federal courts
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nbcnews.comCuban Pilot Sentenced to Seven Months for Immigration Fraud
Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez received a seven-month prison term after pleading guilty to lying about his military background on a permanent-residency application. He is expected to serve about ten more days because of time already served.
foxnews.comFederal Charges Filed Against Three in Assault on Reporter at Minneapolis Protest
A federal grand jury indicted three members of one family on assault charges after an April incident involving a reporter covering an anti-ICE protest. The defendants have pleaded not guilty and obtained temporary restraining orders against the reporter.
upi.comFederal Judge Declines to Block Trump Order on Mail-In Voting
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected a request to halt President Trump's March 31 executive order that directs federal agencies to compile citizenship lists and restrict mail ballot delivery. The ruling leaves the order in place for now while litigation continues in other co…
news.ycombinator.comNinth Circuit Panel Says First Amendment Likely Bars Viewpoint-Based Grant Cancellations
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Trump administration's termination of academic grants based on recipients' perceived DEI or environmental justice viewpoints likely violates the First Amendment. The decision in Thakur v. Trump…
revolver.newsFederal Prosecutors Face Repeated Setbacks Presenting Cases to Grand Juries
Prosecutors have struggled to secure indictments in multiple cases and received judicial rebukes for procedural violations. The issues have emerged since last November under the current administration.
Federal Judge Rules Congressional Pay Freeze Unconstitutional
A federal judge ruled that members of Congress cannot block their own cost-of-living pay adjustments. Lawmakers have continued efforts to prevent the increases despite the decision.
Attorney General Seeks to Resume White House Ballroom Construction After Shooting
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche filed a request Sunday to lift a court-ordered halt on the 9,000-square-foot ballroom project. The filing cites a weekend shooting near a Secret Service checkpoint as evidence of the need for additional security measures.
artnews.comDOJ Filing Links Pennsylvania Avenue Shooting to White House Ballroom Lawsuit
A Department of Justice filing described Saturday's shooting near the White House as an attempted assassination of President Trump. The submission asked a federal judge to lift an injunction blocking above-ground construction of a new ballroom.
Fox NewsFederal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Against Maine Secretary of State Over Voter Data
A federal judge appointed by President Trump dismissed a Department of Justice lawsuit against Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. The suit sought voter roll data that the state had declined to provide.
thegatewaypundit.comFederal Appeals Court Dismisses Challenge to 2019 Student Loan Discharge Rules
A federal appeals court dismissed a legal challenge to 2019 Education Department rules that set stricter standards for discharging federal student loans under the Borrower Defense to Repayment program. The ruling follows 2025 legislation that codified those standards into statute…
Federal Court Issues Split Ruling in Texas Tax Case
A federal court in Texas issued a split decision in an April case involving a company and the IRS. The ruling addressed tax treatment of micro-captive insurance arrangements used by some small businesses.
upi.comTrump Says Reflecting Pool Renovation Cost Will Stay Under $20 Million
President Trump told reporters the cost of work on the Reflecting Pool will remain below $20 million. A federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit seeking to halt the project but did not rule.
realitytea.comFederal Judges Dismiss Justice Department Lawsuits Seeking Voter Rolls From Maine and Wisconsin
Two federal judges dismissed Justice Department lawsuits seeking complete voter registration lists from Maine and Wisconsin. The rulings mark the seventh and eighth losses for the department in similar cases against more than two dozen states.
Washington ExaminerJustice Department Swears In Record 82 Immigration Judges
The Department of Justice swore in 82 new immigration judges this week, the largest class in the agency's history. The hires follow the removal of more than 100 judges over the past year and come as the administration works to reduce a backlog of 3.5 million pending cases.
thehindu.comLawsuit Over PPP Loans Dismissed in Mississippi
Federal prosecutors dismissed a lawsuit involving Paycheck Protection Program loans in Mississippi. The acting U.S. Attorney General approved the dismissal after determining it served the public interest.
yahoo.comMinnesota Nonprofit Leader Gets Nearly 42 Years in Prison for $250 Million Fraud
A federal judge sentenced Aimee Bock, founder of Feeding Our Future, to nearly 42 years in prison for her role in a $250 million COVID-era fraud scheme. The case has led to additional fraud charges and broader scrutiny of state programs.
New York PostTwo Men Charged With Posting AI-Generated Porn Without Consent
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged two men with violating the TAKE IT DOWN Act by posting thousands of AI-generated pornographic images and videos of women without their consent. The images and videos have been viewed millions of times.
nbcnews.comJustice Department Indicts Federal Prosecutor on Four Counts
The Justice Department indicted a federal prosecutor on charges of altering records and theft of government property. The case involves a confidential report from the classified documents investigation.
Washington ExaminerFederal Appeals Court Questions Justice Department Authority Over State Voter Data
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard arguments Tuesday in cases involving California and Oregon. The panel questioned whether federal law requires states to provide full voter registration lists including personal data.
truthout.orgFederal Circuit Produces AI-Generated Video for Judicial Conference
A federal appeals court created an AI-assisted video featuring a theme song about its work. The video was shown at a judicial conference and drew internal criticism for its content and production quality.
thegatewaypundit.comFederal Appeals Court Strikes Down New York Gun Law on Private Property
A federal appeals court ruled that New York's requirement for explicit permission to carry guns on private property open to the public violates the Second Amendment. The same court upheld the state's ban on guns in urban public parks.
foxnews.comFederal Magistrate Denies Gag Order Request in Minneapolis ICE Interference Case
A federal magistrate judge in Minnesota declined to order former Attorney General Pam Bondi to delete two social media posts about an arrest. The ruling came in a criminal case charging Joshua Doyle with interfering with a federal agent.
msnbc.comFifth Circuit Judges Viewed as Potential Supreme Court Nominees
Legal observers note that several judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit are considered possible candidates for future Supreme Court vacancies. The assessment comes amid ongoing discussion of judicial appointments.
AxiosTrump Administration Slows DACA Renewals and Narrows Protections
The Trump administration has lengthened processing times for DACA renewals and narrowed deportation protections for recipients. A federal appeals court ruling in Texas has further limited the program's legal standing.
nbcnews.comFederal Judge Rules HHS Changes to Vaccine Advisory Committee Likely Illegal
A federal judge ruled in March that the Health and Human Services secretary's removal of six vaccines from routine recommendations and the reconstitution of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices were likely unlawful. The ruling restored most vaccine recommendations to…
finance.yahoo.comFederal Court Dismisses Challenge to Sable Offshore Pipeline in California
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed the complaint in Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum on May 15 2026. The ruling clears one legal obstacle to Sable Offshore Corp. resuming oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Bar…
foxnews.comBrazilian National Convicted of Illegal Reentry After Prior Deportation
A Brazilian national pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Louisiana to one count of reentry of a deported alien. The conviction triggers mandatory federal sentencing proceedings and reinforces immigration enforcement against repeat cross-border offenders.
alternet.orgLiberty County felon receives 14 years for seizing officer firearm in courtroom
A convicted felon in Liberty County, Texas, received a 14-year federal prison sentence after he took a firearm from law enforcement officers during a courtroom scuffle. The sentence triggers mandatory federal prison time that bars the defendant from supervised release until 2040…
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news.google.comLexington Man Receives 25-Year Sentence for Series of Armed Robberies
A federal judge sentenced Christopher D. Jones, 32, of Lexington to 300 months in prison for committing four armed robberies in 2022. The sentence triggers mandatory five-year supervised release and requires full restitution to the victims.
deadline.comGreer Man Receives 12.5 Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Trafficking
Gerald Larson II, 52, of Greer, South Carolina, received a sentence of more than 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The conviction triggers mandatory federal sentencing guidelines that now require the Bureau of Prison…
ForbesFederal Judicial Center Survey Finds Few Deepfake Challenges in U.S. Courts
A confidential informant produced deepfake material that led to an indictment later dismissed without explanation, according to a Federal Judicial Center survey. The fabrication surfaced only when the informant pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. The survey of 931 federal j…
upi.comAppeals Court Hears Arguments Over Trump’s Revocation of Security Clearances and Federal Contracts for Law Firms Tied to His Opponents
A federal appeals court panel on Thursday heard arguments over President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey. Justice Department attorney Abhishek Kambli argued security clearance decisions are unreviewable even if…
yahoo.comMichigan City Man Receives 60-Month Prison Sentence for Controlled Substance Offense
A federal judge sentenced Michigan City resident Anthony J. Davis Jr. to 60 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence triggers five years of supervised release and requires forfeiture of $1,000 in d…
abcnews.go.comSan Joaquin County Man Charged With Felon-in-Possession of Ammunition in Oakland Nightclub Shooting
Jarvis Toussaint faces a federal charge of unlawful possession of ammunition after a fatal shooting at an Oakland nightclub. The case triggers mandatory federal sentencing enhancements and requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to trace the ammunition so…
thecanary.coBangor Man Receives Six Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking
Bradley Bellfleur, 33, was sentenced in federal court to six years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence triggers standard federal post-conviction requirements including potential asset forfeiture and entry into the Bureau of Prisons system.
deadline.comVentura Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Minors Two Months After State Prison Release
A Ventura County man pleaded guilty in federal court to sex trafficking two minors. The case triggers mandatory federal sentencing proceedings that will set his term of imprisonment, supervised release and restitution obligations.
nypost.comCovington Woman Sentenced to 9 Months for Distributing Animal Crush Videos
Ariel Kornienko, 43, of Covington, Louisiana, received a sentence of 9 months in prison, 6 months of home detention, 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment after pleading guilty to distributing animal crush videos. The conviction triggers mandatory federal re…
reviewjournal.comCharleston Man Convicted of Destroying Government Property
A federal jury in Charleston found Michael T. Johnson guilty of one count of destruction of government property after he damaged a U.S. Coast Guard vessel in 2024. The conviction triggers a mandatory sentencing hearing that will determine restitution and potential prison time for…
Washington ExaminerAppeals Court Questions Justice Department on Third-Country Deportation Policy
A federal appeals court heard arguments Wednesday on the Trump administration's policy of deporting immigrants without permanent legal status to countries other than their nation of origin. The Supreme Court has twice allowed the policy to proceed during ongoing litigation.
foxnews.comChicago woman receives 10-year sentence for oxycodone trafficking
A federal judge sentenced Chicago resident Sadiyyah M. Eason to 10 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to distributing more than 4,400 oxycodone pills. The conviction triggers mandatory supervised release and asset forfeiture requirements that close the trafficking operation…
uctoday.comTexas Man Pleads Guilty in Cross-Country Cocaine Conspiracy From Mexico
Ian Dyer, 26, of Texas, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the Western District of New York to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The conviction triggers a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence and carries a maximum of lif…
insurancejournal.comKansas Woman Sentenced for Stealing From Elderly Couple She Cared For
Amanda Rutherford, 46, of Junction City, Kansas, received a federal prison sentence for stealing from an elderly couple for whom she acted as an informal caretaker. The case triggers mandatory restitution payments and adds one more conviction to the Justice Department's ongoing e…
nypost.comMexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry After Prior Removal
A 53-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston received a federal prison sentence for reentering the United States without authorization. The case triggers mandatory immigration enforcement processing that now requires federal authorities to complete removal proc…
ksl.comSenior U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. Dies at 94
U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II announced the death of Senior U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. on May 13 2026. The vacancy on the Southern District of West Virginia bench triggers immediate succession and case-reassignment protocols under federal judicial rules.
deccanchronicle.comMan Charged With Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearm in Chicago Federal Courthouse
James C. Lake, Jr. faces federal charges for carrying a loaded handgun inside the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago. The case triggers mandatory federal firearms prosecution in the Northern District of Illinois, where illegal possession in a courthouse carries a statut…
foxnews.comLaurens County Meth Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison
A Laurens County man with prior convictions received a federal prison term for distributing methamphetamine. The sentence adds to the Justice Department's ongoing enforcement actions against methamphetamine trafficking networks in Georgia.
680news.comWhite House Sends Three Federal Judicial Nominations to Senate
The White House transmitted nominations for Angela Veronica Colmenero to the Southern District of Texas, Daniel Desmond Domenico to the Tenth Circuit, and Michael C. Martin to the Eastern District of Michigan. The moves fill vacancies on courts that handle cases from border secur…
themandarin.com.auEducation Department Appeals Court Deadlines for Sweet v. McMahon Student Loan Settlement
Education Secretary Linda McMahon and the department are appealing court rulings that rejected attempts to delay relief for post-class applicants under the Sweet v. McMahon settlement. Two federal judges denied extension requests, and the Ninth Circuit rejected an emergency stay.
rnz.co.nzNew Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Distribution
Blake Anthony Bachemin, 28, of Orleans Parish pleaded guilty May 7 2026 in U.S. District Court in New Orleans to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The conviction triggers a maximum 20-year prison term at his August 6 2026 sentencing and sets in motion mandator…
rte.ieMexican National Sentenced to 16 Months for Unlawful Reentry After Two Prior Removals
A Mexican national received a 16-month prison sentence in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma for unlawful reentry following two previous removals from the country. The case triggers mandatory supervised release and reinforces federal penalties that appl…
foxnews.comTennessee Man Receives 65 Months for Transporting Child Sexual Abuse Material
Matthew Leach, 41, of Tennessee, received a 65-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to transporting and possessing child sexual abuse material. The sentence triggers mandatory forfeiture of the cellphone used in the offenses and sets in motion standard federal supe…
nypost.comDyersburg Man Convicted on Two Federal Drug Trafficking Counts
A federal jury in Jackson, Tennessee, found Vinson Brent Taylor, 46, guilty of two drug trafficking offenses following a three-day trial that ended May 5, 2026. The conviction triggers mandatory federal sentencing proceedings that will determine prison term, fines and supervised…
deadline.comEden Prairie Man Receives 15-Year Sentence for Arson at Townhome With Children Inside
A federal judge sentenced 35-year-old Muna Osman to 15 years in prison after he admitted to setting fire to a townhome where three children were present. The conviction triggers mandatory supervised release and restitution requirements that will affect victim compensation timelin…
ksl.comFederal Prisoner Convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter and Weapon Possession
A federal jury in Ocala, Florida found Brandon Ejae Elliot guilty of involuntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon by a federal prisoner. The conviction triggers a maximum 13-year federal prison sentence and sets a sentencing date that will determine how the Bureau of Priso…
citizen.co.zaFlorida Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Postal Keys and Robbery
Antrell Jermaine Hillard, 33, of Live Oak, Florida, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Gainesville to conspiracy to steal postal keys, theft of postal keys, and postal robbery/assault. The conviction triggers mandatory federal sentencing proceedings that will set a preceden…
Washington ExaminerTrump Administration Mandatory Detention Policy Splits Appeals Courts
The Trump administration's policy of detaining immigrants during deportation proceedings has produced conflicting rulings from federal appeals courts. The 11th Circuit became the latest court to rule against the policy on Wednesday, joining the 2nd Circuit. The 5th and 8th Circui…
Washington ExaminerBiden-Appointed Mine Safety Commissioner Sues Trump After Being Removed From Post
Moshe Marvit, confirmed to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission in June 2022, filed suit Thursday after receiving an abrupt termination email from the Trump administration. The lawsuit argues the president violated federal law and the Constitution by removing him…
washingtonpost.comCuban National Convicted of Ramming Two ICE Vehicles in San Antonio
A federal jury convicted Robyn Argote-Brooks of Havana, Cuba, on two counts of destruction of government property after she rammed her vehicle into two ICE cars. The conviction triggers mandatory federal sentencing proceedings in the Western District of Texas with potential priso…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewWestern District of Texas Logs 215 New Federal Immigration Cases in First Week of May
Federal prosecutors filed 215 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 1 to May 7 in the Western District of Texas. The filings include an El Paso stash house bust and signal continued high-volume enforcement along the southwest border.
news.sky.comMarion County Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Cocaine and Fentanyl Distribution
Frederick Donnell McLean Jr., 39, of Citrus Springs, Florida, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Pensacola to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. The conviction triggers mandatory federal sentencing proceedings that will…