News FEDagent News FEDagent

Border-State Senators and Representatives Introduce Legislation to Address Migrant Influx

Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators and House members unveiled The Bipartisan Border Solutions Act intended to “respond to the surge in migrants coming across our southern border.” The bill comes after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended more than 170,000 people at the U.S.-Mexico border in March, the highest number in at least 15 years.

Read More
The Takedown FEDagent The Takedown FEDagent

North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography

According to a Department of Justice press release from April 28, 2021, a North Carolina man pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. Raul Ayala Jr., 72, admitted to molesting minors going as far back as the 1970s. Following this admission, police executed a warrant to search Ayala’s home, where they found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on multiple digital devices.

Read More
FEDforum Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation (SBS) FEDforum Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation (SBS)

Honoring our Fallen Heroes

According to Survivors of Suicide Loss Task Force, when someone takes their own life, “It is estimated over 115 people are impacted, with 1 in 5 reporting this experience had a devasting impact or caused a major life interruption.” The impact will be felt throughout the entire agency, community, and the family. For these reasons, having an established policy on navigating the aftermath of a suicide is essential. Agencies often struggle with supporting the families and co-workers after suffering a suicide.

Read More
Case Law Update Michael J. Sgarlat Case Law Update Michael J. Sgarlat

Seventh Circuit: Independent Grounds Needed to Prolong a Pretextual Stop

On June 25, 2018, Illinois State Trooper Clayton Chapman was on highway patrol duties and received a message from Deputy Sheriff Derek Suttles about a hatchback with a California license plate on Interstate 72. Deputy Suttles reported to Trooper Chapman that the vehicle was going approximately 20 mph under the speed limit, and found it suspicious.

Read More
News FEDagent News FEDagent

OPM Releases Flexibilities Related to FSAFEDS

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is making changes to the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) based on provisions in the FY 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as well as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 2021-15.

Read More
The Takedown FEDagent The Takedown FEDagent

Couple Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal Medical Secrets to Sell to China

According to a Department of Justice press release dated April 20, 2021, a 51-year old man from Dublin, Ohio, Yu Zhou, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing scientific trade secrets related to exosomes and exosome isolation from Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Research Institute for personal financial gain and conspiring to commit wire fraud.

Read More
FEDforum Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) FEDforum Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)

Line-of-duty Deaths on the Rise

Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) has grown from serving 35,000 survivors to over 55,000 in less than a decade. Statistics have shown an average of 140-160 officers dying in the line of duty each year, which, multiplied by their surviving family members and co-workers, explains why the membership has grown so fast. However, in the past two years, that average is changing, and it’s not in the declining direction, unfortunately.

Read More