FRESNO - Four California agricultural companies and their owner have agreed to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) by knowingly submitting false information in support of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
The companies, which grow, harvest, process, pack, ship, and sell processed and fresh tomatoes, among other crops, are Mendota Land Co., Sweetwood Farm Co. LLC, Sweetwood Farm Inc., and Seasholtz Co. LLC. The companies and their owner John Seasholtz (collectively, “Seasholtz”) are alleged to have improperly inflated the employee headcount on PPP loan applications by impermissibly including non-employee contract workers who were, in fact, employed by other, unrelated entities.
FRESNO COUNTY - Property crimes detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 29-year-old Fernando Gonzalez of Parlier. He has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on nearly 20 felony charges, including multiple counts of robbery and being a felon in possession of a gun and ammunition. His bail is set at $845,000.
FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Emmanuelle Padilla, 26, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 
FRESNO - After 20 seasons at the helm, Mike Batesole is stepping down as head coach of the Fresno State baseball program. Ryan Overland will serve as interim head coach for the 2023 season. 
MADERA - The Madera County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting today to discuss the imminent closure of the Madera Community Hospital. After hearing testimony from the state, federal, and local leaders, as well as comments from the community, the Board gave direction to staff on the following:
