Local News

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.

Madera South High’s 11th Homecoming the Friday - Carles Beckett to Serve as Grand Marshal

MADERA - Ushering in this year's Homecoming as Grand Marshal will be an educator who has dedicated his life to the community of Madera for the last 65 years, Mr. Carles Beckett. “I have spent my last 65 years in Madera. I graduated from Madera Union High School in 1963. Became a teacher in 1967 at Ripperdan Elementary School teaching fifth grade. I was an administrator for many, many- many years. I was a student in the 50s, a teacher in the 60s, an administrator in the 70s, 80s, and 90s,” expresses Beckett.

A few of Mr. Beckett’s principalships included being the principal at Dixieland Elementary for 15 years and helping the building stages of Lincoln Elementary as the opening principal in 1994. “The students of Madera Unified mean the world to me,” states Beckett as he reviews his roles in the district.

Three Members Of Modesto Hells Angels, Including Vice President And Secretary, Indicted For Firearm And Drug Offenses

FRESNO - Three members of the Modesto Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, including the Club's Vice President and Secretary, were charged yesterday in four separate indictments, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Hell's Angels Vice President Michael Shafer, 31, of Modesto, was charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana, conspiring to distribute heroin, distribution of marijuana, and two counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Hells Angels Secretary Patrick Gonzales, 31, of Modesto, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.

Hells Angels member Ricky Blackwell was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm after suffering a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.