Eastern District of California
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Kern County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Illegally Cultivating Marijuana in the Sequoia National ForestRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Moreno Florez, 28, of Taft, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 12 years in prison for illegally cultivating marijuana in a national forest and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that offense, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in July 2019, law enforcement officers located a clandestine marijuana grow site in Sequoia National Forest in Fresno County. On Aug. 2, 2019, officers hiked into the grow site, where they found and arrested Marino Cruz Diaz and Moreno Florez who was carrying a loaded, AR-15 style rifle. The grow contained over 2,400 marijuana plants, chemicals, fertilizers, chicken wire, irrigation lines, and man-made dams and water reservoirs that diverted water from nearby creeks. Moreno Florez pleaded guilty to the charges on April 22, 2022.
On May 27, 2022, Cruz Diaz pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19, 2022.
The case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
Vallejo Man Indicted for Possession of Ammunition as a Felon and as the Subject of a Domestic Violence Protective OrderRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Raykheem Andrew Guthery, 30, of Vallejo, charging him with possession of ammunition as a felon and as the subject of a domestic violence protective order, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on June 9, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a vehicle stop on Guthery for driving a car without license plates. Guthery pretended to be someone else, claimed he was not on parole or probation, and denied being armed. In fact, Guthery was on probation for felony assault and had a firearm loaded with an extended magazine concealed on his person. Officers discovered the firearm during Guthery’s arrest. The firearm was a non-serialized, privately manufactured firearm, known as a “ghost gun.” It was loaded with one round of .40-caliber ammunition in the chamber and another 17 rounds in an extended magazine.
Guthery is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has been convicted of at least three felonies, including a 2016 felony conviction for forcible assault likely to cause grave bodily injury. He is also prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he is the subject of a domestic violence protective order issued on April 15, 2021, by the Superior Court of California, Solano County.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Guthery faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Aryan Brotherhood Gang Member from Visalia Charged for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Brian Thomas Whitworth, 38, of Visalia, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, officers were investigating a vehicle theft reported by Whitworth, but upon reviewing his home’s surveillance footage, they saw that Whitworth had fired a rifle during the theft. Officers recovered a rifle matching the description of the rifle Whitworth was seen firing in the surveillance footage. In jail calls, Whitworth admitted to knowledge of the firearm and also discussed his gang membership. Whitworth was previously convicted of felonies, including assault with a deadly weapon and vehicle theft and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Visalia Police Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Jean Berger is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Whitworth faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fresno Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Leslie Hood, 59, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 12 years in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in June 2016, Hood brought several packages to a FedEx location in Fresno for shipment to North Carolina. Inside of each package was a children’s toy that had a bag of methamphetamine concealed inside it. The total weight of actual methamphetamine seized from all packages was in excess of 200 grams.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Tierney and Jessica Massey prosecuted the case.
Hood has been in custody since his arrest in 2017. Co-defendant Richard Ormond was sentenced in April 2018 to 10 years in prison. Co-defendant Sharron Aycock was sentenced in March 2018 to three years in prison.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Isaiah Garcia, 20, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Oct. 2, 2020, and Dec. 16, 2020, Isaiah Garcia and his brother, Mario Garcia, 28, who was incarcerated in the Fresno County Jail in an unrelated case, agreed that Isaiah Garcia would traffic fentanyl pills. The conspiracy was discovered when investigators listened to their recorded jail telephone calls. Federal agents then searched Isaiah Garcia’s residence and found over 1,200 fentanyl pills inside his bedroom.
The case is the result of an investigation by FORT, a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
Isaiah Garcia is set for sentencing on Oct. 31, 2022, and Mario Garcia is set for sentencing on Sept. 6, 2022. Both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum sentence of 40 years and a fine up to $5 million. 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.
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.
Bakersfield Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Louis Torres, 37, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to seven years and seven months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Torres is a member of the Loma Bakers criminal street gang and goes by the moniker, “Youngster.” On July 23, 2021, Torres was driving a vehicle in Bakersfield that was stopped by police officers for traffic violations. After exiting his vehicle, Torres fled on foot, but was pursued and apprehended by police. After Torres was arrested, police officers discovered that he possessed methamphetamine and heroin that he intended to distribute to others. At the time of his arrest, Torres was under active court supervision for a burglary conviction and had a suspended driver’s license. Torres has more than 20 adult criminal convictions and in the last 15 years has violated the terms of his parole and court supervision approximately 22 times.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Baker and Jessica Massey prosecuted the case.
Former Sanger Police Officer Charged with Multiple Civil Rights Violations Involving Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment that was unsealed today charging a former Sanger Police Department officer with deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law for sexually assaulting four women with whom he interacted during the course of his duties.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Dennis Guertin of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on multiple occasions from August 2017 to June 2021, J. Deshawn Torrence, 38, of Corcoran, California, engaged in various forms of nonconsensual sexual conduct, ranging from directing a victim to remove her clothing without a legitimate law enforcement purpose to committing aggravated sexual abuse, all while serving as a police officer. Torrence is no longer employed by the Sanger Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Sacramento Field Office with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Criminal Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar are prosecuting the case.
Four of the charged counts alleged each carries a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. One count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. The remaining five counts each carry a maximum statutory penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. 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.
Stockton Man Charged with Possessing 83 Pounds of Methamphetamine for DistributionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Gildardo Perez Avilez, 38, of Stockton, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Perez Avilez’s residence and seized 83 pounds of methamphetamine packaged in 1-pound bags and 8,800 counterfeit oxycodone M-30 pills containing fentanyl.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Perez Avilez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and 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 effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Stockton Man Charged with Methamphetamine and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Christian Flores, 25, of Stockton, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers conducted a search warrant at Flores’s residence in Stockton and seized 15 pounds of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Flores faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine of 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former Deuel Vocational Institution Inmate Pleads Guilty to Participation in $1 Million Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kenneth Ray Hawkins, 47, formerly an inmate at the Deuel Vocational Institution (DVI), a California state prison in Tracy, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in a scheme to defraud California and the United States, including the California Employment Development Department (EDD), by the submission of fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On May 13, 2021, a federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging Hawkins; Jacqueline Marie Marquez, 35, of Barstow and Las Vegas; Alyssa Marie Jones, 34, of Barstow and Las Vegas; and Ebony Chanel Jones, 21, of Barstow, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud. On July 25, 2022, Hawkins was additionally charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, between June 2020 and January 2021, the four defendants conspired to execute and executed a scheme to defraud by filing fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with EDD, seeking Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits under the CARES Act. During the conspiracy, Hawkins, an inmate at DVI, collected personally identifiable information, including names and Social Security numbers, of California prison inmates and other individuals and used the identities and an unauthorized cellphone to submit dozens of the fraudulent claims from his jail cell. The claims represented, among other things, that the claimants had recently lost employment from businesses or were unable to find employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These claims were fraudulent because the inmates were incarcerated, not recently employed, and ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
In the applications, Hawkins requested that the benefits be mailed to various California and Nevada addresses that were under the control of one or more co-conspirators. EDD approved at least 60 of the fraudulent claims and authorized Bank of America to mail out EDD debit cards containing benefits. Marquez, Alyssa Jones, and Ebony Jones then obtained the EDD debit cards and used them to withdraw the benefits at ATMs throughout California and Nevada for the benefit of the conspirators. The scheme sought over $1 million and resulted in EDD paying out over $890,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Office of Correctional Safety, the DVI Investigative Services Unit, and the California Employment Development Department – Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.
Alyssa Jones, Ebony Jones and Marquez await sentencing after having also pleaded guilty to their participation in the scheme.
Hawkins is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 24, 2022, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Hawkins faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy and a mandatory, consecutive two-year prison term for aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Mother of Fresno County Jail Inmate Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle Heroin and Methamphetamine into the JailRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Eva Dolores Romero, 55, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Dec. 1, 2020, and Jan. 26, 2021, Romero’s son was an inmate at the Fresno County Jail. Romero conspired with her son and others outside of jail to smuggle methamphetamine and heroin into the jail for distribution among inmates. The plot was unfoiled when law enforcement agents reviewed recorded jail calls and learned about the attempted smuggling set to occur on January 26. On that date, law enforcement intercepted an individual attempting to deliver athletic shoes to the jail for an inmate. The shoes were searched, and hidden compartments were found inside the shoes containing the illicit narcotics.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno Police Department, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
Romero is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 18, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Romero faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a fine up to $5 million. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Federal Jury Finds Former Navy Sailor Guilty of Sexually Exploiting a Minor on SnapchatRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal jury convicted Christopher Jeorge Millican, 28, of Coalinga, on Thursday for producing and receiving child pornography via the popular app, Snapchat, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents and evidence introduced during the trial, in July 2018, a parent reported to Snapchat that someone, later identified as Millican, had been engaging in inappropriate communications with an 11-year-old girl. Snapchat reviewed Millican’s account and discovered images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Snapchat reported the conduct to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which then contacted the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Fresno. Investigators identified several minors, and one of them testified at the trial that Millican had coerced her into creating and sending him sexually explicit images. At the time of the offense conduct, Millican was on active duty with the U.S. Navy.
“The conviction in this case means that the defendant will no longer be in a position to carry out his criminal acts against innocent and vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with its federal and local law enforcement partners to protect and seek justice for these young victims.”
“Safeguarding children from predators is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said HSI San Francisco/NorCal Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “HSI is committed to working with local, state and federal partners to relentlessly pursue anyone involved in criminal behavior against children.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno Police Department, the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Hanford Police Department, and several local police agencies across the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa and Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz are prosecuting the case.
Millican is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Oct. 24, 2022. Millican faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum prison term of 50 years. He also faces a potential $250,000 fine for each count and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who 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.
Armed Stockton Drug Trafficker ChargedRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Jesus Iribe, 26, of Stockton, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Iribe was stopped by law enforcement officers and found to have a gun in his pocket and a kilogram of cocaine in his pickup truck. When a search warrant was executed at his house, more than 9 pounds of methamphetamine, a kilogram of cocaine, marijuana, counterfeit oxycodone M-30 pills, and five loaded guns were found. Iribe is prohibited from possessing firearms based on his prior felony convictions, which include drug and gun possession offenses.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Iribe faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and 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 effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Magalia Resident Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for $77,000 FEMA Fraud in Connection with the Paradise Camp FireRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Deborah Laughlin, 66, of Magalia, today to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay $77,249 in restitution for making false statements in an application for FEMA benefits in connection with the 2018 Paradise Camp Fire, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, FEMA provided disaster benefits to certain qualified individuals whose primary residence was damaged or destroyed in the Camp Fire. On Nov. 15, 2018, Laughlin falsely claimed a mobile home at 7209 Skyway in Paradise as her primary residence at the time of the Camp Fire. In fact, at the time of the Camp Fire, other individuals were renting and residing in the mobile home located at this address. Based on her false statement, she received $7,886 to replace essential items damaged by the disaster and $1,788 for two months of rental assistance. In addition, Laughlin received temporary housing from FEMA in a manufactured home from approximately June 2019 until April 2021. The money and housing Laughlin received caused an actual loss to the United States of at least $77,249.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger prosecuted the case.
Members of the public who suspect fraud involving disaster relief efforts, including California wildfires or COVID-19 relief efforts, or who believe they have been a victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. Alternatively, information can be submitted via email to [email protected].
Former California Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violations for Assaults on Inmates and Cover up Inside CSP-SacramentoRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Arturo Pacheco, 40, of Elk Grove, pleaded guilty today to criminal civil rights violations for the on‑duty assault of two inmates entrusted to his care and to submitting false reports about those incidents in an attempt to cover them up, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Pacheco was a correctional officer at California State Prison, Sacramento (CSP-Sacramento). On September 15, 2016, while escorting an inmate, Pacheco grabbed the legs of the inmate, pulling the legs out from under him. The inmate, whose hands were handcuffed behind his back, fell forward onto the concrete floor, breaking his jaw, several teeth, and suffering other injuries. That inmate was transported to UC Davis Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries. Approximately two days later, the inmate suffered a pulmonary embolism and died. While the inmate was receiving treatment, Pacheco, a sergeant, and other correctional officers began falsifying reports to cover up the incident.
Following the death of the inmate, investigators uncovered a second incident involving Pacheco. In that incident, on May 19, 2016, Pacheco had, unprovoked, discharged a canister of pepper spray at short range into the eyes of an inmate who was inside of a prison cell. Pacheco falsified his report in that case to make it appear as though his actions were justified in order to save the life of the inmate. In reality, the inmate was fully complying with commands, and any use of force at that time was unlawful.
As outlined in the factual basis to his plea agreement, Pacheco sent text messages to a friend after the May 2016 incident, commenting how “funny” the incident was and “[i]t’s all about how u write ur report”, “plus ur partners have ur back.” As Pacheco said, “[b]lood, broken glass, n just u n ur partners. … Green light!”
“Pacheco deprived inmates of their civil rights, abusing his position of authority as a correctional officer to harm them,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “While Pacheco thought a ‘green wall’ or code of silence would protect him, he was wrong. His crimes have come to light and today he has admitted to his assaults and cover up. Those who violate the public’s trust by harming inmates ‘under the color of law’ or by covering up wrongdoing must and will be held accountable.”
“The FBI is deeply committed to protecting the rights of all Americans, and those rights do not stop behind the walls of our prisons,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Dennis Guertin. “Today’s guilty plea is the result of an intensive investigation conducted by the FBI and our partners at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the United States Attorney’s Office. Corruption and civil rights violations within our prisons are some of the most difficult to detect and investigate, and we encourage anyone who has knowledge of similar crimes to reach out to any FBI field office or submit information to tips.fbi.gov.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the cooperation of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Internal Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson and Rosanne L. Rust are prosecuting the case.
Pacheco remains out of custody pending sentencing. Fellow former California State Prison, Sacramento correctional officer, Ashley M. Aurich, charged separately, is pending sentencing as well.
Pacheco is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on October 17, 2022. Pacheco faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the false reporting counts and 10 years in prison on each of the assault counts and a $250,000 fine per 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.
Bakersfield Resident Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Delgado Gonzalez, 38, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 13 years and nine months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
In addition, Gonzalez was ordered to forfeit three firearms and associated ammunition that were in his possession when he was arrested.
According to court documents, between September 2020 and March 2021, Gonzalez (also known as “Spider”) conspired with, among others, co-defendant Omar Alberto Navarro to acquire methamphetamine in Mexico, transport it to the Eastern District of California, unload the narcotics from “load cars,” store the narcotics, and sell and distribute the narcotics to others. For instance, on Oct. 29, 2020, at the behest of Navarro, Gonzalez transported approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine to a meeting in Bakersfield and sold the methamphetamine to Scott Gordon James, who is charged in a related case, for $6,200. On March 26, 2021, Gonzalez possessed in a storage unit in Bakersfield approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, which he possessed with the intent to distribute to others.
In 2009, Gonzalez was convicted and sentenced in U.S. District Court – Southern District of Ohio, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin.
On April 8, 2021, Gonzalez and eight other defendants were charged in three related indictments for trafficking and purchasing to sell methamphetamine from a conspiracy orchestrated by Navarro, 38, of Arvin. The other charged defendants are: Daniel Armendariz Mercado, 42; Miguel Angel Martinez, 27; Amayrani Jared Arreguin, 25; and Yvette Gallegos, 23, all of Bakersfield; Lizette Mendez, 32, of Delano; and James Scott Gordon, 47, of Chico. The charges against them are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Co-defendant Randal Jason Newell was sentenced on March 29, 2022, to three years and three months in prison for attempting to smuggle approximately 111 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico to Bakersfield.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bakersfield Police Department, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Shafter Police Department, the Kern County Probation Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Baker and Laura J. Berger are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Mexican National Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Heroin Trafficking; Porterville Co-conspirator Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Maria Delgado, 31, of Culiacán, Mexico, was sentenced today to four years in prison for her participation in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Delgado delivered 1,350 fentanyl pills to an undercover officer in exchange for $9,500. She also received 2.2 pounds of heroin in Los Angeles for distribution in Porterville.
Another member of the conspiracy, James Cox, 58, of Porterville, pleaded guilty today to participating in the drug conspiracy. According to court documents, Cox and another individual received over a pound of methamphetamine in two separate transactions from co-defendant Renato Aguilera, 30, of Porterville. Aguilera has pleaded guilty to participating in the drug conspiracy and was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison.
Cox is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 14, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Cox faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, 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.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Porterville Police Department, the Coalinga Police Department, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Stockton and Modesto Methamphetamine and Cocaine Traffickers ChargedRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment today against Heidy Isabel Torres Lopez, 40, of Stockton; Cesar Mag Rodriguez Hernandez, 23, of Stockton; and Marco Antonio Sanchez Garcia, 37, of Modesto, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, cocaine base, and marijuana, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Lopez, Hernandez, and Garcia distributed methamphetamine and cocaine to a confidential informant working for law enforcement. In total, the group attempted to sell over 13 pounds of methamphetamine and 3.7 pounds of cocaine.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, all three defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life years 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possessing Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley sentenced Ou Vern Saeteurn, 26, of Sacramento, to 12 years in prison today for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Sept. 6, 2018, law enforcement agents searched Saeteurn’s Oak Park home and found controlled substances or firearms in almost every room. In Saeteurn’s bedroom closet, agents found about 1 kilogram of methamphetamine and about 1 kilogram of cocaine. They also found two loaded firearms, additional ammunition, and about $9,400 in cash. In the rest of this home, officers found more methamphetamine, cocaine base, heroin, opium, about 16 firearms, magazines, and ammunition.
Saeteurn pleaded guilty on Feb. 3, 2022.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael M. Beckwith prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Sacramento Area Home Health Care and Hospice Agencies Owner Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Defraud MedicareRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley sentenced Liana Karapetyan, 42, of El Dorado Hills, today to 18 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Karapetyan and her husband, Akop Atoyan, owned and controlled home health care and hospice agencies in the greater Sacramento area: ANG Health Care Inc., Excel Home Healthcare Inc., and Excel Hospice Inc. On behalf of the agencies, Karapetyan and Atoyan certified to Medicare that they would not pay kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals to the agencies.
Despite their certifications, from at least July 2015 through April 2019, Karapetyan and Atoyan paid and directed others to pay kickbacks to multiple individuals for beneficiary referrals, including employees of health care facilities, as well as employees’ spouses. The kickback recipients included John Eby, a registered nurse who worked for a hospital in Sacramento; Anita Vijay, the director of social services at a skilled nursing and assisted living facility in Sacramento; Jai Vijay, Anita Vijay’s husband; and Mariela Panganiban, the director of social services at a skilled nursing facility in Roseville.
In total, Karapetyan, Atoyan, and others caused the agencies to submit over 8,000 claims to Medicare for the cost of home health care and hospice services. Based on those claims, Medicare paid the agencies approximately $31 million. Of that amount, Medicare paid the agencies at least $2 million for services purportedly provided to beneficiaries referred in exchange for kickbacks paid to, among others, Eby, Anita Vijay, Jai Vijay, and Panganiban. Because the agencies obtained the beneficiary referrals by paying kickbacks, the agencies should not have received any Medicare reimbursement.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.
In separate cases, Atoyan, Eby, Jai Vijay, Anita Vijay, and Panganiban pleaded guilty for their roles in the kickback scheme. They await sentencing.
Glenn County Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Glenn County Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Erick S. Perez, 34, of Orland, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 1, 2021, Perez was found to be in possession of 26 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, which was loaded into two “ghost guns.” Ghost guns do not contain serial numbers and are sold without background checks, making them difficult to trace and easy to acquire. Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was previously convicted of four felonies, including a 2021 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Glenn County Investigations and Narcotics Task Force, the Orland Police Department, and the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Perez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Fairfield Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Reginald Lamont Thomas, 47, of Fairfield, pleaded guilty today to nine counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between April 2018 and September 2019, Thomas used a victim’s personally identifiable information (PII) to take over the victim’s checking and savings account at Wells Fargo. Thomas convinced Wells Fargo representatives to change the address information on the victim’s Wells Fargo accounts to an address associated with Thomas and to ship a new debit card to Thomas at the new address. Thomas then used the debit card to make various unauthorized transactions, including buying a used car at a dealership in Solano County and paying for a subscription to the dating service Plenty of Fish. In total, Thomas incurred approximately $112,874 in debit card charges. All of the conduct in this case occurred while Thomas was on a term of federal supervised release.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise N. Yasinow and Roger Yang are prosecuting the case.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Oct. 25, 2022. For the bank fraud counts, Thomas faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. For the aggravated identity theft count, he faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Multiple Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dezmaighne McClain, 31, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 10 years in prison for three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On April 6, 2022, a federal jury found McClain guilty on all three counts after a two-day trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 15, 2019, while on felony parole, McClain sold a firearm to an individual within minutes of meeting the person at the parole office. McClain sold the same individual another firearm on July 30, 2019, and continued to discuss potential firearms sales after that date. Evidence at trial showed that McClain also sold guns to others while on parole, both before and after the July 15 sale. McClain is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based on his prior felony convictions, which include robbery, assault, possessing a controlled substance for sale, and illegal possession of a firearm.
During a search of McClain’s residence, agents found more firearms, ammunition, and an AR‑15-style “ghost gun” hidden in the garage. Ghost guns do not contain serial numbers and are sold without background checks, making them difficult to trace and easy to acquire by criminals.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michele Beckwith and Audrey Hemesath prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Sacramento Couple Indicted for Mail Fraud, Identity Theft, Possession of Stolen Mail, and Possession of Mail Keys or LocksRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment Thursday against Roderick Rigmaiden, 37, and his wife Onjale Nettles, 32, both of Sacramento, charging them with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Rigmaiden is also charged with possession of stolen mail and possession of mail keys or locks.
According to court documents, Rigmaiden was in possession of stolen mail and mail keys or locks. From the stolen mail, Rigmaiden and Nettles then created fake identification cards showing the faces of Rigmaiden, Nettles, and other conspirators, but bearing the names and information of individuals whose identities had been stolen. Rigmaiden and Nettles used the stolen identities to purchase multiple vehicles from auto dealerships and obtain financing for those purchases. The vehicle purchases were typically accomplished by providing a down payment in the form of cash or an instrument that purported to be a check, cashier’s check, or other monetary instrument, and the remainder of the purchase price was secured by an auto loan. Typically, however, the monetary instrument presented for the down payment turned out to be fraudulent and no payments were ever made towards the auto loans.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rigmaiden and Nettles face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for each count of mail fraud and a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to any sentence imposed for aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Rigmaiden further faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of stolen mail, and a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for possession of a mail key or lock. 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.
Modesto Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Prison for Illegally Cultivating Marijuana in the Stanislaus National ForestRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jose Garcia-Zamora, 30, of Modesto, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to eight years and four months in prison for illegally cultivating marijuana in the Stanislaus National Forest and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that offense, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in July 2019, law enforcement agents found a large marijuana grow that contained over 2,600 marijuana plants. At the grow site, agents encountered Garcia-Zamora. He had been tending to the marijuana and was carrying a loaded pistol. On April 1, 2022, Garcia-Zamora pleaded guilty to the charges.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
Stockton Methamphetamine Traffickers ChargedRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Stockton residents Jose Curiel, 35, and Roberto Tostado-Cadenas, 43, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Curiel and Cadenas arranged to sell 115 pounds of methamphetamine to a law enforcement informant. Curiel and Cadenas met with the informant at a public parking lot in Stockton. They told the informant that they had staged the methamphetamine in different cars located in the parking lot. Prior to the drug transaction being completed, law enforcement stopped three of the cars in Curiel’s entourage. Inside of one of the vehicle, law enforcement found 37 pounds of methamphetamine.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, both defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life years 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Stockton Man Indicted for Drug Offenses and Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Gary Wayne Stuckey, 56, of Stockton, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of ammunition, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Stuckey’s vehicle and observed several pounds of marijuana, plastic baggies, and digital scales on the floorboard of the vehicle. They also found a Polymer 80 handgun (a “ghost gun,” an assembled weapon lacking a serial number) wedged in between the driver’s seat and center console, later determined to contain six rounds of ammunition. Stuckey is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of ammunition. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered over a pound of methamphetamine, as well as cocaine and ecstasy.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Stockton Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alstyn Bennett is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the drug charge, Stuckey faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10 million fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition charge, Stuckey faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and $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 being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Riverside County Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking in Madera CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jose Efren Beltran, 32, of Mecca, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2021, in Madera County, Beltran possessed over 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Jean Berger is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Beltran faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and 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.
Los Angeles Area Man Charged with Assaulting Rangers in Yosemite National ParkRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Robert Anthony Mendoza Jr., 23, of Pico Rivera, charging him with assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury and assaulting a federal officer with physical contact, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on July 3, 2022, during the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend in Yosemite National Park, law enforcement rangers responded to a report of a fight in the campground known as Housekeeping Camp. The rangers saw Robert Mendoza Jr. and his father, Robert Mendoza Sr., fighting. As the rangers tried to arrest him, Mendoza Jr. refused to comply, and a violent confrontation ensued. Mendoza Jr. struck one ranger numerous times, resulting in pain, swelling, and bruising to the ranger’s head, jaw and neck. After Mendoza Jr. was finally subdued and placed in a patrol car for transport, he became violent again and slipped out of his restraints. When the rangers stopped to secure him, he began fighting with them and headbutted a second ranger.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Yosemite National Park Service law enforcement officers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Mendoza Jr. faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for assault on a federal officer resulting in bodily injury and up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine for assault on a federal officer with physical contact. 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.
Federal Charges Brought Against Stanislaus County Men After 440 Pounds of Methamphetamine SeizedRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Hugo Vigil Villagomez, 42, of Oakdale, and Serafin Villagomez Vigil, 27, of Riverbank, charging them with possessing and conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on June 30, 2022, Villagomez and his nephew Vigil attempted to sell 440 pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. On the day of the deal, Villagomez and Vigil arrived at a parking lot in Salida, where they met with the undercover officer. They had brought with them several suitcases stuffed full of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine. When the pair unzipped the suitcases, law enforcement personnel moved in and arrested them.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department Special Investigations Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to “Bust Out” Bank Fraud Scheme in Sacramento Area and ElsewhereRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeffrey Kim, 51, of Colorado, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Feb. 1, 2017, and July 24, 2017, Kim participated in a nationwide check kiting “bust out” scheme in order to obtain cash from banks. The scheme’s participants obtained a real Republic of Korea passport that was altered to bear a new photograph and name, which they used to open bank accounts with a small amount of cash. The accounts were dormant until a time the participants believed the bank would allow the account holder to deposit a check and make withdrawals before the check actually cleared. At that time, the participants wrote checks from a different bank account with non-sufficient funds, deposited those checks into the dormant account, and then withdrew cash from the dormant account before the checks cleared. The participants would access funds by purchasing a money order and then deposit the money order into yet another bank account associated with the scheme.
As part of the scheme, on Feb. 16, 2017, a participant opened an account at a BMO Harris branch in Arizona using a falsified Korean passport. Thirty-six checks were written against the account, all of which eventually bounced for insufficient funds. Another participant opened a Wells Fargo checking account in Arizona, using a different falsified Korean passport. Kim participated in the bust-out of this account. Seven times on May 25-26, 2017, Kim deposited checks from the BMO Harris account into the Wells Fargo at branch locations in Orangevale, Roseville, and Sacramento. Kim then made cash withdrawals of between $800 and $1,900, or requested cash back when depositing the checks.
In addition, on May 26, 2017, Kim purchased a postal money order for $995 from the Carmichael post office, using a debit card connected to one of the Wells Fargo bust-out accounts. Three days later, another participant deposited the money order into a different Wells Fargo account. The funds from the money order were used to give the bank account the appearance of legitimacy until that account was eventually “busted out” as part of the scheme.
On May 24, 2017, Kim obtained a fraudulent Korean passport with Kim’s picture, but the name and Social Security card of another individual, which he used to open a private mail box in Granite Bay and a bank account at the El Dorado Savings Bank in Folsom. Out of the El Dorado Savings Bank checking account, approximately 67 checks were presented for payment in amounts between $992 and $2,998 for a total of $313,796. All of the checks bounced as there was only $100 in the account to cover the checks.
Kim’s bust-out activity resulted in an actual loss of $196,058 to the banks, and an intended loss of $380,429 based on unsuccessful bust-out attempts.
Kim is the second defendant to plead guilty in this case. Kyung Min Kong pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 25, 2022. Charges are pending against Ki Jang, Il Chung, Hee Soung Oh, Bon Soke Hong, and Jong Eun Lee, who were all indicted on Oct. 21, 2021. The charges against them are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey B. Hemesath is prosecuting the case.
Kim is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Oct. 6, 2022. Kim faces a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for bank fraud and a mandatory consecutive two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Repeat Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Knowingly Possessing Visual Depictions of Children Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — William Richter, 39, of Shasta County, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, plus 20 years of supervised release, for knowing possession of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Additionally, Richter was ordered to pay $3,000 in victim restitution and was sentenced to an additional four months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release on his prior federal case.
According to court documents, Richter had been convicted of the same offense in 2013, and was on federal supervised release when he committed this new crime on July 23, 2020. On that date, Richter was pulled over for a traffic violation. A smart phone was discovered hidden in Richter’s driver’s seat cover. According to the terms of his supervised release, Richter was not allowed to use the internet or to possess a smart phone. Forensic analysis revealed that Richter possessed at least 51 explicit photographs and three videos of pre-pubescent minors on his phone, one of which depicted sexual abuse of an infant. The victims in the images came from locations outside of California, such as the Philippines, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Ecuador, Slovenia, Sweden, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Utah, and Delaware. Richter had installed programs such as Kik messenger, VLC media player, the TOR browser, Yo Live, Telegram and Mega on his unauthorized phone, and accessed websites which likely hosted sexually explicit conduct.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina McCall is prosecuting 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.
Los Angeles County Man Indicted on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pedro Luis Millan, aka Peter Millan, 36, of Montebello, was arrested today after a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment last Thursday, charging him with conspiracy to sexually exploit a child and receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2021, Millan used the Kik messaging application to conspire with another user located in Yuba County to produce an image of a child under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Millan received that image, as well as additional pornographic images of the same child victim, from his co-conspirator over the Kik messaging application.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, Millan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of receipt of child pornography, Millan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, 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.
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.
Fresno Man Who Illegally Manufactured and Sold Firearms Sentenced to 4 Years and 9 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Steven Eric Cabrera, 27, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to four years and nine months in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2020, Cabrera attempted to sell a firearm to a customer, who was an undercover law enforcement officer. Several months later, in January 2021, Cabrera posted videos and photographs in which he advertised firearms for sale on his social media account. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and seized ammunition, firearms manufacturing equipment, and several firearms, including a machine gun. Cabrera was arrested and charged with several federal firearms offenses. In April 2022, Cabrera pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun.
The case was the result of an investigation by the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Federal Jury Finds Sacramento Man Guilty of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a six-day trial, a federal jury found Antonio Deshawn Long-Andrews, 28, of Sacramento, guilty of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between August 2017 and Dec. 5, 2018, Long targeted a young woman using force, threats of force, and coercion to cause her to perform commercial sex acts for his financial benefit. Long’s commercial sex operation occurred on the streets and inside motel rooms in Northern and Southern California cities, including Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Ana, and Orange.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Sept. 28, 2018, as part of his sex trafficking operation, Long repeatedly punched the victim inside his car in the parking lot of a motel. During the attack, the victim tried to exit the car, but an associate of Long kept her inside the car while Long continued to beat her. An eyewitness saw the attack, and the motel’s security camera recorded the victim being dragged under Long’s car. Although the victim was injured and had two black eyes, a week later, Long continued to engage her in commercial sex acts for his benefit.
During recorded calls from the Sacramento County Jail, Long maintained control over the victim, conveying that she was expected to earn money for him by selling her body to strangers. After Long’s release from the Sacramento County Jail, Long continued his exploitation of the victim from late November 2018 until his arrest on Dec. 5, 2018.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Police Department, the California Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department, and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, Christina McCall, and Nirav Desai are prosecuting the case.
Long is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Oct. 18, 2022. Long faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. The sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Kings County Norteno Gang Member Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine SalesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Manuel Garcia, 35, of Armona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 15 years in prison for conspiring to sell over 500 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Garcia was arrested as part of Operation Red Reaper, a federal, state, and local law enforcement operation targeted at dismantling the criminal activities of the Norteno Street Gang and Nuestra Familia Prison Gang in the counties of Kings and Tulare. The operation resulted in the arrests of over 50 individuals. Federal charges were brought against 23 defendants, including Garcia.
According to court documents, Garcia had previously sustained a federal conviction for trafficking methamphetamine and was sentenced to nine years in prison. Just months after his release in 2019, he conspired with other Norteno street gang members to possess and distribute pounds of methamphetamine. Gang members supplied him with methamphetamine, and he agreed to sell the drugs and pay a portion of the proceeds back to the gang. In May 2019, investigators obtained information that Garcia had picked up over a pound of methamphetamine from a co‑conspirator. Officers performed a traffic stop on a car that Garcia was driving, searched the car, and found the methamphetamine. He was arrested, charged, and pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in April 2022.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kings County Gang Task Force, the Special Operations Unit of the California Department of Justice and the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Kings County District Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio, Kimberly A. Sanchez, and Jessica A. Massey are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Vallejo Man Indicted for Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and for Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Christopher Matthew Rougeau, 38, of Vallejo, charging him with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 20, 2022, Rougeau possessed methamphetamine, a pistol, and a short-barreled shotgun. Rougeau has been previously convicted in California state court of multiple firearm and drug offenses.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rougeau faces 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 being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Seven Defendants Indicted for Drug Trafficking in the South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento AreasRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned two indictments on Thursday charging a total of seven defendants with various drug-trafficking crimes, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, as well as multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine and heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Defendants Wendy Labuda, 64; Epifanio Ramirez, 47; Sarah Anderson, 32; Fabian Gomez, 33, and Joaleen Rogers, 53, all of South Lake Tahoe; and William Owen, 47, of Sacramento, were charged in one indictment with counts specific to each defendant. A separate indictment charged Robert Choate, 38, of South Lake Tahoe, with distribution of methamphetamine and heroin, as part of the same investigation that led to the charges against the other six defendants.
According to court documents, between August 2020 and May 2022, the defendants worked together as part of overlapping efforts to sell methamphetamine and heroin in and around South Lake Tahoe. Over those two years, the defendants sold drugs to multiple confidential informants. While most of the defendants’ distribution happened in and around South Lake Tahoe, the investigation uncovered that some of the drug supply was coming from Sacramento.
These charges arise from Operation Bear Trap, which began in 2020 to address the growing problem of methamphetamine distribution in South Lake Tahoe. Four additional defendants were charged last August with multiple drug and gun trafficking crimes as part of the same operation. 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).
To date, 36 individuals have been arrested in connection to Operation Bear Trap in California and Nevada on state and federal charges related to drug and firearms trafficking.
For all defendants, any sentence 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 the product of an investigation by 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 U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Bakersfield Resident Sentenced to 3 Years and 10 Months in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Spencer Manning, 28, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Oct. 13, 2021, Manning was inside a Bakersfield grocery store when loss prevention staff observed him placing store merchandise into his backpack. Staff tried to detain Manning as he exited the store, but Manning forcibly resisted. During the struggle, staff removed Manning’s backpack and discovered inside stolen merchandise and a Glock 23, .40 caliber handgun, loaded with a 30-round magazine containing 25 rounds of live ammunition, that was later determined to have been stolen. Manning may not lawfully possess firearms or ammunition because in 2015 he was convicted of two counts of obstruction and resisting arrest.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Aerojet Rocketdyne Agrees to Pay $9 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Cybersecurity Violations in Federal Government ContractsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO. Calif. — Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., headquartered in El Segundo, California, has agreed to pay $9 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by misrepresenting its compliance with cybersecurity requirements in certain federal government contracts, the Justice Department announced today. Aerojet provides propulsion and power systems for launch vehicles, missiles, and satellites and other space vehicles to the Department of Defense, NASA and other federal agencies.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed and litigated by former Aerojet employee Brian Markus against Aerojet under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit a private party (known as a relator) to file a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Mr. Markus and Aerojet reached a settlement of the case on the second day of trial. Mr. Markus will receive $2.61 million as his share of the False Claims Act recovery.
“Whistleblowers with inside information and technical expertise can provide crucial assistance in identifying knowing cybersecurity failures and misconduct,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
“The qui tam action brought by Mr. Markus is an example of how whistleblowers can contribute to civil enforcement of cybersecurity requirements through the False Claims Act,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California.
On Oct. 6, 2021, the Deputy Attorney General announced the Department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, which aims to hold accountable entities or individuals that put information or systems of the United States at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, knowingly misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols, or knowingly violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Information on how to report cyber fraud can be found here.
The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Brian Markus v. Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:15-cv-02245-WBS-AC (E.D. Cal.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Aerojet Rocketdyne Agrees to Pay $9 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Cybersecurity Violations in Federal Government ContractsRead the Press Release
Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., headquartered in El Segundo, California, has agreed to pay $9 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by misrepresenting its compliance with cybersecurity requirements in certain federal government contracts, the Justice Department announced today. Aerojet provides propulsion and power systems for launch vehicles, missiles and satellites and other space vehicles to the Department of Defense, NASA and other federal agencies.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed and litigated by former Aerojet employee Brian Markus against Aerojet under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit a private party (known as a relator) to file a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Mr. Markus and Aerojet reached a settlement of the case on the second day of trial. Mr. Markus will receive $2.61 million as his share of the False Claims Act recovery.
“Whistleblowers with inside information and technical expertise can provide crucial assistance in identifying knowing cybersecurity failures and misconduct,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
“The qui tam action brought by Mr. Markus is an example of how whistleblowers can contribute to civil enforcement of cybersecurity requirements through the False Claims Act,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California.
On Oct. 6, 2021, the Deputy Attorney General announced the Department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, which aims to hold accountable entities or individuals that put U.S information or systems at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, knowingly misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols, or knowingly violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Information on how to report cyber fraud can be found here.
The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Brian Markus v. Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc., et al., Case No. 2:15-cv-02245-WBS-AC (E.D.Cal.).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Phillip A. Talbert Confirmed as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Phillip A. Talbert was sworn in today as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California. Mr. Talbert was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on April 25, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on June 23, 2022.
The Eastern District of California is the largest federal district geographically in California and home to over 8 million residents living in 34 counties. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has over 180 personnel with its headquarters in Sacramento and offices in Fresno and Bakersfield.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office where I have served as a career prosecutor the majority of my legal career. I am humbled to have the support and confidence of President Biden and my two home state Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla. I pledge to serve the Eastern District of California by seeking justice in all of our criminal and civil matters. I am honored to lead the committed public servants in this outstanding office. I look forward to working with them and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and to represent the United States with the highest quality legal representation,” said Mr. Talbert.
On March 1, 2021, Mr. Talbert assumed leadership of the office as Acting U.S. Attorney. Mr. Talbert has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in this district for 19 years, first in the Narcotics and Violent Crime Unit in Sacramento where he prosecuted drug trafficking cases, then as the Chief of Appeals and Training in which he supervised the office’s appellate practice and trained incoming Criminal Division Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and then as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney under U.S. Attorneys appointed in two different administrations. He led the office for almost two years as the Acting and Interim U.S. Attorney in 2016-2017. Mr. Talbert also taught professional responsibility for four years as an adjunct professor at the U.C. Davis School of Law.
Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Talbert worked as a Trial Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he prosecuted a variety of federal criminal cases after being hired in the Attorney General’s Honors Program; as an Associate at the law firm of Stoel Rives LLP in Seattle, Washington, in the firm’s Litigation Department and White Collar Defense Practice Group; and as an Assistant Counsel and Associate Counsel at the Office of Professional Responsibility of the U.S. Department of Justice where he investigated claims of prosecutorial misconduct and other allegations made against Department of Justice attorneys. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable David R. Thompson (deceased), Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Talbert received his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude in Economics, from Harvard University; his Master of Economics from the University of Sydney, Australia, which he attended on a Rotary Foundation Scholarship; and his Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law where he was the Chief Articles Editor for the UCLA Law Review.
Bay Area Men Charged with Bribing a Vallejo City OfficialRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Steven Chu, 40, of San Bruno, and Ben Guan, 35, of San Francisco, charging each with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and one count of federal program bribery, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Chu and Guan ran an illegal marijuana grow operation in Vallejo. In July 2020, Chu and Guan were notified that the building in which they maintained the operation was in violation of multiple laws, including city codes related to illegal drug activity, and that the city would take legal or administrative action if the violations were not corrected. Subsequently, Chu and Guan offered to pay and paid bribes to a Vallejo building inspector to clear the violations and ensure the city would not interfere with their operation. Chu and Guan paid the building inspector on at least six occasions. The payments totaled approximately $27,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Chu and Guan each face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the bribery 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Social Security Employee of West Sacramento Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Defrauding the Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Eric Lemoyne Willis, 46, of West Sacramento, was sentenced today to four years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Willis and co-defendants, Darron Dimitri Ross, 36, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Joshua Bilal George, 39, of San Diego, conspired to steal public money from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Willis worked as an SSA Operations Supervisor in Sacramento and Lodi from 2015 until his departure in January 2018. During this timeframe, Willis used his authority as an SSA employee to access the confidential Social Security records of numerous Social Security beneficiaries. These records contained personally identifiable information (PII) including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, account numbers, family information, and benefit payment amounts. Willis would seek out PII for beneficiaries who used direct deposit for payment of large benefits. Willis then gave this PII to Ross who resided in North Carolina.
Ross and George’s roles in these crimes included calling numerous SSA field offices across the country and using the stolen PII to impersonate the beneficiaries. Ross also opened at least 44 online bank accounts under fraudulent identities to receive diverted SSA benefit payments. If Ross succeeded in convincing an SSA representative that he was the beneficiary, he would request that the beneficiary’s direct deposit account be changed to one of the conspirators’ fraudulent accounts. The SSA then proceeded to deposit benefit payments into the fraudulent account. The conspirators then withdrew the funds at ATMs and spent additional funds using debit cards associated with the accounts. Ross also transferred a portion of the stolen proceeds to Willis for his participation in these crimes. After the fraud was detected, SSA stopped depositing benefit payments.
The SSA has identified over 200 beneficiaries nationwide who were targeted by these crimes, and it suffered at least $696,912 in fraud losses caused by the defendants’ offenses. The defendants spent the proceeds of their crimes on, among other things, trips to Las Vegas and luxury items including Rolex watches. During sentencing, the Court ordered Willis to pay full restitution to the SSA.
“Mr. Willis abused his position with SSA for his personal gain, setting up an elaborate scheme with co-conspirators that defrauded those who needed it the most of over $690,000 in Social Security benefits. This sentence holds him accountable for his egregious criminal actions,” said Dawn Nolan, Special Agent in Charge, San Francisco Field Division, of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. “I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this individual and protecting the integrity of SSA programs.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security – Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.
Ross and George pleaded guilty to similar charges and are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb in August 2022. They face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Ross also faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Each of these offenses also carries a maximum fine of $250,000. 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.
Fresno Man Charged with Passport Fraud for Using a Deceased Child’s Identity to Renew a PassportRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — On May 26, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Kenneth Laitman, aka John Rodman, 78, of Fresno, for passport fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in 1984, Laitman left his job as a stockbroker in New York and moved to California where he assumed the identity of John Rodman and worked at an endoscopy practice. The actual John Rodman died in 1950 at the age of four.
Laitman subsequently obtained various forms of identification, worked jobs, opened bank accounts, received government benefits, and took other actions while falsely using Rodman’s identity. This included a U.S. Passport that he obtained in 2004 and used to travel overseas on multiple occasions. He is charged with attempting to renew that passport in 2014.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Diplomatic Security Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Laitman faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 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.
Below are pictures of Laitman through the years. Anyone with knowledge of his activities is encouraged to contact the FBI at 916-746-7000 or at tips.fbi.gov.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez sentenced Juan Zamora Torres, 61, of Mexico, on Tuesday to 10 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from approximately July 29, 2019, to June 2, 2021, Torres conspired to distribute methamphetamine, including distributing over 4 pounds of methamphetamine on or about July 29, 2019. Additionally, from April 2019 to July 2019, Torres distributed over 8 pounds of methamphetamine and over a pound of heroin to a confidential source. On March 29, 2022, Torres pleaded guilty to the charges.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron D. Pennekamp and Angela L. Scott prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former IRS Employee in Fresno Indicted for Selling MorphineRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Margarita Aispuro-Camacho, 46, of Fresno, was arrested today after a federal grand jury indicted her for illegally selling morphine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Aispuro-Camacho sold the morphine in May 2020. At the time of the sale, she worked as a clerk for the Internal Revenue Service.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration. TIGTA’s responsibilities include investigating misconduct by IRS employees. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Aispuro-Camacho faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
DC Solar Owner Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Billion Dollar Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez sentenced Paulette Carpoff, 51, of Martinez, to 11 years and three months in prison for her role in the biggest criminal fraud scheme in the history of the Eastern District of California, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On Nov. 9, 2021, Paulette Carpoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and money laundering. According to court documents, Carpoff played a key role in the fraud as Chief Operating Officer of DC Solar and the owner and operator of its so-called distribution arm.
Between 2011 and 2018, DC Solar manufactured mobile solar generators (MSG) that were mounted on trailers. The company touted the versatility and environmental sustainability of the mobile solar generators 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 were generous federal tax credits due to the solar nature of the MSGs. Investors would buy the MSGs without ever taking possession of them, paying a percentage of the sales price and financing the balance with DC Solar. Then the investors leased the MSGs back to DC Solar, which in turn purported to lease them to third parties. A portion of the lease revenue was supposed to go to the investors and a portion would be used to pay the investors’ debts to DC Solar.
But in fact, when the third‑party leases generated little income, the company paid early investors with funds contributed by later investors, and DC Solar became a Ponzi-like scheme. They sold solar generators that did not exist to investors, making it appear that solar generators existed in locations that they did not, creating false financial statements, and obtaining false lease contracts, among other efforts to conceal the fraud.
In reality, at least half of the approximately 17,000 solar generators claimed to have been manufactured by DC Solar did not exist. Contrary to what investors were told, approximately 94% of the revenue claimed by DC Solar Distribution from supposed third-party leasing actually came instead from transfers of new investor cash.
Paulette Carpoff controlled the Ponzi-like payments that hid the company’s lack of third-party lease revenue, caused fake engineering reports for MSGs that the company sold but never built, and helped fool investors into thinking that DC Solar was a success. Eventually, DC Solar simply stopped building the mobile-solar generators that it claimed to be selling to investors.
While carrying out the fraud, Carpoff and her husband enjoyed an excessive accumulation of wealth that included luxury real estate in Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, the Caribbean, and Cabo San Lucas, over 150 luxury and collector vehicles, a private subscription jet service, and lavish jewelry. When search warrants were executed in this case in December 2018, law enforcement found over $18,000 cash in Carpoff’s purse, another over $18,000 cash in the master bedroom, over $22,000 cash in a safe in the master bedroom closet, and over $9,000 cash in the Carpoffs’ vehicles parked at their residence.
“Paulette Carpoff played an integral part in a massive criminal fraud scheme. Knowing that DC Solar at best could only expect to lease a tiny fraction of its mobile solar generators, she continued the lie about the high demand for DC Solar’s products,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Thanks to the hard work of attorneys in this Office and agents in the investigating agencies, this fraud was stopped and millions of dollars have been recouped. It is my hope that Carpoff’s sentence will afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct and the need to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant and promote respect for the law.”
“Mrs. Carpoff participated in and enjoyed the spoils of an egregious, complex fraud scheme that provided the Carpoff family and associates with a luxurious lifestyle and esteemed position in the community at the expense of their community and business contacts,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Dennis Guertin of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “Complex cases like these are truly a team effort. I am grateful to the dedicated FBI special agents, forensic accountants and professional staff who worked tirelessly to investigate this case in concert with our equally dedicated partners at IRS Criminal Investigation, FDIC Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Attorney’s Office. Our office is deeply committed to identifying and investigating financial fraud. We encourage anyone who is aware of fraud to reach out to our office or submit a tip by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting information online at tips.fbi.gov.”
“The Chief Operating Officer of DC Solar, Paulette Carpoff, who indulged herself in luxury goods while engaged in lies and deceit, is not an innocent spouse but rather an active conspirator who played a significant and integral role in the largest Ponzi scheme in the Eastern District of California,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Pearson. “Her lies and deception finally caught up to her, as her hunger to amass ill-gotten wealth and material goods led her astray. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message of ‘you will be held accountable’ to those involved in schemes to defraud. This case and the outcome is representation of the great work being accomplished when collaborating with our federal partners: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and the United States Attorney’s Office, EDCA.”
“Today, Paulette Carpoff was sentenced and held accountable for conspiring with others to carry out a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of approximately $1 billion and funded her and her husband’s lavish lifestyle,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Pittano of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “The FDIC OIG is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who undermine the integrity of the Nation’s financial system.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher S. Hales and Kevin C. Khasigian prosecuted the case.
On Nov. 9, 2021, Jeff Carpoff was sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $790.6 million in restitution for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
On Nov. 16, 2021, Joseph W. Bayliss, 46, of Martinez, was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $481.3 million in restitution for securities fraud and conspiracy in connection with the DC Solar scheme. On April 12, 2022, DC Solar CFO Robert A. Karmann, 55, of Clayton, was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay $624 million in restitution. On May 31, 2022, former DC Solar employee Alan Hansen was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $619 million in restitution.
Two defendants have pleaded guilty to criminal offenses related to the fraud scheme and are scheduled for sentencing: Ryan Guidry, 45, of Pleasant Hill, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26, 2022, and Ronald J. Roach, 55, of Walnut Creek, is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 13, 2022. Guidry faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison. Roach faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years prison. 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.
Bakersfield Resident Sentenced to over 7 Years in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Sabino Ramos, 46, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to seven years and eight months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on July 8, 2021, as Ramos was driving in Bakersfield, law enforcement officers attempted to stop him in order to serve an arrest warrant for probation violations. Ramos led officers on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds up to 90 mph, before losing control of his vehicle while exiting Highway 99 at Ming Avenue. Ramos then ran from pursuing officers but was eventually subdued. Ramos was found to be in possession of two handguns and approximately 30 rounds of ammunition. Ramos may not lawfully possess firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions, including convictions for assault with firearm on a person and for possessing controlled substances for sale.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Fresno County Man Indicted for Attempted Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Isidro Zuriel Cruz-Vizcarra, 23, of Sanger, charging him with attempting to illegally traffic fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Cruz-Vizcarra mailed a parcel from a post office in Parlier to a residence in Iowa. The parcel was seized from the mail stream and searched. Inside, postal inspectors found about 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone M30 tablets. Similar to authentic oxycodone M30 tablets, these pills are small, round, and light blue or green in color with “M” stamped on one side and “30” on the other. Instead of oxycodone, however, they contain fentanyl, a potent opioid that can be deadly in small doses.
The case was the result of an investigation by FORT, (a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Laurel J. Montoya are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Cruz-Vizcarra faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.