Local News

Ten MS-13 Members and Associates Indicted for Gang-Related Murders and Racketeering

FRESNO - A seven-count superseding indictment was unsealed today, charging 10 MS‑13 members and associates with a RICO conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

“When reports surfaced that MS-13 had established a presence in the City of Mendota in the Central Valley, a multi-agency investigation was launched,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “Today’s announcement is a direct result of the arrests in 2018 of 25 individuals on federal and state charges in connection with their Mara Salvatrucha (MS‑13) gang activities. One of the highest priorities of my office and of the federal law enforcement agencies we work with is to partner with the police departments, sheriff’s offices, and district attorneys in our district to reduce violent crime.”

Three Fresno County Residents Indicted for Conspiracy to Sell 6.5 Pounds of Fentanyl Pills

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Gilberto Arteaga, 41, of Fresno; Juan Castro, 48, of Sanger; and Shannon Calhoun, 53, of Sanger, charging them with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in the spring of 2023, law enforcement began investigating Arteaga for suspicion of trafficking fentanyl. The investigation revealed a connection between Arteaga and a car owned by Calhoun that had made several, same day, quick trips into Mexico and back to California. On July 15, 2023, Calhoun’s car crossed into Mexico and then hours later back into California.

California Truck Parts Manufacturer Pays $1 Million After Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy and for Manufacturing and Selling Illega Parts

SACRAMENTO - Diesel performance parts manufacturer Sinister Mfg. Company Inc. – doing business as “Sinister Diesel” – pleaded guilty to criminal charges today in federal court and agreed to pay a total of $1 million in criminal fines and civil penalties. The company also agreed to implement a compliance program and not to manufacture, sell or install any device that defeats a vehicle’s emissions controls.

Sinister Diesel pleaded guilty to a two-count Information, charging it with conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act (CAA) and defraud the United States and with violating the CAA by tampering with the monitoring device of an emissions control system of a diesel truck. Under the plea agreement, the defendant agrees to pay a $500,000 criminal fine.

North Fork Man Arrested for Possession and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Imagery

NORTH FORK - Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) through the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) regarding the possession and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Imagery that was uploaded to the internet in Madera County.

MCSO Detectives immediately initiated an investigation and identified 51-year-old Madera County resident Wayeng Cha of North Fork, CA as the suspect. On Wednesday, April 7, 2021, Cha was taken into custody and booked at the Madera County Jail for felony possession and distribution of CSAI (Child Sexual Abuse Imagery).

Two Men Convicted of Using Credit and Debit Card Skimmers at Fresno Gas Stations

FRESNO - Akop Dongelyan, 47, of Glendale, and Artak Vardanyan, 40, of Burbank, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit credit and debit card fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court records, in November 2015, Dongelyan and Vardanyan went on a crime spree in Fresno and Southern California, stealing multiple victims’ credit and debit card information through skimmers at gas stations. They then used that information to make counterfeit credit and debit cards and fraudulently withdraw $198,000 from the victims’ accounts.