FDA updates COVID-19 vaccine warnings on heart inflammation risks

SILVER SPRING, MD—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated and approved updated warnings on the labeling of Pfizer’s Comirnaty and Moderna’s Spikevax mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to include new safety information regarding the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis. The updated Prescribing Information for both vaccines now includes details on the estimated incidence of heart inflammation following the 2023-2024 formula […]

Former Maryland resident charged with multi-million-dollar Medicare fraud, Ponzi schemes

BALTIMORE, MD—A South Carolina man faces federal charges in Maryland for allegedly orchestrating multi-million-dollar Medicare fraud and Ponzi schemes, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday. Two indictments unsealed in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore accuse Charleston resident Michael Britton-Harr, 45, of defrauding Medicare and customers of his private charter jet company, according Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of […]

FDA restricts COVID vaccine recommendations to high-risk groups

BALTIMORE, MD—In a surprise move, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will now only recommend COVID-19 vaccines for adults aged 65 and older, as well as individuals at risk of severe illness. This decision marks a significant shift from the current recommendation of annual vaccination for everyone aged six months and older. The FDA stated that manufacturers will now […]

Florida man pleads guilty to defrauding Maryland, California of more than $2.3 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits

BALTIMORE, MD—A Florida man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a scheme to defraud Maryland and California of more than $2.3 million in unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. David Godin, 34, of Miami, used stolen identities, virtual private networks and proxy servers to file 140 fraudulent claims in multiple states, according to the […]

Former Baltimore Department Of Finance employee sentenced To 4 years in connection with bribery, COVID-19 CARES Act scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—A former Baltimore City employee has been sentenced to prison after being sentenced for a bribery and wire fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Joseph Gillespie, 35, of Baltimore City, to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release in connection with a bribery scheme and conspiracy to commit wire fraud scheme involving […]

Rosedale, Belcamp men indicted for unemployment insurance fraud scheme of more than $1 million

BALTIMORE, MD—Two Maryland men have been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $1 million in unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Daiwor Woah-Tee, 51, of Belcamp, and Dekwii Woah-Tee, 46, of Rosedale, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, respectively. The indictment was unsealed when the defendants were arrested on December 18, 2024, and […]

Two biotech CEOs convicted in fraud scheme involving COVID-19 drug

BALTIMORE, MD—Two CEOs were convicted by a federal jury in Maryland for a scheme to defraud investors about a drug being developed to treat HIV and COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Nader Pourhassan, 61, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Kazem Kazempour, 71, of Potomac, Maryland, were found guilty of the scheme involving CytoDyn Inc., a publicly traded […]

Baltimore County opens public art installation honoring lives lost to COVID-19

BALTIMORE, MD—Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski – along with state and local elected officials and community stakeholders – on Tuesday unveiled the COVID-19 Memorial Public Art Project at Lake Roland, a commemoration of the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic that claimed the lives of more than 3,100 County residents. This is the first public art project commissioned by Baltimore County. […]