Local News

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.

DOJ Special Agents Assist Operation Targeting Fresno Gangs: Two Plead Guilty to Firearms Offenses

FRESNO - On Monday, Devone Johnson, 32, and Anthony Thomas, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing firearms, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, on October 9, 2016, Johnson and Thomas possessed an Uzi Model A, 9 mm rifle. Thomas was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a previous felony conviction. Johnson was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

Johnson and Thomas were arrested on November 3, 2016, along with 18 other defendants following a year-long multi-agency investigation that targeted criminal street gangs in Fresno. Other defendants also have pleaded guilty to various firearms and drug offenses, including:

Owner of Bakersfield Catholic-Interest Website Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Tax Evasion

FRESNO - U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced Michael Galloway, 63, of Bakersfield, to 21 months in prison for tax evasion, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Galloway was ordered to surrender to serve his sentence beginning on November 14, 2018.

On March 21, 2018, a jury in Fresno returned a guilty verdict today, convicting on four counts of tax evasion. Galloway owns and operates the website, Catholic Online. According to court documents, Galloway generated revenue by selling advertising and hosting to faith-based businesses.