WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: MIAMI U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Marine Interdiction Agents intercepted a vessel with 13 undocumented migrants attempting to reach the coast of south Florida. On Nov.15, at approximately 8:40 p.m., the crew of a Marine Interdiction unit detected a vessel navigating without lights. The vessel, a 25-foot white twin-engin  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. FEMA has approved an additional $76 million to reimburse Florida communities for emergency work after Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby. This includes: $2,833,717 for the city of Oldsmar for debris removal$29,176,400 for the city of Tampa for debris removal$2,907,349 for the city of Holmes Beach for debris removal$1,038,219 for the city o  more

TAMPA, Florida, Nov. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Terry McDonald, Jr. (32, Bradenton) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. McDonald faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to life, in fed  more

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Nov. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Mauricio Chahine (52, Jacksonville) with five counts of money laundering and attempted money laundering. If convicted, Chahine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. Chahine was arrested on a criminal complaint on November 12, 2024, and has been  more

TAMPA, Florida, Nov. 23 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release: U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Eric L. Lemon (46, St. Petersburg) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for drug trafficking offenses. Lemon entered a guilty plea in July 2024. According to court documents, Lemon and his co-conspirators sold methamphetamine, cocaine, bath salts, and a variety of prescription pills out of various tr  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 1:24-cv-08900; S.D.N.Y filed Nov. 21, 2024) involving La Mancha Funding Corp. and David Kushner: * * * SEC Charges Advisory Firm La Mancha and its Owner David Kushner with Fraud * * * On November 21, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged David Kushner, a resident of Boca Raton, Florida, and his company La Mancha Funding Corp. with defrauding nearly two dozen investors out  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued the following news release: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it is extending the current comment period on the proposed Florida and Antillean manatee critical habitat designation. Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Milton on Florida, the ongoing comment period will be extended until January 24, 2025. All comments must be received or postmarked by that date. The publ  more