Local News

Kings County Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms Trafficking Charges

FRESNO -- Alexis Sanchez, 20, of Kettleman City, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute narcotics and conspiring to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between April 2016 and March 2018, Sanchez participated in a conspiracy to purchase and ship firearms from Tennessee to California. Sanchez assisted in sending firearms that were purchased by co-conspirators in Tennessee to California.

Fresno Man Stopped for Speeding Found to Be in Possession of Ammunition

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jerald Esther Williams, 22, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Aug. 14, Fresno Police Department officers saw a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed. They determined the vehicle was going in excess of 97 miles per hour. Williams was the sole occupant of the vehicle. During a search of the car, the officers found a loaded gun on the driver’s side floorboard near Williams’ left heel. The gun had eight rounds of 9 mm Luger ammunition in it. As a previously convicted felon, Williams is prohibited from possessing ammunition.

Extradited Israeli Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Northern California Gambling Crimes

SACRAMENTO - Yaniv Gohar, 36, formerly of Berkeley, pleaded guilty today to conducting an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and failure to appear, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Gohar created and led an organization that installed and maintained video slot machines at businesses open to the public across Northern California. Gohar then created a system by which he could launder the proceeds of his lucrative gambling business, involving shell companies and paying cash to employees of a co-defendant’s business in exchange for money transfers from that co-defendant.

North Kern State Prison Officials Investigating Attack on a Correctional Officer by Eight Inmates

DELANO ― A North Kern State Prison (NKSP) correctional officer is recovering from injuries he sustained when he was attacked by eight inmates on Sept. 13.

The incident began last Friday at about 2 p.m. when the officer was conducting his security checks on Facility A and found an inmate with a contraband cell phone. The inmate attacked the officer. Seven other inmates joined in the attack and punched and kicked the officer.

The Old Timers Day Parade will Continue to Make History: Saturday at 10AM

MADERA - Mark your calendars for this Saturday at 10:00AM the Old Timers’ Day Parade will mark the 88th year of its age-old tradition! Thanks to the support of the Madera Sunrise Rotary Club, this year’s parade will go on.

As noted in a previous article, for more than 10 years, the Madera Kiwanis Club has hosted and organized the parade. Unfortunately, the Madera Kiwanis Club closed their chapter in 2018 and was no longer available to coordinate the event. Thankfully, once the Madera Sunrise Rotary caught word of this, they stepped up to the plate to ensure that the parade would continue its legacy.