SAN CLEMENTE–A man driving erratically on Interstate 5 was arrested by Border Patrol agents when they discovered narcotics inside his vehicle Tuesday morning. The driver, a 19-year-old U.S citizen, was placed under arrest and faces State charges for felony drug trafficking. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol. On Tuesday, at approximately 3 […]
Utah woman sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking
SALT LAKE CITY–A Utah woman – the lead defendant in a drug trafficking ring responsible for distributing more than 99 pounds of methamphetamine in Utah, Idaho and other locations – will spend 20 years in federal prison following her conviction for methamphetamine trafficking and money laundering. Tiffany Scott Spevak, 39, of Salt Lake City, admitted […]
Former Osteo Relief Institutes, owners to pay over $7.1 Million to resolve false claim act allegations
Seven former Osteo Relief Institutes (ORIs) and their owners have agreed to pay the United States collectively more than $7.1 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they knowingly billed Medicare for medically unnecessary viscosupplementation injections and medically unnecessary knee braces, the Justice Department said Friday. “Billing Medicare for medically unnecessary items and procedures […]
Southern California doctor found guilty in $12 million Medicare fraud
A federal jury found a southern California doctor guilty for his role in a $12 million scheme to provide medically unnecessary procedures to Medicare beneficiaries, upcode claims submitted to Medicare, and re-package single-use catheters for reuse on patients. After a six-day trial, Donald Woo Lee, 54, of Temecula, California, was found guilty of seven counts […]
Rep. Elijah Cummings passes away at 68
Baltimore, MD–Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md) passed away early Thursday morning at 68 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Cummings died at 2:45 a.m. due to complications “concerning longstanding health challenges,” according to a news release from the democratic congressman’s office. He was Chair of the House Oversight Committee.
Border Patrol agents intercept vehicles smuggling hard narcotics
Eagle Pass, TX–U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Eagle Pass South Station seized approximately $614,000 in narcotics at the U.S. Highway 57 immigration checkpoint in three separate events over the past nine days. “Seizures of hard narcotics have increased dramatically this year, despite the deep concealment methods used by criminal networks to smuggle them,” […]
Sen. Bates: CA receives additional funding to address homelessness
SACRAMENTO–To help address homelessness, Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded $2.5 million to Orange and San Diego counties to fund various programs. “Homelessness is a growing problem in many communities that demands attention and action from our state government,” said Senator Bates, […]
Gov. Newsom signs bill to extend SANDAG time to develop visionary Regional Transportation Plan
SACRAMENTO–California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1730 (AB 1730), which allows SANDAG additional time to develop a visionary Regional Plan that provides real transportation choices that will enhance connectivity, increase safety and sustainability, and improve the quality of life. “AB 1730 is critical to ensuring that SANDAG has the time needed to develop a […]
CA Senate Bill 393 will clamp down on boating under the influence
SACRAMENTO–Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation authored by Senator Jeff Stone (R-Riverside County) to allow boats driven by intoxicated individuals to be impounded for up to 30 days. If a person is killed by a boater under the influence of drugs or alcohol and convicted of such crime, Senate Bill 393 calls for the boat […]
Defense Intelligence Agency employee arrested for leaking classified information to journalists
An employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) was arrested on charges related to his alleged disclosure of classified national defense information (NDI) to two journalists in 2018 and 2019. “As laid out in today’s indictment, Frese was caught red-handed disclosing sensitive national security information for personal gain,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security […]