WASHINGTON, May 24 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs issued the following news release on May 23, 2024: * * * Incremental funding provides disaster clean-up, recovery jobs, other services * * * The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the incremental award of $3,750,000 in funding to support continued disaster-relief employment and workforce training for eligible residents in Florida as the state continues to recover following Hurricane Ian.   more

MIAMI, Florida, May 24 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On May 22, a former title agent was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $6,634,750.00 in forfeiture for carrying out a $6.6 million mortgage fraud scheme. A restitution hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16. Dora Ameneiro Martinez, 45, Haines City, Florida, was a licensed title agent in the State of Florida. She owned Apex Title Agency Incor  more

MIAMI, Florida, May 24 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release on May 23, 2024: A former officer in the Venezuelan National Guard was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for participating in a money laundering scheme that involved bribes to foreign officials and defrauding foreign financial institutions. According to court documents, Nepmar Jesus Escalona Enriquez, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and formerl  more

MIAMI, Florida, May 24 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On May 22, a Miami federal district judge sentenced a fugitive to 87 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a multimillion-dollar conspiracy to commit money laundering. The judge also ordered him to pay $3,709,860 in restitution. From August 2020 to August 2022, Julio Arsenio Rodriguez, 62, Hialeah, Florida, conspired wi  more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, May 22 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - At approximately 3:16 p.m. (Sanaa time) on May 22, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully engaged four uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in an Iranian-backed Houthi controlled area of Yemen. It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigatio  more

MIAMI, Florida, May 24 (TNSres) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Southwest Fisheries Science Center issued the feature story: * * * NOAA scientists--along with construction partners--were recognized for their exceptional logistics and their dedication and tenacity in challenging Antarctic environments. * * * In late February, scientists from the U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program wrapped up their research and construction activities at the new Holt Watters  more

TAMPA, Florida, May 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Javier Monserrate Vazquez (47, Wesley Chapel) to 27 years in federal prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy against the United States, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, suborning perjury, and contempt of court.  more

TAMPA, Florida, May 24 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Corey Gaddy (31, St. Petersburg) to 18 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances including fentanyl and two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Gaddy was found guilty following a trial on November 3, 2023. A co-conspirator in the case, Shawn Rodriguez, was sentenced on February 7, 2024,   more