FRESNO - Erin Elizabeth Peterson, 41, of Bakersfield, was sentenced Monday to seven and a half years in prison for possession of stolen U.S. mail and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Peterson was also ordered to pay $92,908 in restitution. According to court documents, from July to December 2017, Peterson made fraudulent transactions at various retail establishments in Bakersfield using credit and debit cards stolen from the mail.
Peterson was identified from photographs obtained from the stores where the stolen cards were used. On December 28, 2017, a federal search warrant was executed at Peterson’s residence and 428 pieces of stolen mail, 31 stolen credit/debit cards, over a hundred personal and business checks and a counterfeit arrow key used to access U.S. community mailboxes were found. Also located in the residence were approximately 140 grams of methamphetamine, $1,400 in cash, drug packaging material, and a digital scale.
BAKERSFIELD - Noel Carter, 45, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today for conspiring with Bakersfield police officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana that Diaz and Mara seized in the course of their duties as police officers, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
FRESNO — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment on Thursday, April 4, 2019, against Jose Luis Rivas Jr., 26, of Bakersfield, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
COALINGA – Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) officials are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide. On Friday, April 5, 2019, at around 9:30 a.m., an officer noticed that inmate Jesus Castaneda declined to go to the recreational yard. 
FRESNO – Madera High School 1984 graduate, Major General Clay L. Garrison has been ousted as head of the California Air National Guard. The General has been relieved of duty following complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct that reached into the highest ranks of the organization.
