Local News

Operators of Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Organization in Kern County Face Federal Charges

SACRAMENTO - A federal grand jury returned three indictments against nine individuals on Thursday, charging the defendants with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Kern County, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. The first indictment charges Miguel Zuniga Arteaga, 41, of Delano; Armando Martinez, 60, of Los Angeles; Terry Whited, 37, of Idaho; Miguel Angel Sanchez-Meza, 48, of Mexico; Juan Vizuett-Resendiz, 34, of Texas; and Vincente Salvador Arenas-Garcia, 36, of Bakersfield, with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine,

According to court documents, between Aug. 9, 2017, and Nov. 10, 2020, these defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Kern County and elsewhere. During the course of this investigation, law enforcement obtained court-authorized wiretaps and seized over 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of methamphetamine, approximately $259,840 in purported narcotics proceeds, and seven firearms.

Fresno Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Assaulting a Postal Worker

FRESNO - Pablo G. Rivera, 36, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to two years and six months in prison for assault on a federal officer or employee, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Jan. 19, 2019, Rivera forcibly assaulted a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in his mail truck while the mail carrier was delivering mail. That day, the defendant attempted to enter several occupied vehicles on Shaw Avenue in Fresno, CA. When he was unsuccessful, he forced his way into a mail truck by shoving the mail carrier. The mail carrier escaped, but Rivera absconded with the mail truck. He was apprehended after he crashed into a telephone pole and fled on foot. Rivera was charged in both state and federal court. He pleaded guilty to the federal charge on Aug. 21.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

Tulare County Man Arrested for Over $8 M Fraud that Purported to Turn Cow Manure into Renewable Energy

FRESNO - Raymond Brewer, 64, of Porterville, was arrested today on a 24-count indictment charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. A grand jury returned an indictment on Oct. 29, and it was unsealed today.

According to court records, since at least March 2014, Brewer acted primarily through his now-defunct, Tulare-based company called CH4 Power to steal at least $8,750,000 from investors. He purported to build anaerobic digesters on dairies in Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties and elsewhere in California and Idaho.

Bakersfield Man Indicted for Scheme Creating Dozens of Fraudulent Accounts and Siphoning More Than $900,000 from Financial Institutions

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned an eleven-count indictment today against Nahed Mishmish, 46, of Bakersfield, charging him with wire fraud, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft in a scheme that caused more than $900,000 in losses to the financial institutions, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to the indictment, between Jan. 1, 2015, and Jan. 15, 2020, Mishmish carried out a scheme to defraud Synchrony Bank, Capital One, and other credit card companies and financial institutions. Mishmish obtained the personal identifying information of numerous individuals without their authorization and used the information to open credit card accounts. Mishmish allegedly used the cards to pay for personal expenses such as a vehicle lease and rent. The credit accounts were also being used to purchase large amounts of cigarettes at Rite Aid stores.

Fresno Antiviolence Operation Results in 2 More Indictments Charging Firearm Offenses

FRESNO - As part of an ongoing concerted effort by local and federal law enforcement to address the significant uptick in violent crime in the City of Fresno, a federal grand jury returned indictments today against two Fresno residents with being a felon in possession of either a firearm or ammunition, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

“We are fully committed to working with local law enforcement in the City of Fresno and Fresno County to reduce violent crime there,” said U.S. Attorney Scott. “Both defendants charged today have multiple felony convictions including firearms-related ones. In short order, six men have been indicted and face federal charges in support of this effort by law enforcement to reduce violence. We’ve just gotten started, and we’re not going away.”