Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and 16 of his colleagues reintroduced the Protect and Serve Act, legislation that would create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. In 2020, more than 300 officers were shot in the line of duty and 47 officers were shot and killed, including […]
Tag: federal law
Senator Hawley along with lawmakers from Arkansas, Tennessee and Nebraska introduce bill imposing sanctions on drug cartels
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) introduced the Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act, legislation that would subject certain foreign criminal organizations like drug cartels to sanctions, including immigration, financial, and criminal penalties. The process would be similar to the system used for designating entities as […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to illegal firearms following armed standoff with police officers
A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm following a brief armed standoff with police officers and a foot chase. Michael D. Moore, 31, of Kansas City pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Moore was arrested on Monday, […]
Missouri man connected to drive-by shooting sentenced to 5-years in prison
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing several firearms, including the firearm used in a drive-by shooting. Eric L. Harper, 28, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to five years and six months- in federal prison without parole. The sentence reflects an upward variance from the […]
Lawmakers reintroduce Kelsey Smith Act to assist law enforcement with locating kidnap victims
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) joined U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Deb Fischer (Neb.) in introducing the Kelsey Smith Act. The bill, named for 18-year-old Kelsey Smith who was abducted and murdered in 2007, would strengthen law enforcement’s ability to lawfully and quickly access cell phone location information, or ping information when a person […]
FBI Terrorism Task Force announces more arrests relating to violence at U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021
FBI Special Agents and members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested the following individuals on federal charges related to the violence on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. William Norman Chrestman, of Olathe, Kansas was arrested on federal charges of Conspiracy, Civil Disorder, Obstruction of an Official Proceeding, Threatening to assault a […]
Woman first in the nation charged with misappropriating monies designed for COVID medical provider relief
A Michigan woman was indicted on allegations that she intentionally misappropriated government funds that were designed to aid medical providers in the treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19 and used them for her own personal expenses. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin of […]
Florida man lies to obtain $3.9 million in federal loans; spends money on Lamborghini
A Florida man pleaded guilty for fraudulently obtaining approximately $3.9 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans and using those funds, in part, to purchase a $318,000 Lamborghini sports car for himself. Federal investigators linked the sports car to Hines after he was involved in a hit and run on July 11, the Miami Herald reported. […]
Missouri business owner sentenced to prison for committing arson against rival business and residence
An Independence, Missouri, business owner has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to commit arson against a rival business as well as a residence, and for illegally possessing a firearm. William “Bill” Joseph Reneau, 44, of Overland Park, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, Feb. […]
Missouri man sentenced to 4-years without parole for illegal firearm and making threatening phone call to airport
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm and for making a threatening phone call that caused disruption at the Springfield National Airport. Dustin B. Gowens, 39, of Springfield was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to four years in federal prison without parole. On Feb. 22, 2020, […]
Audio: Mask up for any travel as CDC issues orders for airplanes, buses, trains and subways.
The CDC says travelers on airplanes and public transportation like buses and subways will be required to wear face masks starting this week to curb the spread of COVID-19. The agency issued the mask-wearing rule late Friday that builds on an order announced Jan. 21 by President Joe Biden. The 11-page CDC order […]
Man charged with $1.9 million COVID-relief fraud after seeking forgivable loans
A Nevada man was charged in an indictment Wednesday for his alleged participation in a scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions by filing bank loan applications that fraudulently sought more than $1.9 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Nicholas L. […]
Video: Governor Parson delivers 2021 State of the State Address
Governor Mike Parson delivered the 2021 State of the State Address to the Missouri General Assembly. Governor Parson highlighted several accomplishments the state has made in combating COVID-19 as well as major successes in infrastructure and workforce development despite the challenges of the past year. Following a recap of 2020, Governor Parson’s speech focused […]
Man pleads guilty to obtaining over $700,000 in COVID-19 relief using fraud scheme
A Washington man pleaded guilty today to perpetrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s […]
United States reaches agreement with Midwest Can for Clean Air Act violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement that will require Midwest Can Company, one of the largest manufacturers of portable fuel containers in the United States, to pay a $1.7 million civil penalty to resolve Clean Air Act violations. The violations resulted from failure to disclose test […]
Audio: Hawley blocks quick confirmation of Homeland Security head Alejandro Mayorkas
Sen. Josh Hawley said Tuesday that he would block a procedural move to bypass full committee consideration of the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to lead DHS. “Mr. Mayorkas has not adequately explained how he will enforce federal law and secure the southern border given President-elect Biden’s promise to roll back major enforcement and […]
Statement from U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison on potential violent demonstrations
Federal law enforcement authorities have publicly expressed concern about the potential for violent demonstrations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia leading up to Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. My concern, as the chief representative of the U.S. Department of Justice in the Western District of Missouri, is not with peaceful rallies or […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to illegal firearm following police chase in stolen truck
An Independence, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm following a police chase in a stolen pickup truck. John D. Seger, 28, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to being a felon in possession of a firearm. By pleading guilty, Seger admitted that he was […]
Thirteen charged in Federal Court following riot at the United States Capitol
Thirteen individuals have been charged so far in federal court in the District of Columbia related to crimes committed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. In addition to those who have been charged, additional complaints have been submitted and investigations are ongoing. “The lawless destruction of the U.S. Capitol […]