News

Man Sentenced to 6 Years and 3 Months in Prison for Narcotics Conspiracy in Prison Discovered Following the Death of USP Atwater Staff

FRESNO - Jermen Rudd III, 39, of Wentzville, Missouri, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to six years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and introducing a controlled substance into prison as a result of an investigation into the death of a Supervisory Correctional Systems Specialist at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, between July 15, 2024, and Aug. 9, 2024, Rudd conspired with Jamar Jones, 37, an inmate at USP Atwater, and Stephanie Ferreira, 37, of Evansville, Indiana, to introduce narcotics into USP Atwater for Jones to sell. As part of that scheme, Jones and Ferreira had Rudd mail a letter laced with narcotics to Jones that was fraudulently labeled as legal mail.

Former Fresno Art Council Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $1.8 Million of Publicly Designated Funds

FRESNO - Suliana Caldwell, 46, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud involving over $1.8 million in funds stolen from the Fresno Art Council, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, Caldwell worked as the Fresno Art Council’s operations manager from 2021 to February 2026. In this position, she managed the Fresno Arts Council’s bank accounts, payroll, grants, donations, and general finances. Her duties also included providing periodic financial updates and reports to the executive director, board members, and the City and County of Fresno.

Charges Filed Against Suspect for Fatal Stabbing of Family Member

FRESNO - Fresno County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested 29-year-old Nicolas Arriaga of Fresno and booked him into jail.

Just before 4:00 pm on Easter Sunday, deputies responded to a disturbance at 6700 E. Central Ave. in Fresno (Sago Rey Palms Plant Nursery). As deputies responded to the scene, dispatchers provided information that a man was attacking multiple people with a machete.

Central Valley Men Indicted for Possession of Approximately One Million Pills Containing Suspected Methamphetamine

SACRAMENTO - A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment today against Jose Mendoza, 35, of Merced; Jessy Johnson, 34, of Turlock; and Alejandro Perez, 43, of Crows Landing, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, the defendants were part of a drug-trafficking organization that used the U.S. Mail to distribute drugs across the country. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 100 parcels sent by the defendants’ organization. Those parcels contained controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms.

Illegal Alien with Serious Criminal History Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

FRESNO - Gilberto Arteaga, 43, of Michoacan, Mexico, illegally residing in Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 19 years and five months in prison for his role in a fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, between Oct. 1, 2022, and July 16, 2023, Arteaga joined in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in Fresno County. On July 15, 2023, a car that law enforcement agents believed Arteaga and his co-conspirators were using crossed from the United States into Mexico and then back, all in less than 12 hours. The car then traveled to a residence in Sanger.

Fresno Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Paycheck Protection Program Loan Fraud

FRESNO — Gurjeet Bath, 37, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 14 months in prison for theft of government property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Bath was also ordered to pay a $100,000 criminal fine.

“During a time when legitimate businesses were struggling to survive, this defendant chose to exploit a program designed to keep workers employed,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “He has since pleaded guilty and repaid the stolen funds, but that does not erase the harm caused. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that fraud and our commitment to holding accountable those who abuse programs meant to help our communities in times of crisis.”

Kern County Man Sentenced to 12 Years, 7 Months in Prison for Flying Drone over State Prison with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

FRESNO. — Jorge Narvaez, 28, of Delano, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, on June 9, 2024, Narvaez piloted an Autel EVO II Pro V3 drone over North Kern State Prison (NKSP), intending to distribute methamphetamine within the facility. Narvaez loaded the drone with two balloons packaged with methamphetamine, flew the drone over the prison, and dropped the balloons into the prison yard. NKSP officers recovered both balloons. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the two balloons contained a total of 21.4 grams of methamphetamine.