BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Jesus Andres Villapudua, a/k/a "Chik" (35, San Luis, Arizona), and Noel Alfredo Garcia, (34, Las Vegas, Nevada) with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Both def  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The U.S. Department of Education issued the following news release: President Biden will email an additional 380,000 public service workers thanking them for their service and notifying them they are on track to have their debt cancelled through PSLF within two years The Biden-Harris Administration announced today the approval of $5.8 billion in additional student loan debt relief for 77,700 borrowers. These approvals are the result of fixes made by the Administra  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued the following news on March 21, 2024: Today, the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement (MOWA) announced their 2024 EXTRAordinary Women honorees. EXTRAordinary Women (ExW) are recognized for their commitment and dedication to their community, neighborhood, and workplace. "Ensuring that residents have equitable access to menstrual products is critical for their health and well-being," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "As we work to make B  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on March 21, 2024: * * * Agency takes action against property owner to address lead-based paint hazards and protect children and families * * * On March 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an Administrative Order on Consent to Historic Cargill Falls Mill, LLC to take immediate steps to protect tenants and visitors at The Lofts at Cargill Falls Mill in Putnam, Conn. from l  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation issued the following news release on March 21, 2024: Governor Maura Healey, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, Transportation Secretary & CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt, U.S Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Connor, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator Edward Markey and Congressman William Keating today announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been reached between the Commonwealth of Mas  more

WASHINGTON, March 22 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service issued the following news release: As the end of tax season draws near, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers there's an easy way to get a tax filing extension through the Free File program. A tax filing extension guarantees the taxpayer six additional months to file - with an extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2024. The IRS Free File program is one of the easiest ways to get an extension. Although an e  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Raymond Montanez (42, Land O' Lakes) has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Each count carries a minimum mandatory term of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sent  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news release on March 21, 2024: The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced more than $360,000 o help local cities and towns meet existing stormwater management requirements. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) awarded grants to seven multi-community watershed coalitions and planning collaboratives to develop innovative programs designed to assis  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release on March 21, 2024: Today, Governor Maura Healey appointed Commissioner Jordan Maynard as Interim Chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, following the announcement of Cathy Judd-Stein's retirement. The administration is in the process of searching for a permanent chair. Maynard was appointed as a Commissioner by Governor Charlie Baker, then-Attorney General Healey, and Treasurer Deb Go  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Governor Maura T. Healey nominated Rebeca G. Figueroa, Vanessa Velez, and Steven S. Kim as Associate Justices to the Boston Municipal Court. The nominees will now be considered by the Governor's Council for confirmation. "I am proud to nominate these three attorneys to the Boston Municipal Court. Throughout the course of their careers, they've shown a clear and dedicated commitment to just  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on March 21, 2024: A Boston man was sentenced yesterday for his role in a money laundering conspiracy. Mark Anthony Figueroa, 50, a/k/a Angel Figueroa, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Figueroa was also ordered to pay a fine of $30,000 and forfeiture of more than $700,000.  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on March 21, 2024: A Colombian man was sentenced yesterday for his role in a sophisticated money laundering organization that laundered approximately $1 million in proceeds from drug trafficking through United States banks. Luis Fernando Galindo Ramos, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 38 months in prison. In December 2023,   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release: A former Worcester resident has been indicted for firearms offenses and distributing cocaine. Juan Otero, 22, of Franklin, was indicted on one count of dealing in firearms without a license; one count of receiving a firearm while under indictment; one count of possession of a machinegun; and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release on March 21, 2024: A Maine man was sentenced today for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that operated in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Northern California. Jacob Parlin, 44, of Lebanon, Maine, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2023, Parlin was  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts issued the following news release: An Ohio man has been charged in Boston, Mass. for a nearly three-decade scheme to conceal his alleged involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which left more than 800,000 people dead. The defendant is also charged with obstruction of justice and with perjury for allegedly offering false testimony in the 2019 Boston trial of his former classmate and now-convic  more

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 22 -- The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, a service component of the U.S. Africa Command, issued the following news: By Maj. Joe Legros "I really can't believe I'm here in Kenya again," said U.S. Army Spc. Dalya Wambui, attached to the 772nd Military Police Company, Massachusetts National Guard. Born in Nairobi, Wambui is back in her native country, which is hosting exercise Justified Accord 2024, U.S. Africa Command's largest military exercise in East Af  more

NEW BEDFORD, Massachusetts, March 22 -- MassDevelopment issued the following news release: MassDevelopment has issued a $17 million tax-exempt bond on behalf of Wamsutta Preservation LLC, an affiliate of HallKeen Management, Inc., which is using proceeds to renovate and preserve the historic Wamsutta Apartments, a 144-unit affordable multifamily rental housing complex in New Bedford's Acushnet Heights Historic District. The company is making significant upgrades to all bathrooms and most kitche  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 22 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on March 21, 2024: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and Secretary of State Susan C. Lee, along with the Federal Trade Commission and nine other states, are suing sham charity Cancer Recovery Foundation International, also known as Women's Cancer Fund, and its operator, Gregory B. Anderson, for deceiving generous donors who sought to offer financial support to women battling ca  more

LANSING, Michigan, March 22 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a multistate coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing a motion to intervene on behalf of the State of California and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to defend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Oil and Gas Methane Rule. The EPA's Final Rule strengthens the reg  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, March 22 -- Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued the following statement on March 21, 2024: * * * This week the International Code Council decided to reverse course on its 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, which included mandates that would have made housing more expensive. Prior to the ruling, Attorney General Hilgers submitted a letter to the Council outlining how these provisions would only make the current housing crisis worse. "I applaud the Council  more

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- The White House issued the following news release: The President is announcing his intent to nominate one individual to a federal circuit court, four individuals to federal district courts, and two individuals to the District of Columbia Superior Court--all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution. These choices also continue to fulfill the President's promise to ensure that the nation's courts reflect the d  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Efrain Rivera Matos (45, Tampa) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl charges. Rivera Matos pleaded guilty on December 8, 2023. According to court documents, on July 27, 2022, Rivera Matos conspired to ship approximately 56  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. -United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Marcus Lutrell Walden (36, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and p-fluorofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue). Walden faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the p  more