News

Fresno Resident Sentenced to Prison for Counterfeit Treasury Check Conspiracy and Identity Theft

FRESNO - Jeffrey Michalk, 44, of Fresno, was sentenced today to three years and nine months in prison for conspiracy, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between June 2020 and January 2022, Michalk worked with Fresno residents Steve Gomez, 41, and Michael Dugan, 49, to cash counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks throughout the Central Valley. The criminal conduct included approximately 264 fraudulent checks and a loss of over $500,000. The trail of counterfeit checks spanned different counties and involved checks forged to be made payable to the defendants and others.

Kern County Man Pleads Guilty to Six-Year, $825,000 Credit Card Fraud Scheme

FRESNO - Miguel Leyva, 36, of Wasco, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for his role in a long-running credit card fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court records, between February 2016 and August 2022, Leyva and his partner and co-defendant, Karina Arceo, stole the personally identifiable information (PII) for more than 125 victims. They stole much of the PII from patient files at healthcare providers in Kern County, where Arceo worked.

Aggravated Assault Leads to Homicide in Madera

MADERA - Last week, the Madera County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call from an area hospital regarding a patient under their care who had sustained injuries inconsistent with the reported event.

MCSO Deputies initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. They confirmed the victim, 44-year-old Mandy Burriel, was transported by EMS from the 16000 block of Krohn St in Madera on 12/14/23 for a reported fall. The victim’s boyfriend, 52-year-old Scott Allen, was the reporting party.

U.S. Attorney’s Office Enters Settlement with City of Fresno Regarding ADA Compliance at Amtrak Station

FRESNO - The City of Fresno has agreed to resolve findings of violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at the Fresno Amtrak intercity rail station, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The rail station, located at 2650 Tulare Street, is owned by the City of Fresno and serves passengers using trains to reach destinations up and down the San Joaquin Valley.

Under the agreement announced today, the city made accessibility modifications to exterior and interior portions of the station, including repairs to curb ramps, the waiting room, and the station’s restrooms. This agreement is part of a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice to improve accessibility at the nation’s rail stations. In 2020, the Department of Justice also entered into a nationwide settlement with Amtrak regarding ADA compliance at its stations.

Missing Person Case Turns to Murder Investigation

MADERA - The Madera County Sheriff’s Office must announce the murder of 19-year-old Melanie Stephanie Rios Camacho, who has been missing since last Friday. Two suspects, 23-year-old Vicente Alexandro Jasso and 22-year-old Jose Cornelio Lopez-Hernandez, both of Madera, are currently in custody for their roles in her death.

Melanie was last seen leaving her work Auto Zone on Gateway Dr. in Madera) at 10:15 pm on Friday, November 24^th, by a co-worker. Nearby video surveillance shows Melanie’s 2014 white Nissan Altima vehicle leaving northbound Gateway shortly before 10:30 pm. Around 11:00 pm, Melanie sent a text message to her mom letting her know she planned to meet with a friend after work.

Former Madera County Supervisor Jesse Lopez Passes Away at Age 94

MADERA - Former Madera County Supervisor Jesse Lopez passed away last week after a brief illness. Born Jesus H.'Jesse' Lopez to Sara and Marcelino Lopez on April 30, 1929, in Sonora, AZ. He married Sally Ramirez in 1950, and they raised six children. Sadly, Jess passed away on November 15, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his wife Sally, his son David Lopez, his grandson Ricardo Lopez, his siblings Alvaro Lopez, Marcelino Lopez, Mary Arriola, and Sara Rodriguez, and his parents. He is survived by his children Hope Lopez (Raul Alejo), Jesse Lopez Jr (Gloria), Virginia Salas (Candelario), Alvaro Lopez (Bertha) and Sally (Becka) Marmolejo (Louie). He is the brother of Robert Lopez, Amapola Houk, and Grace Romero. Jesse had 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren, and 13 great, great grandchildren.

Former San Jose State University Director Of Sports Medicine Sentenced For Groping Female Student Athletes

SAN JOSE – Scott Shaw, a former San Jose State University (SJSU) Director of Sports Medicine, was sentenced today to serve 24 months in prison for unlawfully touching female student-athletes under the guise of providing medical treatment. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California.

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that public school officials who exploit their positions of authority to sexually abuse and harass students will face serious consequences for their actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate violations of civil rights committed under the guise of legitimate medical treatment by those in positions of power and trust.”