News

Felony Arrest for Criminal Conspiracy and Theft in Oakhurst

OAKHURST - On December 14, 2019, around 6:00 pm, Madera County Sheriff’s Deputy Charlie Robertson responded to a call for service to a business in the 40000 block of Highway 49 for a reported theft of merchandise. Surveillance video from the store showed an unidentified female adult leave the store with a large amount of clothing and flee the scene in a white sedan driven by an unidentified male subject.

During a patrol of the Chukchansi Casino parking garage around 2:00 am, Deputy Robertson observed a white sedan matching the description of the suspect vehicle from the surveillance video. He noted several items of clothing in plain view inside the vehicle that matched the description of the items taken from the store, as well as a purse that the female was seen carrying.

Senator Rand Paul Endorses Pelosi Challenger Cites Impeachment as Bad Policy

SAN FRANCISCO - United States Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) today endorsed John Dennis for Congress against Nancy Pelosi in California's 12th Congressional District. He urged San Franciscans to vote for Dennis, and for Americans around the country to support

Senator Paul said, "Speaker Pelosi's sham impeachment of President Trump, destructive policies and disastrous partisanship do not deserve reelection. San Franciscans could not have a better representative in Congress than my friend John Dennis.

Six Indicted for Claiming Benefits for Properties Destroyed in Paradise Camp Fire that Were Not Their True Residences

SACRAMENTO - On Thursday, Dec. 12, a federal jury returned indictments against six defendants who made false claims for benefits in connection with the 2018 Camp Fire and received funds from FEMA to compensate for their losses, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

U.S. Attorney Scott stated: “In 2018, in the aftermath of the Carr Fire and Camp Fire, and we encouraged the public to report any suspected fraudulent activity and promised to aggressively pursue and prosecute fraud and abuse. Today we are announcing federal charges against individuals who abused the goodwill of the taxpayers and claimed losses that they had not incurred. These investigations are ongoing, and we are not done holding people accountable for fraudulent claims.”

Former Fresno Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

FRESNO - Forrest Awbrey, 29, formerly of Fresno, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. The sentence imposed includes a lifetime term of supervised release during which, Awbrey’s access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. A hearing has been scheduled for March 13, 2020, to address restitution to victims.

According to a criminal complaint, Awbrey was detected by law enforcement investigators when he was sharing numerous child pornography files on a BitTorrent file-sharing network from August through November 2016. He admitted to investigating agents that he had used file‑sharing programs for several years to obtain child pornography.

Tulare County Man Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun

FRESNO - Francisco Fernandez, 26, of Earlimart, was sentenced today to two and a half years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, a search warrant was executed at Fernandez’s residence in April 2019. During the search, federal agents found and seized scales, drug paraphernalia, and cocaine. Fernandez admitted to possessing cocaine for sale to others.

Ceres Gamecock Breeder Indicted on Animal Cruelty Charges

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment on Thursday, Dec. 12 against Joseph D. Sanford, 72, of Ceres, charging him with offenses involving cockfighting, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Sanford was arrested at his place of business this morning and will be arraigned in Fresno at 2:00 p.m. today.

According to court documents, Sanford is charged with conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act, unlawfully possessing animals for an animal fighting venture, and unlawfully selling animals for an animal fighting venture. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of thousands of game fowl at his business, Joe Sanford Gamefarm.

Jury Convicts Former Fresno IRS Employee of Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Tax Fraud

FRESNO - On Thursday, a federal jury convicted Marcela Heredia, 46, of Riverside, of seven counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of making a false tax return, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Heredia worked at the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission’s Transitional Living Center, which houses at-risk youth, until 2014. Heredia also worked at the IRS as a Tax Examiner between 2008 and 2014.