Eastern District of California
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Southern California Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Holly Danielle Adams, 34, of Indio, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and to conspiring to launder money, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2022, Adams and co-conspirator Devlin Hosner, 35, operated vendor accounts on the dark web marketplaces known as ToRReZ and Dark0de. Adams and Hosner generated hundreds of thousands of dollars selling counterfeit oxycodone pills pressed with fentanyl, after which they laundered the proceeds using cryptocurrency mixers, wallets, and other online tools.
In September 2021, state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at an address where Adams and Hosner were residing. After officers announced their presence, Hosner attempted to impede their entry while Adams destroyed pills by pouring them into a chemical solution. Adams and Hosner were arrested and subsequently released by state authorities but resumed selling fentanyl on the dark web a few months later while they were unknowingly under investigation by federal law enforcement agents.
In March 2022, federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at a hotel room in Riverside County where Adams and Hosner were temporarily residing. Officers seized nearly a kilogram of fentanyl-pressed oxycodone pills and sixty grams of methamphetamine from this hotel room and arrested the conspirators on federal charges.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, which includes agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.
Hosner is detained pending trial. The charges are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Adams is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 24, 2024. Adams faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, as well as a fine of up to $1 million. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Roseville Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alex Altoh, 64, of Roseville, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between January 2021 and November 2021, Altoh and his co-defendant Oumar Sidibe, 30, were involved in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds from two large business email compromise schemes, in which two corporate victims were tricked into making payments to bank accounts controlled by Altoh and another person, rather than to the intended beneficiaries of the payments. Altoh, Sidibe, and others then quickly withdrew a large portion of the funds by way of check deposits, which effectively transferred the funds, concealed their unlawful nature, and prevented them from being clawed back. Law enforcement traced Altoh and Sidibe to about $3.9 million in laundered fraud proceeds. As part of his plea agreement, Altoh agreed to pay restitution on an amount of at least $1,478,000.
Sidibe is yet to be apprehended. The charges against him are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise N. Yasinow and Matthew Thuesen are prosecuting the case.
Altoh is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 24, 2024. Altoh faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering conspiracy. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Over 12,900 pounds of Methamphetamine Seized and 22 Traffickers ChargedRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Twenty-two participants in a drug-trafficking ring have been charged with conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl imported from Mexico into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office.
According to court documents, Operation Toxic Waste, an investigation into a sophisticated drug trafficking ring, has resulted in the seizure of more than 12,900 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 50 pounds of fentanyl mixture, 39 pounds of cocaine, and 22 pounds of heroin. As evidenced by tens of thousands of recorded communications, the organization smuggled methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl (powder and pills) in portable projectors and batteries, under the guise of a legitimate transportation business. The organization also secreted thousands of pounds of methamphetamine inside semi-trucks and hundreds of pounds of liquid methamphetamine in the gas tanks of cars and brought it across the border. The Mexican-based organization monitored the narcotics with the use of GPS tracking devices hidden with the smuggled drugs.
“Criminal organizations that bring drugs here like methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin in large quantities for profit pose a direct threat to the residents of the Eastern District of California,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to joining with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”
“Protecting our communities is a team effort; the FBI works in collaboration with its local, state, federal, and international partners to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our country ensuring a safer future for all Americans,” said Special Agent Sid Patel, who leads the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “This operation exemplifies the FBI’s commitment to collaborative investigations aimed at disrupting drug trafficking organizations who import dangerous drugs including fentanyl into our communities. Together, with the support of the public, we can make a difference.”
According to court documents, the following were indicted by a federal grand jury in Fresno and were subsequently arrested based on the allegations below:
- Adolfo Montiel, 45, of Lancaster, was charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy as well as with distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Between January and March 2023, Montiel used his residence as a “stash house” to store, package, and distribute the organization’s drugs to dealers throughout California and other states. He also illegally possessed and sold firearms.
- Jose Nunez, 42, of Lancaster, was charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Between April 2023 and May 2024, Nunez used residences in Los Angeles County to store, package, and distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. He also operated a methamphetamine laboratory in Los Angeles County.
- Jesus Perez Garcia Jr., 24, of Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was responsible for coordinating the receipt of drugs that the organization smuggled across the border and stored, packaged, and distributed the drugs to resellers.
- Andres Silva-Corona Perez, 42, of San Bernardino, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He operated a “stash house” with more than 500 pounds of methamphetamine for the drug-trafficking ring.
- Ruben Saenz, 36, of Los Angeles, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He transported over 4,700 pounds of methamphetamine that had been smuggled across the border in a semi-truck.
- Elvis David Vasquez, 32, of Northridge, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He operated a methamphetamine stash house for the organization where he stored and repackaged over 170 pounds of methamphetamine.
- Sergio Pena, 30, of Hacienda Heights, was charged with conspiring to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl and distribution of methamphetamine. Pena stored and distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms.
- Mirella Castillo, 41, of Lancaster, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Kiara Sinaii Valdivia, 29, of Pittsburg, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Calvin Guntetong, 26, of North Hollywood, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jacklyn Saenz, 33, of Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Luz Maria Cobrera Salazar, 41, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jose Galan Lopez, 22, of Chula Vista, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Allen Khamtrashyan, 26, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
- Emily Vela, 23, of North Hills, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Los Angeles Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of sentences, including maximum penalties of 20 years, 40 years, and life in prison. Several defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 5 and 10 years. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Madera Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Hundreds of Thousands of Opiate PillsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno residents Ifeanyi Vincent Ntukogu, 49, and Kelo White, 43, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court records, from December 2014 through November 2018, in Madera and Fresno, Ntukogu, a pharmacist, dispensed over 200,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills based on prescriptions delivered to him by White and co-defendant Donald Ray Pierre, 55, of Fresno, that they knew were forged and fraudulent. Ntukogu reviewed each prescription and rejected the ones that he believed regulators may deem suspicious. For example, Ntukogu rejected prescriptions that were written by certain doctors or that were written for individuals who were having prescriptions filled at other pharmacies. He also alerted White and Pierre when the required language on the prescription pads changed.
Ntukogu dispensed the pills through his New Life Pharmacy in Madera. Upon doing so, he required cash payments from White and Pierre and increased the price that he charged over time.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the California Department of Health Care Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio Pataca and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.
Ntukogu and White are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 23, 2024. They face statutory maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the conspiracy to distribute and distribution convictions. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Pierre, the other defendant in the case, was previously convicted and sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.
Fresno Man Sentenced for Attempted Coercion of a Minor and Actual Coercion of a Different MinorRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Christopher Contreras, 30, of Fresno was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 15 years and nine months in prison for attempted coercion of a minor and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
The sentence includes 20 years of supervised release during which time Contreras’s access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. Contreras was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Contreras used the messaging applications Skout and Snapchat as well as text messages, to engage in sexually explicit communications for approximately one week with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old female. He then traveled to a location in Fresno on July 31, 2020, to meet the purported minor for sexual activity. He was actually communicating with undercover law enforcement investigators. They arrested Contreras and booked him into the Fresno County Jail where he was released on bail.
On Oct. 13, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to a call about a missing juvenile. An investigation confirmed that Contreras picked the juvenile up at a location in Fresno after making arrangements through messages on the Meet Me application. Contreras was arrested for numerous felony violations of California law and booked again at the Fresno County Jail. He was later charged federally in this case and has been in federal custody since June 10, 2021.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to $25 Million Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Miguel Martinez, 39, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to submit $25 million in fraudulent individual federal income tax returns, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court records, from November 2019 through June 2023, Martinez was one of the leaders of a scheme to file hundreds of fraudulent tax returns that claimed millions of dollars in refunds. Martinez and others caused false wage and withholding information for individuals that supposedly worked at fake businesses to be submitted to the Internal Revenue Service. Federal agents determined that the individuals did not work at the businesses, the businesses were fake because the businesses never actually paid any withholdings to the IRS, and the purported owners were unaware of the businesses. Martinez and others then submitted fraudulent tax returns that were in the names of the individuals who supposedly worked at the fake businesses and claimed substantial refunds from the IRS.
As a result of the scheme, the IRS paid out $2.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds. When federal agents arrested Martinez and searched his three homes, he was found with another $750,000 in fraudulent tax refund checks, identification cards for more than 200 individuals, and multiple firearms and ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Henry Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.
“Mr. Martinez orchestrated an elaborate scheme to steal approximately $25 million by filing hundreds of fraudulent federal income tax returns using fake businesses with false refund claims all while attempting to challenge the integrity of the U.S. tax system,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley. “His plea reinforces that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and investigative staff are up to that challenge and committed to following the money and directing criminals to justice.”
Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 23, 2024. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Martinez’s co-defendant in the case, Victor Cruz, who is a tax preparer in Bakersfield, is pending trial. Cruz is presumed innocent until and unless he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Armenian National Pleads Guilty to Assaulting an Officer at a Kern County Immigration Detention FacilityRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Arsen Tonoyan, 46, formerly residing in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty today to assault on a federal officer or employee that inflicted bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Tonoyan was a detainee at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Golden State Annex detention facility in Kern County. On March 7, 2022, Tonoyan walked up to a detention officer and hit him multiple times causing the officer to fall to the ground. As a result of the attack, the officer suffered bodily injuries, including a concussion, cuts and swelling on his face, and shoulder pain. The officer sought medical attention for his injuries.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case.
Tonoyan is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Sept. 16, 2024. Tonoyan faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Bruce Anthony Garcia, 42, of Sacramento, pled guilty today to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor under his care, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Aug. 2, 2017, and Sept. 1, 2019, Garcia took hidden video recordings of the victim. He recorded the victim in various stages of undress, using the toilet or shower, or changing in a bedroom or the living room of the apartment they shared. On his devices, Garcia possessed thousands of images and videos of the victim, with the victim either partially or fully nude in several hundred of these images.
When confronted, Garcia admitted that he specifically intended to take these images and videos, that his intent in creating the images and videos was sexual, and that he generally has a sexual interest in children. Garcia described how he would wait until the victim would be getting ready for bed or to take a shower, and then place a cellphone in the bathroom or bedroom. The phone would be propped up so that it would record the minor, but would either appear to be inconspicuous, as if it were being charged, or be hidden altogether. Garcia would then connect to this device remotely using a second device such that he could watch the minor live. From the recordings thus created, Garcia would take screenshots, resulting in the images that were eventually found. Further, Garcia would sometimes manipulate these images so as to focus or zoom in on the victim’s genitals and pubic area. In a text message conversation with another person, Garcia offered to trade pictures of the victim in exchange for other child sexual abuse material.
In addition to the images and videos described above, Garcia was also found to possess approximately 4,266 images and 426 videos of other child sexual abuse material, including images and videos showing the sexual abuse of toddlers. Several of these videos also depicted violence against the victims, including at least one depicting the bondage and torture of a prepubescent female child. Garcia’s child sexual abuse collection included 110 series of known victims of child sexual abuse.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Sept. 12, 2024. Garcia faces a minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Riverside County Man Indicted for Transporting 44 Kilograms of Cocaine and 10 Kilograms of HeroinRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jose Miguel Perez, 42, of Corona, charging him with possessing with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 1 kilogram of heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Perez was pulled over by law enforcement officers while driving north on Interstate 5 in Fresno County. Deputies seized 56 kilograms of various narcotics in the car’s two hidden compartments. Seven kilograms of cocaine were hidden in the ceiling of the car, while an additional 37 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of heroin, and 2 kilograms of ketamine were seized from a hidden compartment in the car’s roof.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Perez faces a statutory minimum of 10 years with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former UC Davis and Davis Club Water Polo Coach Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Daniel Joseph Noble, 28, residing in San Diego County, pleaded guilty today to knowing distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court records, between March 10, 2022, and April 12, 2022, Noble participated in a Kik private group chat dedicated to sharing videos of child pornography. Noble shared over 20 video files with the Kik group. Some of those files that Noble shared showed prepubescent minors being sexually abused by adults. At the time he engaged in this conduct, Noble was working as the assistant water polo coach for UC Davis men’s team and the associated youth team.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Sacramento and in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina McCall is prosecuting the case.
Following his guilty plea, Noble was remanded into custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 12, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. Noble faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Five Men Indicted for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking in Merced County as Part of “Operation Red Rooster”Read the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against five men, Fernando Arellano, 36, of Planada; Isaiah Serena, 40, of Merced; Jason Mott, 49, of Merced; David Gonzales, 45, of Merced; and Christopher Baca-Arias, 18, a native of Honduras; charging them with crimes related to a Merced drug trafficking operation, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Arellano, Serena, and Mott are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Serena and Mott are additionally charged with distribution of methamphetamine. Serena, Mott, Gonzales, and Baca-Arias are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and Serena, Gonzales, and Baca-Arias are additionally charged with distribution of fentanyl. Serena is also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents, Serena and Mott operated a drug trafficking operation centered on a self-storage business in Merced. Arellano supplied methamphetamine for the operation, while Baca-Arias supplied fentanyl. Gonzales worked for Serena and Mott. During the course of the investigation, conspirators distributed more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine and 2 pounds of fentanyl.
This case is a product of “Operation Red Rooster,” a long-term investigation into gang violence and drug trafficking by Homeland Security Investigations, the Merced-Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET), the California Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, the Merced Police Department, the Livingstone Police Department, and other agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Arellano, Serena, Mott, and Gonzales face a statutory maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Baca-Arias faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, Justice.gov/PSN.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bakersfield Man Indicted for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Fabian Rodriguez, 35, of Bakersfield, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition and for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Rodriguez was found in possession of three boxes of 9 mm ammunition after having been previously convicted of crimes punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Rodriguez was also found in possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with other items typically employed in the sale of controlled substances.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition, Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine offense, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
French National Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme Targeting California State Controller’s OfficeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gabriel Adrien Lobe Diop, 35, a French national previously residing in Fremont and Agoura Hills, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution for nine counts of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
“It took a remarkable amount of energy for the defendant to steal nearly $2 million from the State Controller’s Office and attempt to steal millions more,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Today’s sentence should make it clear to the defendant and to those who would imitate him that my office and our law enforcement partners will put a similar amount of energy into bringing those who commit serious white-collar crimes to justice.”
San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Rafael Nunez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service stated: “Postal Inspectors work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners in law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those individuals responsible for fraud schemes committed against the public.”
“The State Controller’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy on any criminal activities related to theft from the Unclaimed Property Division and will not tolerate theft of property we are here to protect,” said State Controller Malia Cohen. “Mr. Diop’s sophisticated fraud scheme was insufficient to bypass detection, and he was ultimately apprehended, tried, and convicted for his criminal activities. I believe Diop’s sentence was appropriate and want to thank law enforcement for working together with various agencies including my office for their good work in bringing him to justice.”
According to court documents, between 2019 and 2021, Diop orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars of Unclaimed Property Division funds from the California State Controller’s Office. Diop did so by assuming the identities of victims for whom the Controller’s Office was holding significant amounts of unclaimed property and then submitting fraudulent applications for that property. Diop concealed his involvement in the fraud using a combination of post office boxes, mail forwarding requests, counterfeit notary stamps, and falsified driver licenses issued by numerous states. Starting in January 2019, Diop attempted to steal at least $9 million from the Unclaimed Property Division, and did in fact fraudulently obtain at least $1.8 million, before law enforcement disrupted his criminal scheme. Diop primarily spent the proceeds of his fraud on luxury goods, property, and consumer electronics.
Law enforcement agents executed search and arrest warrants at Diop’s residence in Agoura Hills in June 2021. Inside his residence, agents seized counterfeit stamps that Diop used to “notarize” his fraudulent applications for unclaimed property, 12 falsified driver licenses, bank cards and check books in his victims’ names.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance provided by the California State Controller’s Office, the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.
Three Men Indicted for Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy as Part of “Operation Gridlock”Read the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against three men, Wendell Moton, 33, of Fresno, Donnie Hicks, 33, of Visalia, and McCael Marshall, 34, of Visalia, charging them with conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking and possession of a firearm by a felon, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Moton, Hicks, and Marshall arranged to sell a machine gun to an undercover agent via the internet, and then were stopped by investigators on the way to the sale. Moton additionally was found with an additional firearm when he fled from police on another date.
This case is a product of “Operation Gridlock,” a long-term investigation into a network of violent criminal street gangs by Homeland Security Investigations, the Fresno Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Fresno Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, and the Fresno Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
Former Sanger Police Officer Charged with Additional Civil Rights Violation Involving Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
FRESNO, CALIF — A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging former Sanger police officer J. Deshawn Torrence, 40, of Corcoran, with an additional count of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law for sexually assaulting a woman with whom he interacted during the course of his duties.
Torrence was previously indicted in July 2022. At that time, he was charged with engaging in various forms of nonconsensual sexual conduct, ranging from directing a victim to remove her clothing without a legitimate law enforcement purpose to forcing his victims to engage in sex acts, all while serving as a police officer. The superseding indictment adds a charge involving an additional victim. According to the indictment, Torrence sexually assaulted the additional victim after locking her in his patrol vehicle and driving her to an isolated location.
U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar and Special Litigation Counsel Michael Songer of the Criminal Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Torrence faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury, including sexual abuse. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted of deprivation of rights under color of law, and he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of deprivation of rights under the color of law resulting in bodily injury. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Fresno Sleep Clinic Owner Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Submitting over $1.5 Million in Fraudulent Claims for Sleep Studies to Medicare and Medi-CalRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jeremy Gober, 43, of Hanford, was sentenced to 46 months in prison Wednesday for committing health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Gober co-owned and co-operated Got Sleep Inc., which operated sleep clinics in Fresno and Orange Counties. Sleep clinics perform diagnostic sleep studies to identify disorders like sleep apnea and narcolepsy.
From August 2016 through July 2020, Jeremy Gober caused Got Sleep to submit thousands of claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal for sleep studies that were not actually performed on patients. The claims also falsely stated that the patients had been referred for the sleep studies by physicians with whom Jeremy Gober had previously worked. This was done because Medicare and Medi-Cal will not pay for a sleep study unless the patient was referred by a physician. Gober caused more than $1.5 million in fraudulent claims to be submitted and $587,000 to be paid out by Medicare and Medi-Cal.
On March 11, 2024, Jeremy Gober’s brother, Travis Gober, was sentenced to 19 months in prison for his conviction in a similar health care fraud and aggravated identity theft scheme related to other sleep clinics in the Central Valley.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the California Department of Health Care Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
Vallejo Felon Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jacob Harding-Abeyta, 31, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to possession of cocaine for sale, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Oct. 7, 2020, a parole search of Harding-Abeyta’s residence resulted in the discovery of a loaded .45-caliber Springfield XDS firearm in his bedroom. Harding-Abeyta is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was previously convicted in Solano County for attempted murder in 2014. Officers also discovered 39 grams of powder cocaine, a digital scale, plastic baggies, and other drug paraphernalia. A search of his phone revealed that he was selling this and other cocaine. Additionally, Harding-Abeyta also admitted in his plea agreement that he committed obstruction of justice by attempting to suborn perjury of a witness during a prior evidentiary hearing in this case.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Haddy Abouzeid, Jason Hitt and Adrian T. Kinsella are prosecuting the case.
Harding-Abeyta is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 10, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearm charge and a maximum sentence of 20 year in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for the drug charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Professional Rock Climber Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexual Assaults in Yosemite National ParkRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Charles Barrett, 40, was sentenced today to life in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact that occurred during a weekend in Yosemite National Park, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
“Barrett’s long history of sexual violence supports the imposition of a life sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “He used his status as a prominent climber to assault women in the rock-climbing community, and when his victims began to tell, Barrett responded by lashing out publicly with threats and intimidation. This case is a testament to the courage of the victims who reported these crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate and prosecute violent crimes in National Parks like Yosemite.”
“We are grateful for the tireless work of the National Park Service investigative team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring this case to justice,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message about the consequences of this criminal behavior. It makes Yosemite a safer place for the climbing community, park visitors and our employees.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in August 2016, the victim went to Yosemite for a weekend of hiking, and Barrett, who was living and working for a private business in the park, sexually assaulted her three times. During trial, three other women testified that Barrett also sexually assaulted them. These assaults were not charged because they were outside federal jurisdiction but were admitted at trial as relevant to the charged assaults.
According to court documents, in 2017, seven years after he assaulted one of the victims who testified at trial, Barrett purposely climbed at a rock-climbing gym where the victim attended. She then disclosed Barrett’s assault on her to the gym owner in the interest of protecting other women at the gym. Barrett responded by harassing and threatening her for several years. In August 2022, he was convicted for criminal threats he made in January 2022.
While in custody on the present case, Barrett made hundreds of phone calls. On these calls, he showed no remorse or regret. Instead, he threatened to use violence and vindictive lawsuits against the victims, claiming that they designed a conspiracy to ruin his life
This case was the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael G. Tierney and Arin C. Heinz prosecuted the case.
Vallejo Man Sentenced to over 16 Years in Prison for Selling Methamphetamine and Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Clarence Courtney, 58, of Vallejo, was sentenced today to 16 years and three months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on three occasions in late 2020, Courtney sourced 100% pure methamphetamine to co-defendant Michael Renay Williams, 62, of Vallejo, who then sold the methamphetamine to an undercover agent. Courtney and Williams possessed more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine upon their arrest. Inside Courtney’s residence, law enforcement seized 200 rounds of ammunition, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, and an AR-style sniper rifle with no serial number. Courtney, who has four prior felony convictions, was not permitted to possess firearms.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Vallejo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Desmond prosecuted the case.
On March 30, 2023, co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2024.
This case was the result of Operation PEACE, an initiative launched in Vallejo in August 2020 in response to the increased number of homicides, nonfatal shootings, and other violent crimes. Operation PEACE leverages the strength of the federal and local law enforcement agencies by focusing enforcement operations on violent criminals, including those responsible for murders and shootings, and targets those involved in drug trafficking and firearms trafficking.
Former Professor Sentenced for Setting Multiple Fires Blocking in Firefighters Responding to the Dixie FireRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, of San Jose, was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution for three counts of arson on federal property, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
“Maynard went on an arson spree on federal land while California faced one of the worst fire seasons in history. He intentionally made a dangerous situation more perilous by setting some of his fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie fire, potentially cutting off any chance of escape,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “It is only because of the quick response by the U.S. Forest Service — and the actions of civilian witnesses — that those fires were extinguished as quickly as they were. Today’s sentence underscores the danger that Maynard’s fires created and serves as a reminder that federal law enforcement takes seriously the threats to life, property, and our national forests caused by arson.”
U.S. Forest Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tony Magarrell praises the actions of his Agents and fellow cooperating law enforcement agencies who identified Maynard early in the investigation, “These actions led to the quick arrest of Maynard before more damage was done to Forest Service lands and increasing the threat of firefighter lives. This is a great example of how cooperation between law enforcement agencies serves our public and makes us safe.”
According to court documents, Maynard set a series of fires in the Shasta Trinity National Forest and in the vicinity of the then-ongoing Dixie Fire in the Lassen National Forest. Maynard set some of his fires behind firefighters who were actively fighting the Dixie Fire, effectively surrounding these firefighters as they responded to one of the largest wildfires in California history. Maynard admitted to setting the following fires during this arson spree: the Cascade Fire (July 20, 2021), the Everitt Fire (July 21, 2021), the Ranch Fire (Aug. 7, 2021), and the Conard Fire (Aug. 7, 2021).
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol, and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea J. Kenny and Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Damian, 30, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Nov. 8, 2023, law enforcement officers attempted to serve a search warrant on an armed robbery suspect who was walking with Damian. Damian was on parole for multiple felonies and was subject to a search clause. Damian initially hesitated to comply with the law enforcement officers commands and attempted to go around the side of the robbery suspect’s vehicle. But as the officers approached him, he admitted to having a gun. A loaded Glock 27 semi-automatic firearm was found in his right sweatshirt pocket. The firearm contained a 13-round magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, but no round in the chamber. In his left sweatshirt pocket, detectives located approximately 20.74 grams of cocaine. Damian has previously been convicted of multiple felonies including assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, being a felon in possession of a firearm, assault on person with a semi-automatic firearm, and willful discharge of a firearm in a negligent manner.
Damian is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Aug. 26, 2024. Damian faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Hand Grenade, Ammunition, and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Eric Feldmann, 38, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Dec. 24, 2023, Feldmann knowingly possessed an MKII hand grenade with a M204A2 Fuze in his car. The grenade was seized by police and destroyed. Feldmann also possessed methamphetamine and several boxes of .223 caliber ammunition. In 2017, Feldmann was convicted in Kings County of possession of a controlled substance for sale and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case.
Feldmann is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Oct. 15, 2024. Feldman faces a mandatory minimum of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Former Water District General Manager Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Water Theft and Separate Tax ChargeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Dennis Falaschi, 78, of Aptos, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to take federally owned water and one count of filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court records, from 1992 through approximately April 2015, Falaschi was the general manager for a public water district in Fresno and Merced Counties (PWD) that sold water to farmers with over 38,000 acres of farmland. PWD obtained water that it sold by purchasing water from the federal government and collecting drainage water from farms. The federal water that PWD purchased came from the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC), which is a federally owned canal operated by the United States Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation. PWD purchased federal water from the DMC pursuant to a contract that it entered into with the Bureau of Reclamation.
The federal water that PWD purchased from the DMC was fresh water that could be used for farming immediately. The drainage water that PWD collected from farms was high in salt content and toxins, and it needed to be blended down with fresh water before it could be reused.
Falaschi learned that water from the DMC was leaking from an old standpipe into a parallel canal in PWD. The parallel canal was owned by the then-president of PWD’s board of directors. PWD employees subsequently modified the old standpipe so that it would not leak and could be opened and closed. This allowed for water to be taken from the DMC on demand.
The amount of federal water that was illegally taken for which Falaschi was responsible was valued at over $1.5 million but under $3.5 million. Nearly all of that water was taken to blend down and reuse drainage water.
Moreover, according to court records, from 2011 through 2016, Falaschi entered into private water sales where he received payments. The water sold was legitimately sourced from outside PWD and was not federally owned water. Thereafter, in March 2016, Falaschi signed and filed an individual income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service where he did not report the income that he received from the private water sales.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General, the IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Henry Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.
Falaschi is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Falaschi faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit water theft and three years in prison and $100,000 fine for the tax charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
filed_falaschi_plea_agreement.pdfDanish Man Who Traveled from Denmark to Fresno to Exploit a Minor Is Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Claus Svelmo Marcuslund, 59, of Odense, Denmark, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release for his conviction of one count of distribution of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
“To vindicate victims of child exploitation and bring criminals to justice, our law enforcement and our communities must work together in partnership across county, state, and national borders,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “Our office is committed to protect our children and hold offenders accountable.”
“We will do everything in our investigative power to bring to justice those who seek to hurt children,” said San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “This sentence holds Marcuslund accountable for his crimes and serves as a warning for those who travel to the United States specifically to abuse a child. HSI and its partners will work diligently to investigate and prosecute these heinous criminals, regardless of location around the world. HSI Fresno appreciates the work of HSI Attaché Frankfurt, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their joint effort in this investigation.”
According to court documents, in January 2023, Marcuslund contacted an undercover agent who had created the profile of a mother with a seven-year-old daughter, on a dark-web site dedicated to persons interested in pedophilia. Marcuslund told the agent “I’m Scandinavian, professional music producer/songwriter and lyricist and yeah, I’m also a pedophile.” He also stated that “I’m divorced and now searching [for] a nice woman/mom to get to know better, hopefully with the potential of getting together in real life one day. Obviously, she must be 100% supportive of pedophilia and incest.” During the next several months Marcuslund sent messages to the agent through the website’s messaging feature, as well as the fully encrypted Telegram application. Marcuslund explained in graphic detail the sexual acts in which he hoped to engage with the mother and child. During those communications, he sent between 300 and 600 images of adults sexually abusing young children. He also discussed having another child with the mother and molesting the newborn.
Marcuslund flew from Copenhagen to the Los Angeles International Airport and then to Fresno. On July 11, 2023, agents arrested him upon arrival at the Fresno International Airport. On Feb. 20, 2024, Marcuslund pleaded guilty.
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
San Joaquin County Skydiver Found Guilty for Running Unauthorized Tandem Skydiving Instructor CoursesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a seven-day trial, a federal jury found Robert Allen Pooley, 49, of Acampo, guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft related to tandem skydiving instructor courses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2010 Pooley obtained ratings as a “tandem examiner” with the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) and with Uninsured United Parachute Technologies LLC (UPT), a manufacturer of tandem parachute systems. He then began conducting training courses for candidates seeking to obtain their USPA Tandem Instructor ratings and/or their certifications to use UPT tandem parachute systems. The Tandem Instructor certifications Pooley provided enabled students to conduct tandem jumps with members of the public throughout the United States and abroad. Pooley charged money for these courses and conducted them at a skydiving business located in Acampo.
In August 2015, USPA and UPT suspended Pooley’s tandem examiner ratings, which meant that he could no longer conduct the tandem instructor courses on his own. Nevertheless, he continued running USPA and UPT tandem instructor rating courses without authorization, and he concealed his suspensions from tandem instructor candidates. Pooley falsely told students that he was a tandem examiner, led them to believe they could obtain USPA and UPT tandem ratings through his courses, hid the fact that he had been suspended, and helped students fill out USPA and UPT rating paperwork to further the impression that the students would legitimately get their tandem ratings through his courses.
As part of the scheme, Pooley used a digital image of the signature of another properly rated USPA and UPT tandem examiner to sign off on training that Pooley himself had conducted when the other tandem examiner was not even in the country. In 2016, Pooley accepted numerous students in this manner from around the world, including the Republic of Korea, Chile, and Mexico. Each student paid approximately $1,100 for these courses. The signed documents that Pooley provided some of the students led them to believe they were certified to conduct tandem skydives with members of the public. On Aug. 6, 2016, one such student fell to his death in a tandem skydiving accident with a customer who also perished. After those deaths, numerous victims of Pooley’s scheme asked for their money back, but he did not repay them, and several students had to pay for entirely new tandem instructor courses at other locations.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine T. Lydon and Dhruv M. Sharma are prosecuting the case.
Pooley is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26, 2024, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Pooley faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud and a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Visalia Man Indicted for Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Shawn Saesee, 20, of Visalia, charging him with unlawful transfer of firearms in violation of the National Firearms Act and dealing and manufacturing firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Saesee sold an undercover agent eight firearms, including five machine guns on four separate occasions. Saesee sold firearms despite being told by the undercover agent he could not legally possess firearms.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Saesee faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Richmond Man Indicted for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Julian Ignacio Ramirez, 18, of Richmond, charging him with distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other charges, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Ramirez distributed 1 pound of methamphetamine in July 2023 and 3 pounds of methamphetamine in October 2023. In November 2023, Ramirez distributed approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills. During the same month, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Ramirez was the front seat passenger. The officers searched the vehicle and seized approximately 4 kilograms of suspected cocaine and 11,000 suspected fentanyl pills.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Haddy Abouzeid is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Ramirez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Miami Man Indicted for Conspiracy, Bank Larceny, and Accessing a Protected Computer in Furtherance of FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An eight-count indictment was unsealed following the arrest of Carlos Luis Vera La Cruz, 44, of Miami, charging him with conspiracy, bank larceny, accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, and attempting to access a protected computer in furtherance of fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
The indictment, brought on April 18, 2024, also charges a second individual, whose name remains under seal.
According to court documents, Vera La Cruz and others engaged in an ATM “jackpotting” conspiracy where they stole money from ATMs at targeted banks and credit unions around the country. They did this by infecting the ATMs with malware, which forced the ATMs to dispense money without a valid transaction. In June 2023, as part of this scheme, Vera La Cruz targeted seven ATMs belonging to a bank in and around Redding and Chico, California, stealing $291,820. In total, Vera La Cruz and his co-conspirators have successfully stolen more than $2,615,766 from banks and credit unions in multiple states.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Vera La Cruz faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for bank larceny, and a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of conspiracy and for each count of accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Fresno Man Indicted for Throwing Methamphetamine into Mendota Prison YardRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Garrett Scott Wheelen, 33, of Fresno, charging him with possessing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on May 1, 2024, Wheelen arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution Mendota wearing a facemask, baseball cap, and hoodie to conceal his identity. In broad daylight, Wheelen ran to the prison fence and tossed four packages into the prison’s recreation yard. He was quickly apprehended after attempting to flee. The packages contained over 3 pounds of methamphetamine.
According to the criminal complaint, none of the inmates who were in the recreation yard retrieved the packages that were thrown.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mendota Police Department, and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Romero faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bakersfield Man Indicted for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Roman Rodriguez, 26, of Bakersfield, charging him with receipt and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Feb. 18, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, Rodriguez used an iPhone to receive and distribute at least one visual depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Rodriguez used several other devices to receive visual depictions of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct during multiple other timeframes that began as early as October 2022.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Red Bluff Man Charged with Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child & Other OffensesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On May 16, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Christopher King, 29, of Red Bluff, charging him with attempted sexual exploitation of a child and distribution and possession of visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The case was unsealed Tuesday following his arrest.
According to court documents, King attempted to sexually abuse a minor by producing secret recordings of the minor utilizing a hidden camera. King also distributed images of children involved in sexually explicit conduct on an online social media platform. Finally, King possessed several images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct on electronic devices seized from his residence.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of attempted sexual exploitation of a child, King faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, King faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, plus restitution and a fine. If convicted of possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, King faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, plus restitution and a fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Postal Service Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing Suspected Drug Parcels from Tulare Post OfficeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Nathan Vaughn Southard, 34, of Visalia, pleaded guilty Monday to theft of mail by a postal service employee, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Southard was an employee at the Tulare Main Post Office. On Oct. 19, 2023, Southard stole a parcel from the post office because he believed it contained marijuana and intended to sell it for a profit. Southard admitted that over the past seven years he had stolen parcels worth approximately $50,000.
U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Western Pacific Area Field Office, Deputy Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Paige said, “Narcotics and theft offenses committed by Postal Service personnel are completely unacceptable. The special agents for the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General are steadfast in their dedication to maintaining the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS OIG values our working relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and various law enforcement agencies in holding Postal Service personnel accountable for their actions when they violate a position of trust.”
Southard is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Southard faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case.
Tulare County Man Indicted for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — On April 25, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Boyce Isaiah Cervantez, 27, of Dinuba, charging him with receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed following his arrest on Friday, May 17.
According to court documents, between March 1, 2024, and March 16, 2024, Cervantez received at least one visual depiction of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dinuba Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Cervantez faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Third Mortgage Professional Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — German Antonio Lopez-Velasquez, 55, of Modesto, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit bank fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, German Antonio Lopez-Velasquez, a real estate agent, worked with Lisa Santos, 48, of Long Beach, a mortgage loan officer, and Marko Antonio Lopez, 27, of Modesto, a real estate agent and notary public, to obtain fraudulent mortgage loans for properties based in Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara Counties, and elsewhere. The three defendants used false documents, fictional companies, and fictional individuals to obtain mortgage loans for borrowers who were not qualified to receive loans.
“The integrity of the FHA loan program is essential to helping hard working citizens realize the American dream of homeownership,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Kaminsky with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “HUD OIG will continue to work with its prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who seek to jeopardize this program and the health and stability of our nation’s housing market.”
Santos pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024, to conspiring to commit bank fraud, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 30, 2024. Marko Antonio Lopez previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced on April 1, 2024.
Lopez-Velasquez is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Lopez-Velasquez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case.
Bakersfield Man Sentenced for Role in Sex Trafficking Enterprise at Desert Star MotelRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal judge sentenced Roy Gene Drees, 48, of Bakersfield, today to four years in prison for use of facilities of interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Jatin Bhakta purchased and began operating the Desert Star Motel at 516 South Union Avenue in Bakersfield in 2015. From 2015 through late 2020 the Bakersfield Police Department made numerous prostitution-related arrests and child rescues at the property. Drees lived and worked at the motel until a federal search warrant was executed on Jan. 22, 2021, at which time 15 prostitutes and three pimps were encountered along with Drees and Bhakta. While working at the motel, Drees intentionally helped the management and carrying on of the prostitution activity through various means, including through telephone calls, text messages, providing transportation, and making motel arrangements.
One pimp, Darnell Edwards, who had forced two minor females to engage in prostitution at the Desert Star, was sentenced on May 1, 2023, to 19 years and seven months in federal prison.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bakersfield Police Department, and the Parole Division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Two Stockton Residents Indicted for Heroin and Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment, which was unsealed Wednesday, charging Stockton residents Rosalva Angulo Castillo, 53, and Adan Garcia Castillo, 45, with conspiracy to traffic heroin and methamphetamine and with distributing heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from January 2018 through May 2023, Angulo Castillo and Garcia Castillo conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. On Oct. 25, 2019, Garcia Castillo distributed at least one kilogram of heroin, and on Dec. 8, 2020, and July 13, 2021, Angulo Castillo distributed at least 100 grams of heroin.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the IRS Criminal Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, and the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W. Spencer and Emily G. Sauvageau are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum of 10 years of prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Sacramento Man Indicted for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Anthony Coates, 28, of Sacramento, charging him with distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Coates distributed 1 pound of methamphetamine in March 2024 and 3 pounds of methamphetamine in April 2024.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the High-Intensity Drug-Trafficking Area Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Haddy Abouzeid is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Coates faces a maximum statutory penalty for each count of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bakersfield Man Sentenced for Stealing over $160,000 in COVID-19 Relief MoneyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jaswinder Bhangoo, 51, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for stealing $163,750 in COVID-19 relief money, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between May 2020 and November 2021, Bhangoo applied for over $250,000 in COVID-19 relief loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. In the applications, Bhangoo falsely represented that he owned multiple businesses with several employees and substantial revenues. He also represented that he had not been convicted of a felony in the previous five years when, in fact, he had been convicted of insurance fraud. Based on Bhangoo’s false representations, some of his loan applications were approved, and he received approximately $163,750 in federal funds to which he was not entitled. Bhangoo was ordered to pay $163,750 in restitution as part of his sentence.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany M. Gunter and Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Wheatland Man Pleads Guilty to Submitting False Claims Against the United States in Relation to COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jason Toland, 43, of Wheatland, pleaded guilty today to one count of submitting false claims against the United States related to COVID-19 pandemic tax credits, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Toland attempted to obtain more than $13.4 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief, including by filing multiple false tax returns with the IRS seeking refunds for the Employee Retention Credit and the COVID Sick and Family Leave Credit. Toland used shell companies that had no real employees and no actual business activity to seek over $11 million in such tax refunds to which he was not entitled. In addition, between 2020 and 2023, Toland used the shell companies to fraudulently obtain more than $1.7 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. All these tax credits and programs were intended to alleviate the economic harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on real businesses with real employees and operating expenses.
To pursue the funds, Toland submitted multiple: (1) Tax forms 941 and 941-X seeking Employee Retention Credit and COVID Sick and Family Leave Credit refunds from the IRS; (2) PPP loan applications to various banks; and (3) EIDL applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) – all on behalf of the phony shell companies. In one specific instance, on Nov. 18, 2022, Toland filed two false Forms 941 (which are Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns) to the IRS that resulted in improper refunds in the amount of $210,868 being paid out to Toland.
Of the over $13.4 million that he sought through false tax returns and fraudulent loan applications, Toland successfully obtained over $1.95 million. All the funds Toland received went to his own personal enrichment. As a part of his plea agreement, Toland has agreed to pay $1,952,504 in restitution, plus interest and fees, to the IRS and SBA.
“Tax credits are another face of pandemic fraud, and our COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force will continue to pursue those who abuse them,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The defendant’s false claims targeted credits meant for real businesses suffering real consequences of the pandemic. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who provide false information to seek these credits.”
“Mr. Toland’s plea reinforces a simple message. Crime does not pay,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley. “Our highly trained agents are experts at investigating financial crimes and following the money directly to criminals pursing ill-gotten gains. Our agents are also motivated to protect the American people against fraudsters siphoning money from citizens in need.”
This case is the product of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Oakland Field Office in collaboration with the CI Nationally Coordinated Investigation Unit. IRS-CI received significant assistance from the SBA Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.
Toland is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Oct. 8, 2024. Toland faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Two Sacramento Men Sentenced to Years in Prison for Conspiracy, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft Tied to Postal TheftsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Carlos Aranda, 41, and Daniel Hunt, 38, both of Sacramento, were sentenced today to 66 and 57 months in prison, respectively, for conspiracy, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft connected to postal thefts, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Aranda, Hunt, and others engaged in a conspiracy to steal postal locks, create postal keys, and steal mail, all in order to obtain stolen checks. The conspirators periodically gathered together at motel rooms and elsewhere to alter or “wash” stolen checks together. The conspirators then took the checks and attempted to negotiate, deposit, and/or cash them. In total, conspirators were responsible for nearly $250,000 in check fraud.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Elliot C. Wong prosecuted the case.
Fresno Man Sentenced to over 10 Years for Dealing FentanylRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Alden Nunez-Rosales, 27, of Fresno, was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 26, 2023, Nunez-Rosales delivered 5,000 fentanyl pills to a person that he believed was a customer but was actually a government informant. Law enforcement officers then followed Nunez-Rosales back to his residence, where Nunez-Rosales obtained 45,000 more fentanyl pills that he intended to distribute. Minutes later, police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Nunez-Rosales’s car, but he sped off, eventually crashed his car into a tree, and then fled on foot. Officers apprehended him and then searched his residence under a warrant. In total, officers seized over 12 kilograms of fentanyl pills as well as a firearm, ammunition, a scale, and over $3,500 in cash. Nunez-Rosales was charged and pled guilty to the offense in February 2024.
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Defendants in Poland and Florida Indicted for Scheme to Import Used Airbags, Sold as New, into the United StatesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Pawel Pankow, 41, of Wolow, Poland, and Magdalena Pankow, 48, of Palm Coast, Florida, charging them with conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States by means of false statements and to commit wire and mail fraud, as well as four separate counts of mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Magdalena Pankow was arrested over the weekend in Flagler County, Florida, after the indictment issued last Thursday.
According to court documents, Pawel Pankow began shipping airbags into the United States no later than in 2008 and sold thousands of them through online sales, mostly through eBay. Pankow listed the items as in brand new condition and as genuine original equipment parts even though the items were used, counterfeit, assembled from used components, and/or not authorized for sale in the United States. Pawel Pankow shipped airbags, purchased from sources in Europe and China, to Magdalena Pankow in Florida and often mislabeled the shipments as products other than airbags. Magdalena Pankow then fulfilled orders from locations in Florida by sending them through the United States Postal Service. Federal regulations classify airbags as hazardous material, and they cannot be shipped by air or ground through the United States Postal Service.
This case is the product of an investigation by FBI offices in Fresno, California, and Jacksonville, Florida, with assistance from the Intellectual Property Rights Center in Arlington, Virginia, United States Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa is prosecuting the case.
Magdalena Pankow is scheduled to make her initial appearance before a United States magistrate judge in Jacksonville, Florida. Pawel Pankow has not yet been arrested or appeared in court on the case.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on each fraud count and five years in prison on the conspiracy count. Each charge has a maximum potential fine of $250,000 and a three-year term of supervised release. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Calaveras County Man Sentenced for COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tracy Emery Smith, 42, of Valley Springs, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay $901,035 in restitution for COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to the millions of Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications, including their number of employees and average monthly payroll.
“Smith’s bogus loan applications drained the PPP program of funds intended for actual businesses that were negatively impacted by the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who obtained PPP funds through fraud.”
“The FBI is proud to partner with our fellow agencies. Collaboration ensures a thorough investigation by leveraging the strengths and unique abilities of each agency,” said Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “This case is an example of how federal agencies work together to protect taxpayer funded programs.”
“Tracy Smith fraudulently falsified Paycheck Protection Program loan applications and obtained funds designated to provide Americans financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic under the CARES Act,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office. “Today’s sentencing reinforces that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and investigative staff are following the money and targeting fraudsters who seek to exploit the government’s relief efforts for their personal gain.”
“Mr. Smith created ghost employees and falsified loan applications in order to fraudulently obtain PPP loan proceeds earmarked to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Smith’s actions not only defrauded the PPP Loan Program, but also disadvantaged business owners who were actually entitled to the benefits,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner from the San Francisco Regional Office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “The FDIC OIG is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the Nation’s financial system and hold accountable those individuals, like Mr. Smith, who steal benefits designated to help those in need.”
“Tracy Smith defrauded the federal government of pandemic relief funds for his own personal gain and will now pay the price for his crimes,” said Jon Ellwanger, Special Agent in Charge, Western Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold Mr. Smith accountable.”
According to court documents, in 2020, in order to receive PPP loans to which he was not entitled, Smith submitted loan applications for three companies containing false information such as the number of employees, the average monthly payroll for the company, and that he had not been involved in any bankruptcy. Smith was listed as sole owner of Sharp Holding, and in the PPP loan application for that company, Smith claimed 27 employees with an average monthly payroll of $105,791. He certified that he was not involved in a bankruptcy when, in fact, his bankruptcy was pending at the time of the application. Smith received PPP loan proceeds of $220,600.
According to court documents, Smith submitted similar false loan applications for Real Fund 360 and Sharp Investor, receiving $452,800 and $242,000 respectively. As with Sharp Holdings, neither company had employees or a payroll.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the IRS Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Fairfield Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Receipt of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 2-count indictment against Trevor Clayton Morgan, 32, of Fairfield, charging him with sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed after Morgan’s arrest on May 9, 2024, and he made his initial court appearance today.
According to court documents, in April 2023 Morgan persuaded a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video recording. In December 2023, Morgan also knowingly received one or more visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was the product of an investigation by Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, United States Homeland Security Investigations, the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force / Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Christina McCall is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, Morgan faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison (with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years), a lifetime of supervised release, restitution and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of Receipt of Visual Depiction of a Minor Engaging in Sexually Explicit Conduct, Morgan faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison (with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years), a lifetime of supervised release, plus restitution and a fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Yuba City Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Unlawfully Possessing and Selling GunsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On May 9, 2024, Billy Glyn Sims Jr. of Yuba City was sentenced to 70 months in prison for unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between April 1, 2022, and March 9, 2023, Sims, who is not a licensed firearms dealer, unlawfully engaged in the business of dealing in firearms. In three separate transactions in motel and apartment complex parking lots, Sims sold an FBI confidential source a Mossberg Shotgun, a Ruger single-action revolver, and a black powder revolver and a box containing .45 caliber ammunition. The transactions occurred in Yuba, Yolo, and Sutter Counties. At least one of the transactions occurred after Sims became aware that the source was a “double felon” and thus prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Sims also offered to sell the source several other firearms, including an AR-15 assault rifle, although these transactions were never completed. Sims was prohibited from possessing any firearms because of his own prior felony convictions, including for domestic violence and burglary.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Lee and Dhruv M. Sharma prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Redding Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gabriel Joseph Detrant, 50, of Redding, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 2, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle Detrant was driving in Redding. Detrant stopped the vehicle, and he and a passenger fled on foot. The officers found a Baikal Makarov, Model IJ-70 9 mm handgun loaded with eight rounds by the driver’s seat. Officers later found Detrant hiding nearby in possession of a magazine loaded with eight 9 mm rounds. Detrant is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2018 conviction in Shasta County for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, the Redding Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Haddy Abouzeid prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Trip to California and Participation in the 2024 RSA Cybersecurity ConferenceRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General (AG) Lisa Monaco traveled to San Francisco this week to participate in the 2024 RSA Cybersecurity Conference and underscore the Justice Department’s efforts to combat cybercrime and other persistent and emerging threats to national security, including the abuse of disruptive technologies, particularly AI.
In a keynote conversation at RSA on “Artificial Intelligence: The Ultimate Double-Edged Sword,” the Deputy AG highlighted how the Justice Department is developing guardrails to harness the benefits of AI to fulfill the Department’s mission, while mitigating the risks posed by misuse. She spoke to AI’s potential to help identify, disrupt, and deter criminals, terrorists, and hostile nation-states — and shared how the Department is using AI tools to speed up response times to a variety of threats. She stressed that existing laws offer a firm foundation to confront misuse of AI, even as the legal framework around AI evolves. Deputy AG Monaco warned of AI’s potential to supercharge existing threats to election security — in a year when over half the global population will vote — and she urged vigilance in the face of AI’s potential to accelerate online hate and disinformation, imitate trusted sources of information, and proliferate deepfakes.
The Deputy AG was interviewed by former FBI Deputy Director Sean Joyce at the 14th Annual Executive Dinner at RSA, where she discussed the progress of the Department’s Justice AI Initiative. Launched by the Deputy AG in February at the University of Oxford, Justice AI brings together stakeholders across industry, academia, law enforcement, and civil society to share expertise on both the promise of AI and the perils of its misuse.
At the RSA CEO Roundtable, she joined other senior government officials and leaders across the cybersecurity industry to discuss combating cyber threats, including the importance of public-private collaboration to the Department’s cyber strategy of protecting victims and prioritizing disruptions. Strong public-private partnerships have accelerated both the speed and scale of the Justice Department’s disruptive operations and have proven critical to dismantling nation-state-controlled botnets, taking down darknet marketplaces, and disrupting major ransomware gangs — such as the LockBit group, whose creator and administrator the Deputy AG announced was charged in the latest phase of a targeted international law enforcement operation.
The Deputy AG also led a roundtable convening, hosted by the Aspen Institute, with technology, financial, and venture capital executives to discuss the collective risks posed by the theft and abuse of disruptive technologies, especially AI, in a heightened geopolitical risk environment. She emphasized the work of the Justice Department’s Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a multi-agency effort to stop adversaries from siphoning our most critical technologies and innovations.
While in California, the Deputy AG visited the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento. In meetings with U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, his leadership team, and the prosecutors and professional staff of the office, she thanked them for their hard work and dedication to the Department’s mission. Deputy AG Monaco also sat down with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to discuss their collaboration to tackle violent crime and other public safety challenges.
Final “Calicartel” Defendant Pleads Guilty to Dark Web Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Devin Shanahan, 29, of Winnetka, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine over the dark web, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Shanahan worked with his coconspirators to create narcotics vendor accounts on various dark web marketplaces in 2018 and 2019, including accounts known as “BuxomBrunette,” “CaliCartel,” and “Playground.” Shanahan used his computing expertise to set up, troubleshoot, and help his co-conspirators operate their technical infrastructure, including encryption and shipping tools as well as cryptocurrency wallets. These vendor accounts consummated over 2,000 sales of narcotics between October 2018 and May 2019, totaling approximately 1.7 kilograms of heroin, 2.9 kilograms of cocaine, and 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine.
This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond, and includes agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California prosecuted a number of other defendants and co-conspirators in cases related to Shanahan’s, including the following:
- United States v. Ian Hoffmann, No. 2:21-cr-00017-JAM, in which defendant Ian Hoffmann was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
- United States v. Gabriel Alva, No. 2:21-cr-00178-JAM, in which defendant Gabriel Alva was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- United States v. Catherine Stuckey, No. 2:20-cr-00044-JAM, in which defendant Catherine Stuckey was sentenced to two years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
- United States v. George Franco, No. 2:21-cr-00244-JAM, in which defendant George Franco was sentenced to two years of probation for distributing cocaine.
Shanahan is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior United States District Court Judge John A. Mendez on October 8, 2024. Shanahan faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Mother and Daughter Team Sentenced to Prison for Jailhouse Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Makiah Miles, 30, of Compton, California, was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison and Apryl Weston, 51, of Santa Maria, California, was sentenced yesterday to 5 months in prison and 5 months home detention for submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in the names of inmates, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Miles was an inmate at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, California, and Weston is her mother. Miles had previously been convicted of DUI manslaughter.
From June through December 2020, Miles obtained other inmates’ names, dates of birth, and social security numbers and sent that information to Weston to submit claims in those inmates’ identities as well as Miles’ own identity. The underlying applications misrepresented that Miles and the other inmates worked as childcare providers, cosmetologists, hairdressers, and other occupations, that they last worked within the prior few months and recently became unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that they were currently available to work. The fraudulent claims were worth nearly $250,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by FBI, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Investigative Services Unit, and the EDD. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, which is one of the interagency COVID-19 fraud strike forces established by the United States Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California, and focuses on large-scale, multistate, and egregious pandemic relief fraud. The strike force uses prosecutor-led, and data analyst-driven, teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief money.
Madera Felon Sentenced to 34 Months for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Evan Moore, 40, of Chowchilla, was sentenced yesterday to 34 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Dec. 18, 2022, Madera Police officers stopped Moore after observing several traffic violations. Moore was found to be in possession of 1.24 pounds of marijuana, a digital scale, and zip-loc baggies. Hidden underneath the steering column, officers located a Glock 19 handgun. Because of his criminal record, including two prior convictions for illegally possessing firearms, Moore may not lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Madera Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Antonio J. Pataca prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.