Local News

Central Valley Business Owner Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Role in Stealing $4.8 Million in Livestock Feed Ingredients

FRESNO - Richard Best, 72, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to three years in prison and ordered to pay $2 million in restitution for his role in a fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars’ worth of canola (used to make livestock feed) from international food processors, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

“Richard Best treated the agricultural supply chain as his personal inventory, stealing nearly $5 million worth of canola oil for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who commit fraud in our agricultural markets will be found and prosecuted. We remain committed to protecting the integrity of our markets and the businesses that play by the rules.”

Man Sentenced to 6 Years and 3 Months in Prison for Narcotics Conspiracy in Prison Discovered Following the Death of USP Atwater Staff

FRESNO - Jermen Rudd III, 39, of Wentzville, Missouri, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to six years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and introducing a controlled substance into prison as a result of an investigation into the death of a Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, between July 15, 2024, and Aug. 9, 2024, Rudd conspired with Jamar Jones, 37, an inmate at USP Atwater, and Stephanie Ferreira, 37, of Evansville, Indiana, to introduce narcotics into USP Atwater for Jones to sell. As part of that scheme, Jones and Ferreira had Rudd mail a letter laced with narcotics to Jones that was fraudulently labeled as legal mail.

Former Fresno Art Council Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $1.8 Million of Publicly Designated Funds

FRESNO - Suliana Caldwell, 46, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud involving over $1.8 million in funds stolen from the Fresno Art Council, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, Caldwell worked as the Fresno Art Council’s operations manager from 2021 to February 2026. In this position, she managed the Fresno Arts Council’s bank accounts, payroll, grants, donations, and general finances. Her duties also included providing periodic financial updates and reports to the executive director, board members, and the City and County of Fresno.

Charges Filed Against Suspect for Fatal Stabbing of Family Member

FRESNO - Fresno County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested 29-year-old Nicolas Arriaga of Fresno and booked him into jail.

Just before 4:00 pm on Easter Sunday, deputies responded to a disturbance at 6700 E. Central Ave. in Fresno (Sago Rey Palms Plant Nursery). As deputies responded to the scene, dispatchers provided information that a man was attacking multiple people with a machete.

Central Valley Men Indicted for Possession of Approximately One Million Pills Containing Suspected Methamphetamine

SACRAMENTO - A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment today against Jose Mendoza, 35, of Merced; Jessy Johnson, 34, of Turlock; and Alejandro Perez, 43, of Crows Landing, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, the defendants were part of a drug-trafficking organization that used the U.S. Mail to distribute drugs across the country. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 100 parcels sent by the defendants’ organization. Those parcels contained controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms.