Washington, DC - Each year the Department of State helps protect sea turtles around the world by the Secretary of State or a delegate certifying to Congress that the governments and authorities of shrimp-harvesting nations or economies have adopted regulatory programs comparable to that of the United States’ to reduce the incidental taking of sea turtles in its shrimp trawl fisheries - such as through the use of turtle excluder devices (“TEDs”) - or that the particular fishing environment of the harvesting nation or economy does not pose a danger to sea turtles.

Washington, DC - The Department of State’s Zoohackathon promotes technology solutions, builds cross-sector collaboration, raises awareness, and empowers communities to combat wildlife trafficking.  During 48-hour competitions, teams of university students, software developers, coders, graphic designers, and wildlife enthusiasts use technology to tackle wildlife conservation problems.  At each local event - held at zoos, wildlife organizations, technology start-up facilities, and education centers around the world — judges choose a winning solution.

Sacramento, California - Jabari Monson, 32, of Merced, California, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to distribute controlled substances, and Saudia Monson, 39, also of Merced, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a violation of the Travel Act, using the mail and internet to distribute controlled substances, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Santa Ana, California - A former bank branch manager at Wells Fargo pleaded guilty today to one felony count of bank fraud for using his position to help launder proceeds of a tax fraud and identity theft scheme that used false identities and bogus Republic of Armenia passports to fraudulently obtain $14 million in tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service.

San Diego, California - Jose Hernandez, aka “Chapo,” a member of the Otay River Bottom Locos gang, was sentenced Monday in federal court to 30 years in prison for his aggravated role in a drug distribution conspiracy as well as his participation in an attempted armed robbery ordered by the Mexican Mafia.

Washington, DC - United States Attorney General William P. Barr issued the following statement: