Local News

Second Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Series of Armed Robberies in Tulare and Kern Counties

FRESNO - Ulises Medina, 25, of Earlimart, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Medina was a member of a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies of gas stations, convenience stores, and liquor stores from May 19, 2016, until July 26, 2017.

Medina and his conspirators committed at least seven armed robberies in Tulare and Kern Counties between May 2016 and January 2017. The next month, Medina and his associates travelled to Nebraska, where they committed two more robberies. They then returned to California, where they committed three more armed robberies.

Two Indicted for Arranging the Shipment of Over 400 Pounds of Marijuana to Kansas City, Missouri

Cocaine and Firearms Seized in Residences in Madera and Fresno

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Patrick Maldonado, 42, of Madera, and Elias Zambrano Jr., 43, of Fresno, charging them with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and being felons in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Maldonado is also charged with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute.

According to court documents, Maldonado and Zambrano coordinated the shipment of over 400 pounds of marijuana to Kansas City, Missouri. Following the seizure of one load in Kansas City and a second in Arizona, agents executed search warrants at Maldonado’s residence in Madera and Zambrano’s residence in Fresno.

Madera County Sheriff's Sergeant Shot in Late Night Stand Off

MADERA COUNTY - Shortly after 9PM Sunday, Madera County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 28000 block of Avenue 15 ¾ for a domestic disturbance complaint. The reporting party advised the dispatcher that the subject had a firearm.

Upon arrival at the scene, twenty-eight year veteran of the Madera County Sheriff’s Department, Sergeant Mike Pace, was shot by the suspect as the officer was exiting his vehicle. He was treated at the scene by EMS and transported to Community Regional Medical Center..

Bakersfield Trucker Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy

FRESNO - Darrell Leon Jennings, 51, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Jennings, a trucker doing business in Moreno Valley as Jennings Transportation, assisted Mario Alvarez-Muniz, 50, of Taft, in transporting 6 kilograms of heroin and 11 kilograms of cocaine destined for Chicago. After Alvarez-Muniz arranged for the shipment of the drugs from Mexico to Mira Loma, Jennings picked up the drugs and drove back to Bakersfield where he was stopped by agents. A police dog located the drugs in a customized hidden compartment in Jennings’ truck.

Mexican National Residing in Merced County Pleads Guilty to Large Toxic Marijuana Grow in Sequoia National Forest

FRESNO - Maximiliano Farias-Martinez (Farias), 49, a Mexican national residing in Stevinson, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to cultivate marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Farias supervised Jose Manuel Sanchez-Zapien (Sanchez), 38, of Dos Palos, who delivered supplies to growers at a marijuana cultivation site in the Sequoia National Forest. The drop point has been used numerous times in the past to supply marijuana growers in the Slick Rock Creek drainage. Law enforcement officers found over 20,000 marijuana plants at the site.

The cultivation operation caused significant damage to public land. Approximately three acres were stripped of vegetation and the ground was terraced to accommodate the marijuana plants. Large amounts of ammonium nitrate and other fertilizers were found at the site. Insecticide containers were found scattered around the site and trash was scattered throughout the grow site. The cost to clean up the area is $8,665. Farias has agreed to make restitution to the Forest Service in that amount.