Local News

Madera Community College Celebrates 5th Anniversary

MADERA - Madera Community College (MCC) celebrates its fifth anniversary of achieving recognition as California’s 116th community college. While the milestone marks five years of independent status, it reflects decades of educational service, community partnership, and regional impact.

In July 2020, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors voted unanimously to designate Madera Community College as the 116th – and newest – campus in the state’s system. That decision recognized the growth, strength, and potential of a campus dedicated to expanding access to higher education.

Detectives Arrest Hoover High School Coach for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

FRESNO - Detectives with the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have booked 38-year-old Miguel Lara of Fresno into the Fresno County Jail for possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Lara had a bail of $20,000. He posted bond and was released from jail Thursday evening.

On Thursday, detectives followed up on a CyberTip and contacted Miguel Lara at an apartment complex located at 4909 N. Backer Ave. in northeast Fresno. Detectives arrested Lara for possession of CSAM, and his electronic devices were collected for further analysis.

Founder of Punjabi Devils Motorcycle Club Stockton Charged with Firearms Offenses

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jashanpreet Singh, 26, of Lodi, charging him with unlawful dealing of firearms; unlawful possession of a machine gun; and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.

According to court documents, Singh was the founder of the “Punjabi Devils” Motorcycle Club, a Stockton-based outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG) associated with the Hells Angels. On June 6, 2025, Singh attempted to sell several weapons to an undercover officer, including a short-barreled rifle, three other assault weapons, three machine gun conversion devices, and a revolver. A subsequent search of Singh’s residence resulted in the discovery of additional firearms, including a machine gun, another machine gun conversion device, and a silencer.

Fresno Man Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Conspiring with Pharmacist to Illegally Traffic Hundreds of Thousands of Opioid Pills

FRESNO - Kelo White, 44, of Fresno, was sentenced today to seven years and six months in prison for illegally distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.

According to court records, from 2014 through 2018, White and Donald Ray Pierre, 56, of Fresno, obtained more than 450,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills based on fraudulent prescriptions that were filled by their co-conspirator, Ifeanyi Vincent Ntukogu, 49, of Fresno, who was a pharmacist in Madera. White was responsible for more than 250,000 of those pills. The fraudulent prescriptions were purportedly from more than 10 different doctors whose signatures had been forged.

California Lobbying Firm Agrees to Settle Fraud Allegations

FRESNO - Political Solutions, LLC, has agreed to pay the United States $556,924 in damages and penalties to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) by receiving a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez announced.

Congress created the PPP in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide emergency relief to small businesses experiencing economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many small businesses were eligible for these loans, some were not, including those primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities.