Quantcast

Seattle City Wire

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Local Government News

Local Government

Washington doctor settles false claim allegations with federal healthcare programs

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the resolution of allegations against Dr. Joseph Upton, a physician based in Bellevue, Washington. Dr. Upton has agreed to pay $65,680 to settle claims that he caused false submissions to Medicare,...

By Seattle City Wire | Oct 25, 2024

Local Government

Former CEO fails to appear for sentencing; arrest warrant issued

Stephen Baird, the former CEO of S-Ray, Inc., is now a fugitive after failing to appear for his sentencing in U.S. District Court in Seattle. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced that Baird, formerly of Bainbridge Island, Washington, defrauded...

By Seattle City Wire | Oct 25, 2024

Latest News

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Olympia man sentenced for attacks on Jehovah's Witness halls

By Seattle City Wire | Oct 18, 2024

A man from Olympia, Washington, Mikey Diamond Starrett, also known as Michael Jason Layes, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for a series of arson attacks and a shooting spree targeting Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls in 2018. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the sentencing, which took place at the U.S. District Court in Tacoma.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Former King County Jail guard sentenced for bribery and drug distribution

By Seattle City Wire | Oct 11, 2024

A former King County Jail guard has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for accepting bribes and distributing narcotics within the facility. Mosses Ramos, aged 40 from Milton, Washington, received a 102-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez at a hearing in Seattle's U.S. District Court.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Former Tacoma attorney faces wire fraud charges over alleged embezzlement

By Seattle City Wire | Oct 10, 2024

A former lawyer from Tacoma, Washington, has been indicted on twelve counts of wire fraud related to the embezzlement of funds from a client's trust account. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced that Colby Parks, 65, is accused of stealing more than $570,000 from a client who was awarded approximately $1.66 million following injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Mercer Island man convicted of sexual assault on aircraft

By Seattle City Wire | Sep 16, 2024

A 72-year-old Mercer Island, Washington man was convicted Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle of Attempted Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction and Abusive Sexual Contact in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Munir Walji was convicted following a four-day jury trial. Jurors deliberated for about five hours before reaching the guilty verdicts. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin scheduled sentencing for December 11, 2024.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Justice Department collaborates with local partners against domestic violence

By Seattle City Wire | 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.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Second Canadian resident pleads guilty in COVID-19 benefit fraud scheme

By Seattle City Wire | Sep 13, 2024

Tacoma – The second of two Nigerian men residing in Canada pleaded guilty on Thursday, September 12, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in a scheme that stole more than $1.3 million in federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Fatiu Ismaila Lawal, 45, was extradited from Canada in mid-July. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan scheduled his sentencing for December 12, 2024.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Drug traffickers sentenced for roles linked to Aryan Family prison gang

By Seattle City Wire | Sep 13, 2024

Two men indicted in March 2023 as part of a drug distribution organization associated with an Aryan prison gang were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for drug and gun crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Ronaldo McComb, 59, of Ridgefield, Washington, was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Isaac Cervantes, 32, of Phoenix was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Seattle man sentenced to five years for armed drug trafficking

By Seattle City Wire | Aug 13, 2024

A 56-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to five years in prison for dealing drugs while armed with a handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Cuong Quoc Cao pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Six people charged in $345K bank fraud involving insider sharing account data

By Seattle City Wire | Aug 2, 2024

Six individuals have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, six counts of bank fraud, and six counts of aggravated identity theft. The scheme allegedly resulted in the theft of over $345,000 from a credit union in western Washington, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Tulalip Tribes member pleads guilty to manslaughter for fatal shooting on tribal land

By Seattle City Wire | Jul 29, 2024

A 38-year-old member of the Tulalip Tribes pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm in a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Abdul Qasim Ray Zahir admitted that he shot and killed a friend who had been helping him work on a car in a detached garage at his home on the Tulalip reservation. Zahir stated he shot the victim amid a sudden quarrel over noise from the auto work.

Medium pr

Local Government

U.S. Rep. Jayapal votes to make it easier for illegal aliens to vote in federal elections

By Seattle City Wire | Jul 25, 2024

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) voted against the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, which would require individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and bar illegal aliens from voting.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Former Mexican lawyer sentenced for major role in meth distribution network

By Seattle City Wire | Jun 24, 2024

A former attorney from Mexico was sentenced on June 21, 2024, to 90 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Gustavo Castellanos-Tapia, 38, of Burien, Washington, was a significant supplier of methamphetamine to a drug trafficking organization with ties to the prison gang known as the “Aryan Family.” Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo rejected defense arguments that Castellanos-Tapia played a minor role in the drug ring.

Medium tejc1eqqpxgagmcpw3kyit1f59d7

Local Government

Sex offender arrested for alleged travel to Oregon for assaulting teen

By Seattle City Wire | Jun 20, 2024

Seattle – A 27-year-old registered sex offender on supervision with electronic monitoring was brought into federal custody today for allegedly traveling to Oregon to sexually assault a teen, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman. The criminal complaint charging James Harrison Newcomer alleges that between February and April 2024, Newcomer assaulted three different teens he met via Snapchat. Newcomer will appear today at 2:00 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Medium tractor

Local Government

Did farm subsidies in cities associated with King County rise or fall in 2021?

By Seattle City Wire | Feb 27, 2024

Farms throughout cities in King County received $6.6 million more in subsidies in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to the year before.

Medium haytractor

Local Government

How much did farmers in King County receive in taxpayer-funded subsidies in 2021?

By Seattle City Wire | Feb 22, 2024

Farms in King County received $22,350,832 in taxpayer-funded subsidies in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Medium pra

Local Government

Jayapal, Merkley, Schakowsky, and Colleagues Introduce Resolution for Climate Recovery Planning to Stand Up for Children’s Fundamental Right to a Health, Livable Planet

By Seattle City Wire Report | Jul 15, 2023

Legislators today introduced a resolution to protect the fundamental rights of the nation’s children to a safe, habitable environment in the face of climate chaos’ increasingly destructive effects.

Medium pra

Local Government

Jayapal, Wyden, Brown, Welch Introduce Legislation to Improve Child Nutrition

By Seattle City Wire Report | Jul 14, 2023

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Peter Welch, D-Vt. today introduced legislation that would improve child nutrition by expanding access to locally-grown, unprocessed fruits and vegetables for school meal programs.

Medium pra

Local Government

Jayapal, McClintock, Davidson, Garamendi, Moulton Introduce Bipartisan Solution to Cut Wasteful Pentagon Spending

By Seattle City Wire Report | Jul 13, 2023

U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Tom McClintock (CA-05), Warren Davidson (OH-08), John Garamendi (CA-08), and Seth Moulton (MA-06) are introducing bipartisan legislation to reform wasteful budget practices at the Department of Defense.