Local News

Attempted Murder Suspect In Custody After Hours-Long Search

OAKHURST - On August 20, 2018, at approximately 10:30 am the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding an assault in the area of River Park Road in Oakhurst. A California Highway Patrol Officer was flagged down by a concerned citizen who observed a male in the area who was bleeding and appeared to be in need of medical treatment. The CHP Officer located an adult male victim with a stab wound that was bleeding heavily. Fire and EMS crews administered first aid to the 24 year old adult white male victim and transported him to a regional hospital for treatment.

According to both victim and witness statements, the assault occurred in a nearby apartment complex. A witness in the area observed a white male adult matching the suspect’s description walking back towards the same apartments. The suspect was identified as a tenant of the complex, 28 year old Dillon Westlake. Madera County Sheriff’s Deputies, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and California Highway Patrol Officers established and maintained a perimeter while the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) searched the building for the suspect.

Member of Nevada City-Based Conspiracy Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Multimillion Dollar Bank and Title Fraud Scheme

SACRAMENTO - George B. Larsen, 56, formerly of San Rafael, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison and ordered to pay $1,759,100 in restitution for his role in a fraudulent mortgage elimination scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. On December 6, 2017, Larsen was convicted following trial on one count of conspiracy and four counts of bank fraud.

According to court documents, between April 22, 2010, and November 18, 2011, Larsen was a member of a conspiracy that ran a mortgage elimination program purporting to help distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure. The conspirators fraudulently altered the chain of title on residential properties, sold the properties, and received the sales proceeds.

North Valley Woman Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison for Unemployment Benefits Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme

SACRAMENTO - Brittany Maunakea, 29, of Manteca, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to two and a half years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud for her role in a scheme to defraud the State of California by filing false unemployment insurance claims, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Maunakea was also ordered to pay $139,071 in restitution.

According to court documents, beginning in February 2015, Maunakea entered a scheme to defraud the State of California by filing false unemployment insurance claims with the California Employment Development Department (EDD), using the stolen identities of over 250 California workers. In total, the conspirators filed at least 269 false claims seeking over $2.5 million in fraudulent benefits. EDD’s actual overpayment was $898,899. Maunakea participated in the scheme by receiving and facilitating EDD documents at her home and using debit cards issued in the names of identity-theft victims to withdraw the fraudulently obtained benefits.

Iraqi National Wanted for Murder in Iraq Arrested in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO - Omar Ameen, 45, an Iraqi national, wanted on a murder charge in Iraq, appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Sacramento today in connection with proceedings to extradite him to face trial in Iraq. Ameen settled in Sacramento as a purported refugee and attempted to gain legal status in the United States.

The arrest was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott for the Eastern District of California, Assistant Director Michael McGarrity of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office.

Mail Theft Suspect in Custody: Mother ID's Suspect From BVN Facebook Photo

MADERA – Thanks to one particular reader of Big Valley News the suspect in a recent rash of mail thefts on Madera’s Westside has now been identified. James “Skyy” Vasquez (19) was identified by his mother following seeing his photos on our Facebook page.

Big Valley News shared the information with Madera Police Wednesday evening only to learn the next morning the suspect was arrested overnight by Fresno Police on car theft charges and an active warrant for domestic violence.