Eastern District of California
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Sacramento County Woman Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO Calif. — Monique Marie Gonzales Grado, 32, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to four years in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
As a part of her sentence, Gonzales Grado was also ordered to pay $82,142 in restitution to her victims. Gonzales Grado pleaded guilty to these charges on Sept. 9, 2025.
According to court documents, between Aug. 7, 2022, and Oct. 3, 2022, Gonzales Grado executed a scheme to defraud credit unions. She unlawfully used the identity of a victim to obtain a car loan to buy a Mercedes-Benz, a second car loan to buy a Jaguar, and a personal loan for purported “medical expenses.” In a credit union account associated with these loans, Gonzales Grado also deposited two checks that had been stolen and altered to reflect the name of the victim as payee, thus allowing Gonzales Grado access to the funds. She also used the victim’s identity to open an account with a mobile phone provider and to lease an apartment. And she provided law enforcement authorities with the victim’s driver’s license in order to avoid a traffic citation. Gonzales Grado was caught when she drove to a meeting with law enforcement regarding probation terms and drove the fraudulently obtained Jaguar to the meeting. On searching the Jaguar, law enforcement found a driver’s license, Social Security card, and several other debit and credit cards in the victim’s name, among other items.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma prosecuted the case.
Bakersfield Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Wire Fraud and ID TheftRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Kyle Matthew Lisman, 30, of Bakersfield, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to five years in prison for wire fraud, possessing stolen mail and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between January and July of 2023, Lisman devised a scheme to steal victim identities to defraud them. He used the name, social security number, and other personal information of another person to fraudulently obtain a car at a Bakersfield car dealership. Under the victim’s identity, Lisman paid $40,000 to purchase the car on the dealership’s website before traveling to the dealership and picking it up. To do this, he presented the dealership with a fake driver’s license created from the victim’s actual driver’s license information but with Lisman’s picture.
Lisman also fraudulently caused other people’s mail to be forwarded to his home by filing and submitting fraudulent change of address forms for the mail recipients. In September 2023, Lisman possessed several credit cards, checks, and debit cards in other people’s names. Between May and July 2023, he opened credit and debit cards in other peoples’ names and used those cards to withdraw thousands of dollars’ worth of cash and purchases. Lisman pleaded guilty on Jan. 26, 2026.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.
Stanislaus County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gonzalo Hernandez, 38, of Oakdale, pleaded guilty today to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Aug. 2, 2021, and Nov. 13, 2023, Hernandez produced sexually explicit surreptitious video recordings of a minor on at least 10 occasions and later distributed some of these images via social media. Hernandez knew the victim was under the age of 18. In March 2024, Hernandez, posing as 15-year-old-boy, used social media to persuade a second minor to produce at least one image of that minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and to send the sexually explicit image to Hernandez.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oakdale Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger is prosecuting the case.
Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Aug. 17, 2026. Hernandez faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison on each count, 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 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.
Mother Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Interstate Violation of Protective Order Regarding Her Estranged Teenage SonRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Shana Gaviola, 39, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour to three years in prison for interstate violation of a protection order for causing her estranged teenage son to be taken against his will and transported from California to Missouri, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
On Dec. 9, 2025, following a five-day trial, a federal jury found Gaviola guilty.
According to court documents and testimony at trial, in 2020, Gaviola’s then-16-year-old son began living apart from Gaviola with another family. He petitioned for emancipation from Gaviola and obtained a domestic violence protection order against Gaviola from the Fresno County Superior Court. The order prohibited Gaviola from harassing, blocking the movements of, or contacting her son in any way, including directly or indirectly.
Despite the protection order, Gaviola made plans for her son to be forcibly transported from California to Missouri. On Aug. 21, 2021, individuals acting on behalf of Gaviola abducted the minor from an ice-skating rink in Fresno, handcuffed him, and forced him into a car. He remained in handcuffs for more than 24 hours while they drove to Stockton, Missouri. He was then held at a youth facility until his father was able to free him.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Fresno Police Department and the Clovis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Veronica M.A. Alegría and Heiko P. Coppola prosecuted the case. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Missouri and the Eastern District of Missouri.
Central Valley Business Owner Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Role in Stealing $4.8 Million in Livestock Feed IngredientsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Richard Best, 72, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to three years in prison and ordered to pay $2 million in restitution for his role in a fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars’ worth of canola (used to make livestock feed) from international food processors, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“Richard Best treated the agricultural supply chain as his personal inventory, stealing nearly $5 million worth of canola oil for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who commit fraud in our agricultural markets will be found and prosecuted. We remain committed to protecting the integrity of our markets and the businesses that play by the rules.”
“Richard Best and Shawn Sawa orchestrated a scheme to steal almost $5 million worth of canola destined for cattle feed and other commodities. The products were then sold to pay Best’s operating expenses and fuel Sawa’s lavish lifestyle,” said FBI Sacramento Field Office Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “White collar crime is not victimless; victim companies can be devastated by crimes like these and the price of the commodities they sell can also be impacted. This is why the FBI is committed to uncovering corporate fraud and urges anyone with information about crimes like this to come forward.”
According to court documents, from 2015 through 2017, Best and Shawn Sawa, 49, formerly of Clovis, stole $4.8 million worth of canola from international food processors. They then sold the canola for a windfall. Best pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2025. Sawa pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Dec. 8, 2025, to 18 months in prison.
Best and Sawa carried out the scheme through Best’s now defunct train-to-truck transloading company, Richard Best Transfer Inc. (RBT). A transloading company transfers commodities from one mode of transportation to another mode. The victim food processors sent hundreds of thousands of tons of their canola to RBT for delivery to their customers. Sawa was the Fresno area manager for one of the victim food processors from whom he and Best stole canola. Sawa initially received kickback payments from Best to try to increase the supply of canola that RBT received from that food processor before they began their scheme.
Best and Sawa sold the stolen canola through an acquaintance in Texas who used to work in the livestock-feed industry. The acquaintance sold the stolen canola to farms and dairies and distributed the proceeds according to Best’s instructions. This included wire transfers to Best, RBT’s bank accounts, and Sawa. The account that Sawa used was opened in his spouse’s name to try to conceal the scheme.
Throughout the scheme, Best and Sawa caused RBT to email fraudulent inventory reports to the victim food processors representing that RBT had certain amounts of their canola in stock when, in fact, RBT had significantly lesser amounts. Best and Sawa used the proceeds from the scheme to purchase luxury homes and multiple vehicles, take trips, hire private karate teachers, and cover RBT’s operating expenses, among other expenses.
Shortly before the scheme was discovered, Best gave Sawa an old cellphone that had belonged to Best’s deceased mother. Best did so because he was afraid that the victim food processor for whom Sawa worked was onto their scheme and was monitoring communications on Sawa’s company issued devices. They then used the old cellphone to secretly communicate with each other in furtherance of the scheme.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody Chapple, Joseph Barton, and Chan Hee Chu prosecuted the case.
Viva Grocery Store Owner and Former Sacramento City Councilmember Pleads Guilty for His Role in Multiple Fraudulent SchemesRead the Press Release
loloee_plea_agreement.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. — Shahriar “Sean” Loloee, 55, of Granite Bay, pleaded guilty today to three fraud schemes he perpetrated as the owner and operator of Viva Supermarket, a Sacramento-area supermarket chain, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to the plea agreement, Loloee pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct a Department of Labor investigation, one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS, three counts of filing false tax returns, one count of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering.
Obstruction of Department of Labor Investigation: On three occasions between 2008 and 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor investigated Viva Supermarket stores for labor practices. Loloee and other co-conspirators were aware that many of the supermarket staff did not have authorization to work legally in the United States. Loloee and others took steps to discourage employees from complying with the investigations, including by directing them to lie about aspects of their employment. Additionally, to avoid revealing the extent of the undocumented staff, and in an effort to reduce the amount of back wages Viva Supermarket owed those workers, Loloee provided an employee list to DOL, knowing that many of the hire dates on the list were falsified to a later date. He also gave false statements to DOL about the company’s history of paying employees off the books.
Defrauding the IRS: Loloee used irregular payment methods that allowed him to underreport both his federal payroll tax and his own personal income tax. He, together with his co-conspirators, maintained two sets of books—one that was used to submit filings to the IRS and one that was dubbed “Excess Payroll” and used internally to track hidden payments to undocumented workers and others including to himself. Over time, the form of theses hidden payments included cash and an in-house check system called “Green Checks” that were redeemable only at the Viva stores. By using the second set of books, Loloee and his co-conspirators caused a tax loss of approximately $200,000 to the IRS. Loloee also avoided an individual tax liability of approximately $32,103 by not reporting wages he paid himself.
Fraudulent SBA Loans and Money Laundering: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Administration offered a relief program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. In May 2021 Loloee fraudulently applied for $2.2 million in COVID-19 relief from the Fund and received $1.2 million. After receiving the $1.2 million, Loloee initiated the laundering of funds with 10 checks all bearing the same issue date of June 18, 2021, and then moving the money through multiple accounts he controlled. Loloee completed the laundering with three bank transfers totaling $949,900 to a trust account in the name of one of his family members. Loloee’s purpose in undertaking this movement of money was to hide that the source of the funds was the pandemic relief fraud scheme he had executed.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey B. Hemesath, Matthew Thuesen, and Sam Stefanki are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated with the assistance of the Tax Recovery in the Underground Economy (TRUE) Task Force includes the California Department of Justice, the California Employment Development Department, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the Franchise Tax Board, the IRS Criminal Investigation and HSI. The TRUE Task Force was created to ensure multi-agency collaboration and to combat wage theft, tax evasion, and other crimes in the underground economy.
Loloee is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 15, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Loloee faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for conspiracy to defraud the Department of Labor, to commit immigration document fraud, and to obstruct justice; 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for conspiracy to defraud the IRS; three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 for a filing a false tax return; 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for wire fraud; 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 for money laundering. 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 residents Karla Montoya, Mirwais Shams, and Ahmad “Shah” Shams are scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 28, 2026. Montoya is charged with conspiracy to defraud the DOL, possession of false immigration documents, and obstruction of agency proceeding. Mirwais Shams and Ahmad Shams are charged with conspiracy to defraud the IRS and filing false tax returns. Ahmad Shams is additionally charged with perjury. The charges against them are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Illegal Aliens Indicted for Trafficking 3 Kilograms of Fentanyl Powder Through Fresno CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Santos Eliodo Irias Lobo, 36, of El Salvador, and Dariel Antonio Florentino Moncada, 21, of Honduras, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on April 11, 2026, the defendants were traveling through Fresno County on I-5 to Oakland when law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop for speeding and other traffic violations. Lobo was the driver and presented the vehicle’s registration and an El Salvador ID card showing the name of another individual. Lobo consented to a search of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of three 1-kilogram packages of fentanyl powder destined for Oakland.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sanchez is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine up to $10 million. 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 Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Tuolumne County Man Convicted for Receiving and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Following a three-day jury trial, Stephen Tyler Prock, 58, of Jamestown, was found guilty today of receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, as well as testimony and evidence presented at trial, between May 2018 and March 2020, Prock used his desktop computer to receive and distribute over a hundred videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Prock used the peer-to-peer file sharing network Shareaza to download and share the CSAM with others. Additional CSAM was in the process of being downloaded to Prock’s computer when agents arrived at his residence to execute a search warrant.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany M. Gunter and Calvin Lee are prosecuting the case.
Prock is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on July 27, 2026. Prock faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum 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.
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.
Sacramento Man Sentenced for Interstate Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jonathan Matthew Curl, 36, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to two years in prison and ordered to pay $282,193 in restitution, for conspiracy to transport stolen property and for interstate transportation of stolen property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Curl worked with co-conspirators Trevor Fountain, 38, of Sacramento; Stephan James Evanovich, 46, of Placerville; and Andrea Carter, 35, formerly of Sacramento, to illegally enter communications towers and steal rectifiers and other communications equipment. Rectifiers are a power source necessary to maintain power at communications towers.
Curl obtained access information through his employers, and then shared that information with co-conspirators, enabling them to steal rectifiers without detection. Curl, Fountain, and Carter, were responsible for stealing equipment and transferring it to Evanovich, who then paid them for the stolen equipment. Evanovich sold the stolen property to legitimate third-party vendors in California, Illinois, Colorado, and Texas. The conspirators stole, sold, and shipped more than 485 stolen rectifiers across state lines and stole more than 700 rectifiers from telecommunications towers throughout Northern California. Curl pleaded guilty on Jan. 8, 2026.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from Weld County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nchekube Onyima are prosecuting the case.
Carter pleaded guilty and was sentenced on June 5, 2025, to 29 months in prison. Fountain pleaded guilty on Sept. 25, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, 2026. Evanovich pleaded guilty on March 5, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11, 2026. Evanovich faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Fountain faces maximum statutory penalties of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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.
Leader of Gun Dealing Ring Sentenced to over 17 Years in Prison for Selling More Than 500 Guns in CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jerrell Lawson, 35, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to 17 years and five months in prison for his convictions for conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms, unlawfully dealing in firearms, transferring a firearm to an out-of-state resident, unlawful mailing of a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between November 2019 and March 2022, Lawson arranged to buy more than 500 firearms in Georgia and ship them into California, where his sub-distributors sold them on the streets. In total, Lawson and his co-conspirators paid more than $300,000 to purchase those firearms. Lawson would broker firearms transactions in Georgia over the internet, and co-defendant Malek Williams, a Georgia resident with a license to carry a concealed firearm, would pick up firearms in person and mail the firearms to various locations in California at Lawson’s direction. Some of the firearms went to individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. Some of the guns were also particularly dangerous: machine guns and guns with “drums” designed to hold dozens of rounds of ammunition.
The investigation began when a firearm used in a violent shooting in California was traced to Georgia, then to Lawson’s organization. Law enforcement learned Lawson and his co-conspirators used coded language to traffic firearms and moved money using a variety of financial institutions. During the investigation, interdicted packages destined for Lawson and other co-conspirators were found to contain firearms, ammunition, knives, and brass knuckles, among other things.
In August 2023, a grand jury charged Lawson and nine co-defendants with various firearms offenses relating to this interstate firearm dealing ring. All of Lawson’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced. Lawson pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, 2025.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the San Francisco Bay Area/Sacramento Region Cross-Jurisdictional Firearms Trafficking Strike Force Initiative and a number of other state, local, and federal agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Pearson and Justin Lee are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Fresno Man Indicted for Cocaine and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Maurice Hackett, 49, of Fresno, charging him with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm as a felon, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
According to court documents, on March 25, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search of Hackett’s residence after detectives observed multiple social media posts, by a person later identified as Hackett, that contained pictures of additional firearms and narcotics, as well as boasts about robbing others for drugs. In his residence, officers located a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine and more than a pound and a half of cocaine, as well as a scale and pay/owe sheets that are used to track who owes money. Hackett is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions in Fresno County and in the U.S. District Court in Fresno for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, Hackett faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison as well as a $5 million fine. If convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, he faces a mandatory minimum and consecutive sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 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 is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Fresno County Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Guillermo Catzalco, 47, of Firebaugh, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Catzalco was found to be in possession of a Glock-style privately manufactured handgun, an AR-style privately manufactured rifle, a disassembled North American Arms Inc. .22-caliber revolver, extended-capacity firearm magazines, tools consistent with firearm manufacturing, and ammunition of various calibers. Catzalco is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions in Stanislaus County including, assault with a deadly weapon, vehicle theft, burglary, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Firebaugh Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Karp is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Catzalco 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 6 Years and 3 Months in Prison for Narcotics Conspiracy in Prison Discovered Following the Death of USP Atwater StaffRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jermen Rudd III, 39, of Wentzville, Missouri, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to six years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and introducing a controlled substance into prison as a result of an investigation into the death of a Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between July 15, 2024, and Aug. 9, 2024, Rudd conspired with Jamar Jones, 37, an inmate at USP Atwater and Stephanie Ferreira, 37, of Evansville, Indiana to introduce narcotics into USP Atwater for Jones to sell. As part of that scheme, Jones and Ferreira had Rudd mail a letter laced with narcotics to Jones that was fraudulently labeled as legal mail.
On Aug. 9, 2024, two correctional officers at USP Atwater opened the letter and minutes later began to feel ill. After evaluation by medical staff, the Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist was subsequently taken to the hospital where he passed away. The other staff member, a Correctional Systems Officer, recovered. Rudd pleaded guilty on Jan. 12, 2026.
The narcotics in the letter consisted of two varieties of synthetic cannabinoids sold under the street name “Spice.” Synthetic cannabinoids are lab created chemicals that can be distributed in liquid form and are designed to produce a psychoactive effect.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California also received assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Missouri and the Southern District of Indiana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
Jones and Ferreira remain in custody pending trial set for Sept. 15, 2026. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Joshua David Price, 36, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 25 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in 2011, Price began communicating with a 15-year-old girl online. After a trip to Maryland to see her, he flew her to Sacramento and then drove her to Klamath Falls, Oregon. During the trip, Price filmed videos of the minor victim and him engaged in sex acts. Price pleaded guilty on Jan. 12, 2026.
The Klamath Falls (Oregon) Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang 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 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.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking After Possessing 86 Pounds of 100% Pure Methamphetamine and 4,700 Carfentanil PillsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jose Tobias Jimenez-Martinez, 36, a Mexican national residing in Madera, pleaded guilty today to trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on March 4, 2025, police officers searched Jimenez’s Madera apartment and seized 39.28 kilograms (86.5 pounds) of actual “ice” methamphetamine with a 100% purity. Jimenez later admitted to transporting the methamphetamine from San Diego and was planning to distribute it in Reno, Nevada. The methamphetamine was packaged in 90 plastic bags of different sizes. Officers also seized approximately 4,700 counterfeit M30 pills that tested positive for carfentanil. According to the DEA, carfentanil is a synthetic opioid estimated to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Madera Police Department; the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is composed of personnel from the California Department of Justice, the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team (MADNET); the Madera County District Attorney’s Office; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
Jimenez is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff on July 27, 2026. Jimenez faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a $10 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 part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Hard Money Lender Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Investors in 2 Cases involving Bitwise Industries and Voyager Pacific Capital Management Totaling $45 Million in LossesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Hardcastle, 61, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in two separate cases that resulted in a combined loss of approximately $45 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Startop Investments LLC Hard Money Loan Scheme
According to court documents, from December 2022 through May 2023, Hardcastle and business partner Andrew Adler, 32, of Greenwich, Connecticut, loaned Bitwise Industries approximately $20 million in high-interest hard money loans through their special purpose entity Startop Investments LLC. Hardcastle and Adler split the loans up and sold them to other investors. In doing so, they altered the original loan documents to make it appear that Bitwise was obligated to pay significantly less interest on the loans than was true. They also forged the signature of Bitwise’s Co-CEO, Jake Soberal, on the altered documents. This made the loans appear less risky and therefore more appealing to the investors.
Hardcastle and Adler received tens of thousands of dollars in origination fees for the loans and stood to make millions more in secret profits from the higher, undisclosed interest rates had the loans been fully repaid. Moreover, one of the loans to Bitwise included a secure interest reserve of approximately $700,000. Secure interest reserves are supposed to be disclosed to loan investors and serve to protect investors in the event the borrower does not repay the loan on schedule. The investors were unaware of this reserve.
Hardcastle and Adler then used these reserve funds to make an unrelated investment in another company that they operated without the investors’ authorization, and the money was not available to repay the investors when Bitwise collapsed in May 2023 without repaying the loans. As a result, the investors in the loans lost nearly all of their money.
Adler pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to commit wire fraud when he defrauded investors out of $20 million, and on June 2, 2025, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison.
Bitwise Industries was a startup technology company headquartered in Fresno County. Bitwise had a parent company and several other related companies, which were controlled by Jake Soberal, Irma Olguin, Jr., and a board of directors. Soberal and Olguin, Jr. pleaded guilty to defrauding Bitwise’s investors and lenders, including Startop, out of approximately $115 million. In December 2024, they were sentenced to 11 years and nine years in prison, respectively.
Voyager Pacific Capital Management Ponzi Scheme
Hardcastle was a general partner and chief executive officer at Voyager Pacific Capital Management, a real estate investment firm based in Florida with operations throughout the country that managed assets worth tens of millions of dollars.
According to court documents, between June 2020 and January 2025, Hardcastle and others falsely represented to investors in their Opportunity Fund II that their money would be used to acquire residences, land, and tax liens, among other assets. Instead, Hardcastle and others used the money to pay promised returns to other participants, personal investments, and other improper purchases. They provided fake financial information to the participants that falsely said that the Fund was performing well when, in fact, it was not.
At times, Hardcastle and others at Voyager sold certain properties in the Fund that were in disrepair or underperforming to themselves and did not disclose these sales to the participants. The sales were on paper only and no money changed hands. Hardcastle and others at Voyager made the sales because they did not have sufficient capital to maintain or improve the properties and they were prohibited from incurring debt on the properties based on their agreements with the participants. The sales allowed them to artificially inflate the value of the Fund and the participants’ shares and therefore continue receiving their management fees and other compensation from Voyager.
Hardcastle and others at Voyager agreed with each other to carry out their scheme to defraud and knowingly participated therein. In doing so, they acted with the intent to deceive and cheat the participants out of their money. The participants would not have made their investments had they known how Hardcastle and others at Voyager were using their money. Ultimately, the Fund was acquired by a third party at a discount, and the value of the participants’ shares was diminished.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigations in both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Cody Chapple are prosecuting the cases.
Hardcastle is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Sept. 14, 2026. Hardcastle faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud 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.
Former Fresno Art Council Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $1.8 Million of Publicly Designated FundsRead the Press Release
plea_agreement_caldwell.pdfFRESNO, Calif. — Suliana Caldwell, 46, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud involving over $1.8 million in funds stolen from the Fresno Art Council, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Caldwell worked as the Fresno Art Council’s operation’s manager from 2021 to February 2026. In this position, she managed the Fresno Arts Council’s bank accounts, payroll, grants, donations, and general finances. Her duties also included providing periodic financial updates and reports to the executive director, board members, and the City and County of Fresno.
Beginning in 2022, Caldwell began embezzling funds by making unauthorized withdrawals of money from the Fresno Arts Council’s bank accounts. In 2023, after the Fresno City Council designated the Fresno Arts Council to administer the Measure P grant money, Caldwell significantly increased the amount of money she withdrew from the Council’s accounts. Measure P is a tax initiative approved by Fresno voters in 2018 to provide funding for parks, trails, and the arts, among other things. In August 2023, the Fresno Arts Council received $9.4 million in Measure P funds, and in October 2024, it received an additional $5.7 million in a second round of funding.
Caldwell concealed the fraud by using her position of trust as the operations manager to alter and falsify financial reports that showed incorrect funds in Fresno Arts Council bank accounts. She presented these reports to the Fresno Arts Council executive director, board members, and others as accurate when they were not.
Between June 2022 and February 2026, Caldwell stole more than $1.8 million from the Fresno Arts Council. She then used the funds to gamble at local casinos, pay for vacations, and for other improper personal expenses.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Joseph D. Barton are prosecuting the case.
Caldwell is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Aug. 10, 2026. Caldwell faces a maximum 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.
East Bay Men Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit H1-B Visa Fraud Claiming Clients Would Work for the University of CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dublin residents Sampath Rajidi, 51, and Sreedhar Mada, 51, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Rajidi operated two visa servicing companies, S-Team Software Inc. and Uptrend Technologies LLC. As part of the business models of S-Team and Uptrend, Rajidi petitioned for H1-B Specialty Occupation worker visas to obtain foreign workers for temporary placement with various companies. Mada served as Chief Information Officer of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) located in Davis. As Chief Information Officer, Mada possessed supervisory authority, but could not hire H1-B workers for his department without further authorization.
Between June 2020 and January 2023, Rajidi and Mada conspired to submit fraudulent H-1B visa petitions for numerous beneficiaries. On those petitions, Rajidi falsely represented that beneficiaries would be employed at positions working for the University of California. Mada lent his name and the credibility of his position as Chief Information Officer of UCANR to bolster the false assertion that beneficiaries would be staffed on projects for the University of California.
In reality, both defendants were aware that the positions listed on the petitions did not exist. The beneficiaries did not work on projects at the University of California, and the defendants instead undertook to market these beneficiaries to other clients, having already secured H1-B visas based on the false assertions. They submitted false information knowing such information was material to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) decisions in granting visas. As a result of their conspiracy, Rajidi and Mada gained an unfair advantage over other firms and depleted the pool of H-1B visas available to competing firms.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Harman is prosecuting the case.
Rajidi and Mada are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on July 30, 2026. Both defendants face 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.
Visalia Felon Indicted for Possessing Safe Full of FirearmsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Pete Alvarez, 45, of Visalia, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, during an investigation into a shooting, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Alvarez’s residence. There, they located a safe in Alvarez’s bedroom with 17 firearms, including several short-barrel firearms without serial numbers that were in the process of being manufactured. Alvarez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions in Fresno County including, assault with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property, being a felon in possession of a firearm, battery causing serious injury, and assault with a deadly weapon.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fresno Police Department; and the Tulare Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Alvarez faces a maximum sentence 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Fresno County Man Charged with Being a Felon in Possession AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Luis Enrique Trevino, 32, of Coalinga, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 7, 2026, Trevino was the front passenger of a vehicle associated with a prior call for a disturbance. When law enforcement officers conducted a stop of the vehicle, Trevino immediately opened the vehicle door and fled. In an open compartment of that passenger door, law enforcement observed a 34-round, high-capacity magazine loaded with 16 live rounds of 9 mm ammunition. After a brief pursuit, Trevino was apprehended. A search of Trevino’s path of flight revealed he discarded a backpack in a trash can. Inside the backpack, law enforcement officers found a privately manufactured P80 “ghost” 9 mm handgun. Surveillance showed Trevino take off the backpack and attempt to conceal it in the trash can as he fled from pursuing officers. Trevino is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions including being a felon in possession of a firearm, threatening crime with intent to terrorize, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, and vandalism and was serving a grant of Post-Release Community Supervision at the time of his arrest.
The Coalinga Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Karp is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Trevino 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Davis Picnic Day Shooter Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison in Separate Federal Firearm CaseRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Joseph Allen Davis, 20, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, an investigation began into Joseph Allen Davis after determining that he was a shooter at the April 12, 2025, shooting incident at Rainbow City Park in Davis where three people were injured by gunfire. Law enforcement officers conducted a search of Joseph Allen Davis’s apartment and seized a short-barrel AR-15-style pistol that was loaded with 23 rounds of ammunition. Davis is prohibited from possessing any firearms and ammunition because he has previously been convicted of a felony gun possession offense. Davis pleaded guilty on Dec. 4, 2026.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Davis Police Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Pill Trafficking that Resulted in an Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sandro Escobedo, 37, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Monday for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Escobedo was a distributor of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone M-30 pills and cocaine for an organization that was responsible for importing tens of thousands of fentanyl pills and cocaine from Mexico and distributing them in northern California and elsewhere between May 2019 and January 2021. In October 2019, a teenage victim died of fentanyl poisoning from fentanyl pills that Escobedo distributed.
Fifteen other defendants have pleaded guilty, and 13 have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 19 months to 27 years. Escobedo pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, 2025.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Illegal Alien from El Salvador Charged with Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly WeaponRead the Press Release
mendoza_hernandez_complaint.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Eric Grant announced that a federal criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, a national of El Salvador residing in Stanislaus County, with assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon.
According to court documents, on April 7, 2026, at approximately 6:50 a.m., four federal law enforcement officers conducted an operation in the city of Patterson, California, to locate and arrest Mendoza Hernandez because he is illegally present in the United States. Officers stopped Mendoza Hernandez near an onramp to Interstate 5 by activating their emergency lights. Mendoza Hernandez pulled over on the right shoulder.
During the stop, Mendoza Hernandez identified himself and an agent informed Mendoza Hernandez that he was being detained and instructed him to step out of the vehicle. Despite repeated requests, Mendoza Hernandez kept his car running and did not comply with agent requests. Mendoza Hernandez eventually drove forward and hit an agent with his vehicle. Mendoza Hernandez then quickly shifted the vehicle in reverse and abruptly accelerated in a rapid backward motion. While in reverse, Mendoza Hernandez violently collided with the front of a law enforcement vehicle parked behind Mendoza Hernandez.
After striking the front of the agents’ vehicle, Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle then directly faced two of the agents assisting in the stop. After a brief pause, Mendoza Hernandez accelerated forward toward the agents. One of the agents was in the direct path of Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle and jumped out of the way to avoid being hit. Mendoza Hernandez jumped the center median and drove the wrong way against traffic toward the freeway. He then crossed the median, stopping his car on the side of the road.
During this incident, and in response to the vehicle’s movements, agents discharged their firearms at the vehicle. Mendoza Hernandez was hit several times. Agents rendered medical aid at the scene and Mendoza Hernandez was transported to the hospital. After receiving medical treatment, Mendoza Hernandez was medically cleared and taken into FBI custody on Monday, April 13, 2026.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helped secure the scene and provided substantial public safety assistance while Mendoza Hernandez recovered in the hospital. The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office provided substantial support following the incident. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.
The defendant’s custody status will be determined during his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge.
If convicted, Mendoza Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 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 charge in the Criminal Complaint is only an allegation; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Placerville Postal Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing and Tampering with the Narcotic Medications of United States Military VeteransRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Carrie Wallace, 47, of Pollock Pines, pleaded guilty Monday to tampering with a consumer product and mail theft by a postal employee, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Wallace used her position as a U.S. Postal Service employee to access and steal mail parcels containing prescription medication and vape products. She intentionally targeted packages sent by the Department of Veterans Affairs to its patients because those packages generally contained narcotic medications. Wallace cut into the packages, opened the prescription narcotics medication bottles, stole the medication and replaced it with over-the-counter medication, retaped the packages and placed them back in the mail stream to be delivered to the intended recipients. Multiple veteran victims consumed the tampered medication, putting them at risk of injury for taking incorrectly dispensed drugs. Due to Wallace’s medication theft and tampering, veteran victims experienced extreme pain, increased agitation, anger, and other mental health symptoms.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the VA Police Department conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody is prosecuting the case.
Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Aug. 10, 2026. Wallace faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 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.
Podiatrist and Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Sentenced in $3.2 Million Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy Involving Unlicensed Person Performing Skin GraftsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston sentenced Felipe Ruiz, 52, of Fresno, and Jose Gabriel Aguirre, 53, of Clovis, to 63 months in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Judge Thurston also ordered forfeiture of nine properties owned by Aguirre and Ruiz, as well as a $2.6 million personal forfeiture money judgement against Aguirre and a $12.1 million personal forfeiture money judgement against Ruiz. The defendants pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2025.
“We trust licensed medical professionals to safeguard their patients and not hand them over to unqualified individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “This podiatrist put profit over patient safety by allowing a salesman to perform medical procedures on vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries. Today’s outcome underscores our commitment to holding providers accountable when they abuse that trust and bill federal health care programs for services that violate the most basic standards of care.”
"Health care fraud schemes don't just drain taxpayer-funded programs, they also put patients directly at risk," said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. "The FBI will continue working alongside HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who treat public trust as an opportunity for personal profit."
“By allowing an unlicensed and unqualified sales representative to perform medical procedures – including sharp wound debridement – on Medicare and Medi-Cal enrollees, Dr. Ruiz abandoned his professional responsibilities and violated the trust his patients placed in him,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Fueled by greed, Dr. Ruiz’s scheme exposed his patients to serious risk and undermined the integrity of federal health care programs. As today’s sentences demonstrate, HHS‑OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold those who put profits above patients accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, Ruiz was a podiatrist and the sole owner of West Coast Podiatry Inc. (WCP), a podiatric medical practice with locations in Fresno, Madera, and Stanislaus Counties. Aguirre was a pharmaceutical sales representative who sold skin grafts to Ruiz and WCP. Aguirre was not licensed to practice medicine.
Between June 2021 and January 2024, Ruiz purchased skin grafts from Aguirre and permitted Aguirre to apply skin grafts and perform other medical procedures on patients suffering from severe wounds, including foot amputations. Application of the skin grafts required sharp debridement, which means using a scalpel to scrape the wound until it bleeds. Some patients believed Aguirre was a physician, referring to him as “Dr. Gabe.” Aguirre would perform medical procedures alone without supervision from a trained physician.
Ruiz and Aguirre submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and Medi-Cal that falsely represented that Ruiz and other physicians had performed the medical procedures, such as applying skin grafts to patients, when Aguirre had actually rendered the services.
In one example, WCP submitted $150,000 in claims to Medicare in 2023, claiming a physician performed the procedures, when in fact the physician was out of the country on vacation. In another example, Aguirre cut into patients with recently amputated feet with a scalpel and apply skin grafts without a physician’s supervision. Ruiz knew about Aguirre’s conduct and dismissed staff’s concerns about Aguirre.
Throughout the period, staff and third-party auditors raised concerns about Ruiz and Aguirre’s billing practices. The two ignored those warnings and continued to bill Medicare and Medicaid for services performed by Aguirre.
As a result, Ruiz submitted approximately $3,200,000 in false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and Medi-Cal between 2021 and 2024.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany M. Gunter and Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.
Former Sacramento County Mail Carrier Arrested for Stealing Checks and Credit Cards from the Mail to Pay for Gambling and Personal ExpensesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against Jimbert Escalicas, 41, of Sacramento, charging him with bank fraud, identity theft, misuse of a Social Security Number, aggravated identity theft, and mail theft by a postal employee, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Escalicas began working for the U.S. Postal Service in September 2023. His duties included delivering mail to routes in Sacramento County. From November 2023 through October 2024, Escalicas stole checks, gift cards, debit cards and credit cards from mail destined for Postal Service customers on his routes. Escalicas forged the account owners’ signatures on checks he stole and altered checks to make them payable to himself. He then deposited the forged and altered checks into accounts he controlled. At times, Escalicas sold stolen checks to others. To activate and use the credit cards he stole, Escalicas contacted the issuing financial institutions and provided the card owners’ personally identifiable information. Escalicas stole no less than 130 checks and cards with a total value of more than $620,000.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is conducting the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Escalicas faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud charges, five years in prison and a $250,000 on each of the charges for identity theft, Social Security Number misuse, and mail theft, and a two-year mandatory prison sentence and a $250,000 fine on the aggravated identity theft charge. 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.
DC Solar Accountant Is Last to Be Sentenced for the DC Solar Billion-Dollar Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The last defendant in the biggest criminal fraud scheme in the history of the Eastern District of California was sentenced today, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Ronald J. Roach, 59, of Walnut Creek, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 66 months in prison. Roach and co-defendant Joseph Bayliss were the first DC Solar defendants to plead guilty on Oct. 22, 2019.
“Today’s sentencing marks the final chapter in an extensive fraud that caused significant loss. This outcome reflects years of careful, methodical investigative work and a prosecution built on meticulous attention to detail,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “None of the eight defendants went to trial, but each ultimately accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty. Our office remains committed to holding accountable those who exploit others for personal gain. We will continue to pursue justice with diligence and integrity.”
"As the company’s accountant, Ronald Roach concealed the truth from investors for years, enabling DC Solar to operate on fabricated financials," said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. "This fraud permeated nearly every level of the company’s criminal operations. Today’s sentencing reflects the tireless efforts of FBI Sacramento and our partners at IRS-CI, FDIC-OIG, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who spent years methodically dismantling one of the largest fraud schemes in the Eastern District of California."
“The sentencing of Ronald Roach underscores the unwavering pursuit of accountability in this far-reaching fraud scheme,” said Linda Nguyen, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Oakland Field Office. “The DC Solar case revealed a deliberate and sweeping effort to abuse federal tax incentives and deceive investors on an extraordinary scale. IRS‑CI, together with our law enforcement partners, remain firmly committed to ensuring every individual responsible is brought to justice.”
“Mr. Roach ignored his responsibilities as a certified public accountant, conspiring with his co-defendants to defraud individuals, financial institutions, and the U.S. Government,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “This case highlights that no matter how complicated the fraud, FDIC OIG and our law enforcement partners will join forces to unravel the scheme, hold the perpetrators accountable, and bring justice to victims.”
According to court documents, Roach played a central role in the DC Solar fraud. As DC Solar’s accountant, he lied to investors and worked with others at the company to conceal the lack of third-party lease revenue. Between 2011 and 2018, DC Solar manufactured mobile solar generators that were mounted on trailers and claimed that they were used to provide emergency power to cellphone towers and lighting at sporting and other events. A significant incentive for investors was generous federal tax credits due to the solar nature of the generators.
A key part of the fraud was that investors would never actually take possession of the generators. Instead, DC Solar typically leased those generators back from the investors and claimed to sublease them to third parties to generate revenue. In reality there was very little actual third-party rental demand for the generators, but the co-conspirators at DC Solar continued to claim that the rental market for the generators was robust. They took new investor money to pay obligations to existing investors.
Between March 2011 and Dec. 18, 2018, investors invested approximately $759.4 million, and several financial institutions and other investors transferred $152.7 million to DC Solar as part of related transactions for the purchase and lease of generators. In total, DC Solar closed transactions with investors that contributed more than $912 million to purchase generators. Those transactions were purported to involve approximately 17,000 generators, at approximately $2.5 billion in value.
During the conspiracy, approximately 94% to 95% of the lease revenue on the books was actually intercompany transfers disguised as new investor money. In truth, third-party end-user demand for generators never exceeded 5% of the revenue that was claimed.
The FBI, IRS-CI, and the FDIC OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey B. Hemesath and Nicholas M. Fogg prosecuted the case.
The status of the other seven defendants is as follows:
- Jeff Carpoff, 55, of Martinez, was sentenced on Nov. 9, 2021, to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $790.6 million in restitution.
- Paulette Carpoff, 52, of Martinez, was sentenced on June 28, 2022, to 11 years and three months in prison.
- Joseph W. Bayliss, 50, of Martinez, was sentenced on Nov. 16, 2021, to three years in prison and ordered to pay $481.3 million in restitution.
- DC Solar CFO Robert A. Karmann, 59, of Clayton, was sentenced on April 12, 2022, to six years in prison and ordered to pay $624 million.
- Alan Hansen, 54, was sentenced on May 31, 2022, to 39 months in prison.
- Ryan Guidry, 49, of Pleasant Hill, was sentenced on Jan. 31, 2023, to six years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $619,415,950 in restitution.
- Ari J. Lauer, 61, of Lafayette, was sentenced on March 9, 2026, to 11 years and five months in prison. One week before trial, on Oct. 14, 2025, Lauer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, 12 counts of bank fraud, and 10 counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution.
Stockton Nurse Practitioner Agrees to Pay $1.4 Million to Resolve Alleged Controlled Substance Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
rubinger_settlement_agreement_003.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced today that Joan Rubinger, a nurse practitioner in Stockton, has agreed to pay $1.4 million to resolve allegations that she violated the Controlled Substance Act on at least 900 occasions by dispensing controlled substances without any legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of professional practice. The United States contends that Rubinger sold prescriptions for controlled substances to individuals who were not her legitimate medical patients, with whom she had not established a bona fide medical provider relationship, or for whom she failed to identify and document a legitimate medical need for controlled substances.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment to hold health care providers accountable when they violate their duty to properly prescribe controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Our community has the right to trust that providers will prescribe these drugs only within the usual course of professional practice and only in accord with the law.”
“DEA is committed to preventing, detecting, and investigating the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals from legitimate sources. Dispensing controlled substances without any legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of professional practice is illegal, and anyone in violation will be held accountable,” said Bob P. Beris, Special Agent in Charge, DEA San Francisco Field Division.
This settlement resolves the case against Rubinger, which alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act. On March 26, 2026, the Court entered a permanent injunction requiring Rubinger to surrender the ability to dispense, or have involvement in dispensing, controlled substances in the future, directly or indirectly, including (a) dispensing or prescribing, or assisting in dispensing or prescribing, any controlled substance; (b) having an ownership interest, including partial ownership, in an entity that is in the business of dispensing controlled substances; or (c) employing any person who dispenses, or assists in dispensing, any prescription for a controlled substances for any person.
The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Amin represented the federal government.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Central Valley Men Indicted for Possession of Approximately One Million Pills Containing Suspected MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment today against Jose Mendoza, 35, of Merced; Jessy Johnson, 34, of Turlock; and Alejandro Perez, 43, of Crows Landing, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, the defendants were part of a drug-trafficking organization that used the U.S. Mail to distribute drugs across the country. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 100 parcels sent by the defendants’ organization. Those parcels contained controlled substances including methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms.
On March 26, 2026, law enforcement officers from multiple government agencies arrested the defendants and executed search warrants at multiple locations under their control. One location was a warehouse in Turlock that was being used as a stash location. The warehouse contained three pill presses, pans with powders used in manufacturing pills laced with controlled substances, and approximately one million pills containing suspected methamphetamine. Agents also found cocaine, alprazolam (Xanax), MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, and THC products at the warehouse and other locations under the defendants’ control.
The investigation also found approximately $150,000 in cash, as well as information that led them to find and seize multiple electronic wallets that the defendants had used to store cryptocurrency believed to be proceeds from drug sales. To date, law enforcement has seized more than $400,000 in cryptocurrency from wallets under the defendants’ control.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Stockton Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the Manteca Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Campbell and Kevin Khasigian are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory 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.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Bakersfield Resident Pleads Guilty to Operating an Illegal Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ugwu, 49, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business involving more than $5 million in illegally obtained funds, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between December 2020 and August 2023, Ugwu owned, operated, and served as chief executive officer of Franklin Finance Inc. Through this business, Ugwu opened and controlled 20 bank accounts across nine banks and financial institutions where he received approximately $5 million from more than 100 individuals in the United States. He then transferred the funds to individuals in China, Nigeria, and elsewhere. At no point did the company have the required licenses to operate a money-transmitting business.
Several of the individuals who sent Ugwu funds were victims of cybercrimes and fraud. Ugwu received and transferred approximately $580,000 in fraud proceeds from these victims. Ugwu was able to operate his unlicensed business by making various misrepresentations to individuals, banks, and other financial institutions to conceal his fraudulent activity. Several of the individuals in the United States who sent funds to Ugwu were victims of fraud and cybercrimes.
The IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.
Ugwu is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on July 27, 2026. Ugwu faces a maximum 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.
Arizona Man Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Attempted Coercion or Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Anthony Dalton Wolff, 44, of Surprise, Arizona, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 13 years and eight months in prison and ordered to pay a money judgment of $15,000, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
The sentence includes 15 years of supervised release during which Wolff’s access to minors, electronic devices, and the internet will be restricted, and he will be required to register as a sex offender. Wolff pleaded guilty to the charge on Dec. 15, 2025.
According to court documents, between March 16, 2023, and July 30, 2024, Wolff met and then communicated with an undercover federal agent on a forum on the dark web dedicated to discussion of child sexual abuse. The undercover agent had established a profile for a mother with a 7-year-old daughter. Wolff contacted the agent and immediately stated that he had a long-standing sexual interest in girls, and he hoped to have a sexual relationship with the agent and her purported daughter. Wolff moved the communications to Telegram, an end-to-end encrypted application, and frequently sent videos of himself while viewing and commenting on some of his favorite child exploitation videos. He planned to meet the agent and her daughter in California and described in graphic detail how he wanted to sexually abuse the girl and to have another child with the mother so he could sexually abuse that child.
The Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. 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 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.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Roland Edward Bain, 40, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between March 6, 2024, and May 5, 2024, Bain engaged in a pattern of activity which included persuading a minor victim to create and send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Bain and the victim communicated via their smartphones, and the victim used her phone to create sexually explicit material at Bain’s request. As part of this conduct, Bain engaged in sex acts with the victim. Throughout the course of conduct, Bain was aware the victim was under the age of 18. Bain also engaged in a pattern of activity involving prohibited sexual conduct with other minors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Sheriff Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Harman is prosecuting the case.
Bain is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on June 18, 2026. Bain faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 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 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.
Previously Deported Alien Residing in Sacramento Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms and to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Luis Eduardo Torres-Hernandez, 40, a Mexican national residing in Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to one count of being an unlawful alien in possession of firearms and one count of illegally re-entering the United States after being previously removed, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in September 2024, undercover law enforcement agents found Torres-Hernandez in the Sacramento area when he sold them multiple sets of false identification documents, including Permanent Resident green cards and Social Security cards. On a subsequent date, agents recovered several firearms from his possession, including a Windham Weaponry 5.56 caliber rifle, a Ruger 9 mm caliber pistol and a Sig Sauer 9 mm caliber pistol. Torres-Hernandez is in the United States illegally and has been removed from the United States on multiple occasions and is accordingly prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to the indictment, on Aug. 29, 2014, Torres-Hernandez was deported from the United States after a conviction for selling false documents in the Eastern District of California.
Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
Torres-Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on July 9, 2026. Torres-Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the firearms count, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the illegal reentry count. 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 Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien with Serious Criminal History Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in Fresno CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Gilberto Arteaga, 43, of Michoacan, Mexico, illegally residing in Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 19 years and five months in prison for his role in a fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Oct. 1, 2022, and July 16, 2023, Arteaga joined in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in Fresno County. On July 15, 2023, a car that law enforcement agents believed Arteaga and his co-conspirators were using crossed from the United States into Mexico and then back, all in less than 12 hours. The car then traveled to a residence in Sanger. Law enforcement agents followed the car, stopped it along with a second car and searched both cars. Arteaga was the sole occupant of one car and two of his co-defendants were in the other car. One of the cars had about 30 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 6 pounds of fentanyl.
Law enforcement agents searched Arteaga’s cellphone and found photographs of packages of methamphetamine as well as messages between Arteaga and his co-defendants with directions about unloading drugs out of the gas tank. Further evidence revealed that for at least seven months, Arteaga and his co-defendants had been smuggling drugs across the border in the gas tank of a car, traveling to a residence in Sanger, and then disassembling that car to remove the drugs for distribution.
Arteaga pleaded guilty to the charge on May 19, 2025. He is the last defendant in this case to be sentenced.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fresno and Clovis Police Departments conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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.
Paroled Murderer Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marvin Mutch, 69, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in May 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Mutch’s residence. Inside his residential office, officers seized various electronic devices containing tens of thousands of depictions of the sexual exploitation of children. Some of these images included depictions of the sexual abuse of children as young as 3 or 4 years old. Officers also seized a privately manufactured “ghost gun” containing eight rounds of ammunition from the center console of Mutch’s vehicle parked in the garage.
Mutch is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he is a felon who was convicted in 1975 of murdering a 13-year-old girl. Press reports issued shortly after Riley’s murder indicated that her killer beat her and then drowned her in Alameda Creek in Union City, California. Mutch served approximately 40 years in the California state penal system for this crime before being paroled in 2016.
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation with assistance from the FBI Violent Crime Task Force and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian T. Kinsella and Sam Stefanki are prosecuting the case.
Mutch is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on Aug. 28, 2026. Mutch faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on his CSAM conviction and a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on his felon in possession of ammunition conviction. 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 Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was also 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.
Los Angeles Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Prison for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tracy Arnett, 40, of Los Angeles, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to four years and three months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, from May 2023 through March 2024, Arnett, Daniel Hooker, and two additional co-conspirators conducted more than 20 financial transactions that they believed involved laundering the proceeds of cocaine trafficking. Their belief as to the nature of the funds was based on representations of an individual working at the direction of law enforcement. On one occasion in October 2023, Arnett met the individual in a hotel parking lot in Rancho Cordova to obtain $100,000 in cash to launder. In total, Arnett and his co-conspirators received approximately $940,000 in purported drug trafficking proceeds. Of that amount, the conspirators laundered approximately $811,000.
Hooker, 37, of Studio City, California, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced on April 18, 2025, to 27 months in prison. Arnett pleaded guilty on Dec. 13, 2024.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.
Sacramento Man Charged with Being Felon in Possession of a Firearm as Part of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Damarion Nash, 34, of Sacramento, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 15, 2026, Nash was found in possession of a loaded Colt .45 caliber handgun. Nash is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in Sacramento County including for attempted robbery, criminal threats, possession of a controlled substance in prison, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The Sacramento Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Ng is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Nash 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is also part of the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney program, a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local District Attorney’s Offices. These attorneys remain employed by the District Attorney’s Offices but work on federal investigations and can prosecute cases in both state and federal court, strengthening efforts to combat transnational organized crime and violent crime in the region. Currently, the District Attorney’s Offices of Yolo, Placer, Fresno, and Sacramento Counties are participating. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ng serves as a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento County.
Elk Grove Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Trafficking Heroin and FentanylRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Delanious Ward, 57, of Elk Grove, was sentenced today to nine years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Ward is among seven defendants arrested in 2024 and charged with trafficking narcotics as part of a multi-agency operation targeting cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl traffickers Ward was a manager or supervisor of a vast drug network that stretched to New Orleans, Louisiana. During 60 days of wiretaps, Ward was intercepted trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, and was found in possession of cocaine and fentanyl upon his arrest. Ward pleaded guilty on Dec. 19, 2024.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond is prosecuting the case.
Below is the status of Ward’s co-defendants:
On Jan. 16, 2025, Albert Gurley, 51, of Sacramento, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin,.
On March 27, 2025, Manuel Greenhalgh, 33, of Sacramento, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
On May 15, 2025, Kevin Yancy, 57, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.
On Sept. 19, 2024, Agustin Gonzalez, 63, of Manteca, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2026.
On Oct. 31, 2024, Craig Hunter, 51, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2026.
On Oct. 31, 2024, David Byrd, 53, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4, 2026.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
Butte County Man Sentenced to 20 Years and 10 Months in Prison for Attempted Child Sex Abuse OffenseRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kevin Leslie Gipson, 60, of Oroville, was sentenced today to 20 years and 10 months in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
“Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his sickening attempt to sexually exploit a child,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Thanks to law enforcement intervention, no child was actually harmed. But this case underscores the ongoing danger that the defendant poses to our community, especially in light of his prior convictions for sexually abusing young children. Our office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting those who seek to harm children and ensuring they face serious consequences.”
“The FBI and our Crimes Against Children Task Force are relentless in identifying and apprehending depraved individuals like Kevin Gipson who prey on innocent children,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Our agents stopped Mr. Gipson before he could harm a child, and our investigation ensured he will now serve a significant federal prison sentence. I’m proud of our agents and task force officers who tirelessly investigate these cases to make our communities safer for children.”
According to court documents, in July 2024, Gipson communicated with an individual he believed to be the father of a 10-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover officer. Gipson communicated his desire to perform sex acts on the child and planned to meet the undercover officer and child at a hotel room to do so. Gipson purchased various sex-related items in preparation for the encounter and bought a stuffed animal with the intent to provide the stuffed animal to the child. When Gipson approached the undercover officer with the stuffed animal, he was arrested by law enforcement officers. Gipson pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney 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 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.
Sutter Facilities Agree to Pay $3.2 Million to Resolve Alleged Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, and Sutter Fairfield Surgery Center have agreed to pay $3.2 million to resolve allegations that they failed to effectively guard against theft and diversion of controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. This settlement relates to allegations of the entities’ collective commission of at least 628 violations of recordkeeping and security requirements under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
The United States contends that these two Sutter-affiliated entities violated the CSA by, among other violations, failing to: notify the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of theft or loss, keep accurate records of controlled substances, complete biennial inventories, maintain complete controlled substance order records, and provide effective controls against diversion. The investigation was initiated following the death of a pediatric anesthesiologist.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to hold health care providers accountable for failing to effectively guard against the diversion of potentially dangerous controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Our community deserves the right to place its trust in health care providers that dispense controlled substances and to know that they adhere to and apply the right safeguards to ensure safety around those products.”
“DEA registrants play a critical role in protecting the public and that responsibility starts with strict compliance to the Code of Federal Regulations,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge, Bob P. Beris of the San Francisco Field Division. “If a company chooses to ignore these obligations, it puts communities at risk and undermines the safeguards designed to keep the public safe. DEA holds registrants accountable and in turn, expects them to keep the public safe.”
The DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Thiess assisted in completing the resolution on behalf of the United States.
A copy of the settlement agreement is available here:
smcs_and_sfsc_settlement_agreement_executed.pdfThe claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Francisco Castro Jr., 27, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between March 2022 and June 2022, Castro distributed 3 pounds of methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is conducting the investigation with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Haddy Abouzeid is prosecuting the case.
Castro is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2026, by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez. Castro faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 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.
Former Army Civilian Employee from Merced Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Thelmo Meneses Santos, Jr., 60, of Merced, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for sexually abusing two minors while he was employed by the Armed Forces outside of the United States. On Sept. 23, 2025, Santos pleaded guilty.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California; and Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio of the Army CID Far East Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Santos sexually abused two minor children multiple times between 2015 and 2023. Santos began sexually abusing both of the minor victims when they were 11 years old. Santos sexually abused the two minors in Japan, where he was employed by the U.S. Army as a civilian employee. During the investigation, Santos gave an interview to law enforcement officers where he admitted to engaging in sexual acts with both minor children. Santos was later arrested in Hawaii by Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents. After his arrest, Santos attempted to unlawfully influence one of his victims to falsely recant her report of sexual abuse.
In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Santos will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Eduardo A. Palomo of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section 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 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.
Former Army Civilian Employee Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for sexually abusing two minors while he was employed by the Armed Forces outside of the United States. According to court documents, Thelmo Meneses Santos, Jr., 60, of Merced, sexually abused two minor children multiple times between 2015 and 2023. Santos began sexually abusing both of the minor victims when they were 11 years old. Santos sexually abused the two minors in Japan, where he was employed by the U.S. Army as a civilian employee. During the investigation, Santos gave an interview to law enforcement officers where he admitted to engaging in sexual acts with both minor children. Santos was later arrested in Hawaii by Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents. After his arrest, Santos attempted to unlawfully influence one of his victims to falsely recant her report of sexual abuse.
In addition to his sentence of imprisonment, Santos will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California; and Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio of the Army CID Far East Field Office made the announcement.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI investigated this case.
Trial Attorney Eduardo A. Palomo of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
South Lake Tahoe Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fabian Gomez, 37, was sentenced on Monday by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between August 2020 and May 2022, Gomez and others worked together to sell methamphetamine in and around South Lake Tahoe. Over those two years, Gomez also worked alone to sell both heroin and methamphetamine. While most of Gomez’s distribution happened in and around South Lake Tahoe, the investigation uncovered that some of the drug supply was coming from Sacramento. Gomez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, on Dec. 8, 2025.
Epifanio Ramirez, another defendant charged in this case, was sentenced on Jan. 12, 2026, to 24.5 years in prison for three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Ramirez pleaded guilty in September 2025.
The charges in this case arose from Operation Bear Trap, which law enforcement agencies began in 2020 to address the growing problem of methamphetamine distribution in South Lake Tahoe. Gomez was charged along with six other defendants in 2022, who were collectively charged with methamphetamine and heroin distribution. Over the course of the operation, law enforcement agencies have interdicted methamphetamine, heroin, and numerous firearms, including “ghost” pistols and assault rifles (firearms manufactured without serial numbers, making them harder for law enforcement to trace).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Fresno Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Paycheck Protection Program Loan FraudRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Gurjeet Bath, 37, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 14 months in prison for theft of government property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Bath was also ordered to pay a $100,000 criminal fine.
“During a time when legitimate businesses were struggling to survive, this defendant chose to exploit a program designed to keep workers employed,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “He has since pleaded guilty and repaid the stolen funds, but that does not erase the harm caused. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that fraud and our commitment to holding accountable those who abuse programs meant to help our communities in times of crisis.”
“Mr. Gurjeet Bath fabricated employee records and inflated wages to steal more than $825,000 in federal funds meant to keep businesses afloat during a national crisis. Instead, he used that money to buy land in Fresno County. The FBI and our partners at the SBA Office of Inspector General will continue pursuing everyone who treated pandemic relief as a personal slush fund,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel.
According to court documents, Bath and other family members operated two trucking businesses: G.S. Bath Inc. and Complete Transportation Solutions (CTS), operating in Fresno County. In 2020 and 2021, Bath applied for and received three PPP loans totaling more than $1 million. To obtain the loans, Bath knowingly falsified records to inflate his businesses’ employees and their wages. Bath then used those funds to purchase two parcels of agricultural land in Fresno County. Bath pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
Vallejo Man Sentenced to 24 Years, 4 Months in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Robert Remlinger, 43, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 24 years and four months in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in the summer of 2021, Remlinger contacted the minor identified as Minor Victim 1 using a smartphone application named Wink. Wink was advertised as a service for minors to meet and befriend other minors. Remlinger told the victim that he was 17 years old even though he was actually 39 years old. The victim responded, accurately, that she was 13. They soon moved their conversations from Wink to another smartphone application, Snapchat.
Using Snapchat, Remlinger repeatedly demanded that the victim provide sexually explicit videos and images, directing her how to pose. She complied and sent him videos and images of herself. Remlinger also recorded a live video call over Snapchat during which the minor victim posed in a sexually suggestive manner. Remlinger pleaded guilty on June 6, 2025.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg 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 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.
Merced County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Joel Damian Ortega, 36, of Merced, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 20 years in prison for receipt and distribution of material depicting the sexual exploitation of children, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Jan. 26, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Ortega used a Samsung Galaxy smartphone to receive and distribute at least one visual depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Ortega also used an iPhone to receive at least one visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on April 2, 2024. Ortega pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter 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 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.
Kern County Man Sentenced to 12 Years, 7 Months in Prison for Flying Drone over State Prison with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jorge Narvaez, 28, of Delano, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on June 9, 2024, Narvaez piloted an Autel, EVO II Pro V3 drone over North Kern State Prison (NKSP) intending to distribute methamphetamine within the facility. Narvaez loaded the drone with two balloons packaged with methamphetamine, flew the drone over the prison, and dropped the balloons into the prison yard. NKSP officers recovered both balloons. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the two balloons contained a total of 21.4 grams of methamphetamine.
On that same date, Narvaez attempted a second drone flight over NKSP with three similarly packaged balloons of methamphetamine, but the drone crashed into a nearby field. Law enforcement recovered the drone and balloons of methamphetamine. Laboratory analysis confirmed that these three balloons contained a total of 49.6 grams of methamphetamine. Narvaez pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2025.
A forensic examination of the recovered drone revealed camera footage captured by the device. That footage showed the operator of the drone, later determined by investigators to be Narvaez.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Kern State Prison Investigative Services Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas E. Karp prosecuted the case.
Fresno Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition Loaded in a “Ghost Gun”Read the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Felipe Macias, 28, of Fresno, was sentenced Thursday to six years and five months in prison by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in August 2024, Macias was observed on a city bus in Fresno with the grip of a firearm protruding from his waistband. Undercover officers converged on Macias in a smoke shop, where they recovered a black “ghost gun” – a privately manufactured, un-serialized firearm loaded with a high-capacity magazine. At the time of his arrest, Macias was a previously convicted felon on post-release community supervision. Macias pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2025.
Close-up of recovered ghost gun, showing missing serial number
The Fresno Police Department, the Selma Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Former Placer County Resident Charged with Identity Theft and Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $110,000 in Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 12-count indictment was unsealed today following the arrest in Arizona of Richard Warren Ralston, 69, of Mesa, Arizona. He is charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and Social Security fraud, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Ralston assumed the identity of a man who was born in 1948 and died in 1965. On Sept. 21, 2011, while living in Auburn, California, Ralston submitted an application for retirement benefits to the Social Security Administration (SSA) using the deceased man’s identity. For more than a decade, Ralston concealed his true identity and used the deceased man’s name, birthdate, and Social Security Number to apply for and collect SSA retirement benefits. Ralston’s identity theft and false statements to the SSA resulted in a loss of $114,285 to the SSA.
The SSA Office of Inspector General is conducting the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Ralston faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 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.