Latest News from Evergreen Reporter

Nigerian national extradited from France over alleged $8 million FEMA fraud

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 18, 2024

Newton Ofioritse Jemide, a Nigerian national, was extradited from France to the United States on September 13, 2024, to face federal charges for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. Jemide had his initial appearance on September 16, 2024, and is currently detained pending trial.

Former officials charged with conspiracy over $123 million state contract

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 17, 2024

NASHVILLE – Wesley Olan Landers, 55, of Cumming, Georgia, and Jeffrey Scott Wells, 54, of Canton, Georgia, have been charged by felony information with conspiracy to obstruct justice and to commit perjury in connection with a $123 million contract to provide behavioral health services to Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) inmates. This announcement was made by Thomas J. Jaworski, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Monongalia County woman admits to drug charges

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 17, 2024

Stephanie Ann Allen, 33, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has admitted to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

VA home loan amount averages $482,819 in Washington State for Q2

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 16, 2024

The average VA home loan amount in Washington during the second quarter of the fiscal year 2024 was $482,819, according to the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

Mexican man sentenced to over three years for illegal reentry into U.S

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 16, 2024

A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison.

Volusia County woman sentenced to over nine years for bank fraud

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 16, 2024

U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Angela Courington, 65, of Volusia County, to nine years and three months in federal prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of her sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture amounting to $2,201,836.40, the proceeds of the fraud. Courington entered a guilty plea on June 5, 2024.

VA provides 11.1% fewer home purchase loans in the state of Washington in Q2

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 14, 2024

There were 1,512 VA home purchases in Washington in the second quarter of the VA's fiscal year 2024, totaling $758.5 million in loans, according to figures provided by the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

The state of Washington collected $12 million in individual income tax revenue in Q1

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 13, 2024

The first quarter brought in $12 million in individual income tax revenue for Washington, after no individual income tax was collected in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Summary of State and Local Taxes.

Maryland man sentenced for armed robbery at TD Bank

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 13, 2024

Ronald Lamont Jenkins, 36, of Temple Hills, Maryland, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for the June 2022 armed robbery of a TD Bank in Northeast Washington D.C. He was also ordered to pay $8,345.00 in restitution to TD Bank. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Several arraignments held for various federal charges across Montana

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 13, 2024

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that several individuals were recently arraigned or appeared before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

North Carolina woman sentenced for role in counterfeit currency conspiracy

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 13, 2024

Crystal Wilks, 24, of Lenoir, North Carolina, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $800 in restitution for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Wilks admitted her role in a conspiracy to create and pass counterfeit United States currency in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Raleigh County woman sentenced for federal drug crime

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 13, 2024

Ashley Nicole Luster, 29, of Sophia, was sentenced to eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.

Justice Department partners with local jurisdictions to combat domestic violence

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 13, 2024

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.

Mitchell Wilson sentenced to over 20 years for armed fentanyl trafficking

By Evergreen Reporter | Sep 13, 2024

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Mitchell Wilson, 35, of Tampa, to 20 years and 8 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Wilson to forfeit a Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield 9mm pistol and assorted ammunition used in the offense. Wilson entered a guilty plea on November 22, 2023.