Eastern District of California
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Federal Inmate and Texas Woman Indicted for Attempt to Smuggle Drugs into Prison by Labeling Packages as “Legal Mail”Read the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Anthony Minor, 34, an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, and Tilisha Morrison, 33, of Irving, Texas, charging them with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to provide contraband in a prison, and conspiracy to commit identity fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Morrison is also charged with three counts of distribution of a controlled substance, three counts of providing contraband in a prison, and three counts of identity fraud.
According to court documents, Minor and Morrison worked together to smuggle narcotics into USP Atwater—the facility where Minor is currently serving a federal prison sentence. At Minor’s direction, Morrison mailed packages containing concealed narcotics to various USP Atwater inmates three times between October 2021 and January 2022. Morrison marked each of the packages as “legal mail” from actual criminal defense attorneys in Dallas. In each package, Morrison included a piece of forged letterhead purportedly from the attorney listed as the sender.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Massey is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Modesto Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Burglarizing Calaveras Post OfficeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Thomas Day, 41, of Modesto, was sentenced today to two years in prison for burglarizing a United States Post Office, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on the night of July 2, 2020, Day broke into the post office at 8271 Camanche Parkway South in Wallace, a town in Calaveras County. He used a glass breaking punch tool to shatter the glass on the door to the lobby area of the post office and then stole packages and keys to post office boxes belonging to other people and businesses.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
Nationwide Drug Trafficking, Law Enforcement Impersonation, and Fraud Ring DisruptedRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 19-count indictment Thursday against Quinten Giovanni Moody, aka Christano Rossi, 37, of Dublin, and Myra Boleche Minks, 46, formerly of Roseville, for drug trafficking, impersonating federal law enforcement officials, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction of justice, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between 2017 and 2022, Moody and Minks were part of an organization identified as the Moody-Minks organization, whose members engaged in a variety of criminal conduct. Specifically, Moody and Minks were the leaders of the organization’s unlawful transportation of marijuana from California to Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, and Texas. Moody and Minks used couriers, airline employees, and a shipping company to transport the marijuana to various destinations. In addition, between April 2020 and May 2021, Minks impersonated special agents and employees of federal law enforcement agencies to seek nonpublic information related to organization members’ criminal conduct, to include:
- On April 13, 2020, Minks, posing as a DEA Special Agent, sought information concerning the victims of a fatal shooting on Interstate 880 in Oakland;
- On April 27, 2020, Minks, posing as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, sought information concerning a federal drug trafficking investigation regarding co-defendant Moody;
- On July 24, 2020, Minks, posing as a FBI Special Agent, attempted to dissuade a person from buying a property in Placer County, claiming that the seller was under investigation by the FBI;
- On Oct. 14, 2020, Minks, posing as an employee of the U.S. Secret Service, sought information from the Colma Police Department in San Mateo County regarding the location of a vehicle police had seized;
- On Jan. 25, 2021, Minks, posing as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, sought information regarding an ongoing murder investigation in San Francisco, including whether the person charged with the murder had cooperated with law enforcement; and
- On May 31, 2021, Minks, posing as an employee of the U.S. Department of Justice, sought information regarding a search warrant authorizing the disclosure of information regarding a cellphone number. Related to this impersonation episode, Minks and Moody have also been charged with impersonating an employee of the US DOJ and submitted to Phone Company 1 fake federal search warrants that sought the disclosure of GPS location data for a specific telephone number.
Also according to court documents, Moody, Minks, and co-defendant Jessica Tang, 48, of Sacramento, participated in a scheme to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD). The defendants obtained the names, social security numbers, and other personally identifiable information (PII) of identity theft victims. They submitted applications for unemployment insurance benefits in the names of these victims without their consent and knowledge. The applications contained false and fraudulent representations, including false statements about the identity of the applicants, the applicants’ occupation and previous employment, and false addresses. In total, the defendants fraudulently caused EDD to disburse in excess of $120,000.
Also according to court documents, Moody and Minks obstructed justice. In April 2022, a federal magistrate judge in Sacramento signed warrants authorizing federal agents to seize two of Moody’s vehicles: a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and a 1956 Chevrolet pickup truck. Agents seized the vehicles and put them in a secure parking lot at the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. Thereafter, between May 8 and May 21, Moody and Minks gave a tow truck company employee fake federal court orders that purported to order the release of Moody’s vehicles. Moody and Minks directed the tow truck driver to take the fake court orders to the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office and remove the vehicles from the FBI’s secure lot.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the Placer County Probation Department, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, the Colma Police Department, the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the San Francisco Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the California Employment Development Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty, Justin L. Lee, and Sam Stefanki are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the drug trafficking offense, Moody and Minks face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. If convicted of the false personation offenses, Moody and Minks face a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and $250,000 fine on each count. If convicted of the conspiracy and mail fraud offenses, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of aggravated identity theft, the defendants face a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison. If convicted of the obstruction of justice, Moody and Minks face a maximum 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bakersfield Resident Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Selling FentanylRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Adrian Rodriguez Cardenas, 22, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to six years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 11, 2021, Cardenas negotiated with and sold to an undercover law enforcement officer counterfeit OxyContin/oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. Cardenas thereafter negotiated a second sale of pills to the undercover officer. On Jan. 19, 2021, co-defendant Keisean Rockmore, 27, also of Bakersfield, drove Cardenas and a third person to a fast-food restaurant parking lot in Bakersfield to meet with and sell to the undercover officer 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills for the negotiated price of $2,900. At least one of the vehicle occupants possessed a firearm during the meeting, which he pointed at the undercover officer during the transaction. Rockmore then fled in his vehicle with Cardenas and the other passenger to a nearby apartment complex, where they exited the vehicle and attempted to elude pursuing law enforcement officers. After law enforcement officers found and arrested Cardenas, Rockmore and the other accomplice at the apartment complex, they discovered nearby a loaded firearm and more than 50 counterfeit OxyContin/oxycodone pills.
On April 29, 2022, co-defendant Rockmore was sentenced to 21 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Baker and Justin J. Gilio are prosecuting the case.
This case was 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.
West Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Philip Rich, 49, of West Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between March 2019 and March 2021, Rich and co-defendant Kimberly Acevedo perpetrated a mail fraud scheme that involved theft of U.S. mail, identity theft, and unlawful possession of dozens of stolen bank cards. Generally, Rich and Acevedo obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of victims and used that information to apply for new credit cards, debit cards, checkbooks, and other financial instruments to be sent to the victims’ real home addresses. The defendants then submitted change-of-address requests to USPS at www.usps.com using the victims’ PII. These change-of-address requests rerouted the victims’ mail to defendants’ shared home address, where they would open the mail and use its contents to make fraudulent purchases and cash fraudulent checks.
When federal agents executed a search warrant at defendants’ residence on Oct. 14, 2020, they seized dozens of notebooks filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of identity-theft victim PII. The notebooks were scattered throughout the house, though mainly located in defendants’ shared bedroom. In addition, agents recovered an envelope, labeled “ID Templates,” in the bedroom containing approximately 10-15 fake California Driver’s Licenses in the names of various victims, but featuring Rich and Acevedo’s photographs and fake authentication features. Agents also recovered the tools required to construct the fake IDs as well as a magstripe device. Further, agents recovered over 50 credit and debit cards in the home and approximately 40 checkbooks in victims’ names and in the names of Rich and Acevedo. In total, defendants’ scheme caused over $110,000 in actual and intended loss.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise N. Yasinow and Robert J. Artuz are prosecuting the case.
Rich is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Sept. 15, 2022. Rich faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for mail fraud and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum fine of $250,000 on each 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.
Charges of mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of stolen mail, and unlawful possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices remain pending against Acevedo. The charges are only allegations; she is presumed innocent until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Vallejo Woman Sentenced to over 3 Years in Prison for Wire Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tamara Manuel, 52, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to three years and three months in prison for carrying out a fraudulent scheme that involved stealing the identities of severely disabled individuals to obtain federal tax refunds, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from February 1999 through August 2015, Manuel worked at Sonoma Development Center (SDC), which was a large, state-run facility serving the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. In her role at SDC, Manuel had access to SDC patients’ personal identification information, including Social Security Numbers and birthdates.
Manuel began stealing SDC patients’ identities in 2011 and filing fraudulent tax returns in their names. In the returns, Manuel falsified, among other things, the purported taxpayers’ employment, wages, tax withholdings, and dependents. She did so to claim exemptions, tax credits, and refunds the purported taxpayers were not due. For example, Manuel falsely represented in a tax return that an SDC patient made over $23,000 in annual income as a forklift driver, had a dependent, and was owed a child tax credit. In reality, the patient had no income or dependents and was severely disabled, requiring observation and care 24 hours a day.
In total, Manuel stole the identities of at least 18 SDC patients to file 33 fraudulent tax returns in which she claimed refunds totaling over $77,000. Based on those fraudulent returns, Manuel obtained almost $50,000 in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service.
In addition to SDC patients, Manuel also stole others’ identities to file fraudulent federal tax returns in her and her son’s names. Specifically, to maximize her and her son’s tax refunds, Manuel included false dependent information in their returns. For example, in her son’s return for the 2016 tax year, which Manuel filed, she used the names and Social Security numbers of two individuals she falsely claimed were her son’s nephews and dependents.
This case was the product of an investigation by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.
Two Indicted for Distributing Cocaine in StocktonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment today against Fidel Andrade, 33, of Stockton, and Neftali Castillo Montes, 40, a Mexican national residing in Stockton, charging them with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and unlawful use of a cellphone, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between January and October of 2020, Montes sold an FBI confidential source over 9 ounces of cocaine. Andrade, who was working as a correctional officer at the time, was Montes’ cocaine supplier. Additionally, officers discovered an additional 2 ounces of cocaine during a search warrant executed at Andrade’s house on March 3, 2021.
This case is the product of an investigation by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Customs and Borders Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Tracy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, both Andrade and Montes face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the 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.
Operation Bear Trap Targets Drug Trafficking in the South Lake Tahoe AreaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — During a coordinated law enforcement operation this morning, law enforcement agents and officers executed three search warrants and arrested four defendants in South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
The following defendants were arrested today with a criminal complaint for their participation in trafficking methamphetamine and heroin in and around South Lake Tahoe:
Sarah Anderson, 32, of South Lake Tahoe;
Fabian Gomez, 33, of South Lake Tahoe;
Epifanio Ramirez, 47, of South Lake Tahoe; and
Joaleen Rogers, 53, of South Lake Tahoe.The arrests were made as part of a continuation of Operation Bear Trap that 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). Today’s searches resulted in the recovery of a barn owl, which are a protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
To date 36 individuals have been arrested in connection to Operational Bear Trap in California and Nevada on state and federal charges related to drug and firearms trafficking.
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.
The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Five Indicted for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment today against Jesus Horacio Ramirez Hernandez, 40; Fernando Aldama Tinoco, 48; Walter Garcia-Ruiz, 34; Geovany Espinoza Norzagaray, 33; and Neftali Castillo Montes, 40; charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and unlawful use of a cellphone, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Montes sold an FBI confidential source over 14 pounds of methamphetamine between May 2019 and December 2020. Surveillance, wiretaps, and additional investigation uncovered Garcia-Ruiz, Norzagaray, Tinoco, and Hernandez as higher-level distributors. A search of a storage unit controlled by Tinoco resulted in the discovery of 33 pounds of methamphetamine, 7 pounds of cocaine, and 2 pounds of counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl. Tinoco is additionally charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.
This case is the product of an investigation by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Customs and Borders Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Tracy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face 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 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.
Inmate Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Sholanda Thomas, 38, an inmate at the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges for submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the California Employment Development Department in her own name and the names of other inmates, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Thomas sent her own and other inmates’ personal identifying information to Christina Smith, who was on parole and had previously been an inmate at CCWF, to submit the fraudulent claims in their names. The underlying applications falsely represented that the inmates had been working as carpet cleaners, hair stylists, mechanics, and other jobs. This was impossible because they were incarcerated and ineligible for benefits. The loss to the EDD and the United States is over $250,000. Thomas split the proceeds with Smith and her other co-conspirators.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Investigative Services Unit, and the EDD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Sept. 12, 2022. For the conspiracy charge, she faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For the aggravated identity theft charge, she faces a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to any other sentence and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in federal prison in September 2021.
Florida Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Defrauding California of over $10 Million in Tax RevenueRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Akrum Alrahib, 43, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced today to five years in prison and ordered to pay over $10 million in restitution for conspiring to commit mail fraud in non-cigarette tobacco schemes that defrauded the State of California of over $10 million in unpaid excise taxes, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Non-cigarette tobacco (known as Other Tobacco Products or OTP) consists of tobacco products such as cigars, chewing tobacco, and leaf tobacco. During the relevant time period, California imposed an average excise tax of about 28.13% of the wholesale cost of the OTP between April 2016 and June 2016; 27.30% between July 2016 and June 2017; and 65.08% between July 2017 and December 2017. California licensed tobacco distributors are required to collect this tax when they distribute the product within the state. The distributor must then submit to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) in Sacramento (formerly the Board of Equalization) monthly reports reflecting the amount of untaxed OTP sold in the previous month and the amount of excise tax owing, and the payment of the excise tax.
According to court documents, between April 2016 and December 2017, Alrahib led two conspiracies involving multiple individuals and businesses operating in California. As the leader, Alrahib provided untaxed OTP to various individuals and companies in California, knowing that the products would be sold illegally without collecting the required excise tax, resulting in a loss to the State of California of over $10 million in tax revenue.
“Today’s sentence is the result of a highly successful, collaborative effort involving federal and state investigators and prosecutors, working side-by-side,” U.S. Attorney Talbert stated. “We will continue to root out illegal conduct and tax evasion in the tobacco products industry.”
“The primary goal of ATF in combating tobacco trafficking is to enforce the federal laws relating to the trafficking of domestically produced and counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco products,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), San Francisco Field Division. “Partnerships are the backbone of law enforcement. ATF will continue to work alongside our partners to investigate incidents of illegal conduct and tax evasion of tobacco products.”
“Tax evasion is a serious crime, depriving our communities of critical resources and exposing law-abiding businesses to unfair competition,” said California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Director Nick Maduros. “We will continue to work with federal and state prosecutors to bring tax evaders to justice.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosanne L. Rust and Michael D. Anderson prosecuted the case.
Contra Costa County Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Mail Theft and Bank Fraud Scheme Committed Throughout Northern CaliforniaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Richard Beldon Waters III, 29, formerly of Contra Costa County, was sentenced today to four years in prison for bank fraud and possession of stolen U.S. mail, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between April and August 2020, Waters and co-defendant Desiree Bello aka Desiree Sanchez, 28, of Contra Costa County, perpetrated a mail theft and bank fraud scheme throughout Northern California.
The scheme involved stealing U.S. mail from residential mailboxes and harvesting bankcards, identification documents, financial information, checks, and personally identifiable information (PII) for use in fraudulent activity. Waters and Bello used the identification and PII of the mail theft victims to obtain money and property from banks and businesses.
On at least two occasions, Waters and Bello used identification documents and financial instruments of mail theft victims to purchase and lease vehicles from car dealerships. For example, on June 25, 2020, Bello entered a Hyundai dealership in Stockton to lease a new Hyundai Genesis G80 using a stolen identity. She made an initial $7,000 payment with a check in the victim’s name, and also submitted a lease application using the victim’s name, date of birth, California Driver’s License number, and Social Security Number. The dealership ultimately approved the application. Bello was able to drive the new G80, valued at approximately $55,490, off the lot.
Additionally, on two separate occasions in May 2020, Waters knowingly possessed stolen mail. On May 11, 2020, he was arrested in Folsom where he possessed over 300 pieces of stolen mail. Similarly, on May 18, 2020, he was arrested in El Dorado Hills where he possessed five large trash bags of mail that he and his co-schemers had just stolen minutes earlier from a residential complex.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Stockton Police Department, the Folsom Police Department, the Concord Police Department, the Pittsburg Police Department, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz prosecuted the case.
In March 2022, Bello was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for committing the same crimes as Waters.
Arizona Resident Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud in a False Billing Scheme to Defraud a Food CompanyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Glen Michael Martinka, 72, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty today to mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, beginning no later than Nov. 1, 2009, and continuing through approximately April 2012, Martinka, in his role as part owner and manager of a brokerage firm known as TSG Empire Roadrunner LLC, knowingly engaged in a false billing scheme to defraud a food company whose products the brokerage firm sold to various retailers and distributors. Martinka provided invoice numbers to his co-defendant Jeffrey Scott Davis, who, at the time, was the national sales manager for the food company. Davis then approved and submitted invoices on TSG Empire Roadrunner LLC letterhead for charges the brokerage firm was not entitled to receive. The false invoices also directed the food company to send payments to an Arizona address that Martinka controlled, rather than the brokerage firm’s headquarters where legitimately owed commissions were sent. Martinka split the fraudulently obtained money with Davis by directing checks made payable to Davis be mailed to Davis in California.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger is prosecuting the case.
Martinka is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Sept. 12, 2022. Martinka faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, and a three-year 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.
Mail fraud and conspiracy charges remain pending against Davis. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Merced Man Indicted for $60,000 Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Ruben Chavez III, 36, of Merced, was arrested today, after a federal grand jury indicted him on Thursday for credit card fraud and related identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from April 2021 through March 2022, Chavez obtained victims’ credit cards and used them to make over $60,000 in fraudulent purchases at retail stores. He also changed the victims’ mailing addresses to his own address and created fake identification cards in their names to help further his fraud.
This case is the product of an investigation by U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Chavez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000 for the credit card fraud, and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for the identity theft. 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 Doctor to Pay $9.5 Million to Resolve Allegations of Fraud Against Medicare and Medi-CalRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today that Minas Kochumian M.D., a physician previously practicing in the Los Angeles area, has paid $9,486,287 to resolve allegations that he submitted false claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal for procedures and tests that were never performed. These payments include nearly $5.5 million paid by Kochumian as criminal restitution following his guilty plea to one count of health care fraud, in a separate criminal case filed in the Central District of California.
The civil settlement resolves contentions by the United States and the State of California that Kochumian, over a period of more than six years ending in April 2018, submitted claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal for procedures, services, and tests that were never conducted or administered to patients, including injections of medication designed to treat osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, drainage of tailbone cysts, and the removal and destruction of various growths. As part of the settlement agreement announced today, Kochumian admitted that he intentionally submitted false claims for payment with the intent to deceive the United States and California. In doing so, Kochumian violated both the federal False Claims Act and the California False Claims Act. Those statutes allow the government to recover damages and penalties for the presentation of false claims for payment to the United States and the State of California, respectively.
The civil settlement with Kochumian resolves allegations originally brought in a lawsuit filed by relators Elize Oganesyan and Damon Davies, Kochumian’s former medical assistant and former informational technology consultant, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. The Act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and to receive a share of any recovery. The whistleblowers who filed the case against Kochumian will receive more than $1.75 million as their share of the recovery announced today. The whistleblowers’ claims for attorneys’ fees are not resolved by this settlement.
“Investigating allegations of health care fraud is an important priority for the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “My office will continue to work closely with our federal and state partners to protect our publicly funded health care programs from the type of egregious fraud and abuse that occurred in this case.”
“When doctors misuse the state's Medi-Cal funds, they violate their Hippocratic Oath by harming a program which exists to help California’s Medi-Cal population, including the elderly, the sick and the vulnerable,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Dr. Kochumian’s alleged misconduct violated the trust of the patients in his care, and he selfishly pocketed funds that would otherwise have gone towards critical publicly funded healthcare services. My office is committed to ensuring honest care is provided to those that seek it through the Medi-Cal program. Today’s settlement sends a message: Deceitful actions that jeopardize state funds and prey on Medi-Cal recipients will not be tolerated. I applaud the important contribution of the two whistleblowers who alerted law enforcement to Dr. Kochumian’s unlawful actions.”
“Providers who exploit their status as medical professionals for financial gain undermine patient trust and waste valuable taxpayer dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Ryan, of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to protect federal health care programs from fraud.”
The civil settlement was the result of an investigation by the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The civil lawsuit is captioned United States and State of California ex rel. Elize Oganesyan and Damon Davies v. Minas Kochumian, et al., Case No. 2:17-cv-2236 KJM JDP, and the parallel criminal case, which was filed in the Central District of California, is captioned United States v. Minas Kochumian, M.D., Case No. 2:20-CR-00423 (RGK).
Fresno Business Owner Indicted for Additional Tax and Social Security Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment Thursday against Marcus Asay, 66, of Fresno, charging him with making false tax returns, and concealing a matter with an intent to fraudulently secure Social Security disability benefits, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from 2016-2018, Asay reported very little taxable income although he knew that his taxable income was more than $50,000. As the chairman of American Labor Alliance (ALA), Asay caused the organization to pay for hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of personal expenses, including over $50,000 to dating and escort websites and $120,000 in rent for Asay’s personal residences.
Asay also received Social Security disability benefits beginning in 2010. The benefits are available for individuals who cannot perform full-time work due to a qualifying disability. In approximately 2015, Asay began working full time as the chairman of ALA. From 2016-2019, Asay worked full time and was not entitled to receive benefits, but he concealed this fact from the Social Security Administration. During this time, the Social Security Administration paid Asay and a dependent over $90,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael G. Tierney, Stephanie M. Stokman, and Alexandre M. Dempsey are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of filing a false tax return, Asay faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 for each count. If convicted of concealing and failing to disclose a matter related to Social Security Benefits, Asay faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Asay is also charged with fraud and money laundering offenses in a separate case, USA v. Agricultural Contracting Services Association et al., 1:19-cr-003-DAD. That case is set for trial in November 2022. According to court documents, between March 2016 and March 2017, ALA, Asay, and Antonio Gastelum, of Fresno, carried out a scheme to provide workers’ compensation coverage to clients and issued Certificates of Liability to clients that included names of insurers and false policy numbers. ALA allegedly collected at least $2.8 million in workers’ compensation premiums. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Two Fresno Men Indicted for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned two indictments today charging two Fresno residents with violations of federal firearm laws, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Mike Marty Hernandez, 26, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession a firearm. According to court documents, on May 23, 2022, Hernandez was arrested after law enforcement officers observed him in possession of a loaded 9 mm handgun equipped with a large capacity magazine. In 2019, Hernandez was convicted of threatening a public official and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Julio Cesar Lopez, 33, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession a firearm. According to court documents, on May 17, 2022, Lopez was found to be in possession of a .45‑caliber semi-automatic firearm. The gun was loaded and equipped with a 13‑round magazine. A subsequent search of Lopez’s residence recovered a sawed-off shotgun and approximately 50 rounds of ammunition. Lopez has been convicted in Fresno County of burglary, evading a peace office and firearms offenses.
These cases are the product of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation assisted in the investigation of Lopez. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases are 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.
Third Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Member Indicted for Illegally Possessing Two Firearms in Solano CountyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Michael Mahoney, 29, of Fairfield, charging him with possessing a firearm with an obliterated or altered serial number and possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Mahoney is the third individual to be indicted in the Eastern District of California based on an investigation into a brutal beating at the clubhouse for the Vallejo chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. The other two defendants—Jaime Alvarez and Dennis Killough Jr.—were indicted by a grand jury on May 27, 2022.
According to court documents, in October 2021, two different victims—both of whom were members of a different motorcycle club that is considered a “puppet” (or subordinate) club of the Hells Angels—were beaten by Mahoney, Alvarez, Killough, and other club members based on perceived infractions of the Hells Angels’ rules.
According to court documents, on Dec. 8, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mahoney’s Fairfield home and found several firearms, including a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver with a serial number that had been scratched off, as well as a Sears & Roebuck 12‑gauge shotgun with a barrel that had been sawed off to approximately 12.75 inches in length. Mahoney had not registered his ownership of this short-barreled shotgun with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by federal law.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Vacaville Police Department, the Vallejo Police Department, the Fairfield Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron D. Pennekamp and Jason Hitt are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of possessing a firearm with an obliterated or altered serial number, Mahoney faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. And if convicted of possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun, Mahoney faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 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.
Lodi Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking and Possession of Ammunition as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Marcello Marlo Rivera, 48, of Lodi, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on May 11, 2022, a search was conducted at Rivera’s Lodi residence. Agents found several large bags with methamphetamine residue and a trail of residue leading to the toilet and on the toilet seat. They also found drug packaging materials, a digital scale with similar residue, thousands of dollars of cash, and a magazine containing 17 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Rivera is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions, including for sexual assault and domestic violence.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, and the Lodi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Spencer is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rivera faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the drug charge and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the ammunition charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 Agent Charged with Making False Statements in Connection with a Personal Relationship with a Victim WitnessRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned a three-count indictment today against Melissa Saurwein, 43, of Martinez, charging her with making false statements, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Saurwein, who is a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, made false statements to the Office of the U.S. Attorney and to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to conceal a personal romantic relationship she had with a witness in a case that was previously prosecuted in the Northern District of California, United States v. Job Torres Hernandez, 4:17-cr-462-JSW. The judgement in that case was vacated on the motion of the government due to the conduct of Saurwein. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District was recused from this case, which is proceeding in the United States District Court in San Francisco.
This case is the product of a joint investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District was recused from this case, which is proceeding in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey B. Hemesath is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Saurwein faces a maximum statutory penalty of five 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.
Yuba County Man Indicted on Fentanyl and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On June 2, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Victor Angeles Serrano Nash, 27, of Olivehurst, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, dealing in firearms without a license, and two counts of possession of a machine gun, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Nash is scheduled to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on June 6, 2022.
According to court documents, between Aug. 18, 2021, and Nov. 23, 2021, Nash sold counterfeit M-30 pills containing fentanyl and at least eight firearms to an undercover agent and criminal informant. Several of the firearms were reported stolen, and two were AR-15 style pistols with switches that converted them to machine guns.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Special Services Unit, and the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alstyn Bennett is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Nash faces a minimum statutory penalty of five years and maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 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.
Yuba County Man Indicted on Fentanyl and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On June 2, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Victor Angeles Serrano Nash, 27, of Olivehurst, charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, dealing in firearms without a license, and two counts of possession of a machine gun, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Aug. 18, 2021, and Nov. 23, 2021, Nash sold counterfeit M-30 pills containing fentanyl and at least eight firearms to an undercover agent and criminal informant. Several of the firearms were reported stolen, and two were AR-15 style pistols with switches that converted them to machine guns.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Special Services Unit, and the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alstyn Bennett is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Nash faces a minimum statutory penalty of five years and maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 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.
Madera Women Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Leah Guillen, 39, of Madera, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to three years and three months in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in early 2018, Guillen obtained the name, Social Security account number, and date of birth of an individual. Guillen then used this information to impersonate the victim and fraudulently gain access to the victim’s bank accounts at Golden1 Credit Union. Using an unauthorized debit card, Guillen drained the victim’s bank accounts over a three-month period between April 18, 2018, and June 30, 2018, causing a loss in excess of $210,449.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Madera Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Z. Carbajal III prosecuted the case.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute over 40 Grams of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Mario Garcia, 28, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Oct. 2 and Dec. 16, 2020, Mario was incarcerated at the Fresno County Jail in an unrelated case. From inside the jail, he used the jail’s telephones to contact his brother Isaiah Garcia, 19, and discuss a plan to distribute counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl to Isaiah’s customers. On Dec. 16, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Isaiah’s residence and seized about 1,200 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills.
This case was the product 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.
Mario Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 29, 2022. He faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 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.
Charges are pending against Isaiah Garcia for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The charges are only allegations; he 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.
Ceres Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. —Albert Dominguez Jr., 52, of Ceres, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Dominguez conspired with Leonor Sarabia-Ramirez, 52, of Modesto, to distribute and did, in fact distribute, 5 pounds of methamphetamine to Joseph Phillip Mar, 54, of Ceres, at a residence in Ceres. Sarabia previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Mar is scheduled for a jury trial on Nov. 29, 2022.
Dominguez is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Dale A. Drozd on Aug. 29, 2022. Dominguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years 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, the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (Cal-MMET), and the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency. 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.
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to EscapeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. —Joel Jose Rueda, 29, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to escaping from the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Rueda had been serving a federal sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm when he escaped from federal custody in December 2021. He was later arrested by Fresno police officers following a traffic stop on March 11, 2021. During the stop, he attempted to flee and resisted arrest. After pleading guilty in Fresno County Superior Court to resisting the officers’ arrest, he was brought to federal court to face an escape charge and quickly entered his guilty plea.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Gilio and Karen Escobar are prosecuting the case.
Rueda is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Sept. 9, 2022. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Delano Resident Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Francisco Javier Melgoza, 41, a Delano resident, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on June 25, 2021, a police officer encountered Melgoza driving a motorcycle in Shafter and discovered that Melgoza possessed a Polymer P80 9 mm handgun loaded with five rounds of ammunition, a 31-round high-capacity 9 mm magazine, and 16 grams of methamphetamine. Melgoza is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he has five prior felony convictions, including for grand theft auto, vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance for sale, and two convictions 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, and the Shafter Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker is prosecuting the case.
Melgoza is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Sept. 9, 2022. Melgoza faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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.
Grand Jury Indicts Former UC Davis Assistant Water Polo CoachRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Daniel Joseph Noble, 26, of Davis, charging him with distribution of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, while working as the assistant water polo coach for UC Davis men’s team and the associated youth team, Noble joined a Kik group where users exchanged videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children. On multiple dates in 2022, Noble sent the Kik group different videos showing children being sexually abused. Noble was arrested during the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Davis on May 19, 2022.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (in Jacksonville, FL and Sacramento, CA) and the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina McCall is prosecuting the case.
Noble has been released on a $100,000 bond, with special conditions including no-contact with minors and home confinement with electronic location monitoring.
If convicted, Noble faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. 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.
Fleeing Felon Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Ammunition PossessionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Angelo Joseph Fernandez, 42, of Fresno, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to six years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 25, 2021, Fernandez was found to be in possession of ammunition after he led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase throughout Fresno reaching speeds of over 80 miles per hour on surface streets and at times traveling in opposing lanes of traffic. At the time, Fernandez was out on bail in another case. Fernandez is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing ammunition.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Jean Berger prosecuted the case.
This case was 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.
Vacaville Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Billion Dollar DC Solar Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alan Hansen, 51, of Vacaville, was sentenced today to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $619,415,950 in restitution for participating in a billion-dollar Ponzi scheme involving DC Solar, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On July 23, 2020, Hansen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and aiding and abetting money laundering.
According to court documents, between 2011 and 2018, DC Solar manufactured mobile solar generator units (MSG), solar generators 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. Jeff Carpoff, 51, Paulette Carpoff, 51, both of Martinez, and their co-conspirators solicited investors by claiming that there were favorable federal tax benefits associated with investments in alternative energy. 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 and DC Solar paid early investors with funds contributed by later investors.
According to court documents, Hansen was an employee of a telecom company with which DC Solar had done some limited business. In that role, Hansen accepted $1 million from co-conspirators at DC Solar to fraudulently sign a false contract reflecting a much greater amount of supposed business leasing MSGs. Hansen’s co‑conspirators used that false contract to induce substantial investments by victims in DC Solar. After signing the contract, Hansen took a job at DC Solar at a significant pay increase and left his former employment. Later, as a DC Solar executive, Hansen and a co-conspirator agreed to share $20,000 cash from Jeff Carpoff to sign a false agreement related to the earlier contract by forging the signature of a former telecom company employee. Hansen’s co-conspirators used the false contract and forged agreement to induce still further payments by victims for MSGs. Hansen was paid for signing the first false contract through a series of interstate wire transfers into an account he set up in the name of a consulting company. Hansen knew the money he received came from payments by DC Solar investors, and that DC Solar was deceiving them to induce those payments.
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. His wife Paulette Carpoff has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and money laundering, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28, 2022.
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.
Other defendants have pleaded guilty to criminal offenses related to the fraud scheme and are scheduled for sentencing: Ronald J. Roach, 55, of Walnut Creek, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28, 2022; and Ryan Guidry, 45, of Pleasant Hill, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 7, 2022.
This case is 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 are prosecuting the case.
Paulette Carpoff and Guidry face 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.
Stockton Man Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Firearms Trafficking and Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Vin Whealen Gaines Jr., 33, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to six years and five months in prison for conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between Oct. 10, 2019, and Oct. 22, 2020, Gaines and his co‑conspirators sold at least 13 firearms to a confidential source or an undercover agent on behalf of the Everybody Killa (EBK) street gang in Stockton. Many of the firearms were obtained out of state in Reno, Nevada, and some were obtained by a straw purchaser from federally licensed firearms dealers in Reno. Gaines also sold about an ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential source on Feb. 20, 2020.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.
Co-defendant Johnnie Earl Ross III, 21, of Stockton, was previously sentenced to six and a half years in prison for conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and possession of an unregistered machinegun.
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.
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.
FBI Impersonator Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Impersonating a Federal Officer, Wire Fraud, and StalkingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Ivan Isho, 44, of Peoria, Arizona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to five years in prison for wire fraud, false impersonation of a federal officer, and stalking, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On March 4, 2022, a federal jury found Isho guilty of the charges.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, Isho pretended to be an FBI Special Agent and falsely represented to his victims, members of the Assyrian community in Ceres, that he could help them obtain visas for their family members living outside the United States. He displayed fake FBI credentials and a gun to aid his misrepresentations to his victims. They paid him thousands of dollars, including by means of interstate wire transmission, and provided him with copies of personal family documents. However, Isho had no ability to obtain and never helped to obtain visas for the victims’ family members. Isho was never employed in any capacity by the FBI.
Additionally, between April 2017 and April 2018, Isho held himself out as an FBI Special Agent to a female victim whom he harassed by means of repeated phone calls and threatening and harassing voicemail messages to both the victim and her husband.
Isho testified at trial, claiming he only possessed the fake FBI credentials as part of a Halloween costume, despite recordings in evidence of the defendant’s voicemails claiming to be with the FBI received in the months of April 2017 and August 2017. He further admitted to threatening the stalking victim with abusive language and various threats.
At sentencing, Judge Drozd found that Isho’s false testimony at trial amounted to obstruction of justice.
This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Jean Berger prosecuted the case.
Woman Arrested in Rancho Cordova Sentenced to over 7 Years in Prison for Identity Theft and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Candice Nicole Freitas, 34, formerly of Martinez, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to seven years and 10 months in prison for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of reproduced U.S. Postal Service keys, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between April and August 2018, Freitas and her co-defendant Cody Cannon committed a fraud scheme in which they used counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys to open residential mailboxes, typically in large apartment complexes, and steal hundreds of pieces of U.S. mail throughout Northern California. From the stolen mail, Freitas and Cannon harvested financial information, credit and debit cards, government-issued IDs, and personally identifiable information (PII). They also defrauded banks by using the stolen bankcards to purchase goods and withdraw cash from ATMs in at least Vacaville, Folsom, Rocklin, and Rancho Cordova.
In August 2018, Freitas and Cannon were arrested at their motorhome, which was parked in a hotel parking lot in Rancho Cordova. During a search of the motorhome, law enforcement found hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, checks, and bankcards, as well as documents containing the PII of dozens of identity-theft victims. Law enforcement also found stolen and counterfeit government-issued IDs, including at least 20 California driver’s licenses and two U.S. passports. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has identified over 1,500 victims of mail and identity theft associated with these offenses.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Folsom Police Department, and the Vacaville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.
In October 2019, Cannon was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for his involvement in this scheme.
U.S. Attorney Talbert Announces Greater Fresno Hate Crimes Task Force, Building on 20+ Years of Greater Sacramento Hate Crimes Task ForceRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today the first in-person convening of the Greater Fresno Hate Crimes Task Force, which seeks to directly connect federal, state, and local law enforcement with diverse communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents.
One of the most valuable and sustained efforts undertaken by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California is the Greater Sacramento Hate Crimes Task Force, which was first convened in 1999 following the “Summer of Hate” crimes that included the murder of a gay couple in Shasta County and arson attacks on Jewish synagogues in Sacramento. In April 2021, using the Sacramento-based Hate Crimes Task Force as a model, the U.S. Attorney’s Office launched the Greater Fresno Hate Crimes Task Force to serve the southern part of the district.
Both the Greater Sacramento Hate Crimes Task Force and Greater Fresno Hate Crimes Task Force connect many diverse community leaders and organizations with the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that serve them. Represented groups include African American, Asian American, LatinX, LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, interfaith groups, and many other communities. As part of this effort, training is also provided to help community members and organizations report hate crimes and to provide crisis response and security training.
On May 26, U.S. Attorney Talbert, leadership from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, law enforcement partners, and community leaders and members met to discuss updates on hate crimes and other issues of concern in the Fresno region. The meeting included a roundtable-style open discussion, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and provide an update on relevant projects and opportunities to collaborate. U.S. Attorney Talbert also announced that in response to recent attacks, crisis response and active shooter training will be provided again to houses of worship and other community groups in both Sacramento and Fresno.
“Acts of hate and racism have no place in our community and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “We want to ensure that all those who call this region their home feel safe regardless of their race, ethnic origin, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Prosecuting hate crimes continues to be a top priority for our office and our law enforcement partners, and our Hate Crimes Task Forces remain active. We commend the community leaders and members of our Sacramento and Fresno Hate Crimes Task Forces for their partnership and commitment to stopping hate crimes. If you see something, say something by contacting law enforcement so that we can do everything we can to help stop hate crime and protect the community.”
If you are a victim of a hate crime and are in immediate danger, call 911 first. Once you are safe, also report the hate crime to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or 916-746-7000. This FBI tip line offers language translation services in many languages spoken in our region, including Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. When calling, be prepared to provide basic information — the who, what, when, where, and why. Tips can be made anonymously.
Southern California Woman Indicted for Knife Assault on a Camper in Sequoia National ParkRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Sarah E. Meenahan, 28, of Manhattan Beach, charging her with assault with a dangerous weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and failure to obey a lawful command, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on May 16, 2022, Meenahan entered a camper van in Sequoia National Park and attempted to stab the occupant. The occupant was able to subdue Meenahan before she could stab him, and Meenahan fled the camper van. Meenahan was driving a vehicle that had been taken from a repair shop – neither the repair shop nor the owner gave anyone permission to drive the vehicle. When National Park Service rangers encountered her and tried to arrest her, she refused to comply with commands, and was only taken into custody after rangers deployed a taser.
This case is the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez and Michael G. Tierney are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon, Meenahan faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, Meenahan faces a maximum statutory penalty of a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. If convicted of failure to obey a lawful command, Meenahan faces a maximum statutory penalty of six months in jail or a fine of up to $5,000. 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.
Solano County Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Members Indicted for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An investigation into a brutal beating at the Vallejo chapter clubhouse of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has led to two members of the club being charged for illegal firearm possession, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Dennis Killough Jr., 51, of Vacaville, charging him with being a felon in possession of two different firearms. And in a separate case, Jaime Alvarez, 51, of Vallejo, was charged today with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in October 2021, two different victims—both of whom were members of a different motorcycle club that is considered a “puppet” (or subordinate) club of the Hells Angels—were beaten by Killough, Alvarez, and other club members based on perceived infractions of the Hells Angels’ rules.
According to court documents, on Dec. 8, 2021, law enforcement searched Killough’s home and found two firearms, including a Taurus G2C 9 mm pistol with an obliterated serial number and a Taurus PT 745 Pro handgun. Killough has several prior felony convictions—including previous firearm convictions—which prohibit him from possessing any firearms.
According to court documents, on Dec. 8, 2021, a search warrant executed at Alvarez’s home found several firearms, including a Glock 27 .40 SW caliber handgun. Alvarez has several prior felony convictions—including a prior conviction for possessing a dangerous weapon—which prohibit him from possessing any firearms.
These cases are the product of investigations by the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Vacaville Police Department, the Vallejo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron D. Pennekamp and Jason Hitt are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Killough and Alvarez face 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 defendants are 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.
Los Banos Man Charged with Drug Trafficking Offense While on ProbationRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Joshymar Estrada, 33, of Los Banos, charging him with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On April 28, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a probation compliance check at Estrada’s home. While officers attempted to contact Estrada at the front door, he ran out of the back door and threw two canvas bags over his backyard fence. The bags contained more than a kilogram of cocaine, including approximately 380 bags of cocaine in various quantities packaged for distribution. Officers also seized additional cocaine, a number of unidentified pills, and a digital scale.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Los Banos Police Department, the Merced County Probation Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Massey is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Estrada faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 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.
Firearms Charge Brought Against Fresno Man Arrested in Operation No Fly ZoneRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Andre Marcele Grigsby, 50, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
The case arose from Operation No Fly Zone, a multi-agency, months-long investigation that resulted in the arrests of over 40 individuals, including seven federal defendants. According to court documents, on April 14, 2022, Grigsby was found to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Grigsby has been convicted of felony child cruelty in 2015 in Fresno County.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fresno Police Department; the Fresno-area Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC); the California Department of Justice Special Operations Unit, the California Department of Justice Human Trafficking / Sexual Predator Apprehension Team; the California Highway Patrol; the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office; the Kings County Sheriff’s Office; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Antonio J. Pataca are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Grigsby 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.
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.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Fresno Felon on Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Salvador Tyrone Peraza, 22, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on May 6, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic-enforcement stop on a car driven by Peraza. Inside the car, officers found a loaded, privately manufactured firearm, also referred to as a “ghost gun” because of its lack of a serial number. Peraza has previously been convicted of several felony convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Peraza 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.
Federal Drug and Gun Charges Brought Against Fresno ManRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Antonio Sorondo Jr., 49, of Fresno, charging him with conspiring to traffic fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, illegally possessing firearms, and possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute it, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in January and February 2022, Sorondo conspired with others to possess and distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. On Feb. 1, 2022, when law enforcement officers tried to contact Sorondo, he fled and tossed a firearm over a chain-link fence. The officers apprehended Sorondo and then recovered the abandoned, loaded firearm. Two weeks later, a police officer arrested Sorondo in possession of another two firearms and about 100 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. Sorondo is prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior felony convictions. Sorondo is currently in custody awaiting trial on these charges.
This case is the product 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. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Laurel J. Montoya are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the drug offenses, Sorondo faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, he faces up to 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.
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.
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 Indicted for Possession of Methamphetamine and Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against William Josiah Scrivner, 36, of Fairfield, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on March 23, 2022, law enforcement officers observed Scrivner as the driver and sole occupant of a vehicle in the parking lot of the NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield. The officers arrested Scrivner on an outstanding Solano County arrest warrant. A post-arrest search of his person and vehicle resulted in approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine, $551 on his person, and a digital scale in his car. A probation search of Scrivner’s residence resulted in the discovery of two firearms, one of which was stolen, firearm parts and ammunition, additional methamphetamine, and two more scales. Scrivner is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has been convicted of several felonies, including two prior convictions for possession of methamphetamine for sale and a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fairfield Police Department, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the narcotics offense, Scrivner faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. If convicted of the firearms offense, he 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.
Former Yuba City Church Administrator Arrested in Oklahoma, Charged with Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of Chanell Easton, 36, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On May 19, 2022, a federal grand jury in Sacramento returned an indictment, charging Easton with 22 counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft for a scheme to embezzle church funds, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from June 2013 to February 2018, Easton worked as an administrator at a church in Yuba City. During her employment, Easton stole over $360,000 from the church, including from its food pantry and youth ministry, during a years-long embezzlement scheme. Without the church’s knowledge or authorization, Easton opened five business credit card accounts in the church’s name. Easton used these five credit cards, as well as a credit card used by the church’s youth pastor, to make personal purchases—including at a hair salon, retail stores, online retailers, a vacation rental service, and to buy concert tickets—and then paid off the resulting balance with the church’s money. Easton also transferred money directly from the church’s bank accounts to her own personal account, paid down the balance of her own personal credit card, and paid her cellphone provider for her personal bills and for new phones.
According to the indictment, Easton also stole money from the church by writing checks to others for personal expenses and by writing checks to herself, on which she forged the signatures of the church’s treasurer or the head volunteer of the church’s food pantry.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot C. Wong and Christopher S. Hales are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Easton faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft. 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.
Redding Man Pleads Guilty to Being Serial Arsonist in the Shasta-Trinity National ForestRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Eric Michael Smith, 41, of Redding, pleaded guilty today to being a serial arsonist in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Smith set at least 11 fires on land in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest between June 2019 and July 2020. Smith used hard to detect ignition sources, such as cigarette lighters and handheld torches, to ignite these fires in remote locations of the national forest. Many of the fires Smith admitted to setting ignited in the early morning hours, making detection and firefighting by authorities potentially more challenging. One of the fires set by Smith in July 2020 burned so close to Interstate 5 near Turntable Bay Road that first responders closed a portion of the highway to prevent the blaze from burning numerous vehicles and residences on the other side of the interstate.
Smith was arrested in late July 2020.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Aug. 22, 2022. Smith faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sanger Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Raymond Uribe, 34, of Sanger, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Uribe was a passenger in a car that fled from officers who were trying to stop it for vehicle code violations. The car eventually hit another vehicle and lost control. As the car came to a stop, Uribe threw a 9 mm Sig Sauer handgun from the car. At the time of the offense, Uribe was on supervision for a prior felon in possession of a firearm conviction and was aware he was prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Sanger Police Department and the Multi‑Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (M.A.G.E.C.). Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Uribe 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.
Modesto Man Indicted for Escape from CustodyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Fernando Corrales, 23, of Modesto, charging him with escape from custody, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Jan. 19, 2022, Corrales was ordered confined at the Turning Point Residential Re-Entry Center in Fresno after a conviction in the District of Oregon for conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin. While Corrales was allowed to be on home confinement, on Feb. 20, 2022, he cut off his ankle monitor and absconded. His whereabouts were unknown until his arrest.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Corrales faces a maximum statutory penalty of five 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.
Folsom Man Pleads Guilty to Making and Subscribing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Zarko Danilov, 67, of Folsom, pleaded guilty today to two counts of making and subscribing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Danilov owned and operated a dental laboratory business called Danilov’s Dental Lab. Danilov hid the true amount of gross receipts received from his business from his tax return preparers. For the tax years 2015 and 2016, Danilov failed to provide his return preparer the bank statements for one additional business bank account and one personal bank account. For the tax year 2017, Danilov failed to provide his return preparer the bank statements for that same business bank account and a different personal bank account. During a civil audit by the IRS, Danilov lied to a tax examiner about only having one bank account for business and personal matters.
In total, Danilov’s income for tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017 was underreported by at least $1,271,694. The total amount lost by the IRS as a result of defendant’s criminal conduct for those tax years was approximately $283,359.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.
Danilov is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Aug. 25, 2022. Danilov faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Mother and Daughter Team Charged in COVID-19 Related, Jailhouse Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — An indictment was unsealed today charging Makiah Miles, 29, of Compton, and Apryl Weston, 50, of Santa Maria, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and identity theft for submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in the names of inmates, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Miles is an inmate at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and Weston is her mother. From June through December 2020, they took advantage of changes made to the EDD’s eligibility criteria in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and submitted the fraudulent claims. Specifically, Miles obtained other inmates’ names, dates of birth, and social security numbers and sent that information to Weston to submit claims in those inmates’ identities as well as her own identity. The underlying applications contained several misrepresentations, including that Miles and the other inmates had been self-employed as accountants, beauty culturists, child care providers, cosmetologists, hairdressers, and other occupations, and that they recently became unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The claims were worth over $550,000. The defendants used the money to purchase handbags, jewelry, and televisions, among other items.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Investigative Services Unit, and the EDD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge and a mandatory, two-year consecutive sentence and additional $250,000 for the aggravated identity theft charges. Any 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. The charges are only allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mexican Nationals Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking in Stanislaus CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Antonio Ochoa Mejia, 50, a Mexican national residing in Hughson, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Co-defendant Jorge Armando Gonzalez Martinez, 41, a Mexican national residing in Hughson, was previously sentenced to four years and six months in prison and co-defendant Ramon Ortega, 36, a Mexican national residing in Willows, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.
According to court documents, on April 18, 2019, Mejia and Ortega sold 1 kilogram of methamphetamine for $4,500 during an undercover transaction in Empire. On May 14, 2019, Mejia sold 2 kilograms of methamphetamine during an undercover transaction in Ceres. On May 30, 2019, Mejia and Martinez were arrested in Ceres after attempting to deliver 10 kilograms of methamphetamine during an undercover transaction.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Joaquin Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Massey prosecuted the case.
Mejia and Ortega are currently in federal custody. Martinez has been ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on July 7, 2022.
Shasta County-Based “Joined Inc.” CEO Pleads Guilty in Retirement Fund Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Maurice “Buddy” Shoe, 59, formerly of Palo Cedro, pleaded guilty today to one count of embezzlement from his employees’ retirement funds, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Shoe was the CEO of Joined Inc., a now defunct corporation based in Shasta County that provided student recruiting and retention services to Christian colleges and universities throughout the United States. The company provided a 401(k) retirement benefit plan for its employees. From February through November 2015, Shoe embezzled approximately $124,902.03 from the employee retirement benefit fund, protected under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), by withholding funds from employees’ paychecks for 401(k) contributions, but failing to forward those contributions to the 401(k) plan.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, San Francisco Regional Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Hemesath is prosecuting the case.
Shoe is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8, 2022, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Shoe faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Marijuana Cultivation Operation in Sequoia National ForestRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Oscar Alfredo Castanaza Ortega, 37, a native of Guatemala, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to cultivate with intent to distribute 2,864 marijuana plants in the Twin Springs area of the Sequoia National Forest, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, when law enforcement officers arrived in the grow site, Castanaza fled, throwing down a loaded .38‑caliber firearm and a box of .38‑caliber ammunition, before he was apprehended. Castanaza acknowledged that he was getting paid $100 a day to water and trim the plants.
The marijuana cultivation operation caused significant damage to the land and natural resources. Native trees, brush and other vegetation were cut down and large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides were found in the area. Thousands of pounds of trash, irrigation hose, and camping equipment were found at the site that must be removed by helicopter. Castanaza agreed to pay $7,819 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for the environmental damage.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the California Department of Justice’s Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP), and Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Castanaza is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 28, 2022 before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. He faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, as well as a fine up to $10 million. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.