She then received loan forgiveness by falsely claiming that she used the money for payroll and other legitimate business expenses when she really used it for impermissible personal purposes. Elliott faces up to 30 years in prison at her sentencing in February and will be ordered to repay the money.
Elder scammer Jiacheng Chen, 21, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Chen was the fifth defendant in the case to be sentenced. Yu-chieh Huang, 24, was sentenced to 40 months in prison, Tsz Kan, 43, received 54 months, Liang Jin, 26, received a 48-month sentence, Kaiyu Wen, 27, received 72 months. Huang, Jin and Wen were each ordered to pay $90,000 in restitution and Jin was fined $120,000. Scammers targeted older Americans with tech support fraud, romance fraud, and imposter schemes and tricked their victims into handing over large amounts of cash to money mules.
Dorian Scott, a convicted felon who was caught by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers in 2024 with a handgun and nearly 5,000 pills containing fentanyl, was sentenced to 126 months in prison. Scott pleaded guilty in July possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Wednesday Nov. 5
Alexander Gardiner, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and admitted the sextortion of a Missouri teen. Gardiner, who is a citizen of both the United States and the Turks and Caicos, admitted meeting a 15-year-old Missouri boy via Snapchat. After multiple requests by Gardiner, the teen sent photos of his genitals to Gardiner, believing he would be left alone after doing so. Gardiner instead threatened to send those images to the victim's family and friends if the victim did not continue to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for Gardiner. Gardiner also admitted directing an unidentified 14-year-old to produce CSAM in 2021. Gardiner posted CSAM on Twitter and a link to a Telegram group that targeted minors in attempts to have them produce CSAM. Gardiner could face 10 years to life prison when sentenced in February.
Talito Amos, 32, of Beverly Hills, Missouri, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling drugs as part of the "55 Boyz" south St. Louis drug gang. Amos pleaded guilty in August and admitted sourcing fentanyl and meth for the drug trafficking organization, coordinating drug sales and selling directly to drug users.
A superseding indictment added defendants and charges to an indictment alleging a conspiracy to employ and harbor illegal aliens. Guo Liang Ye, 56, of St. Charles County, De Jin Ye, 56, Feng Ye, 34, and Maria Cruz-Cortes, 30, are accused of employing illegal aliens at the Golden Apple Buffet in St. Charles, housing them and providing them fraudulent Social Security cards and immigration documents. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.
Thursday Nov. 6
Dameon G. Christian, 42, of Washington Park, Illinois, pleaded guilty and admitted posting public threats on his Facebook page in May of 2025 to kill two people. He also admitted that prosecutors can prove that he fired multiple gunshots at a north St. Louis church and at a home in East St. Louis. Christian pleaded guilty to two counts of sending a threat in interstate commerce and one count of transporting a firearm across state lines with the intent to commit a felony. At his sentencing in February, he could face up to five years in prison for the threat changes and up to 10 years in prison for the gun charge.
Wednesday Nov. 12
Daniel Paulino, the former police chief and city administrator of Velda City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and admitted embezzling at least $158,000 from the city in multiple ways while admitting additional fraud yet to be finally calculated by the Court. Without the knowledge and authority of the city: Paulino caused three checks totaling $1,800 and 20 direct deposits of $30,677 to be issued to himself. Paulino used a city credit card to transfer $37,550 to businesses owned by himself and his spouse. He triggered the payment of direct deposits of city funds totaling $54,693 to his personal bank account, falsely represented as the salary of his spouse for purportedly working in the city's public works division. Paulino also admitted using city funds to pay for additional personal expenses, including $25,500 to buy a tow truck for his company, $3,956 for a Caribbean vacation and $4,000 that went to an Audi dealer. Paulino, 51, is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 10, 2026. Each wire fraud count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The total amount of restitution that Paulino will be ordered to pay has not yet been determined.
Robert Nelson Howell, 60, of Madison County, Kentucky, was sentenced to 90 months in prison after being convicted at trial in August of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Howell was caught with duffel bags containing a gun and $12,000 in cash. Howell was driving a stolen vehicle with fake license plates and a fake vehicle identification number and admitted being Involved in drug trafficking.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/icymi-charges-pleas-sentencings-and-settlements-during-recent-government-shutdown
FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS PENSACOLA MAN FOR SHOOTING AT DEA SPECIAL AGENT
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida posted the following news release on Nov. 13, 2025:* * *
FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS PENSACOLA MAN FOR SHOOTING AT DEA SPECIAL AGENT
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - Austin James McCastler II, 36, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, attempted prevention of the government's authority ... Show Full Article TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Nov. 15 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida posted the following news release on Nov. 13, 2025: * * * FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS PENSACOLA MAN FOR SHOOTING AT DEA SPECIAL AGENT PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - Austin James McCastler II, 36, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, attempted prevention of the government's authorityto take property during an authorized search and seizure, assault with a deadly weapon of a Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. John Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the verdict today.
US Attorney Heekin said: "This case exemplified the extreme dangers faced by the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe from violent criminals. I am incredibly proud of the outstanding trial work by the talented prosecutors in my office that resulted in this successful verdict."
Trial testimony and evidence revealed that, after undercover law enforcement purchased methamphetamine from McCastler's Pensacola residence on two occasions, a search warrant was obtained to search for and seize illicit narcotics from his home. On March 7, 2025, law enforcement attempted to execute the lawful warrant. McCastler would not comply with orders to surrender to law enforcement, and he armed himself with his American Tactical Imports assault rifle. As law enforcement surrounded the residence, McCastler opened fire, including one shot intended for the DEA Special Agent. McCastler then fled from the residence, jumped in his vehicle, and a high-speed chase ensued. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office was immediately on the tail of McCastler and eventually immobilized his vehicle in traffic. McCastler then tried to flee on foot, but law enforcement captured him. A search of his residence ultimately revealed the loaded assault rifle, a second firearm, dozens of rounds of ammunition, fentanyl, and marijuana, amongst other things.
McCastler is scheduled for sentencing on February 10, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. McCastler, who has more than five prior state felony convictions, faces up to life imprisonment.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida (https://ecf.flnd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl) website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/federal-jury-convicts-pensacola-man-shooting-dea-special-agent
Census Bureau: 'Centenarians - 2020' (Part 2 of 2)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Census Bureau issued the following report (No. C2020SR-02) in September 2025 by Julie Meyer entitled "Centenarians: 2020:"(Continued from Part 1 of 2)
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GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Comparing geographic patterns of age groups provides the general pattern of where people are living as they age. Where people live could be described in terms of type of geography, such as urban or rural, as well as where they are concentrated in the country, such as in which region or state. Within this comparison of these patterns across age groups, we understand where ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Census Bureau issued the following report (No. C2020SR-02) in September 2025 by Julie Meyer entitled "Centenarians: 2020:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Comparing geographic patterns of age groups provides the general pattern of where people are living as they age. Where people live could be described in terms of type of geography, such as urban or rural, as well as where they are concentrated in the country, such as in which region or state. Within this comparison of these patterns across age groups, we understand wherecentenarians fit.
Subnational Comparisons
According to 2020 Census data, there was a wave pattern of percentage urban over the life course or ages when people were more and less likely to live in urban settings (Figure 14). The urban percentage for centenarians falls around the center of the range among the compared age groups. According to Figure 14, in 2020, young adults were most likely of all the groups to live in an urban setting (84.3 percent of the population aged 18 to 24 was urban), followed by 83.1 percent urban for the population aged 25 to 44. The higher percentage urban for young- and middle-aged 14 adults (e.g., including parents of dependent children) displayed a similar pattern as that of the youth age groups (including dependent children). Examining percentage urban among the older age groups reveals an apparent moving away from urban settings among those in the middle age group (45 to 64) and into retirement age (65 to 84). The populations of those aged 45 to 64 was lower (77.6 percent urban), and those aged 65 to 84 was even lower (75.5 percent urban). Then, there was a rise to 80.7 percent urban for the population aged 85 to 99. Perhaps this increase was to seek care or to be near caretaking children as health deteriorates in older age. The percentage urban fell for the centenarian population to 79.3 percent.
Behind the South, the Northeast Had the Second-Most Centenarians, Despite Being Fourth Among Regions for the Populations Aged 65 to 84 and 85 to 99
A comparison of numbers of centenarians across regions (Table 4) indicates where the regional ranking for this group differed from that for the other older population age groups. The region with the most centenarians was the South (25,807), followed by the Northeast (18,394), West (18,251), and Midwest (17,687). Aside from the South (the region with, by far, the largest total population) being first for centenarians, the regional ranking for centenarians was different from that for the other older population groups. The population aged 65 to 84 had the same ranking as the total population, with the South region having the highest population, followed by the West, Midwest, and Northeast. The South was also the largest region for the population aged 85 to 99, but the Midwest was second, the West third, and the Northeast last. A comparison of the rankings of the "younger" older population groups with that of the centenarians demonstrates that the Northeast made the biggest leap in ranked order for number of centenarians from what its position in ranked order was for the population aged 85 to 99 or the population aged 65 to 84 (from fourth to second).
A comparison of states according to the size of their centenarian populations indicates that states with the largest total populations generally had the most centenarians. California had the largest number of centenarians (10,623) followed by New York, Florida, and Texas. Texas was an outlier among this group of states as it had a relatively low proportion of centenarians while having one of the largest numbers of centenarians. Its large overall size carried it into the top ranked states for number of centenarians. At the other end, Alaska had the fewest centenarians (94) followed by Wyoming, Vermont, and Delaware, each having fewer than 200 centenarians statewide. Notably, some states ranked low on the number of centenarians while having a relatively high proportion (e.g., North Dakota, South Dakota, and Rhode Island). More information can be found in Table 4 and Figure 15 for all the states.
The Northeast Had the Highest Proportion Centenarians
Comparing across regions, the proportions of centenarians in their populations provides where centenarians are in higher or lower proportion. For comparison, the national proportion of centenarians was 2.42 per 10,000 people. Below the national level, the regional proportions varied from 2.04 to 3.19 per 10,000 people. The Northeast (3.19) had the highest proportion of centenarians, as it also did for the other two older population comparison groups (i.e., the population aged 65 to 84 and the population aged 85 to 99). The second highest, though noticeably trailing behind, was the Midwest (2.56). Both had proportions that were higher than the national average of 2.42 per 10,000 people, while the West (2.32) and the South (2.04) had proportions that were lower, with the South having the lowest proportion of centenarians. It was noted that while the South was the highest of all the regions on number of centenarians, it ranked lowest of all the regions on proportion of centenarians.
Hawaii Had the Largest Proportion of Centenarians
In 2020, states' proportions ranged from 1.04 to 4.44 centenarians per 10,000 people in the state. Hawaii, a noticeable outlier for having high life expectancy at age 65 (Arias, et al., 2022), was also the only state with more than 4 centenarians per 10,000 (4.44) in 2020. Puerto Rico joined it, having 4.14 centenarians per 10,000 people. States with relatively high proportions, between 3.50 and 3.99 per 10,000 people included: Rhode Island (3.97), South Dakota (3.87), and Connecticut (3.64). On the other end, no state had less than 1 centenarian per 10,000 people in the 2020 Census. Utah came the closest (1.04) and Alaska was close behind (1.28).
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Figure 15. Centenarians: 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File.
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A comparison of the state rankings and pattern of proportions of centenarians with the state rankings and pattern of proportions for the other age groups among the older population helps with understanding how the proportions of centenarians' pattern was distinct or similar (Table 4). First, the percentage of the population aged 65 to 84 ranged from 10.5 percent to 19.4 percent across states. The states with the highest percentages aged 65 to 84 were Maine (19.4 percent), Florida (18.7 percent), Vermont (18.4 percent), and West Virginia (18.3 percent). The states with the lowest percentages in this age range included Utah (10.5 percent), Texas (12.1 percent), and Alaska (12.1 percent). The District of Columbia was also in this range (11.1 percent). The states and state equivalents with high proportions of centenarians were, overall, relatively consistent with the states having higher proportions of people aged 85 to 99, with a few exceptions. The District of Columbia had a lower percentage aged 85 to 99 while having one of the higher proportions aged 100 and over. The state percentages of people aged 85 to 99 ranged from 0.88 percent to 2.56 percent. The highest proportions were in Hawaii (2.56 percent), Florida (2.46 percent), and Pennsylvania (2.43 percent). The states with the lowest percentages in this age range were Alaska (0.88 percent--the only state with less than 1 percent) and Utah (1.20 percent). A comparison of maps (Figure 15) detailing proportions in each older population age group indicates that states with the highest proportions of centenarians were similar in pattern to that for the population aged 85 to 99 (i.e., Midwest and Northeast concentration of the high-proportion states), but they were dissimilar from the pattern for the population aged 65 to 84 (i.e., high-proportion states were outside the central United States).
DATA QUALITY
As noted in the introduction, data quality issues have affected census centenarian data for decades (Siegel and Passel, 1976; Spencer, 1987; Krach and Velkof, 1999; Humes and Velkof, 2007; Meyer, 2012). The types of errors and the magnitude of their effect on centenarian data have varied from one census to another. Types of error include misreporting, form design issues, data capture or keying errors, and processing errors.
Misreporting occurs when a respondent does not answer the question accurately. With respect to centenarian data, it can result from illiteracy, cognition difficulties, proxy reporting (i.e., response by someone other than the person, such as a neighbor or healthcare provider), or simply a desire to attain the status of being a centenarian.
Form design issues can also cause misreporting. They occur when the question or overall census form is confusing to the respondent. For example, in the 1970 Census, a form design that included Film Optical Sensing Device for Input to Computers circles confused some respondents and led them to mark the incorrect century for year of birth, resulting in an unexpectedly large number of people with centenarian ages in that year's census data (Siegel and Passel, 1976).
Data capture or keying errors affect data when the data keyer (i.e., a census employee who enters census responses into a database) or the automated data capture program misinterprets or incorrectly records a census response. In the 2000 Census, a few centenarian ages resulted when dates of birth including months beginning with the digit "1" (e.g., January, October, or November) were reported by the respondent in the age entry box instead of the date of birth entry boxes. For example, a person may have written the date of birth 10-1-90 in the age entry area on the form. The automated capture program would have interpreted this as an age entry. Since the capture system was designed to record only the first three digits of an age response, it would then have captured this response as a false centenarian with age 101 (Humes and Velkof, 2007).
Other issues can occur during data editing and allocation procedures, which clean and fill in missing information. For example, analysis of centenarian data after the 2000 Census indicated that the count of centenarians in 2000 was artificially high (Humes and Velkof, 2007). This was due in large part to the already-documented combination of a specifc relationship reporting error and procedures that based age allocations on those misreported relationship responses while maintaining consistency of relationships and ages among household members (Spencer, 1987). Many of the data quality issues afecting centenarian data result from a combination of the various types of errors rather than just one type. The small centenarian population numbers make this population more sensitive to the impact of the various data quality issues.
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Table 5. Life Expectancy in Years Comparison: 2000, 2010, and 2020
Source: National Center for Health Statistics.
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Figure 16. Life Expectancy: 2000, 2010, and 2020
Source: National Center for Health Statistics.
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Additional Analysis
The 2020 Census presented a relatively large percentage increase in centenarians between 2010 and 2020. Given this, additional analysis is provided to help gauge the reliability of that change. It includes a comparison of the centenarian percentage increase in 2020 to the percentage change of those in their 90s in 2010, a look at life expectancy, and an examination of by-source (e.g., data values sourced from reporting vs. imputation) percentage increase since 2010.
How Does the Percentage Change for People in Their 90s From 2000 to 2010 Compare With the Percentage Change for People Aged 100 and Older Between 2010 and 2020?
The reliability of the high percentage increase in centenarians between the 2010 and 2020 Census numbers can be checked, to some extent, by comparing it to the percentage change of this cohort of people in their 90s between the 2000 and the 2010 Censuses. The percentage change of the population aged 90 to 99 between 2000 and 2010 was a 30.0 percent increase in number. When this cohort was followed into the next decade, the percentage change of the population aged 100 and over (i.e., those surviving from the prior two comparison groups in their 90s) between 2010 and 2020 was 50.2 percent. This comparison demonstrates that the percentage increase from 2000 to 2010 for the population aged 90 to 99 was around 20 percentage points less than the percentage increase from 2010 to 2020 for those aged 100 and over. This would seem to contradict the large percentage increase in centenarians between 2010 to 2020. An examination of life expectancy can provide more insight.
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Figure 17. Life Expectancy Dierence at Each Age: 2000-2010 vs. 2010-2020
Source: National Center for Health Statistics.
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Unless life expectancy improvements were greater in 2020 for the population aged 100 and over than in 2010 for the population aged 90 to 99, this difference implies overrepresentation of people in the centenarian age range in 2020. However, according to the National Center for Health Statistics vital statistics (Arias and Xu, 2022; Arias, 2014; Arias et al., 2008) (Figure 16, Figure 17, and Table 5), life expectancy, in years, actually declined for centenarians between 2010 and 2020 while life expectancy had improved for this cohort between 2000 and 2010 (i.e., when these centenarians were aged 90 to 99). Figure 16 and Table 5 above present the life expectancies, in years, for people aging into 90 (i.e., life expectancy for people aged 89 into age 90) through people aging into 101 (i.e., people aged 100 living to 101).
The life expectancy (in years) change by single year of age for the two time periods under examination (i.e., 2000-2010 and 2010-2020) are presented in Table 5 and Figure 17. They indicate there was an increase in life expectancy (i.e., mortality improved) between 2000 and 2010 for all the ages in the examined age range, including those in their 90s. And between 2010 and 2020, there was a decrease in life expectancy (i.e., mortality worsened) for all ages, including centenarians. This is presented in Figure 17 by the blue line being entirely above 0 (i.e., increase in life expectancy) while the orange line is entirely below 0 (i.e., decrease in life expectancy).
To further clarify the above finding, Figure 18 compares the 2000-2010 life expectancy change for the two endpoints of the 90s (i.e., 89-90 and 98-99) with the 2010-2020 life expectancy change for people 99 aging into 100 (i.e., the same cohort 10 years later). As above in the full comparison, this comparison indicates that mortality worsened between 2010 and 2020 for people becoming centenarian (i.e., aging from 99 to 100) and mortality improved from 2000 to 2010 for people in their 90s (operationalized as those entering age 90 or those entering age 99). The results from this examination of life expectancy from the National Center for Health Statistics vital statistics supports the idea that the 2020 Census centenarian count is possibly a bit high.
What Was the Percentage Increase in the Centenarian Population With Only the Highest Quality Census Responses?
Another way to help assess the reliability of the 2020 Census centenarian population's percentage increase is by focusing on the portion of centenarians with the highest quality age and date of birth responses (a) those that provided consistent age and date of birth information or (b) those that were assigned an age from a partial report to the age and date of birth question, such as those providing only age or date of birth, but not both, or those reporting inconsistent age and date of birth. This assignment category in the 2020 Census data also includes assignments from high quality administrative records. It is noted that in the 2020 Census, the group quarters population, such as those in nursing homes, largely were included in the assigned-age category where date of birth was collected from administrators and used to assign the age of the resident. The centenarian population with age coming from one of these higher quality reporting scenarios increased 43.5 percent from 2010 to 2020./10
This percentage increase was a little lower than the 50.2 percent increase overall, but not overwhelmingly so. It was also bigger than the largest percentage increase in the most recent censuses (Figure 2), the 1990- 2000 census period when the percentage change of centenarians was 35.2 percent. This targeted comparison does support a real accelerated increase in the centenarian population between 2010 and 2020.
CONCLUSION
In summary, the 2020 Census provided the information that the centenarian population in the United States grew 50.2 percent from 53,364 in 2010 to 80,139 in 2020, the fastest growth among recent censuses and faster than other age groups among the older population. Despite the large percentage gain, centenarians remained rare, representing only 2.42 per 10,000 people in the total population. Their proportion has increased since 1980, when it was 1.42 per 10,000. Centenarians were overwhelmingly more likely to be female, though males have made gains. The racial and ethnic composition of centenarians changed between 2010 and 2020, though not to the extent experienced by the population overall. The percentage White alone declined while most of the smaller groups increased in percentage. An exception was Black or African American alone centenarians who experienced a decline in proportion since 2010. Centenarians were more likely to live in urban areas than the population aged 65 to 84, but less likely than the population aged 85 to 99. They also lived in a greater variety of living arrangements, including in group quarters facilities (such as nursing homes) than the rest of the older population. Female centenarians were notably more likely than male centenarians to be in living arrangements alone or in group quarters without familiar people. Lastly, centenarians were in higher proportion in the Northeast than in the other regions, though Hawaii was the state with the highest proportion.
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10 The Census Bureau has reviewed this data product to ensure appropriate access, use, and disclosure avoidance protection of the confidential source data (Project No. D-0000010172, Disclosure Review Board [DRB] approval number: CBDRB-FY24-0420).
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ABOUT THE 2020 CENSUS
Why Was the 2020 Census Conducted?
The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census be taken in the United States every 10 years. This is required to determine the number of seats each state is to receive in the U.S. House of Representatives. Age data are used to determine the voting age population (18 and older) for use in the legislative redistricting process.
Why Did the 2020 Census Ask the Question on Age and Date of Birth?
The U.S. Census Bureau collects data on age to support a variety of legislative and program requirements. These data are also used to aid in the allocation of funds from federal programs, for example to programs targeting the older population. This includes planning for hospitals, roads, and housing assistance.
For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs uses census data to plan for nursing homes, hospitals, cemeteries, domiciliary services, and veterans' benefits; the Department of Health and Human Services uses age data as part of the formula used to allocate funds for services to seniors with low incomes under the Older Americans Act; and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission uses age data to enforce equal employment opportunities. These data are also used to forecast the number of people eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits.
How Are Data on Age Beneficial?
Federal, state, and local governments need information on age to implement, evaluate, and aid programs that plan and develop services for older adults. These include, but are not limited to, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, the Older Americans Act, the Nutrition Education Program, the Rehabilitation Act, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Services for Older Americans Program, and the Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program.
Other important uses for census data on age are in the planning and funding of services for the older population, such as health service centers, retirement homes, assisted living or skilled-nursing facilities, transportation availability, Social Security, and Medicare benefits. Census data can also be used by the private sector to determine business locations and advertising for goods and services targeting older adults, investment planning, employment opportunities, and specialized consumer needs. Researchers can use age data to project future population trends, assess mortality patterns, evaluate shifts in the geographic distribution of the older population, and plan ways to better serve the needs of a given community.
How Are Data Collected in the 2020 Census Protected From Disclosure?
To protect respondent confidentiality, data have undergone disclosure avoidance methods which add "statistical noise" - small, random additions or subtractions - to the data so that no one can reliably link the published data to a specific person or household. The Census Bureau encourages data users to aggregate small populations and geographies to improve accuracy and diminish implausible results.
For more information on the statistical methods used to protect confidentiality, refer to
FOR MORE INFORMATION
More data about centenarians can be found in the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC) product, which provides information at the national level and below. Specific DHC tables describing the centenarian population include the 2020 Census DHC tables PCT12 and the table series PCT12A-O. Additionally, you can interact with these data by using the new 2020 Census age data visualizations at
To access these data tables and tools, visit the Census Bureau's website at
REFERENCES
Arias, Elizabeth and Jiaquan Xu, "United States Life Tables, 2020," NCHS National Vital Statistics Reports, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Vol. 71, Number 1, 2022,
Arias, Elizabeth, Jiaquan Xu, Betzaida Tejada-Vera, Sherry L. Murphy, and Brigham Bastian, "U.S. State Life Tables, 2020," NCHS National Vital Statistics Reports, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Vol. 71, Number 2, 2022,
Arias, Elizabeth, "United States Life Tables, 2010," NCHS National Vital Statistics Reports, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Vol. 63, Number 7, 2014,
Arias, Elizabeth, Lester R. Curtin, Rong Wei, and Robert N. Anderson, "United States Decennial Life Tables for 1999-2001," NCHS National Vital Statistics Reports, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Vol. 57, Number 1, 2008,
Humes, Karen R. and Victoria A. Velkof, 2007, "Centenarians in the United States: 2000," Poster Presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, New York, NY, 2007,
Italian National Institute of Statistics, "Resident Population on 1st January 2020 by Sex, Age and Marital Status,"2023,
Krach, Constance A. and Victoria A. Velkof, "Centenarians in the United States," Current Population Reports Special Studies, P23199RV, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC, 1999,
Mayol-Garcia, Yeris, Benjamin Gurrentz, and Rose M. Kreider, "Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces: 2016," Current Population Reports, P70-167, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC, 2021,
Meyer, Julie, "Centenarians: 2010," 2010 Census Special Reports, C2010SR-03, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC, 2012,
Population Reference Bureau, "Countries With the Oldest Populations in the World," 2020,
Reher, David and Miguel Requena, "Living Alone in Later Life: A Global Perspective," Population and Development Review, Vol. 44, Issue 3, 2018, pp. 427-454,
Sawe, Benjamin E., "Countries With the Most Centenarians," World Atlas, 2019,
Siegel, Jacob S. and Jefrey S. Passel, "New Estimates of the Number of Centenarians in the United States," Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 71, Number 355, 1976, pp. 559-566,
Spencer, Gregory, "Improvements in the Quality of Census Age Statistics for the Elderly," Data for an Aging Population: Proceedings of the 1987 Public Health Conference on Records and Statistics, July 13-17, Washington, DC, DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 88-1214, National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD, 1987, pp. 231-235.
Spencer, Gregory, "The Quality of Centenarian Data in the 1980 Census," Paper Presented at the 1986 Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, San Francisco, CA, 1986.
Statistics Bureau of Japan, "Table 1-1 Population by Sex, Age (Single Years) and All Nationality or Japanese, and Average Age and Median Age by Sex and All Nationality or Japanese - Japan, Prefectures, 21 Major Cities, Ku-area of Tokyo and Shi With Population of 500,000 or More," Data Set: 2020 Census with imputation (Table w1_01_01e), 2023,
U.S. Census Bureau, "S1810: Disability Characteristics," 2022 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates Subject Tables, 2023,
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The report is posted at: https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2020/c2020sr-02.pdf