WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: In advance of Hurricane Helene's landfall in Florida, the Biden-Harris Administration approved a pre-landfall emergency declaration for Florida. This declaration enables FEMA to provide federal resources to the state for emergency protective measures and aid initial response and recovery efforts. FEMA urges people to take this storm seriously as it is expected   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 24-991) on Sept. 25, 2024: * * * The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission), at the request of the State of Florida, and in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has announced the activation of the D  more

FORT MYERS, Florida, Sept. 26 -- 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 Richardson Bien Aime (35, Alva) to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine and possessing firearms as a convicted felon. Bien Aime pleaded guilty on June 11, 2024. Earlier this year, his wife, Christi Bien Aime (31, Alva) was s  more

ORLANDO, Florida, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Francisco Javier Arroyo (31, Crescent City) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Arroyo faces a minimum mandatory of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, between February and July 2021,  more

ORLANDO, Florida, Sept. 26 -- 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 a federal jury has found Angela Chew (60, Leesburg) guilty of conspiracy to bribe a public official and commit wire fraud, three counts of bribery of a public official, and six counts of wire fraud. Chew faces up to 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, up to 15 years in federal prison on each of   more

TAMPA, Florida, Sept. 26 -- 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 results achieved by the Middle District of Florida's efforts to combat fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, the United States Attorney's Office (USAO-MDFL) has federally charged 109 individuals with fraud schemes designed to exploit state and federal programs implemented to alleviate the econ  more

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Sept. 26 -- 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 Al'Donta Easterling (26, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Easterling faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life,   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: * * * Ukrainian Nationals Extradited from Thailand * * * Two Ukrainian nationals made their initial appearance yesterday on a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Miami charging them with crimes related to labor-staffing companies they operated in Florida. The two men were extradited from the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States last week. According to the s  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: A federal grand jury in Miami late this afternoon returned an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, with attempting to kill former President Donald J. Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15. "Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool   more

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 25 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico issued the following news release: The United States Attorney's Office reached two settlement agreements with local pharmacies and their respective owners to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting or causing to be submitted fraudulent claims for payment to the Medicare and Medicaid Programs from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2023. Farmacia Beatriz, LLC,   more

HURLBURT FIELD, Florida, Sept. 26 -- The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command issued the following news: Are you an Air Commando with an innovative idea that gets after strategic competition but need funding? If so, now is your chance to submit your idea for the opportunity to receive capital. The submission window is now open for AFSOC's innovation competition known as Thunder Dome. All submissions received by November 27, 2024, will be considered. This competition is open to any member   more

TYNDALL AFB, Florida, Sept. 26 -- The U.S. Air Force Tyndall Air Force Base (325th Fighter Wing) issued the following news: By Airman 1st Class Victoria Moehlman, 325th Fighter Wing In the sweltering heat of the Florida sun, a tall six-foot-two-inch Airman walks down the flightline at Tyndall Air Force Base. With silver-framed glasses and a green reflective belt adorned with a cobra snake proudly displaying his squadron's initials, MXS, he runs his hand down the side of an F-35A Lightning II.   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey issued the following news release: Potential impacts from Helene include danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend, as well as devastating hurricane-force winds across portions of northern Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. The sensors will measure water levels and give insight on factors such as wave height and frequency,  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey issued the following news release: According to the newly-updated USGS coastal change forecast, 44 percent of the sandy beaches on Florida's west coast may become inundated--meaning continuously covered by ocean water--from Helene. This number dropped from Tuesday's forecast of 94 percent of beachfront being inundated, after an update in Helene's projected path. Inundation is the most severe level of coastal   more