Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A San Bernardino County man was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and two other defendants with paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Tampa, Florida – Aleksandr Golovchenko (50, Oregon) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for three counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.Golovchenko pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026.
Source: United States Department of War
The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial will be temporarily closed to the public from 3 a.m. through 12 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 11, with the exception of any victim’s families, survivors, or survivor’s families, in support of the 25th Anniversary 9/11 Observance Ceremony.
Source: United States Department of Justice
On August 11, 2026, the Office of Information Policy (OIP) hosted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Best Practices Workshop for agency FOIA professionals on negotiating with requesters. A summary of the best practices discussed is now available on OIP’s Best Practices Workshop Series page.
The workshop consisted of representatives from five agencies including the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Treasury, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Department of Education. Panelists described how negotiations have benefited their FOIA programs by narrowing the scope of complex requests, reducing number of pages to review, and fostering stronger relations with requesters. Additionally, panelists shared their best practices for achieving successful negotiations, emphasizing the importance of the intake process, leveraging publicly available information, and preparing properly for negotiations to maximize success.
A detailed list of the best practices discussed at these and other OIP workshops, and related guidance, can be found on the Best Practices Workshop Series page of OIP’s website.
Launched in 2014, the Best Practices Workshop series was designed as a part of the United States’ Second Open Government National Action Plan commitment to modernize FOIA administration. The goal of the series is to improve FOIA processes by leveraging effective strategies from across the government, highlighting successes achieved by agencies, and sharing successful approaches on a wide range of FOIA issues.
We invite you to suggest discussion topics for upcoming Best Practices Workshops, and you can e-mail your suggestions for new workshop topics to DOJ.OIP.FOIA@usdoj.gov (link sends e-mail) using the subject line “Agency Best Practices Workshop Suggestion.”
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JORDAN TROUGHT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to eight years in prison for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Tallahassee, Florida – Robert Edward Nixon, 61, Qunicy, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LACRESHA VINING (“VINING”), age 27, of Independence, Louisiana, was sentenced to a one year of probation by U.S. District Judge Nannette J. Brown on September 3, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to obstruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1701, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Source: United States Navy
One year after becoming the Navy’s 17th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, John Perryman is marking the milestone with the same focus he brought to the position from day one: Sailors, their families and building an enlisted force ready to meet the demands of the Fleet.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
TUCSON, Ariz. – Hugo Jesus Munoz, 34, of Rio Rico, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 60 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Munoz previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments.