News

Illinois Man Sentenced To 11 Years In Prison For Running California-Based Synthetic Drug Trafficking Ring

FRESNO - Douglas Jason Way, aka Jason Way, 45, of Evanston, Illinois, was sentenced Monday to eleven years in prison following his conviction by a jury on five felony drug charges and two fraudulent misbranded drug charges, announced United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Nielsen, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Francisco Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Oakland Field Office. The convictions concerned the manufacture and distribution of 24 tons of synthetic cannabinoids or designer drugs, commonly known at the street level as “spice,” “K2,” “herbal incense,” or “potpourri.”

Way was convicted following a four-week jury trial in federal court in Fresno in June and July 2018. Following his release from prison, Way will serve a three-year term of supervised release. As a further part of the sentence, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd ordered a money judgment of $589,199.48 against Way. In addition to this money judgment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office previously forfeited more than $6.5 million of drug proceeds: $6,488,000 in cash and $191,000 in other assets, including a 2013 Ford F350 pickup truck and a 2014 Airstream travel trailer.

ACLU Files Discrimination Complaint on behalf of Black Students at Visalia Unified

SAN FRANCISCO - The ACLU Foundation of Northern California today filed a discrimination complaint on behalf of Black students in the Visalia Unified School District who have faced ongoing racial hostility. The complaint, filed with the Office for Civil Rights within the Department of Education, charges the district with violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by creating a racially hostile environment. Filed by five Black students on behalf of themselves and other Black students in the district, it also cites racially disparate detention and suspension rates.

Black students at Visalia Unified have been repeatedly harassed and called racial slurs, including the n-word. White students have joked about hanging Black students from trees, promoted a “white power” message, called Black students “slaves,” and worn confederate symbols to school. Complaints by the targeted students themselves and witnesses to the hostility have been consistently ignored by teachers and administrators.

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring with Police Officers to Sell Methamphetamine and Marijuana

BAKERSFIELD - Noel Carter, 46, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Bakersfield police officers Damacio Diaz and Patrick Mara to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana that Diaz and Mara seized in the course of their duties as police officers, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, from April 2012 to August 2015, Carter conspired with Diaz and Mara, who deliberately failed to submit the seized drugs into the BPD evidence room and instead provided the stolen narcotics to Carter so that Carter could sell those narcotics for profit.

Madera County Man Indicted for Excavating Native American Artifacts in Sierra National Forest Near the Town of North Fork

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment on October 18, 2018, against Vance Franklin Myers, 31, of Ahwannee, charging him with three counts of unauthorized excavation and removal of archeological resources, and one count of possession of stolen government property, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on July 26, 2015, while fighting a wild fire, fire fighters discovered an excavated site in the Willow Creek area of Box Canyon in the Sierra National Forest. Human remains and artifacts were located among large piles of sifted dirt, hand tools and a large screen sifting box.

Fatal Fall at Cascadel Falls

MADERA COUNTY - In the afternoon hours of October 17, 2018 two adult subjects, a male and female, went for a hike in the area of Cascadel Falls. The female subject, later identified as 37 year old Jamie Eischen of Fresno, crossed a creek to explore a cave she observed on the other side.

After crossing the body of water, she stepped onto a pile of debris near the edge of a cliff. The debris broke loose from the ground, causing her to lose her footing and slip. She fell approximately 50 feet, landing on a granite slab below. She then rolled into the water at the foot of the cliff.

Coalinga Man Arrested for Killing Wife Dies in Hospital

FRESNO - On October 9th, 2018, Fresno County Jail Inmate Clarence Kozlowski experienced chest pains and was transported to Community Medical Medical Center for treatment. 85 year old Kozlowski would remain in the hospital until October 21st when he passed away. On October 22nd, an autopsy was performed on Kozlowski. Nothing suspicious was discovered. A cause of death is pending test results.

On September 14, 2018, Sheriff's homicide detectives arrested 84 year old Clarence Kozlowski of Coalinga. He was booked into the Fresno County Jail on a murder charge. Earlier inthe day Officers from the Coalinga Police Department responded to a home on the 300 block of Jefferson St. on a request for help.

Gang Member Nailed for Possession of Assault Weapon with High-Capacity Magazine

FRESNO - Southeast Special Response Team Officer Sergio Gonzalez and Officer Steve Baiza responded Wednesday evening to the area of Chestnut Ave and Florence Ave regarding a call for service of 14 shots fired. Southeast Patrol Officers also responded to the call and canvassed the area.

While canvassing the area, SRT Officer Baiza observed two men in the 2200 block S Garden Avenue run into a house as they were approaching. SRT Officers stopped at the home and contacted 25 year-old Nathan James, a Bond Street Bulldog Associate near the open garage. James was intoxicated and when questioned, denied having knowledge of shots fired in the area.