Eastern District of California
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Thirteen Charged in Fresno Interstate Multi-Drug RingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned two indictments Thursday arising from a single investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in California and trafficking drugs to Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today.
The grand jury charged Fresno residents Jesus Gonzalez-Burgos, 36, Gabriel Gomez-Nunez, 36, and Jose Rubalcalva Gutierrez Jr., 34, with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl.
The grand jury also charged the following defendants with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl: Juan Alejandro Comparan-Guzman, 34, of Kerman; Quintin Jeuh Carlos-Bañuelos, 25, of Palo Alto; Hector Gomez, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska; Francisco Ramírez, 20, of Fresno; Lorena Ramírez, 36, of Fresno; Christina Maria Nino, 57, of Fresno; Anna Concepcion Jimenez-Ambriz, 21, of Fresno; Rafael Zaragoza, 28, of Fresno; Carol Maldonaldo Vasquez, 32, of Corcoran; and Rita Ann-Marie Louis, 29, of Carnation, Washington.
According to court documents, the nine-month investigation revealed these individuals were involved in trafficking methamphetamine, fentanyl-laced counterfeit OxyContin pills, and heroin between California and Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington. Law enforcement seized approximately 34,144 pills of counterfeit OxyContin pills containing fentanyl, 7 pounds of cocaine, 2 pounds of heroin, 137 pounds of methamphetamine, and $142,000 during the course of the investigation.
This case is the product of an investigation by the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA), composed of personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, California Department of Justice -Fresno Regional Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Fresno Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Sheriff’s Office, Fresno County District Attorney's Office, and the California Highway Patrol. HIIT conducts major narcotic and other major criminal investigations in the counties of the California Central Valley. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen A. Servatius is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, all defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Four Sacramento Residents Indicted for Conspiracy to Sell Meth and Heroin in Sacramento and Solano CountiesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment today against Michael Garcia, 32; Nancy Garcia, 31; Gonzalo Garcia, 55; and Tylor Combs, 40, all of Sacramento, charging them with narcotics and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, while serving a sentence for narcotics offenses at the Tulare County Jail, Michael Garcia conspired with his wife Nancy Garcia and his father Gonzalo Garcia to sell methamphetamine and heroin in Sacramento and Solano counties.
Once out of custody, Michael Garcia continued the conspiracy to sell narcotics. In addition, Michael Garcia set up a deal with Combs to sell firearms to another person. Both men were present at this deal, which involved ten firearms, including an unserialized machine gun. As a previously convicted felons, both Michael Garcia and Combs are prohibited from possessing a firearm. Combs is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession with intent to sell heroin and methamphetamine.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the narcotics offenses, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. If convicted of the firearms offenses, Michael Garcia and Tylor Combs each 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 part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Yuba County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Maasen, 64, of Olivehurst, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Maasen pleaded guilty in June 2020, and according to the plea agreement, on Jan. 16, 2019, Maasen knowingly possessed visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea J. Kenny and Amy S. Hitchcock prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.
Former Professional Trustee of Sacramento-Based Trust Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Loretta Darlene Stewart-Cabrera, also known as Loretta Dexter, 55, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 30 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Stewart-Cabrera was a professional fiduciary who served as the trustee of a trust that owned a Sacramento property. After the trust grantor died in December 2012, Stewart-Cabrera executed a scheme to obtain and spend the trust assets. Stewart-Cabrera did this by selling the trust’s property, only distributing to the trust beneficiaries approximately $30,000 of the more than $300,000 she received from the sale of the property, and spending the remaining money without the permission or knowledge of the trust beneficiaries. She used a portion of the trust funds to gamble and dine in Las Vegas casinos, pay family members, and purchase merchandise.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty prosecuted the case.
Chico Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alfred David Villasenor, 36, of Chico, pleaded guilty on Monday to being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
On Nov. 20, 2019, law enforcement officers conducted a welfare check at Villasenor’s residence. They located Villasenor hiding underneath a blanket on the floor of the master bedroom with a shouldered, loaded non-serialized AR-15 rifle on a bipod. Villasenor had been pointing this rifle at the door officers had used to enter the room. Officers seized approximately 900 rounds of ammunition of various sizes. At that time, Villasenor was subject to a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chico Police Department, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Conolly and Adrian T. Kinsella are prosecuting the case.
Villasenor is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14 by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Villasenor faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $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.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Southern California Man Pleads Guilty to Burglarizing Kern County Post OfficeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Ryan James Taylor, 34, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty today to burglary of a post office, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 26, 2018, Taylor forcibly broke into the Mojave Post Office in Kern County and stole United States Mail from the outgoing mail drop bin. After breaking into the post office, Taylor also stole a United States mail truck. The stolen mail included a Starbucks gift card that Taylor later used to purchase a coffee drink and a check that he endorsed over to himself, all without authorization.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincente Tennerelli and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Dec. 14. Taylor faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Solano County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Bomb a Suisun City ResidenceRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Thomas Wayne Capenhurst, 33, of Dixon, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and malicious use of explosive materials, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Capenhurst offered to pay co-defendant Robert McGraw and another man $10,000 each to place pipe bombs at his brother’s house in Suisun City.
According to the plea agreement, on Feb. 17, 2018, McGraw walked to the front door of a home on Blue Jay Drive in Suisun City, just before 1:00 a.m., and set one of the pipe bombs on the front porch. He lit the fuse and then ran. Afterwards, the pipe bomb detonated and blew the front door off its hinges. Pieces of metal shrapnel were lodged in the home’s exterior walls, and windows were broken nearby. Court documents state that a family of five was active inside the home, having just returned from a trip to the Bay Area.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Suisun City Police Department. Special assistance was provided by the Dixon Police Department, Fairfield Police Department, Vacaville Police Department, Vallejo Police Department, Benicia Police Department, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Pearson is prosecuting the case.
A status conference has been set for McGraw on Oct. 5. Capenhurst is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberley J. Mueller on Jan. 4, 2021. He faces a penalty of not less than five years, and up to 20 years, in prison, and a $250,000 fine for malicious use of explosive materials, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Fresno Man Guilty of Conspiring to Produce False Identification DocumentsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Isaias Herrera-Ortiz, 29, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and production of false identification documents, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between February 2018 and November 2019, Herrera-Ortiz and his co-conspirators produced, possessed, transferred, and sold false identification documents. These documents included fraudulent lawful permanent resident or LPR cards and fraudulent social security number or SSN cards. In particular, Herrera-Ortiz admitted that on Feb. 28, 2018, he sold three LPR cards and three SSN cards to a customer for $390.00. A search of Herrera‑Ortiz’s electronic devices and those belonging to his co-conspirators prove that he participated in the manufacture of at least 36 and no more than 99 fraudulent documents or sets of documents.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers is prosecuting the case.
Herrera-Ortiz is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Dec. 14. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
California U.S. Attorneys Announce $33 Million in Domestic Violence Funding from DOJ’s Office on Violence Against WomenRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) will direct more than $33 million in grant funding to California to support efforts to curb domestic violence throughout the state, announced U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California McGregor W. Scott, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California David L. Anderson, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Nicola T. Hanna, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Robert S. Brewer Jr.
As the state grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, reports indicate that many cities are experiencing surges in domestic violence. The OVW grants will provide resources to local prosecutors, victim service providers, healthcare professionals, training organizations, and academic researchers, including several with national scope. Even with limited prosecutorial authority in domestic violence cases, the federal government remains committed to working with all of its partners to end the scourge of domestic violence.
Disturbing research shows that intimate partner homicides are common. According to the CDC, roughly 1 in 6 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. In 2019, California law enforcement received 161,123 domestic violence-related calls for assistance, and 47% of those calls involved a weapon. Research shows that abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners than abusers who don’t have access to a firearm.
Given these troubling statistics, in June 2019, Attorney General William P. Barr formed a Domestic Violence Working Group to encourage prosecution of armed domestic violence offenders. Federal law bars domestic violence offenders – those subject to certain protective orders or convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors or felonies – from possessing firearms. Districts across the nation, including all four districts in California, have prioritized their own initiatives designed to keep guns out of the hands of abusers.
“Putting an end to domestic violence requires effort from everyone in a community and OVW is proud to support the work being done in California,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Laura L. Rogers. “Our funding supports law enforcement, prosecutors and brings people together to work for a common cause. These strong partnerships lead to creative solutions to prevent violence.”
“We remain committed to reducing domestic violence through enforcement and prevention, working together with our local law enforcement partners and service providers,” said U.S. Attorney Scott. “We must do everything we can to combat the rise in domestic violence during COVID, and these grants will be of great assistance.”
“Domestic violence crimes, especially those involving firearms, are a horrific victimization of some of the most vulnerable among us,” said U.S. Attorney Hanna. “These grants will provide substantial assistance to an array of entities, including those that provide immediate assistance to victims and others that are seeking long-term solutions. We value our ongoing partnerships with these community organizations and look forward to assisting, where we can, by filing federal domestic violence cases.”
“We are proud to stand with the Office of Violence Against Women in announcing these grants to deter domestic violence throughout the state,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “These tens of millions of dollars in grants will result in a better trained and more effective law enforcement community and will strengthen the coordination between the federal government and our state and local partners when confronted with domestic violence issues.”
Among the $33 million in awards that will be issued to organizations and government agencies in California are:
- $14.77 million to the state to support law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services providers, and courts to respond to domestic and sexual violence, including 0ver $1 million to improve criminal justice responses in Marin and Alameda counties;
- $4.2 million to domestic violence organizations to provide legal service to victims, including $600,000 to the Los Angeles-based Peace Over Violence to provide no-cost legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, including those with disabilities;
- $4.13 million for improving criminal justice responses grant program also known as the Arrest Program, including $999,700 to Sacramento County and $1 million to Tulare County;
- $1.5 million to advocacy groups to help culturally and linguistically specific services programs, including $300,000 to the Sacramento-based My Sister’s House;
- $2.1 million to domestic violence shelters to provide transitional housing and therapy services, including $450,000 to Crisis Intervention Services dba Tahoe SAFE Alliance;
- $91,000 to the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and $552,000 to the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, two statewide organizations working to address violence against women; and
- $400,000 to promote enhanced training and services to end violence and abuse of elderly women in Contra Costa County.
New projects to provide training and technical assistance throughout the country include:
- The $5 million National Violence Against Women Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Consortium, a project with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, in Florida, that will deliver training on investigating and responding to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking;
- $675,000 to continue the work of the San Diego-based Alliance for HOPE’s Training Institute for Strangulation Prevention, which provides education on investigating and prosecuting nonfatal strangulation in domestic violence cases; and
- $400,000 to the International Association of Forensic Nurses, headquartered in Maryland, to develop a national protocol to guide medical-forensic care for domestic violence victims who seek treatment for their injuries.
For more information on the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women, visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw.
Sacramento Woman Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison for Identity Theft Involving a Rancho Cordova Veterinary ClinicRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marie Antoinette Alcanter, 48, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to four and a half years in prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between December 2016 and March 2018, Alcanter worked with co-defendant Rose Marie Segale, 42, of San Jose, formerly of Sacramento, to obtain money and other things of value using victims’ identities. Segale used her employment at a veterinary clinic and her pet-sitting work to obtain victims’ personal and financial information, which she provided to Alcanter. Alcanter made purchases by drawing on victims’ existing accounts. She also applied for new accounts using victims’ identities and then made purchases and cash withdrawals using those fraudulent accounts. As a result of the conspiracy, Alcanter and Segale obtained at least $46,615 worth of items and cash.
Alcanter possessed a veterinary clinic statement for euthanasia and cremation of a dog, on which Segale had recorded the victim’s credit card number. Alcanter also used counterfeit driver’s licenses with victims’ names but with Alcanter’s photograph.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Miriam R. Hinman is prosecuting the case.
Segale previously pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, and she is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the access device fraud offense, as well as a mandatory two-year prison term for the aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Nevada Woman Indicted for Hiring Hitman on Darkweb to Kill Her Ex-HusbandRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kristy Lynn Felkins, 36, of Fallon, Nevada, was indicted today for a murder-for-hire plot, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Felkins sent 12 bitcoin (valued at approximately $5,000 at the time) to a darkweb hitman website to have her ex-husband murdered. From February to May 2016, Felkins regularly communicated with the administrator of the site to pay and arrange for the murder of her ex-husband. When her ex-husband was traveling to Chico, Felkins gave the administrator the specific location of her ex-husband in an attempt to have him murdered. The website turned out to be a scam, and Felkins was not refunded the bitcoin she sent to the site, which is no longer in operation.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, consisting of agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is focused on targeting all forms of darkweb and cryptocurrency criminal activity in the Eastern District of California. The HSI Reno Field Office also assisted in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant B. Rabenn and Paul Hemesath are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Felkins faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mexican National Sentenced to over a Year in Prison for Being an Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ismael Huazo-Jardinez, 34, a Mexican citizen previously residing in Yuba City, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to 15 months in prison for possessing a firearm while being an alien unlawfully in the United States, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Huazo-Jardinez pleaded guilty to the charge on May 7. According to court documents, Huazo-Jardinez is suspected of having been the driver in a fatal car accident in Sutter County that killed three people — the parents and one child of a family of four — when the vehicle crashed into their mobile home as they slept on May 4, 2019. Huazo‑Jardinez was arrested at the scene of the accident. Authorities impounded the vehicle, a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to Huazo‑Jardinez, and later recovered a handgun from the vehicle’s center console. A database query revealed that the handgun had been reported stolen in Boise, Idaho.
Huazo-Jardinez is a citizen and national of Mexico who has twice been removed from the United States and has not been granted permission to return. As an alien unlawfully in the United States, Huazo-Jardinez is prohibited by federal statute from possessing a firearm.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Conolly and Shea Kenny prosecuted the case. The Sutter County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting Huazo-Jardinez in the state case related to the May 2019 fatal car accident.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Kern County Man Charged with Production, Distribution and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Andrew James Sarnowski, 22, of Rosamond, charging him with separate counts of production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, and two additional counts of receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Sarnowski produced multiple videos depicting the sexual abuse of a minor less than a year of age and shared them online through an encrypted social media application. Pursuant to a search of his residence, additional electronic devices belonging to Sarnowski were identified and found to contain hundreds of additional child pornography files, including those depicting pre-pubescent boys and girls being sexually abused.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bakersfield, Lancaster, Ventura and Los Angeles Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian W. Enos is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the production of child pornography charge, Sarnowski faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of the distribution of child pornography charge or either of the two receipt of child pornography charges, Sarnowski faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about Internet safety education.
Arrested in Vacaville, Hayward Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Elisio Munoz, 40, of Hayward, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 2, Munoz was arrested by police and found to be in possession of firearms. Munoz possessed the guns after previously being convicted of multiple felonies, including: vehicle theft, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlled substance, and reckless evading of a peace officer.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Vacaville Police Department and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Munoz 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.
Mexican National Sentenced to 10 years in Prison for Cultivating Marijuana in Sequoia National ForestRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced Marco Lizandro Duarte-Beltran, 34, of Michoacán, Mexico, today to 10 years in prison for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Judge Drozd also ordered Duarte-Beltran to pay $12,644 in restitution to clean up the area.
According to court documents, Duarte-Beltran cultivated 1,082 marijuana plants in the Millwood Creek area of the Sequoia National Forest for four months. Duarte-Beltran was apprehended at the marijuana cultivation site after a two‑month investigation, wearing camouflage clothing and armed with a loaded revolver.
The marijuana cultivation operation caused extensive environmental damage: native vegetation and tree limbs had been cut down to make room for the plants; three areas had been terraced for the campsite where Duarte-Beltran resided; water had been diverted from a water source on federal land to irrigate the plants; and irrigation tubing, trash, seed trays, seed pots, fertilizers, and pesticides were scattered throughout the grow site.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service. Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP), the California National Guard, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. Integral Ecology Research Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems, analyzed and documented the environmental damage. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar prosecuted the case.
Former Clovis Pastor Pleads Guilty to Real Estate Development Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Sherman Smith, 74, of Monterey, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Smith was the executive pastor of a church in Clovis. Smith induced investors, including church congregants, to give money to the church by representing that the money would be used to finance a real estate development project for the benefit of the church. Smith made appeals from the pulpit, via email, and in person for monies to pay off the church’s mortgage and fund an income-generating development.
Smith collected cash, checks, and rolled-over retirement accounts to fund the church’s project, but he did not disclose to investors that he used the money for personal expenses, to operate a publishing business, and to invest in foreign ventures. Smith defrauded investors of more than $2 million.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers is prosecuting the case.
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Dec. 11. Smith faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Fresno Man Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl, LSD, Cocaine and Heroin and a Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Morgan Wency Ventura Sanchez, 23, of Fresno, charging him with possessing fentanyl, LSD, cocaine, and heroin with intent to distribute the controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 24, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ventura Sanchez’s residence and car. Over 300 fentanyl pills were in the car and approximately 280 more fentanyl pills were found in the house. In addition, agents found 158 grams of cocaine, 23 grams of heroin, LSD stamps, several kilograms of marijuana, multiple digital scales with suspected drug residue on them, $41,433 in cash, and a loaded Beretta 92 FS, 9 mm pistol. Messages recovered from Ventura Sanchez’s cellphone contained evidence that he was distributing controlled substances.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Ventura Sanchez faces a five-year mandatory minimum sentence, a five-year consecutive mandatory minimum sentence (for a total 10-year mandatory minimum sentence), a maximum penalty of life in prison, and up to 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 part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.
Bakersfield Man Indicted for Burglarizing Post Office and Other Postal CrimesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Steven Ray Martin, 39, of Bakersfield, charging him with burglary of a U.S. Post Office, obstruction of correspondence, unlawful possession of a postal key, and possession of stolen mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Dec. 2, 2018, Martin forcibly broke into the Corcoran Post Office where he stole mail and a cash register. Two days later, Martin stole mail from the Arvin Post Office. Finally, on Jan. 8, 2019, Martin was found in unlawful possession of at least one postal key and hundreds of pieces of stolen mail.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincente Tennerelli and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Martin faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the burglary, obstruction of correspondence, and possession of stolen mail charges, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the unlawful possession of a postal key 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.
Former California EDD Employee Sentenced for Disability Benefits Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Katherine Decker, 49, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to three years and seven months in prison for a disability benefits fraud and identity theft scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between June 14, 2013, and May 1, 2017, Decker and co‑defendant Angela Stubblefield, 49, of Tacoma, Washington, formerly of Martinez, participated in a scheme to defraud the State of California by filing fraudulent claims for disability insurance benefits with the California Employment Development Department (EDD). In furtherance of the scheme, Decker and Stubblefield used Decker’s position as an employee with the EDD to file fraudulent claims for disability benefits and to fraudulently extend existing disability claims, using the names and identities of real persons with and without their knowledge. In total, the conspiracy resulted in 15 fraudulent disability claims, resulting in a loss to the EDD of approximately $373,566.
This case is the product of an investigation by EDD’s Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea J. Kenny and Amy S. Hitchcock are prosecuting the case.
On Feb. 10, Decker and Stubblefield pleaded guilty to the fraud scheme. Stubblefield is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Mueller on Nov. 9. A hearing to determine the restitution amount is also scheduled for Nov. 9.
U.S. Attorney W. Scott Announces $1.6M in Awards to Improve School SafetyRead the Press Release
Sacramento, Calif. - U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott of the Eastern District of California announced that $1,596,426 was awarded across the district from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) to improve school safety. The Fort Sage Unified School District received $335,426; the Lodi Unified School District received $301,242; the Madera Unified School District received $408,053; the Woodlake United School District received $126,001; and the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department received $425,704. Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75% funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.
“Ensuring the safety of our children when they are at school is critical,” said U.S. Attorney Scott. “These grants will help schools across the district improve their safety, and begin to make these improvements during distance learning.”
“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”
The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs. The awards announced can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security. The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.
In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.
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The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Three Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl Pills and Methamphetamine and Firearms Offenses in BakersfieldRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jorge Luis Velasquez, 33, of Mexico, Omar Velazquez Landeros, 27, of Bakersfield, and Victor Romero Galvan, 29, of Mexico, were indicted today for conspiring and possessing with intent to distribute over 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, and for carrying firearms in furtherance of these crimes, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on or about January 28, 2020, in Kern County, Landeros distributed approximately one pound of nearly pure methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Bakersfield. Velasquez assisted with coordinating that transaction. On or about March 13, 2020, Landeros distributed approximately 1,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills, which Velasquez helped to coordinate as well. On September 1, 2020, Landeros, Velasquez, and Romero Galvan conspired to distribute approximately 10,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills and 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Each defendant possessed a firearm when they arrived at the prearranged drug deal in Bakersfield, California. When law enforcement arrived to arrest the defendants, Velasquez and Landeros fled with firearms in hand. Landeros was apprehended shortly thereafter. Velasquez discarded his firearm and fled on foot onto the SR-99 where he obtained and attempted to escape in a CalTrans vehicle. Velasquez eventually abandoned the vehicle and again fled on foot, at which point he was apprehended by law enforcement. Law enforcement arrested the defendants, and seized the firearms and the controlled substances.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, 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.
Sacramento Woman Pleads Guilty to Medicare Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Anita Vijay, 50, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals and to soliciting kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Anita Vijay worked as the Social Services Director at a skilled nursing and assisted living facility in Sacramento. In her role, Vijay assisted Medicare beneficiaries in selecting home health care and hospice agencies following their discharge from the facility. Vijay used her position to steer Medicare beneficiaries to home health agencies in Folsom and El Dorado Hills and a hospice agency in Folsom. In exchange for the referrals, the agencies’ owners paid her and her husband, Jai Vijay, illegal cash kickbacks.
In her plea agreement, Vijay admitted that the agencies’ owners paid her and her husband kickbacks in exchange for the referral of approximately 60 beneficiaries. Medicare paid the agencies approximately $400,000 for services they purportedly provided to the beneficiaries. Because the agencies obtained the referrals by paying kickbacks, they should not have received any reimbursement from Medicare.
This case is a product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley is scheduled to sentence Anita Vijay on December 3, 2020. She faces maximum statutory penalties of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and ten years in prison for the kickback charge. Anita Vijay also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross loss or gain. 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.
On February 6, 2020, Jai Vijay pled guilty to conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals.
Sacramento Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jaquorey Rashawn Carter, 24, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 14 years in prison for sex trafficking of a child, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to evidence presented at a February 2020 jury trial, between 2013 and October 2018, Carter used a minor female and other adult women to work as prostitutes for him. As part of Carter’s pimping operation, he put the minor victim and other adult women in motel rooms and had them engage in prostitution on the street in order to make money from their prostitution activity. Carter ran his pimping operation in Sacramento, Stockton, Oakland, Sunnyvale, and Santa Ana.
In 2013, Carter began recruiting a then-14-year-old girl to work as a prostitute for him. In the years that followed, Carter took that minor victim to other cities where he would rent motel rooms in which the victim engaged in acts of prostitution. Carter continued to be involved in the use of this victim for acts of prostitution until 2018.
Evidence presented at the jury trial also showed that Carter had been arrested or contacted by law enforcement while he was transporting women to or from his illegal business opportunities. In September 2018, a federal judge authorized the wiretap of Carter’s cell phone. Sacramento-based task force agents then intercepted calls demonstrating that Carter was actively recruiting, harboring, transporting, and managing several women engaged in prostitution throughout California.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Department of Justice’s Special Operations Unit, and the Sacramento Police Department. The California Highway Patrol, Sacramento Sheriff’s Department, and the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty and Jason Hitt prosecuted the case.
Clovis Man Charged with Attempted Online Enticement of Minor to Engage in Illegal Sex Acts and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment yesterday against Thomas Layman Binford, 55, of Clovis, California, charging him with separate counts of attempting coercion and enticement of a minor and receipt of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, as well as receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Binford traveled to a park in Fresno, California on the evening of July 28, 2020, with the intent of meeting and engaging in illegal sex acts with a 13 year-old minor he had earlier met online through the Skout social media application. Upon his arrest at the park, his cell phone was seized and subsequently searched, where over 250 images of minors being sexually exploited were found.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Clovis Police Department, Fresno Police Department, and the Fresno Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian W. Enos is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the attempted online enticement charge, Binford faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of the receipt of child pornography charge, Binford faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and maximum statutory penalty of forty years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about Internet safety education.
Vallejo Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Joshua Wayne Thompson, 25, of Vallejo, pleadedd guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2019, law enforcement arrested Thompson on multiple felony warrants. Before the arrest, law enforcement witnessed Thompson exit a home in Vallejo and approached him. Thompson ran toward and entered the driver’s side door of a Ford Fusion. While attempting to flee, Thompson rammed the Ford into a Deputy U.S. Marshal’s vehicle. Law enforcement converged on the Ford, removed Thompson, and placed him under arrest. At the time of the arrest, Thompson possessed a loaded pistol with a 25-round extended magazine. Thompson cannot possess a firearm or ammunition because he previously was convicted of a felony offense.
This case is a product of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr., is scheduled to sentence Thompson on December 3, 2020. Thompson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
This case also is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information, please see https://www.justice.gov.
Los Banos Man Sentenced for Poly-drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Oscar Rene Marrot-Garcia, 27, of Los Banos, was sentenced today to 6.5 years in prison for conspiring to manufacture, to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
His sentence follows his guilty plea earlier this year. In pleading guilty, Marrot-Garcia acknowledged that he rented a residence in a rural location in Madera for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and storing large quantities of other drugs at an unoccupied residence in Madera. He also acknowledged that he assisted in packaging the drugs for distribution. According to his plea agreement, at the end of January 2019, detectives of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET) executed a search warrant at the residence and found Marrot-Garcia along with Francisco Alcantar-Miranda, 31, and Jose Monge-Ponce, 31, both of Mexico. The detectives found over 10 pounds of methamphetamine in crystallized form and in liquid, 4 pounds of heroin, 1 pound of cocaine, and 25 pounds of marijuana. U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd also ordered Marrot-Garcia to forfeit a handgun and approximately $18,000 in cash, which officers located at the residence.
Alcantar-Miranda previously entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Monge-Ponce is scheduled for a Status Conference on Nov. 30. The charges against Monge-Ponce are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by MADNET and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team, which consists of agents from Homeland Security Investigations, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol-Fresno, the Sheriffs’ Offices of Tulare and King Counties, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Moderating Disputes on Darknet Marketplace AlphabayRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Bryan Connor Herrell, 26, of Aurora, Colorado, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Dale A. Drozd to 11 years in prison, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott for the Eastern District of California and Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced.
According to court documents, Herrell was a moderator on the AlphaBay marketplace, an illegal website that operated on the so-called darknet. On AlphaBay, vendors and purchasers engaged in hundreds of thousands of illicit transactions for guns, drugs, stolen identity information, credit card numbers and other illegal items. At the time, AlphaBay was the world’s largest online drug marketplace.
“This sentence of an AlphaBay employee demonstrates the collective efforts of law enforcement authorities in the United States and Europe to find and prosecute transnational criminal actors wherever they hide,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Rabbitt. “The department will continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable criminals who use the Dark Web to facilitate illegal activity no matter where they may be located.”
“This sentence serves as further proof that criminals cannot hide behind technology to break the law,” said U.S. Attorney Scott. “Operating behind the veil of the darknet may seem to offer shelter from criminal investigations, but people should think twice before ordering or selling drugs online—you will be caught. This office will continue using all means available to pursue darknet-based crimes, particularly those involving fentanyl, opioids, and other dangerous drugs.”
“The FBI is committed to developing highly trained cyber investigators who work with our international partners and perpetually evolve to counter the threat darknet criminals pose. Cases like these exemplify how the FBI and our international partners are eliminating the false promise of anonymity dark marketplaces claim to provide and are successfully dismantling criminal organizations which prey upon communities through use of sophisticated computer code,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office. “Herrell's sentence sends a clear message to criminals that the darknet is no safe haven for illegal transactions.”
As a moderator on AlphaBay, Herrell settled disputes between vendors and purchasers. He is also served as a scam watcher – providing a service dedicated to monitor attempts to defraud AlphaBay users. Herrell went by the monikers “Penissmith” and “Botah” and was paid in Bitcoin for his participation.
On June 1, 2017, a Fresno grand jury indicted the alleged founder of AlphaBay, Alexandre Cazes. On July 5, 2017, the Royal Thai Police, with assistance from the FBI and DEA, executed an arrest warrant for Alexandre Cazes at his residence in Bangkok, in connection with his alleged involvement with AlphaBay. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement discovered Cazes’s laptop open and in an unencrypted state. Agents and officers found several text files that identified the passwords/passkeys for the AlphaBay website, the AlphaBay servers, and other online identities associated with AlphaBay. The indictment against Cazes was dismissed as a result of his death. The investigation of AlphaBay and its former administrators continues.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento and Philadelphia Field offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Hemesath and Grant B. Rabenn, and Senior Counsel Louisa K. Marion of the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case. The Philadelphia and Denver United States Attorney’s Offices provided substantial assistance.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Moderating Disputes on Darknet Marketplace AlphaBayRead the Press Release
A Colorado man was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Dale A. Drozd to 11 years in prison.
According to court documents, Bryan Connor Herrell, 26, of Aurora, Colorado, was a moderator on the AlphaBay marketplace, an illegal website that operated on the so-called darknet. On AlphaBay, vendors and purchasers engaged in hundreds of thousands of illicit transactions for guns, drugs, stolen identity information, credit card numbers and other illegal items. At the time, AlphaBay was the world’s largest online drug marketplace.
“This sentence of an AlphaBay employee demonstrates the collective efforts of law enforcement authorities in the United States and Europe to find and prosecute transnational criminal actors wherever they hide,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The department will continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable criminals who use the Dark Web to facilitate illegal activity no matter where they may be located.”
“This sentence serves as further proof that criminals cannot hide behind technology to break the law,” said U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott of the Eastern District of California. “Operating behind the veil of the darknet may seem to offer shelter from criminal investigations, but people should think twice before ordering or selling drugs online—you will be caught. This office will continue using all means available to pursue darknet-based crimes, particularly those involving fentanyl, opioids, and other dangerous drugs.”
“The FBI is committed to developing highly trained cyber investigators who work with our international partners and perpetually evolve to counter the threat darknet criminals pose. Cases like these exemplify how the FBI and our international partners are eliminating the false promise of anonymity dark marketplaces claim to provide and are successfully dismantling criminal organizations which prey upon communities through use of sophisticated computer code,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office. “Herrell's sentence sends a clear message to criminals that the darknet is no safe haven for illegal transactions.”
As a moderator on AlphaBay, Herrell settled disputes between vendors and purchasers. He is also served as a scam watcher – providing a service dedicated to monitor attempts to defraud AlphaBay users. Herrell went by the monikers “Penissmith” and “Botah” and was paid in Bitcoin for his participation.
On June 1, 2017, a Fresno grand jury indicted the alleged founder of AlphaBay, Alexandre Cazes. On July 5, 2017, the Royal Thai Police, with assistance from the FBI and DEA, executed an arrest warrant for Alexandre Cazes at his residence in Bangkok, in connection with his alleged involvement with AlphaBay. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement discovered Cazes’s laptop open and in an unencrypted state. Agents and officers found several text files that identified the passwords/passkeys for the AlphaBay website, the AlphaBay servers, and other online identities associated with AlphaBay. The indictment against Cazes was dismissed as a result of his death. The investigation of AlphaBay and its former administrators continues.
The FBI’s Sacramento and Philadelphia Field Offices investigated this case. Senior Counsel Louisa K. Marion of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Hemesath and Grant B. Rabenn are prosecuting the case. The Philadelphia and Denver U.S. Attorney’s Offices provided substantial assistance.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Former PG&E Employee Pleads Guilty to over $1.4M Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A former PG&E employee pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and admitted to receiving kickback payments from a Stockton transportation company owned by his cousin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to the plea agreement, Ronald S. Schoenfeld, 65, of Goodyear, Arizona, formerly of Dublin, California, while employed at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, conspired to obtain contracts from PG&E for his cousin’s transportation business in exchange for kickbacks from that business worth approximately 2.5% of the value of the contracts. Schoenfeld concealed from PG&E his familial relationship with his co-conspirator from PG&E, provided confidential information to his co-conspirator, and, at times, directly intervened in the consideration of contracts between PG&E and his co-conspirator’s business, all contrary to PG&E’s policies.
From March 2007 through February 2015, PG&E paid at least $82.1 million to the business operated by Schoenfeld’s cousin for services it provided pursuant to PG&E contracts. During the same period, Schoenfeld’s co-conspirator paid him at least $1,476,000 in kickbacks for his role in the conspiracy.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys André M. Espinosa, Amy S. Hitchcock, and Tanya B. Syed are prosecuting the case.
Schoenfeld is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on November 16, 2020. Schoenfeld 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.
Bakersfield Resident Sentenced for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jesus Gonzalez, 29, of Bakersfield, California was sentenced to 188 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, from April to May 2019, Gonzalez distributed pound quantities of methamphetamine during separate transactions. Gonzalez pled guilty to a two-count indictment on February 20, 2020. In his written plea agreement, Gonzalez acknowledged selling five pounds of methamphetamine on April 10 and 17, 2019 and on May 3, 2019. He was detained as of the date of his guilty plea.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman is prosecuting the case.
Founder and CEO of Fresno Substance Abuse Treatment Center Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Health Insurance CarriersRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Orlando Gillam, 46, of Fresno, pleaded guilty Thursday to mail fraud in connection with false claims he submitted to public and private health insurers, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Gillam is the founder and CEO of Dunamis Inc. Group Home, a nonprofit that provided services that included alcohol and drug treatment and counseling. Between January 2016 and January 2018, Gillam falsely billed insurers hundreds of thousands of dollars for alcohol and drug treatment and counseling, mental health treatment, and group and individual psychotherapy purportedly rendered to multiple individuals. Those individuals did not receive the services billed, and several of them were not Dunamis clients at all.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincente A. Tennerelli is prosecuting the case.
Gillam is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 20. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $$250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Fairfield Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Antonio Tawan Bankhead, 32, of Fairfield, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to three years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Bankhead was convicted of the same crime in Sacramento federal court in 2015. He violated his federal probation in that case when he committed this new offense.
According to court documents, on the evening of Oct. 11, 2019, police responded to the area of Laurel Creek Park to a report of a potential robbery involving three individuals, one of whom had a gun. As police arrived, Bankhead ignored commands to stop and began to walk away. As more police arrived and tried to cut off his path, Bankhead changed direction and started to sprint, climbing over a fence onto a baseball field. After a pursuit by officers and a police dog, Bankhead was caught in the bushes of a house across from the park, and a gun and phone he had been carrying were found on the baseball field, which was fenced in and closed to the public. The gun, a Glock Model 19 9 mm pistol, had a 30-round extended magazine, and was loaded with 30 live 9 mm rounds and one round in the chamber. Bankhead cannot lawfully possess firearms or ammunition because he has previously been convicted of three felony offenses.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Fairfield Police Department with assistance from the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hales prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Former Defense Department Employee Sentenced for Public Corruption While Working at Sierra Army Depot and at Naval Air Station LemooreRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeffery Parsons, 44, of Dillon, Montana, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to one year in prison for conspiring to accept illegal gratuities on account of official actions and conspiring to sell government property without authority. Judge Mueller also ordered Parsons to forfeit to the United States over $230,000.
According to court documents, Parsons was a civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense. In November 2009, Parsons began working as an Environmental Protection Specialist at Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, California (SIAD). He later held the same position at Naval Air Station Lemoore in Lemoore, California (NASL). In his official positions at SIAD and NASL, Parsons’ responsibilities included the disposition of hazardous materials such as batteries, fuel and oil.
In October 2012, Parsons, his wife, and their associate Travis Wong agreed that Parsons would use his authority at SIAD to allow Wong to sell valuable materials from the installation and that, in return, Wong would pay Parsons and his wife a portion of his proceeds from the sales. After Parsons transferred to NASL, Parsons, his wife, and Wong continued their illegal scheme. Just as Parsons had done at SIAD, he abused his authority at NASL by allowing Wong to sell materials removed from the U.S. Navy base. Once again, Wong paid Parsons and his wife a portion of his proceeds from the sales. In total, Wong received approximately $314,000 from selling government property, and he paid Parsons and his wife approximately $56,000. Wong made the illegal payments by checks payable to a company registered to Parsons’ wife, as well as checks payable to Parsons’ daughter.
While carrying out their illegal scheme with Wong, Parsons and his wife also began a separate scheme. Specifically, Parsons allowed his wife to sell materials from SIAD to third-party recycling companies. Parsons’ wife falsely represented to those companies that she and her company had a contract with SIAD or were otherwise authorized by SIAD to sell the recyclers materials removed from the installation. In total, the recycling companies collectively paid Parsons’ wife approximately $175,000.
On March 16, Judge Mueller sentenced Wong to three years of probation and ordered him to forfeit to the United States approximately $314,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.
Veterinarian Residing in Truckee Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jack Ray Snyder, 63, of Truckee, pleaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to the plea agreement, Snyder failed to report significant income for tax years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Each year, Snyder underreported his income to his tax preparer and took deductions for expenses that were not deductible business expenses. For the 2011 tax year, Snyder earned outside income as an equine veterinarian in addition to his salary as a professor at the University of California, Davis. He endorsed outside client payment checks to directly pay credit card bills. He failed to report $212,953 in income for the 2011 tax year. According to the plea agreement, the additional tax due for 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 tax years was $134,497.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang is prosecuting the case.
Snyder is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Nov. 16. Snyder faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Sacramento Couple Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Tax FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Sacramento couple pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States by submitting false claims for income tax refunds to the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between March 29, 2012 and Feb. 14, 2015, William Bennett, 42, and Christina Bennett, 38, conspired with Bridget Coilton, 50, also of Sacramento, to defraud the IRS by submitting false claims for income tax refunds for themselves and for others.
According to the plea agreements, Coilton allegedly provided William Bennett with personally identifying information (PII) of other people, and he would file tax returns for those people claiming false, inflated tax refunds based on false statements he added to the returns. The false returns usually fell into similar categories and contained similar false claims. For example, the tax returns filed as a part of the conspiracy contained false and fraudulent statements regarding employment, income, withholdings from income, and dependency exemptions. Some of the federal tax returns also sought tax credits to which the individuals on the returns were not entitled, such as the American Opportunity Credit.
The fraudulent statements resulted in refunds that were often directed to be deposited into bank accounts the Bennetts or Coilton controlled. After the IRS issued the refunds, the co‑conspirators divided the proceeds amongst themselves, sometimes providing the tax filer with a small portion of the refund. If the refund was deposited into one of the Bennett’s bank accounts, Christina Bennett would often withdraw some of the tax refunds deposited in cash and then deliver the withdrawals to Coilton.
The charges against Coilton are pending. She is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosanne Rust is prosecuting the case.
William Bennett and Christina Bennett are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Dec. 7. They each face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Recent Indictments for Firearms Offenses in Fresno, Kern and Stanislaus CountiesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — As part the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California’s strategy to reduce violent crime by focusing on firearms prosecutions, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced that a federal grand jury returned indictments in the following cases involving illegal firearms offenses.
Brian Zamora, 28, of Fresno, was charged Thursday with being a felon in possession ammunition. According to court documents, on Aug. 12, law enforcement officers observed Zamora, whom they knew to have a warrant for a parole violation, place a bag in a car and then enter the car. They stopped the car, arrested Zamora, and found a loaded AR-style semi-automatic handgun with no serial number, known as a “ghost gun,” equipped with a 30-round high-capacity magazine, along with a laser sight, and a pressure switch for the laser. The gun and the magazine were loaded with 10 total rounds of a mix of .233‑caliber and 5.56 mm ammunition. Zamora has eight prior felony convictions in Fresno County and is prohibited from possessing either a firearm or ammunition. This case is the product of an investigation by the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Task Force (MAGEC), including Fresno Police Department and California Highway Patrol; the FBI; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office; and the Fresno Police Department.
(1:20-cr-140)Adrian Perez, 38, of Wasco, was charged Aug. 13 with being a felon in possession of ammunition, According to court documents, on Jan. 6, law enforcement officers initiated a traffic stop and discovered that Perez possessed an antique handgun and ammunition. Perez has four prior felony convictions in Kern County and is prohibited from possessing ammunition. This case is the product of an investigation by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
(1:20-cr-133)Fernando Manjarrez, 33, of Turlock, was charged on July 30 with being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2019, law enforcement officers discovered that Manjarrez possessed 9 mm ammunition. Manjarrez has three prior felony convictions in Stanislaus County and is prohibited from possessing ammunition. This case is the product of an investigation by the Turlock Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (1:20-cr-124-DAD)
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Jean Berger is prosecuting the three cases.
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 part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
The cases are also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Mexican National Charged with Marijuana Cultivation Operation in Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne CountyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Eleno Fernandez-Garcia, 36, a native and citizen of Mexico, charging him with conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, and damaging public lands and natural resources, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, the cultivation operation consisted of over 1,000 marijuana plants and was located in the Basin Creek drainage in the Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County. Fernandez was found at the grow site in possession of pruning shears and two cellphones covered with marijuana debris. The cultivation operation is alleged to have caused significant damage to the environment. The area is near recreational activities and a natural spring used for bottled water.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) of the California Department of Justice. Integral Ecology Research Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems, analyzed and documented the environmental damage. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Fernandez-Garcia is scheduled for arraignment on the indictment on August 21. If convicted of the drug conspiracy and manufacturing offenses, he faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, as well as a $10 million fine. The environmental charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In addition, the defendant may be liable for restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for damage sustained to the land and natural resources as a result of the cultivation activities. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Stockton Tax Preparer Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Paola Bedoy, 65, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to five years in prison for eight counts of preparing fraudulent tax returns, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents and evidence presented at a jury trial, for years Bedoy ran a tax preparation business in Stockton called Javez Enterprises. Bedoy repeatedly encouraged and assisted her clients in preparing fraudulent federal income tax returns by claiming earned income credits and child tax credits based upon dependents who were not eligible for those credits. For example, Bedoy falsely listed a child as disabled when he was not, put dependents on returns that her clients didn’t even know to fraudulently boost refunds, and repeatedly sought tax credits based on noncitizen children living in Mexico who Bedoy knew did not qualify for those tax credits. In one instance caught on video, Bedoy suggested the fraud to a client so that the client could afford to pay her fee and then tripled her fee to that client. Bedoy also admitted to investigators that she “bought” children to add to clients’ tax returns to inflate their refunds, and sometimes kept the inflated portion of the refunds for herself.
While Bedoy initially claimed she committed some of this fraud to help her family, during the time she committed the fraud, Bedoy gambled extensively at area casinos, losing over $130,000 during a period that she reported only $67,000 in income on her own personal federal income tax returns. Bedoy testified in her own defense at trial and received a sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice after the court determined that Bedoy gave materially false testimony. In the aggregate, Bedoy filed hundreds of tax returns with the IRS seeking refunds in the millions of dollars.
Bedoy was ordered to report to begin service of her sentence by 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 19. This case was the product of an investigation by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hales prosecuted the case.
Fresno Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Erick Lizarraga, 30, of Fresno was sentenced today to 15 years and eight months in prison for conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Lizarraga and his co-conspirators trafficked large quantities of methamphetamine in the Fresno-Madera area, as well as sending methamphetamine to Denver, Colorado. Lizarraga arranged two shipments to Denver that were seized by law enforcement. Thus far in the case:
- Diblaim Valdez-Araux, 33, of Madera, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison;
- Jesus Bueno, 29, of Fresno, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison;
- Rosemarie Martinez, 66, of Fresno, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison;
- Perla Ramos, 31, David Martinez, 68, and Brittany Martinez, 28, all of Fresno, pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 18, 2020.
- Charges are pending against Fresno residents Noyra Gonzalez, 41; and Maricela Castellanos, 54. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
On Oct. 13, 2018, David Martinez and Rosemarie Martinez had 30 pounds of methamphetamine with them that they were taking to Denver via Amtrak. On Oct. 15, 2018, after Lizarraga arranged for Diblaim Valdez-Araux to get another 30 pounds of methamphetamine. Noyra Gonzalez and Maricela Castellanos were arrested while taking the 30 pounds to Denver after their car was stopped and searched by the California Highway Patrol. Jesus Bueno purchased approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine from Lizarraga that he sold to customers in the Fresno area. On Nov. 4, 2018, Valdez-Diblaim was stopped in Selma by law enforcement officers with approximately 54 pounds of methamphetamine while returning from the Los Angeles area. Perla Ramos and Brittany Martinez assisted Lizarraga in delivering drugs and collecting profits.
This case is the product of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel J. Montoya, Stephanie Stokman and Thomas Newman are prosecuting the case.
The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Former U.C. Davis Researcher Charged with Visa Fraud and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
UPDATE
Pursuant to a motion by the government, the case against defendant Juan Tang described in the news release below was dismissed by the court on July 23, 2021.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Juan Tang, 37, of Xi’an, China, charging her with visa fraud and making false statements to the FBI, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Arraignment is set for Aug. 10 at 2:00 PM before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan.
According to court documents, Tang is alleged to have possessed a non-immigrant J-1 visa that she obtained by making false statements during the application process about her military service. When later interviewed by FBI agents, Tang also made false statements about her military service. Specifically, it is alleged that Tang is a current member of the Chinese military and falsely claimed that she had not served in the military.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, San Francisco Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko P. Coppola is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of visa fraud, Tang faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of making false statements, Tang faces a maximum statutory penalty of 5 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.
Tuolumne County Man Charged with Receipt and Distribution of Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jonathan James Rodriguez, 37, of Sonora, was arraigned Tuesday for receipt and distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between January 2014 and January 2020, Rodriguez used a laptop computer to receive and distribute a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Anyone who has information related to this investigation or who believes they may be a victim can contact the FBI at [email protected].
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the 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.
Chico Man Pleads Guilty to Burglary of 10 Post Offices in the Counties of Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Sutter and TehamaRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeremy Elguez, 32, of Chico, pleaded guilty today to burglarizing 10 post offices, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between Aug. 23, 2019 and March 1, 2020, Elguez burglarized the Butte City Post Office twice, the Glenn Post Office twice, the Vina Post Office, the Bangor Post Office, the Stirling City Post Office, the Meridian Post Office, the Artois Post Office, and the Cassel Post Office. Items reported stolen during these burglaries included mail, postal money orders, cameras, and a check for $80,000. On Aug. 1, 2019, Elguez also attempted to cash a $350,000 check stolen from the mail.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya B. Syed is prosecuting the case.
Elguez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Nov. 10. Elguez 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.
Two Modesto Residents Indicted for Trafficking Large Amount of Methamphetamine and HeroinRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A Modesto couple was indicted today by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Jose Juan Garcia-Herrera, 59, and Lupe Aime Busio-Valencia, 41, were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and with possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, during the investigation, detectives observed Garcia-Herrera transferring items from a residence to an area under the driver’s seat of a vehicle. During a subsequent stop of the vehicle driven by Garcia-Herrera and accompanied by Busio-Valencia, detectives seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of heroin. When a search warrant was executed at their residence, agents found evidence methamphetamine powder being converted to a crystal from inside the residence. During the search, agents also seized a firearm and $38,000 that was found in the bedroom.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Modesto Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen A. Servatius is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, a $10 million fine, and forfeiture of the $38,000 seized during the search. 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.
Two California Residents Plead Guilty to Filing False Claims for FEMA Benefits in Connection with the Camp FireRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two California residents separately charged with defrauding FEMA by filing false claims for benefits offered to certain victims of the November 2018 Camp Fire plead guilty to fraud in connection with a major disaster or emergency benefits, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Daniel Connelly, 55, of Forest Ranch, entered a guilty plea today. According to court documents, on Jan. 16, 2019, Connelly filed a false application for FEMA benefits. In his application, Connelly falsely claimed a Paradise residence, which had been damaged by the Camp Fire, as his primary residence. Connelly knew his claim was false at the time he applied for FEMA benefits because he had vacated the residence months prior to the fire after a bank initiated eviction proceedings. At the time of the Camp Fire, the residence was vacant and listed for sale. As a result of Connelly’s false statement in his application for FEMA benefits, he received $2,663 to assist with rent and the replacement of personal property.
Patrick Prigmore, 54, of Redding, pleaded guilty in a separate criminal case on July 23. According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2018, Prigmore filed an application for FEMA benefits falsely claiming the same Paradise residence as his primary residence that Connelly had claimed when in fact Prigmore had never resided at the address. In support of his application, Prigmore submitted photographs of counterfeit utility bills, which falsely indicated that he had received utilities at the residence. As a result of the false statement made in his application for FEMA benefits, Prigmore received $12,837 for rental assistance and the replacement of personal property, as well as approximately nine months of free housing in a trailer provided by FEMA.
These cases are the product of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger is prosecuting both cases.
Connelly is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Oct. 15. Prigmore is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Oct. 27. Both Connelly and Prigmore each face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Tehama County Woman Arrested in Bay Area for Indictment in Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Corning woman was arrested in Dublin today for a refund‑fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
The warrant was issued last week after a federal grand jury returned a 14-count superseding indictment against Sabrina Raylene Toilolo, 26, and her previously charged co-defendant Johnathon Ward, charging them with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, Sabrina Toilolo and co-defendants Johnathon Ward, Monica Nunes, and Talalima Toilolo conspired to defraud financial institutions using a refund-fraud scheme. This scheme exploited the refund process used by businesses and retail establishments to pay back customers for returns, reimbursements, and erroneous charges. The defendants posed as merchants and executed fraudulent debit or credit card refunds, which caused the unauthorized transfer of money from a merchant bank account to an account under the defendants’ control.
The defendants committed this scheme by stealing or purchasing point-of-sale (POS) terminals used by businesses to process bankcard transactions. The defendants programmed each terminal to make it appear as if it was authorized by a particular merchant, connected the terminals to payment processing intermediaries, and executed refund transactions even though no purchases had been made. The payment processors, falsely believing the terminals were authorized, approved the refunds and caused the merchants’ banks to transfer funds to the defendants’ accounts. The defendants then drained the stolen funds from the accounts. The indictment alleges that this scheme caused at least $3.5 million in intended victim losses.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Regional Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT) Task Force, which includes investigators from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.
Nunes and Talalima Toilolo have pleaded guilty in the case and have been detained pending sentencing. Charges against Ward are pending.
If convicted, Sabrina Toilolo faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Additionally, if convicted of aggravated identity theft, she faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence, to be served consecutive to any other sentence, and an additional $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; Ward and Sabrina Toilolo are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
San Joaquin County Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kulvir Singh Cheema, 59, of Ripon, pleaded guilty today to filing a false bankruptcy declaration, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, when Cheema, the owner of a trucking company, filed for bankruptcy in April 2011, he provided false information about his employment, income, residence, and other facts. He also concealed certain assets such as trucks and bank accounts that he controlled and that were held in other names. In addition, in January 2010, in contemplation of filing for bankruptcy, Cheema fraudulently transferred ownership of his residence in Ripon from himself to another person. Cheema’s untruthful statements on his bankruptcy petition were designed to give the false impression that he was bankrupt with no assets. Through those falsehoods, Cheema was able to discharge over $2 million in debt, keep his trucks and business running, and repay a close friend. The value of the debts and assets concealed as a result of Cheema’s deception was between $150,000 and $250,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty, André M. Espinosa, and Miriam Hinman are prosecuting the case.
Cheema is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. on Oct. 22. Cheema 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.
Former Fresno Businessman Charged with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering for Classic Car Restoration SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A Fresno business owner was arraigned today for a scheme to defraud the customers of his classic car business, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
On July 23, a federal grand jury returned a 22-count indictment against Jeffrey Scott Hedges, 48, currently residing in Irvine, charging him with wire fraud and money laundering.
According to court documents, Hedges owned and operated West Coast Chassis LLC. Between November 2015 and January 2019, Hedges advertised his business online as one dedicated to the restoration of classic cars likes Corvettes, Camaros, and others. However, instead of providing the promised chassis and modifications to the vehicle frames that his customers sent him, Hedges kept the money and failed to provide the promised product. Hedges allegedly defrauded his customers out of more than $600,000.
Anyone who has information related to this investigation or who believes they may be a victim can contact the FBI at 916-746-7000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Hedges faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
United States Reaches $200,000 Settlement with Siskiyou County Pharmacy for Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — KJL Consultants Inc., doing business as Luke’s Yreka Drug, and owner Lucas Walsh have agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that the pharmacy committed multiple violations of the Controlled Substances Act’s strict recordkeeping requirements, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
The pharmacy permanently ceased operations in December 2018, and a key term of the settlement agreement included the pharmacy’s surrender of its DEA registration for cause.
The settlement relates to a DEA administrative audit and inspection of Luke’s Yreka Drug in September 2016 during which the DEA identified more than 150 Controlled Substances Act violations including failing to maintain the archived DEA-E-222 form for orders of controlled substances from a distributor, to properly document the quantity and/or date of controlled substances received from a distributor, and to conduct a complete and accurate biennial inventory.
“To prevent diversion of opioids and other dangerous drugs and avoid harm to the public from abuse of these powerful substances, it is critical that all pharmacies, whether they be large national chains or small local stores like Luke’s, ensure that their drug transactions are properly documented, tracked and inventoried,” U.S. Attorney Scott said. “This settlement emphasizes the importance of proper and diligent recordkeeping and the significant penalties to pharmacies that fail to do so.”
“Failure to ensure proper record keeping and accurate inventories of controlled substances allows for potential diversion of powerful prescription drugs,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge, Daniel Comeaux. “DEA is committed to keeping our communities safe by holding companies like KJL accountable for such deficiencies.”
This settlement resulted from joint efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and the DEA. It was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Trinka Ernce.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only.
Seventh Conspirator Pleads Guilty to Participation in the DC Solar Ponzi Scheme Involving $2.5B in Transactions and Nearly $1B in LossRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alan Hansen, 49, of Vacaville, pleaded guilty Tuesday to his participation in a massive fraud scheme through DC Solar, a solar energy company in Benicia formerly owned and operated by Jeff and Paulette Carpoff, that defrauded investors of approximately $1 billion, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
Those losses resulted from investment transactions in solar energy hardware valued at approximately $2.5 billion. Hansen also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting money laundering. Hansen is the seventh person to plead guilty to federal criminal charges relating to the fraud scheme since October 2019. The Carpoffs pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud conspiracy and other charges in January 2020.
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. The Carpoffs and their co-conspirators solicited investors by claiming that there were favorable federal tax benefits associated with investments in alternative energy. The conspirators pulled off their scheme by selling 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 business and executed certain contracts. In that role, Hansen accepted $1 million from co-conspirators at DC Solar to fraudulently sign a false contract those co‑conspirators later used to induce investments by victims. Thereafter, 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 to sign a false contract related to the earlier agreement, using a fake name. The conspirators also used that false contract to induce an investment by victims. 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 was paid came from payments by DC Solar investors, and that DC Solar was deceiving them to induce those payments. Nevertheless, Hansen provided a co-conspirator with information to complete those wire transfers, intending to commit money laundering.
Joseph W. Bayliss, 44, of Martinez, and Ronald J. Roach, of Walnut Creek, each pleaded guilty to related charges on Oct. 22, 2019. Robert A. Karmann, 53, of Clayton, pleaded guilty to related charges on Dec. 17, 2019. Ryan Guidry, 53, of Pleasant Hill, pleaded guilty to related charges on Jan. 14. Jeff and Paulette Carpoff pleaded guilty to related charges on Jan. 24 and are scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 10. The investigation into the fraud remains ongoing.
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 André M. Espinosa and Kevin C. Khasigian are prosecuting the case.
Hansen is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Nov. 3. Hansen faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison. 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.
Dallas Man Arrested for Extortion and Cyberstalking of Butte County VictimRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cameron Andrew Garcia, 26, of Dallas, Texas, was arrested today on a two-count federal indictment charging him with extortion and cyberstalking, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Garcia sent Instagram messages to a victim residing in Butte County, threatening to post sexually explicit images and videos of the victim to public websites unless the victim produced new sexually explicit images and videos for him and sent him money.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick is prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information related to this investigation or who believes they may be a victim can contact the FBI at [email protected].
If convicted, Garcia 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.