Local News

Former Navy Chief Petty Officer and Naval Reservist Indicted for ID Theft Scheme

FRESNO - On Jan. 28, a federal grand jury in Fresno indicted Selma couple Marquis Asaad Hooper, 30, and Natasha Renee Chalk, 37, charging them with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Hooper was stationed in Japan as a chief petty officer with the Navy’s Seventh Fleet until October 2018. His wife, Chalk, was a naval reservist stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. Hooper separated from the Navy in October 2018.

Shortly before Hooper’s separation was final, Hooper and Chalk fraudulently obtained access to a database containing millions of people’s personal information. The company that operates the database only grants access to legitimate businesses and government agencies and only for business or government purposes, such as police departments attempting to locate suspects or banks confirming the information in account applications.

Two Indicted After Investigation into Reports of Sex Trafficking at the Desert Star Motel

FRESNO - A federal grand jury has returned a one-count indictment against Jatinbhai Naresh Bhakta, 29, and Roy Gene Drees, 45, both of Bakersfield, charging them with use of facilities of interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today.

According to a criminal complaint, Bhakta purchased and began operating the Desert Star Motel at 516 South Union Avenue in Bakersfield in 2015. Bhakta lived in a unit at the motel. Drees also lived at the motel and was employed as a handyman and general manager.

Bakersfield Man Indicted for Laser Strikes on Sheriff Helicopter

FRESNO - Andrew Nathan Hernandez, 18, of Bakersfield, was arrested today for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, on Dec. 26, 2020, Hernandez aimed the beam of a laser pointer at the Kern County Sheriff’s helicopter Air-1.

Hernandez is scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on Tuesday, Jan. 26. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.

High-Ranking Nuestra Familia Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Directing Drug Trafficking in Kings and Tulare Counties While Inside Prison

FRESNO - High-ranking Nuestra Familia prison gang member Salvador Castro Jr., 50, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Castro used a contraband cellphone from inside Pleasant Valley State Prison in Fresno County to arrange for the formation of a new street gang regiment in Kings and Tulare Counties. According to the plea agreement, Castro was recorded on a wiretap conspiring with associates outside of prison to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.

Between May 5, 2019, and May 15, 2019, Castro coordinated the transportation of approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine from the Sacramento area to a residence in Visalia. Castro arranged for co-conspirators outside of prison to protect the narcotics during transit, and when the drugs arrived in Visalia, Castro and his co-conspirators discussed plans to distribute the methamphetamine to buyers in the Central Valley.

Former Supervisor Candidate Home Raided by FBI Following Capitol Insurrection

MADERA – Investigators with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the home of Hedrick Edward “Eddie” Block (44) Friday afternoon on the 900 block of East Cleveland Avenue in Madera. Block was one of the thousands of trespassers to enter the grounds of the United States Capitol Building while filming himself, beyond the established security barriers in Washington DC on January 6 of this year.

Agents notified the Madera County Sheriff’s Department before the noontime raid as a courtesy to local law enforcement, who were on hand as well as Madera Police to assist in the serving of the warrants. The FBI spent approximately four hours removing electronic devices and digital media owned by Block. According to Block even his cable box from Xfinity and cell phone were seized by the Federal officers. Block said in a podcast published following the raid that he believes over 25 officers were in his house during the service of the warrant.