Local News

Former Rancho Cordova Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud

SACRAMENTO - Three individuals, along with Monica Nunes, 40, of formerly of Rancho Cordova, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Nunes and her co-defendants, Johnathon Ward and Talalima Toilolo, conspired to defraud financial institutions using a scheme called “refund fraud” or “force post refund fraud.”

This scheme exploited the merchant refund process used by businesses and retail establishments to pay back customers for returns, reimbursements, and erroneous charges. The defendants posed as merchants and executed fraudulent debit or credit card refunds, which caused the unauthorized transfer of money from a merchant bank account to an account under the defendants’ control.

Sacramento Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Prison for Dealing Firearms Without a License

SACRAMENTO - Kenneth Bryant, 29, of Sacramento, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to four years and nine months in prison for dealing firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Bryant met with an undercover agent and a confidential source on 10 occasions between Sept. 12, 2017, and Dec. 8, 2017, and sold them a variety of firearms, including an AR-15-type rifle and pistol and various semi-automatic handguns.

In all, Bryant sold investigators 30 firearms, and at least two lacked a serial number or other identifying markings. Bryant, a convicted felon, was not licensed to sell firearms. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with special assistance from the Sacramento Police Department and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office’s Gangs, Hate Crimes, and Narcotics Unit. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz prosecuted the case.

Kern Valley State Prison Officials Investigating Two Inmate Homicides

DELANO – Officials at Kern Valley State Prison are investigating two separate incidents that occured last week as homicides during a two day period.

On Thursday, April 30, at approximately 1:30 p.m., correctional officers responded when inmates Matthew Thornton and Michael Arzaga began attacking inmate Robert Hargrave with an inmate-manufactured weapon on the Facility B recreational yard. The officers ordered them to stop and when the attackers did not comply, they used chemical agents to stop their assault.

Deputies Shoot & Kill Fleeing Violent Suspect

MADERA - A Madera County Sheriff’s Office Detective requested backup last Wednesday from patrol deputies in an attempt to contact 29-year-old Madera County resident Artemio Mondragon Alfaro after he was spotted in the area of Avenue 9 and Road 24. The six-foot four-inch, 250-pound suspect was wanted for questioning on robbery and violating a domestic violence protective order charges. He also had active felony warrants for domestic violence and violating his probation.

Two patrol deputies and a K-9 Deputy responded to the area and spotted Alfaro driving a grey Ford pickup truck. The deputies attempted a traffic stop and a pursuit ensued. A Fresno County Sheriff’s Office aircraft responded and assisted by monitoring the pursuit and providing overhead observation.

Public Health Department Starts Rapid In-house COVID Testing

MADERA - Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) has received its first order of testing cartridges for its GeneXpert molecular testing system allowing for more rapid testing. Beginning today, rapid tests which will provide results within one hour.

The Public Health Director has been advocating aggressively for Cepheid, the producer of the cartridges since mid-March.“The GeneXpert is our only in-house option for increasing testing. We have been eager to increase our capacity for testing in Madera County but have been unable to use our GeneXpert machine due to the shortage with cartridges. We are excited that our advocacy with state and federal partners has paid off,” stated Public Health Director, Sara Bosse.