JACKSONVILLE, Florida, June 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release on June 18, 2024: U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced Nicole Danielle Devilbiss (35, Jacksonville) to four years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos. Devilbiss entered a guilty plea on February 13, 2024. She has been in custody since her arrest on October 31, 2023. According to court doc  more

ORLANDO, Florida, June 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release on June 18, 2024: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that George Andrew Pherai-Bogeajis (35, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of that conduct. Pherai-Bogeajis faces a minimum mandatory of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet b  more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, June 17 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed four Houthi radars and one uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Additionally, USCENTCOM forces successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant  more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, June 18 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed eight Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in a Houthi controlled area of Yemen. Additionally, partner forces successfully destroyed one Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.   more

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on June 17, 2024: A Florida tax return preparer was sentenced today to 30 months in prison, two years of supervised release and to pay $970,970 in restitution for conspiring to defraud the United States by preparing and filing false tax returns for clients. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 through 2020, John Borgela ran Empire Tax Services (Empire) with his co-conspirato  more

NAPLES, Italy, June 18 -- The U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa - U.S. 6th Fleet issued the following news: Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) transited the Strait of Gibraltar and pulled into Rota, Spain on June 14, 2024. This marks Mason's first port visit in the Mediterranean since the ship departed Mayport, Florida, October 13, 2023, for a scheduled deployment as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. After seven months in the Red Sea, Mason's cre  more