Eastern District of California

FRESNO, Calif. — Gabriel Ruiz De Chavez, 46, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud for defrauding his employer out of over $1.49 million, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, from 2004 to 2020, Ruiz De Chavez worked as an operations manager. Between 2012 and 2019, Ruiz De Chavez used his position to generate fake invoices purportedly created by genuine vendors for goods and services. He presented these fake invoices and corresponding checks made out to the real vendors to his employer for signature, and would then deposit the checks into his own personal bank account.

Ruiz De Chavez used the funds to pay for personal expenses including credit card payments, cash withdrawals, mortgage payments, vacations, and car loans. He was able to continue the scheme without notice because of the trusted position he held at the company. Between 2012 and 2019, Ruiz De Chavez created over 600 fake invoices and checks, causing at least $1,491,000 to be transferred into his account from his employer.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.

 Ruiz De Chavez is scheduled to be sentenced on November 6, 2024. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

FRESNO, Calif. — Irma Olguin, Jr., 43, and Jake Soberal, 38, the founders and leaders of the failed Fresno-based start-up company, Bitwise Industries, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. They admitted to defrauding investors, lenders, and others out of $115,000,000.

According to court records, Olguin and Soberal founded Bitwise in 2013. The company then grew to have three business lines: (1) technology workforce training program, (2) technology consulting service, and (3) a real estate arm that bought, renovated, and leased commercial properties. The company promised to create jobs for underserved groups of people, revitalize blighted urban areas, and show that such a project could be highly profitable. 

By early 2022, Bitwise had raised over $75,000,000 through Series A and B investment rounds, and the company had grown to 800 employees and apprentices across multiple offices and states. But the company was not making a significant profit and was running low on funds.

Thereafter, Olguin and Soberal conspired to mislead investors, lenders, and others into believing that Bitwise was excelling when it was instead failing. They fabricated financial information in investor materials and altered and forged other financial records to inflate the company’s revenues, cash balances, and other financial markers. 

The following are illustrative examples of Olguin and Soberal’s fraud:

• In a February 2022 presentation and July 2022 prospectus that were circulated to investors, Olguin and Soberal represented that Bitwise’s cash balance was over $44,000,000 as of the end of 2021. They also represented that the company’s revenue was more than $58,000,000.  In reality, the company’s cash balance was less than $12,000,000 at that time and its revenue was minimal;

• In June and July 2022, Olguin and Soberal falsely represented to a California-based investment firm that Bitwise had secured a $150,000,000 investment from another, London-based investment firm. This was done to convince the California-based investment firm to purchase several buildings that Bitwise owned. Several months later, Soberal falsely represented to another lender that Bitwise still owned those buildings to get the lender to loan Bitwise millions more dollars;

• In a March 2023 presentation circulated to investors, Olguin and Soberal represented that Bitwise’s cash balance was over $77,000,000 as of the end of 2022. They also represented that the company’s revenue was more than $143,000,000. In reality, the company’s cash balance was less than $5,000,000 at that time and its revenue was minimal;

• Also in March 2023, Olguin and Soberal provided an investor with an altered version of an audit of Bitwise that was previously conducted by an international audit firm. They altered the audit to make it appear as though Bitwise’s revenue was 300% higher than was true;

• Also in March 2023, Soberal represented to a long-time Bitwise employee that the company had sufficient resources on-hand to induce the employee to make a significant loan to the company. 

This pattern continued until the end of May 2023 when Bitwise ran out of money and the company collapsed.

As a result of Olguin and Soberal’s false and fraudulent representations, Bitwise received $115,000,000 in investments and loans to which the company was not entitled. The ill-gotten money went towards paying the company’s payroll, outfitting its office spaces, and repaying debts owed to prior investors and lenders, among other business expenses.

Olguin and Soberal admitted that they used their positions as Bitwise’s co-Chief Executive Officers to conceal their fraud from the company’s board of directors and others at the company. They also admitted to using sophisticated means to deceive and cheat investors and lenders out of their money.   

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Barton and Henry Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.

Olguin and Soberal are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6, 2024. They face maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud counts. That makes for a total maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.  They also agreed to pay full restitution. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Custodio Ibarra Nunez, 42, of Merced, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $17,930 in restitution to the United States, for conspiracy to cultivate marijuana, marijuana cultivation, and depredation of public lands in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between May 23 and July 8, 2019, Nunez was a manager in a conspiracy to cultivate over 4,000 marijuana plants south of Rays Peak on public lands in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest with three other co-conspirators: Francisco Madrigal Magana, Mario Alberto Lopez Pena, and an uncharged 17-year-old. Agents arrested Magana and Lopez at the site. Magana and Pena were later convicted and sentenced to 18 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and depredation of public lands and resources.

Nunez was not present at the illegal cultivation site during the law enforcement raid. Subsequent investigation led to his identification, and revealed that he continued to engage in illegal marijuana cultivation with the uncharged minor in Merced. A search of his residence resulted in the discovery of additional marijuana plants, marijuana cultivation tools and supplies, vacuum sealing devices, and packaging material, including evidence of USPS tracking receipts for shipments across the county. Nunez was indicted and arrested in February 2020, and has remained in custody since. 

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, the Trinity County District Attorney’s Office the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Team, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, the Atwater Police Department, and the Redding Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sam Moss Kerfoot, 27, of Carmichael, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

According to court documents, in April 2022, Kerfoot used the online application Omegle to meet teenage girls in the Sacramento area, including Victim 1, who was a minor. On multiple occasions, Kerfoot picked up the victim from school and took her off campus to have sexual intercourse with her, and Kerfoot took a video of this sexual exploitation. Law enforcement searched Kerfoot’s phone and located 73 videos of child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement also searched Kerfoot’s SnapChat account and learned that Kerfoot had used Snapchat to send and receive child pornography.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force Internet Crimes Against Children unit including the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Sauvageau is prosecuting the case.

Kerfoot is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Dale A. Drozd on October 22, 2024. Kerfoot was previously convicted for crimes related to the sexual abuse of a minor, and accordingly is subject to a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence. Kerfoot faces a maximum statutory penalty of 50 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

FRESNO, Calif. — Nicolas Adan Guereca, 25, of Fresno was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 25 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The court also ordered Guereca to pay a total of $60,200 in financial assessments and scheduled a hearing on restitution for September 16, 2024.

The prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release during which time his access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. Guereca was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, on approximately July 30, 2019, Guereca used a cellphone and an Instagram account with username jayriggs_14 to locate and communicate with a minor victim. During a series of messages, Guereca coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and create visual depictions of that conduct for the purpose of transmitting them to Guereca. Investigators later learned that Guereca had used multiple phones and Yahoo, Snapchat, and Instagram accounts to communicate with minor females. Guereca received images of minors, some as young as 12 years of age, engaged in sexually explicit conduct from approximately June 2019 through July 2020.

This case is a product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically Homeland Security Investigations, the Clovis and Fresno Police Departments, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a three-day trial, a federal jury found Anton Andreyevich Iagounov, 38, of South Lake Tahoe, guilty of four counts of impersonating a federal officer, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Iagounov pretended to be a federal law enforcement agent by creating and sending counterfeit investigative documents, which he signed in the name of a fictional federal agent, seeking highly protected information from the Department of Defense.

“The defendant impersonated federal officers and tried multiple times to obtain protected information using fake court documents,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Many federal agencies like NASA have devoted law enforcement officers, and we will continue to partner with those agencies to ensure their officers are not illegally impersonated.”

“Usurping public trust, Mr. Iagounov pretended to be an agent of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Office of Inspector General creating fake investigative documents in an attempt to obtain sensitive government information,” said Michael Graham, NASA-OIG Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. “This verdict demonstrates the commitment of NASA-OIG, the USAO, and our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate, prosecute, and hold accountable those who undermine justice.”

On July 5, 2022, Iagounov sent a search warrant he had created to the U.S. Capitol Police, falsely claiming it was signed by a Special Agent of NASA Office of Inspector General (NASA-OIG) and appearing to be authorized by a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia. The Capitol Police investigated the document, determined it was fake, and referred it to NASA-OIG for further investigation.

On July 11, 2022, Iagounov again pretended to be the same fictional NASA-OIG agent, and sent the warrant to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. This time, he sent it without a judge’s signature, indicating it was for an “emergency filing” and required a judge’s signature. He sent it from an email address designed to look like it was from a United States government agency, but which the defendant owned and had named to look like a government agency’s internet domain.

On July 18, 2022, Iagounov again sent the fake search warrant, purporting to be signed by the same fictitious NASA-OIG agent. He sent it to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Georgia, again indicating that it was for an emergency filing and needed a judge’s signature immediately. 

Finally, on July 24, 2022, Iagounov faxed a letter, under the name of a real NASA-OIG supervising agent, to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. In that letter, he claimed to be following up on the warrant, stating that an “exigent circumstance” required a judge’s signature immediately. The faxed letter included an anonymous email address for the agent that actually belonged to Iagounov. Several days earlier, on July 15, Iagounov had sent his warrant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida, but had received no response. 

In each case, given the apparently sensitive nature of the materials the defendant’s warrant sought, the receiving personnel for the Courts referred the matter to NASA-OIG for review and investigation. 

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NASA Office of Inspector General, with assistance by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly and Audrey Hemesath are prosecuting the case.

Iagounov is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Oct. 17, 2024. Iagounov faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count of conviction. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Stephanie Lynn Fahlgren, 47, of Sacramento, charging her with possession of stolen mail, unlawfully possessing a mail key or lock, and unauthorized possession of 15 or more access devices, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on March 20, 2024, Fahlgren was in possession of stolen mail, mail keys or locks, and more than 15 debit or credit cards, which are counterfeit and unauthorized access devices. Fahlgren possessed those devices with intent to defraud her victims.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Cárdenas is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Fahlgren faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for possession of stolen mail, 10 years in prison for possession of mail key or lock and 20 years in prison for unlawful possession of 15 or more access devices. Each count carries a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jesus Iribe, 28, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to 14 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Feb. 17, 2022, Iribe was stopped by law enforcement officers. Iribe had a loaded Glock pistol in his pocket and a kilogram of cocaine in his pickup truck. The officers later conducted a search at Iribe’s house and found 10 pounds of methamphetamine, 5 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of marijuana, counterfeit M-30 oxycodone pills, and five more firearms.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee prosecuted the case.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The co-founder and former chief technology officer of Paxful Inc. pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to fail to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program.

According to court documents, from July 2015 to June 2019, Artur Schaback, 36, of Tallin, Estonia, used Paxful Inc. to operate Paxful, an online peer-to-peer virtual currency platform and money‑transmitting business where customers negotiated for and traded virtual currency for a variety of other items, including fiat currency, prepaid cards, and gift cards. During this time, Schaback allowed customers to open accounts and trade on Paxful without gathering sufficient know-your-customer (KYC) information; marketed Paxful as a platform that did not require KYC; presented fake AML policies to third parties that he knew were not, in fact, implemented or enforced at Paxful; and failed to file a single suspicious activity report, despite knowing that Paxful users were perpetrating suspicious and criminal activity.

As a result of his failure to implement AML and KYC programs, Schaback made Paxful available as a vehicle for money laundering, sanctions violations, and other criminal activity, including fraud, romance scams, extortion schemes, and prostitution.

Schaback pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully fail to establish, develop, implement, and maintain an effective AML program as required by the Bank Secrecy Act. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 4, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Schaback will also resign from Paxful Inc.’s Board of Directors.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California; Tatum King of Homeland Security Investigations; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office made the announcement.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation. Bank Integrity Unit Deputy Chief and National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team Deputy Director Kevin Mosley and Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen, Victor Salgado, and Caylee Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen for the Eastern District of California are prosecuting the case.

MLARS’ Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The co-founder and former chief technology officer (CTO) of Paxful Inc. pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to fail to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program.

According to court documents, from July 2015 to June 2019, Artur Schaback, 36, of Tallin, Estonia, used Paxful Inc. to operate Paxful, an online peer-to-peer virtual currency platform and money transmitting business where customers negotiated for and traded virtual currency for a variety of other items, including fiat currency, pre-paid cards, and gift cards. During this time, Schaback allowed customers to open accounts and trade on Paxful without gathering sufficient know-your-customer (KYC) information; marketed Paxful as a platform that did not require KYC; presented fake AML policies to third parties that he knew were not, in fact, implemented or enforced at Paxful; and failed to file a single suspicious activity report, despite knowing that Paxful users were perpetrating suspicious and criminal activity.

As a result of his failure to implement AML and KYC programs, Schaback made Paxful available as a vehicle for money laundering, sanctions violations, and other criminal activity, including fraud, romance scams, extortion schemes, and prostitution.  

Schaback pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully fail to establish, develop, implement, and maintain an effective AML program as required by the Bank Secrecy Act. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 4 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Schaback will also resign from Paxful Inc.’s Board of Directors.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California; Special Agent in Charge Tatum King of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office made the announcement.

HSI and IRS-CI are investigating the case.

Bank Integrity Unit Deputy Chief and National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team Deputy Director Kevin Mosley and Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen, Victor Salgado, and Caylee Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen for the Eastern District of California are prosecuting the case.

MLARS’ Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment on June 6, 2024, against Sean Ryan Angelo Grace, 32, of Sacramento, charging him with producing images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between August 2021 and August 2023, Grace convinced at least five underage female victims to send him images and videos depicting themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, which includes the Folsom Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, on each count, Grace faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

FRESNO, Calif. — Yovany Ramirez, 29, of Madera, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 10 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl to a person under age 21, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Aug. 13, 2021, Ramirez distributed the fentanyl pills that caused the death of D.D., a 19-year-old Madera man. D.D. suffered a fatal overdose just hours later. Upon further investigation, law enforcement recovered additional evidence that Ramirez was dealing drugs and firearms.

This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Madera Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A single count indictment was unsealed following the arrest of Mark Sigl, 62, of Antelope, that charges him with attempted coercion and enticement to engage in sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in March 2024, Sigl attempted to persuade, coerce, and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity including oral copulation.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Sigl faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Michael Joseph Taylor, 39, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to 17 years and six months in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in 2022 and 2023, Taylor used Reddit and Facebook Messenger to distribute multiple images depicting the sexual exploitation of children. Taylor also solicited a person on the internet whom he thought was the mother of daughters, aged four and six years old, to send him explicit images of her purported children. During this time period, Taylor possessed images and videos depicting child sexual abuse in two Google Drive accounts that he controlled.

Taylor’s criminal history includes at least nine prior convictions, including for failing to register as a sex offender in multiple jurisdictions and for attempted sexual abuse of a minor in Oregon. At the time he engaged in this criminal conduct, Taylor was on federal supervised release in Sacramento following a 2021 federal conviction for failing to register as a sex offender.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, which includes the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A former Department of Defense civilian employee was sentenced today to one year and eight months in prison for assaulting a U.S. military member in July 2020.

U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent Andrew D. Franz of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Osan Air Base Korea; and Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, Gerald Leon Ray III, 27, of Lathrop, California, intentionally struck the victim in the face near Osan Air Base, a U.S. military installation in the Republic of Korea. The assault caused the victim to fall to the ground strike his head on the pavement and suffer serious bodily injury. The evidence showed that, without immediate medical attention, which he received, the victim could have died. The victim’s injuries included a broken jaw, brain hemorrhage, and ongoing physical and mental health symptoms. At the time, Ray was employed in the Republic of Korea by the Defense Commissary Agency, a Department of Defense agency, on Osan Air Base.

The charge was brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, civilian employees of the Armed Forces.

Ray previously pleaded guilty on March 21 in the Eastern District of California to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI investigated this case, with assistance from the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Marshals Service in connection with the arrest, initial detention, and transport of Ray.

Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko P. Coppola for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.

A former Department of Defense civilian employee was sentenced today to one year and eight months in prison for assaulting a U.S. military member in July 2020.    

According to court documents, Gerald Leon Ray III, 27, of Lathrop, California, intentionally struck the victim in the face near Osan Air Base, a U.S. military installation in the Republic of Korea. The assault caused the victim to fall to the ground, strike his head on the pavement, and suffer serious bodily injury. The evidence showed that, without immediate medical attention, which he received, the victim could have died. The victim’s injuries included a broken jaw, brain hemorrhage, and ongoing physical and mental health symptoms. At the time, Ray was employed in the Republic of Korea by the Defense Commissary Agency, a Department of Defense agency, on Osan Air Base.

The charge was brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, civilian employees of the Armed Forces.

Ray previously pleaded guilty on March 21 in the Eastern District of California to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California; Special Agent Andrew D. Franz of the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Osan Air Base Korea; and Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.

The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and FBI investigated this case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and U.S. Marshals Service in connection with the arrest, initial detention, and transport of Ray.

Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko P. Coppola for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Eduardo Castillo, 39, of Corning, pleaded guilty today to one count of online enticement of a minor for sexual purposes, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Castillo had previously fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution; however, he was returned to the United States in August 2023 thanks to the collaboration of the FBI, Mexican law enforcement officials, and Mexican immigration officials.

According to court documents, between July 13, 2020, and Aug. 27, 2020, Castillo used a cellphone and the internet to entice at least five minor victims into sending him images and videos of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

During that timeframe, Castillo posed as one or more teenage girls on social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. Using images of teenage girls that he had downloaded from the internet, Castillo initiated chats and then exchanges of images with his male victims. Castillo then asked for child sexual abuse material in return, assuring his victims that the images and videos would be deleted. In reality, Castillo screen-recorded the videos and images and saved them on his devices.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.

Castillo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Sept. 9, 2024. Castillo faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Andrew Laughlin, 47, of Tahoe City, pleaded guilty today to one count of smuggling goods into the United States, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Laughlin acted as a “middleman” in an international amphibian smuggling ring. In a conversation with an undercover agent, Laughlin admitted that he participated in the ring in order to acquire hard-to-find newts. He shipped or received at least four packages of amphibians, including packages to or from individuals located in Hong Kong and Sweden. The packages were falsely labeled as items including a “toy car,” “rubber toys,” or “a ceramic art piece.” In reality, the boxes contained live animals including Eastern Box turtles, spotted turtles, fire belly newts, Asian warty newts, and newts native to California. Certain of the defendant’s shipments contained injurious species prohibited from being imported into the United States because their introduction could harm the ecosystems and natural resources of the United States. A search warrant executed on the defendant’s residence uncovered 81 live newts of various species. Some seized newts tested positive for Bd, a virulent fungi which originated in Asia and is spread through the illegal pet trade. Scientists estimate that Bd has caused significant declines in the populations of more than 500 species, more than 90 of which are presumed extinct.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine T. Lydon is prosecuting the case.

Laughlin is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Oct. 7, 2024. Under the plea agreement, Laughlin agrees to pay restitution for the costs of caring for and testing the seized newts. He also agrees as part of his plea agreement to undertake a voluntary public education campaign at his kayaking store about the harms of illegal amphibian trafficking. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Several of the newts seized via search warrant from Laughlin’s residence.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Robert Frenchie McGriff, 44, of Mesa, Arizona, pleaded guilty today to attempted transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, from March 2019 through June 2019, McGriff began communicating with an individual he believed to be a minor female on Instagram. McGriff told the individual that he was a pimp and actively recruited her to work for him in Arizona as a prostitute. In June 2019, McGriff traveled by bus from Phoenix, Arizona, to Turlock, California, with the intent of retrieving the minor female in Turlock and transporting her to work for him as a prostitute. McGriff was thereafter arrested by law enforcement.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Prosecutions Unit and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitnee Goins and Shea Kenny are prosecuting the case.

McGriff is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller on Sept. 9, 2024. McGriff faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Nathan Baptista, 36, charging him with aggravated sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

According to court documents, on May 31, 2024, Baptista forcibly raped and strangled a fellow Yosemite Hospitality employee after meeting her that night. 

This case is the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin C. Heinz is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Baptista faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cameron Pope, 30, of Tracy, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Pope entered into a conspiracy to steal mail from the U.S. Postal Service. Pope and others stole from cluster mailboxes throughout Northern California, including throughout Placer County and Sacramento County. From the stolen mail, the conspirators obtained identifying information and financial information from California residents. Pope and the conspirators then digitally altered checks and forged account holder signatures to negotiate and deposit checks. Pope and the conspirators stole thousands of pieces of mail from California residents, including checks totaling over $200,000.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the police departments of Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, and Tracy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney is prosecuting the case.

Pope is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Sept. 19, 2024. Pope faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ryan Davidek, 40, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty today to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

According to court documents, in 2016, Davidek began a sexual relationship with a middle school child who he had met online. Over the course of several years, Davidek booked hotel rooms and traveled across state lines, as well as transported the victim from another state to the Eastern District of California, to commit criminal sexual conduct.   

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexis Klein and Christina McCall are prosecuting the case.

Davidek is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Oct. 3, 2024. Davidek faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, restitution as determined by the court, and a lifetime term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

FRESNO, Calif. — Following a 19-day trial, on Tuesday, a jury convicted Fresno residents Marcus Asay, 68; Antonio Gastelum, 53; and their company, Agricultural Contracting Services Association dba American Labor Alliance (ALA), of committing a multi-year pension fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The jury also convicted Asay and ALA of committing separate workers’ compensation and hardship exemption fraud schemes. The hardship exemption fraud scheme involved a supposed exemption from the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that people obtain health insurance or pay a significant shared responsibility payment when they file their taxes. Finally, the jury convicted Asay of laundering money that he received from the pension fraud scheme.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Asay was the founder and chairman of ALA, and Gastelum was the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Compliance Officer. Gastelum is also the former city manager for the City of Parlier. From 2011 through 2019, the defendants offered three sham products: retirement plan, workers’ compensation coverage, and hardship exemption.

Pension Fraud Scheme

For the pension fraud scheme, Asay, Gastelum, and ALA falsely represented to over 3,000 people that they would protect and invest their retirement money through a 401(k) Plan when, in fact, they used the money for improper business and personal expenses. The improper expenses included restaurants, travel, credit cards, rare coins, transfers to Asay’s personal retirement account, online companion websites, and rent for Asay’s lakefront house in Fresno. The defendants then covered up the fact that the retirement money was gone by taking money the company received from the workers’ compensation fraud scheme and holding those funds out as pension funds. The loss caused by the pension fraud scheme was over $750,000.

Workers’ Compensation Fraud Scheme

For the workers’ compensation fraud scheme, Asay and ALA falsely represented that national insurers backed the workers’ compensation coverage that the company offered in several states, including California. The defendants did so by listing the national insurers on the certificates of insurance and policy declarations that the company issued to customers. The accuracy of the certificates of insurance and policy declarations was important to the customers because they needed to present these items to their own customers and regulators as proof of having workers’ compensation coverage in order to continue doing business. When government authorities began investigating the workers’ compensation fraud scheme, the defendants sent letters to customers telling them not to cooperate. The loss caused by the workers’ compensation fraud scheme was over $2,250,000.

Hardship Exemption Fraud Scheme

For the hardship exemption fraud scheme, Asay and ALA falsely represented that for a few hundred dollars they could provide people with an exemption that would protect them from The Affordable Care Act’s shared responsibility payment for not having health insurance when, in fact, only government agencies could issue such exemptions. Moreover, the exemptions were free to those who qualified.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and Office of Labor-Management Standards, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Tierney, Joseph Barton, and Stephanie Stokman are prosecuting the case.

The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 21, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. Asay and Gastelum face up to 20 years in prison for each count of conviction as well as maximum fines ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 per count. ALA faces up to an $8.5 million fine. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Holly Danielle Adams, 34, of Indio, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and to conspiring to launder money, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

According to court documents, between 2020 and 2022, Adams and co-conspirator Devlin Hosner, 35, operated vendor accounts on the dark web marketplaces known as ToRReZ and Dark0de. Adams and Hosner generated hundreds of thousands of dollars selling counterfeit oxycodone pills pressed with fentanyl, after which they laundered the proceeds using cryptocurrency mixers, wallets, and other online tools.

In September 2021, state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at an address where Adams and Hosner were residing. After officers announced their presence, Hosner attempted to impede their entry while Adams destroyed pills by pouring them into a chemical solution. Adams and Hosner were arrested and subsequently released by state authorities but resumed selling fentanyl on the dark web a few months later while they were unknowingly under investigation by federal law enforcement agents.

In March 2022, federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at a hotel room in Riverside County where Adams and Hosner were temporarily residing. Officers seized nearly a kilogram of fentanyl-pressed oxycodone pills and sixty grams of methamphetamine from this hotel room and arrested the conspirators on federal charges.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, which includes agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.

Hosner is detained pending trial. The charges are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Adams is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 24, 2024. Adams faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, as well as a fine of up to $1 million. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alex Altoh, 64, of Roseville, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between January 2021 and November 2021, Altoh and his co-defendant Oumar Sidibe, 30, were involved in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds from two large business email compromise schemes, in which two corporate victims were tricked into making payments to bank accounts controlled by Altoh and another person, rather than to the intended beneficiaries of the payments. Altoh, Sidibe, and others then quickly withdrew a large portion of the funds by way of check deposits, which effectively transferred the funds, concealed their unlawful nature, and prevented them from being clawed back. Law enforcement traced Altoh and Sidibe to about $3.9 million in laundered fraud proceeds. As part of his plea agreement, Altoh agreed to pay restitution on an amount of at least $1,478,000.

Sidibe is yet to be apprehended. The charges against him are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise N. Yasinow and Matthew Thuesen are prosecuting the case.

Altoh is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 24, 2024. Altoh faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering conspiracy. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

FRESNO, Calif. — Twenty-two participants in a drug-trafficking ring have been charged with conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl imported from Mexico into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office.

According to court documents, Operation Toxic Waste, an investigation into a sophisticated drug trafficking ring, has resulted in the seizure of more than 12,900 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 50 pounds of fentanyl mixture, 39 pounds of cocaine, and 22 pounds of heroin. As evidenced by tens of thousands of recorded communications, the organization smuggled methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl (powder and pills) in portable projectors and batteries, under the guise of a legitimate transportation business. The organization also secreted thousands of pounds of methamphetamine inside semi-trucks and hundreds of pounds of liquid methamphetamine in the gas tanks of cars and brought it across the border. The Mexican-based organization monitored the narcotics with the use of GPS tracking devices hidden with the smuggled drugs.

“Criminal organizations that bring drugs here like methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin in large quantities for profit pose a direct threat to the residents of the Eastern District of California,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to joining with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”

“Protecting our communities is a team effort; the FBI works in collaboration with its local, state, federal, and international partners to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our country ensuring a safer future for all Americans,” said Special Agent Sid Patel, who leads the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “This operation exemplifies the FBI’s commitment to collaborative investigations aimed at disrupting drug trafficking organizations who import dangerous drugs including fentanyl into our communities. Together, with the support of the public, we can make a difference.”

According to court documents, the following were indicted by a federal grand jury in Fresno and were subsequently arrested based on the allegations below:

• Adolfo Montiel, 45, of Lancaster, was charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy as well as with distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Between January and March 2023, Montiel used his residence as a “stash house” to store, package, and distribute the organization’s drugs to dealers throughout California and other states. He also illegally possessed and sold firearms.
• Jose Nunez, 42, of Lancaster, was charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Between April 2023 and May 2024, Nunez used residences in Los Angeles County to store, package, and distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. He also operated a methamphetamine laboratory in Los Angeles County.
• Jesus Perez Garcia Jr., 24, of Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was responsible for coordinating the receipt of drugs that the organization smuggled across the border and stored, packaged, and distributed the drugs to resellers.
• Andres Silva-Corona Perez, 42, of San Bernardino, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He operated a “stash house” with more than 500 pounds of methamphetamine for the drug-trafficking ring.
• Ruben Saenz, 36, of Los Angeles, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He transported over 4,700 pounds of methamphetamine that had been smuggled across the border in a semi-truck.
• Elvis David Vasquez, 32, of Northridge, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He operated a methamphetamine stash house for the organization where he stored and repackaged over 170 pounds of methamphetamine.
• Sergio Pena, 30, of Hacienda Heights, was charged with conspiring to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl and distribution of methamphetamine. Pena stored and distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms.
• Mirella Castillo, 41, of Lancaster, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Kiara Sinaii Valdivia, 29, of Pittsburg, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Calvin Guntetong, 26, of North Hollywood, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Jacklyn Saenz, 33, of Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Luz Maria Cobrera Salazar, 41, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Jose Galan Lopez, 22, of Chula Vista, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Allen Khamtrashyan, 26, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Emily Vela, 23, of North Hills, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Los Angeles Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the defendants face a range of sentences, including maximum penalties of 20 years, 40 years, and life in prison. Several defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 5 and 10 years. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.

FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno residents Ifeanyi Vincent Ntukogu, 49, and Kelo White, 43, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court records, from December 2014 through November 2018, in Madera and Fresno, Ntukogu, a pharmacist, dispensed over 200,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills based on prescriptions delivered to him by White and co-defendant Donald Ray Pierre, 55, of Fresno, that they knew were forged and fraudulent. Ntukogu reviewed each prescription and rejected the ones that he believed regulators may deem suspicious. For example, Ntukogu rejected prescriptions that were written by certain doctors or that were written for individuals who were having prescriptions filled at other pharmacies. He also alerted White and Pierre when the required language on the prescription pads changed.

Ntukogu dispensed the pills through his New Life Pharmacy in Madera. Upon doing so, he required cash payments from White and Pierre and increased the price that he charged over time.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the California Department of Health Care Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio Pataca and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.

Ntukogu and White are scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 23, 2024. They face statutory maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the conspiracy to distribute and distribution convictions. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Pierre, the other defendant in the case, was previously convicted and sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.

FRESNO, Calif. — Christopher Contreras, 30, of Fresno was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 15 years and nine months in prison for attempted coercion of a minor and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The sentence includes 20 years of supervised release during which time Contreras’s access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. Contreras was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, Contreras used the messaging applications Skout and Snapchat as well as text messages, to engage in sexually explicit communications for approximately one week with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old female. He then traveled to a location in Fresno on July 31, 2020, to meet the purported minor for sexual activity. He was actually communicating with undercover law enforcement investigators. They arrested Contreras and booked him into the Fresno County Jail where he was released on bail.

On Oct. 13, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to a call about a missing juvenile. An investigation confirmed that Contreras picked the juvenile up at a location in Fresno after making arrangements through messages on the Meet Me application. Contreras was arrested for numerous felony violations of California law and booked again at the Fresno County Jail. He was later charged federally in this case and has been in federal custody since June 10, 2021.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

FRESNO, Calif. — Miguel Martinez, 39, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to submit $25 million in fraudulent individual federal income tax returns, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court records, from November 2019 through June 2023, Martinez was one of the leaders of a scheme to file hundreds of fraudulent tax returns that claimed millions of dollars in refunds. Martinez and others caused false wage and withholding information for individuals that supposedly worked at fake businesses to be submitted to the Internal Revenue Service. Federal agents determined that the individuals did not work at the businesses, the businesses were fake because the businesses never actually paid any withholdings to the IRS, and the purported owners were unaware of the businesses. Martinez and others then submitted fraudulent tax returns that were in the names of the individuals who supposedly worked at the fake businesses and claimed substantial refunds from the IRS.

As a result of the scheme, the IRS paid out $2.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds. When federal agents arrested Martinez and searched his three homes, he was found with another $750,000 in fraudulent tax refund checks, identification cards for more than 200 individuals, and multiple firearms and ammunition.

This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Henry Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.

“Mr. Martinez orchestrated an elaborate scheme to steal approximately $25 million by filing hundreds of fraudulent federal income tax returns using fake businesses with false refund claims all while attempting to challenge the integrity of the U.S. tax system,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley. “His plea reinforces that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and investigative staff are up to that challenge and committed to following the money and directing criminals to justice.”

Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 23, 2024. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Martinez’s co-defendant in the case, Victor Cruz, who is a tax preparer in Bakersfield, is pending trial. Cruz is presumed innocent until and unless he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

FRESNO, Calif. — Arsen Tonoyan, 46, formerly residing in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty today to assault on a federal officer or employee that inflicted bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

According to court documents, Tonoyan was a detainee at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Golden State Annex detention facility in Kern County. On March 7, 2022, Tonoyan walked up to a detention officer and hit him multiple times causing the officer to fall to the ground. As a result of the attack, the officer suffered bodily injuries, including a concussion, cuts and swelling on his face, and shoulder pain. The officer sought medical attention for his injuries.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case.

Tonoyan is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Sept. 16, 2024. Tonoyan faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Bruce Anthony Garcia, 42, of Sacramento, pled guilty today to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor under his care, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between Aug. 2, 2017, and Sept. 1, 2019, Garcia took hidden video recordings of the victim. He recorded the victim in various stages of undress, using the toilet or shower, or changing in a bedroom or the living room of the apartment they shared. On his devices, Garcia possessed thousands of images and videos of the victim, with the victim either partially or fully nude in several hundred of these images.

When confronted, Garcia admitted that he specifically intended to take these images and videos, that his intent in creating the images and videos was sexual, and that he generally has a sexual interest in children. Garcia described how he would wait until the victim would be getting ready for bed or to take a shower, and then place a cellphone in the bathroom or bedroom. The phone would be propped up so that it would record the minor, but would either appear to be inconspicuous, as if it were being charged, or be hidden altogether. Garcia would then connect to this device remotely using a second device such that he could watch the minor live. From the recordings thus created, Garcia would take screenshots, resulting in the images that were eventually found. Further, Garcia would sometimes manipulate these images so as to focus or zoom in on the victim’s genitals and pubic area. In a text message conversation with another person, Garcia offered to trade pictures of the victim in exchange for other child sexual abuse material.

In addition to the images and videos described above, Garcia was also found to possess approximately 4,266 images and 426 videos of other child sexual abuse material, including images and videos showing the sexual abuse of toddlers. Several of these videos also depicted violence against the victims, including at least one depicting the bondage and torture of a prepubescent female child. Garcia’s child sexual abuse collection included 110 series of known victims of child sexual abuse.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.

Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Sept. 12, 2024. Garcia faces a minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jose Miguel Perez, 42, of Corona, charging him with possessing with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 1 kilogram of heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Perez was pulled over by law enforcement officers while driving north on Interstate 5 in Fresno County. Deputies seized 56 kilograms of various narcotics in the car’s two hidden compartments. Seven kilograms of cocaine were hidden in the ceiling of the car, while an additional 37 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of heroin, and 2 kilograms of ketamine were seized from a hidden compartment in the car’s roof.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Perez faces a statutory minimum of 10 years with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Daniel Joseph Noble, 28, residing in San Diego County, pleaded guilty today to knowing distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court records, between March 10, 2022, and April 12, 2022, Noble participated in a Kik private group chat dedicated to sharing videos of child pornography. Noble shared over 20 video files with the Kik group. Some of those files that Noble shared showed prepubescent minors being sexually abused by adults. At the time he engaged in this conduct, Noble was working as the assistant water polo coach for UC Davis men’s team and the associated youth team.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Sacramento and in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina McCall is prosecuting the case.

Following his guilty plea, Noble was remanded into custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 12, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. Noble faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against five men, Fernando Arellano, 36, of Planada; Isaiah Serena, 40, of Merced; Jason Mott, 49, of Merced; David Gonzales, 45, of Merced; and Christopher Baca-Arias, 18, a native of Honduras; charging them with crimes related to a Merced drug trafficking operation, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Arellano, Serena, and Mott are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Serena and Mott are additionally charged with distribution of methamphetamine. Serena, Mott, Gonzales, and Baca-Arias are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and Serena, Gonzales, and Baca-Arias are additionally charged with distribution of fentanyl. Serena is also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to court documents, Serena and Mott operated a drug trafficking operation centered on a self-storage business in Merced. Arellano supplied methamphetamine for the operation, while Baca-Arias supplied fentanyl. Gonzales worked for Serena and Mott. During the course of the investigation, conspirators distributed more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine and 2 pounds of fentanyl.

This case is a product of “Operation Red Rooster,” a long-term investigation into gang violence and drug trafficking by Homeland Security Investigations, the Merced-Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET), the California Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, the Merced Police Department, the Livingstone Police Department, and other agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Arellano, Serena, Mott, and Gonzales face a statutory maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Baca-Arias faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, Justice.gov/PSN.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Fabian Rodriguez, 35, of Bakersfield, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition and for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Rodriguez was found in possession of three boxes of 9 mm ammunition after having been previously convicted of crimes punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Rodriguez was also found in possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with other items typically employed in the sale of controlled substances.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition, Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine offense, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gabriel Adrien Lobe Diop, 35, a French national previously residing in Fremont and Agoura Hills, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution for nine counts of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

“It took a remarkable amount of energy for the defendant to steal nearly $2 million from the State Controller’s Office and attempt to steal millions more,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Today’s sentence should make it clear to the defendant and to those who would imitate him that my office and our law enforcement partners will put a similar amount of energy into bringing those who commit serious white-collar crimes to justice.”

San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Rafael Nunez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service stated: “Postal Inspectors work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners in law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those individuals responsible for fraud schemes committed against the public.”

“The State Controller’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy on any criminal activities related to theft from the Unclaimed Property Division and will not tolerate theft of property we are here to protect,” said State Controller Malia Cohen. “Mr. Diop’s sophisticated fraud scheme was insufficient to bypass detection, and he was ultimately apprehended, tried, and convicted for his criminal activities. I believe Diop’s sentence was appropriate and want to thank law enforcement for working together with various agencies including my office for their good work in bringing him to justice.”

According to court documents, between 2019 and 2021, Diop orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars of Unclaimed Property Division funds from the California State Controller’s Office. Diop did so by assuming the identities of victims for whom the Controller’s Office was holding significant amounts of unclaimed property and then submitting fraudulent applications for that property. Diop concealed his involvement in the fraud using a combination of post office boxes, mail forwarding requests, counterfeit notary stamps, and falsified driver licenses issued by numerous states. Starting in January 2019, Diop attempted to steal at least $9 million from the Unclaimed Property Division, and did in fact fraudulently obtain at least $1.8 million, before law enforcement disrupted his criminal scheme. Diop primarily spent the proceeds of his fraud on luxury goods, property, and consumer electronics.

Law enforcement agents executed search and arrest warrants at Diop’s residence in Agoura Hills in June 2021. Inside his residence, agents seized counterfeit stamps that Diop used to “notarize” his fraudulent applications for unclaimed property, 12 falsified driver licenses, bank cards and check books in his victims’ names.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance provided by the California State Controller’s Office, the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against three men, Wendell Moton, 33, of Fresno, Donnie Hicks, 33, of Visalia, and McCael Marshall, 34, of Visalia, charging them with conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking and possession of a firearm by a felon, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Moton, Hicks, and Marshall arranged to sell a machine gun to an undercover agent via the internet, and then were stopped by investigators on the way to the sale. Moton additionally was found with an additional firearm when he fled from police on another date.

This case is a product of “Operation Gridlock,” a long-term investigation into a network of violent criminal street gangs by Homeland Security Investigations, the Fresno Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Fresno Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, and the Fresno Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is being prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

FRESNO, CALIF — A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging former Sanger police officer J. Deshawn Torrence, 40, of Corcoran, with an additional count of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law for sexually assaulting a woman with whom he interacted during the course of his duties.

Torrence was previously indicted in July 2022. At that time, he was charged with engaging in various forms of nonconsensual sexual conduct, ranging from directing a victim to remove her clothing without a legitimate law enforcement purpose to forcing his victims to engage in sex acts, all while serving as a police officer. The superseding indictment adds a charge involving an additional victim. According to the indictment, Torrence sexually assaulted the additional victim after locking her in his patrol vehicle and driving her to an isolated location.  

U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar and Special Litigation Counsel Michael Songer of the Criminal Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Torrence faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury, including sexual abuse. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted of deprivation of rights under color of law, and he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of deprivation of rights under the color of law resulting in bodily injury. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

FRESNO, Calif. — Jeremy Gober, 43, of Hanford, was sentenced to 46 months in prison Wednesday for committing health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Gober co-owned and co-operated Got Sleep Inc., which operated sleep clinics in Fresno and Orange Counties. Sleep clinics perform diagnostic sleep studies to identify disorders like sleep apnea and narcolepsy.

From August 2016 through July 2020, Jeremy Gober caused Got Sleep to submit thousands of claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal for sleep studies that were not actually performed on patients.  The claims also falsely stated that the patients had been referred for the sleep studies by physicians with whom Jeremy Gober had previously worked. This was done because Medicare and Medi-Cal will not pay for a sleep study unless the patient was referred by a physician. Gober caused more than $1.5 million in fraudulent claims to be submitted and $587,000 to be paid out by Medicare and Medi-Cal.

On March 11, 2024, Jeremy Gober’s brother, Travis Gober, was sentenced to 19 months in prison for his conviction in a similar health care fraud and aggravated identity theft scheme related to other sleep clinics in the Central Valley.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the California Department of Health Care Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jacob Harding-Abeyta, 31, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to possession of cocaine for sale, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Oct. 7, 2020, a parole search of Harding-Abeyta’s residence resulted in the discovery of a loaded .45-caliber Springfield XDS firearm in his bedroom. Harding-Abeyta is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was previously convicted in Solano County for attempted murder in 2014. Officers also discovered 39 grams of powder cocaine, a digital scale, plastic baggies, and other drug paraphernalia. A search of his phone revealed that he was selling this and other cocaine. Additionally, Harding-Abeyta also admitted in his plea agreement that he committed obstruction of justice by attempting to suborn perjury of a witness during a prior evidentiary hearing in this case.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Haddy Abouzeid, Jason Hitt and Adrian T. Kinsella are prosecuting the case.

Harding-Abeyta is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 10, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearm charge and a maximum sentence of 20 year in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for the drug charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Charles Barrett, 40, was sentenced today to life in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact that occurred during a weekend in Yosemite National Park, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

“Barrett’s long history of sexual violence supports the imposition of a life sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “He used his status as a prominent climber to assault women in the rock-climbing community, and when his victims began to tell, Barrett responded by lashing out publicly with threats and intimidation. This case is a testament to the courage of the victims who reported these crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to investigate and prosecute violent crimes in National Parks like Yosemite.”

“We are grateful for the tireless work of the National Park Service investigative team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring this case to justice,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message about the consequences of this criminal behavior. It makes Yosemite a safer place for the climbing community, park visitors and our employees.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in August 2016, the victim went to Yosemite for a weekend of hiking, and Barrett, who was living and working for a private business in the park, sexually assaulted her three times. During trial, three other women testified that Barrett also sexually assaulted them. These assaults were not charged because they were outside federal jurisdiction but were admitted at trial as relevant to the charged assaults.

According to court documents, in 2017, seven years after he assaulted one of the victims who testified at trial, Barrett purposely climbed at a rock-climbing gym where the victim attended. She then disclosed Barrett’s assault on her to the gym owner in the interest of protecting other women at the gym. Barrett responded by harassing and threatening her for several years. In August 2022, he was convicted for criminal threats he made in January 2022.

While in custody on the present case, Barrett made hundreds of phone calls. On these calls, he showed no remorse or regret. Instead, he threatened to use violence and vindictive lawsuits against the victims, claiming that they designed a conspiracy to ruin his life

This case was the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael G. Tierney and Arin C. Heinz prosecuted the case.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Clarence Courtney, 58, of Vallejo, was sentenced today to 16 years and three months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on three occasions in late 2020, Courtney sourced 100% pure methamphetamine to co-defendant Michael Renay Williams, 62, of Vallejo, who then sold the methamphetamine to an undercover agent. Courtney and Williams possessed more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine upon their arrest. Inside Courtney’s residence, law enforcement seized 200 rounds of ammunition, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, and an AR-style sniper rifle with no serial number. Courtney, who has four prior felony convictions, was not permitted to possess firearms.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Vallejo Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Desmond prosecuted the case.

On March 30, 2023, co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2024.

This case was the result of Operation PEACE, an initiative launched in Vallejo in August 2020 in response to the increased number of homicides, nonfatal shootings, and other violent crimes. Operation PEACE leverages the strength of the federal and local law enforcement agencies by focusing enforcement operations on violent criminals, including those responsible for murders and shootings, and targets those involved in drug trafficking and firearms trafficking.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, of San Jose, was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution for three counts of arson on federal property, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

“Maynard went on an arson spree on federal land while California faced one of the worst fire seasons in history. He intentionally made a dangerous situation more perilous by setting some of his fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie fire, potentially cutting off any chance of escape,” said U.S.  Attorney Talbert. “It is only because of the quick response by the U.S. Forest Service — and the actions of civilian witnesses — that those fires were extinguished as quickly as they were. Today’s sentence underscores the danger that Maynard’s fires created and serves as a reminder that federal law enforcement takes seriously the threats to life, property, and our national forests caused by arson.”

U.S. Forest Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tony Magarrell praises the actions of his Agents and fellow cooperating law enforcement agencies who identified Maynard early in the investigation, “These actions led to the quick arrest of Maynard before more damage was done to Forest Service lands and increasing the threat of firefighter lives. This is a great example of how cooperation between law enforcement agencies serves our public and makes us safe.”

According to court documents, Maynard set a series of fires in the Shasta Trinity National Forest and in the vicinity of the then-ongoing Dixie Fire in the Lassen National Forest. Maynard set some of his fires behind firefighters who were actively fighting the Dixie Fire, effectively surrounding these firefighters as they responded to one of the largest wildfires in California history. Maynard admitted to setting the following fires during this arson spree: the Cascade Fire (July 20, 2021), the Everitt Fire (July 21, 2021), the Ranch Fire (Aug. 7, 2021), and the Conard Fire (Aug. 7, 2021).

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol, and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea J. Kenny and Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Damian, 30, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Nov. 8, 2023, law enforcement officers attempted to serve a search warrant on an armed robbery suspect who was walking with Damian. Damian was on parole for multiple felonies and was subject to a search clause. Damian initially hesitated to comply with the law enforcement officers commands and attempted to go around the side of the robbery suspect’s vehicle. But as the officers approached him, he admitted to having a gun. A loaded Glock 27 semi-automatic firearm was found in his right sweatshirt pocket. The firearm contained a 13-round magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, but no round in the chamber. In his left sweatshirt pocket, detectives located approximately 20.74 grams of cocaine. Damian has previously been convicted of multiple felonies including assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, being a felon in possession of a firearm, assault on person with a semi-automatic firearm, and willful discharge of a firearm in a negligent manner.

Damian is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Aug. 26, 2024. Damian faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

FRESNO, Calif. — Eric Feldmann, 38, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

According to court documents, on Dec. 24, 2023, Feldmann knowingly possessed an MKII hand grenade with a M204A2 Fuze in his car. The grenade was seized by police and destroyed. Feldmann also possessed methamphetamine and several boxes of .223 caliber ammunition. In 2017, Feldmann was convicted in Kings County of possession of a controlled substance for sale and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case.

Feldmann is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Oct. 15, 2024. Feldman faces a mandatory minimum of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

FRESNO, Calif. — Dennis Falaschi, 78, of Aptos, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to take federally owned water and one count of filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court records, from 1992 through approximately April 2015, Falaschi was the general manager for a public water district in Fresno and Merced Counties (PWD) that sold water to farmers with over 38,000 acres of farmland. PWD obtained water that it sold by purchasing water from the federal government and collecting drainage water from farms. The federal water that PWD purchased came from the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC), which is a federally owned canal operated by the United States Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation. PWD purchased federal water from the DMC pursuant to a contract that it entered into with the Bureau of Reclamation.

The federal water that PWD purchased from the DMC was fresh water that could be used for farming immediately. The drainage water that PWD collected from farms was high in salt content and toxins, and it needed to be blended down with fresh water before it could be reused.

Falaschi learned that water from the DMC was leaking from an old standpipe into a parallel canal in PWD. The parallel canal was owned by the then-president of PWD’s board of directors. PWD employees subsequently modified the old standpipe so that it would not leak and could be opened and closed. This allowed for water to be taken from the DMC on demand.

The amount of federal water that was illegally taken for which Falaschi was responsible was valued at over $1.5 million but under $3.5 million. Nearly all of that water was taken to blend down and reuse drainage water.

Moreover, according to court records, from 2011 through 2016, Falaschi entered into private water sales where he received payments. The water sold was legitimately sourced from outside PWD and was not federally owned water. Thereafter, in March 2016, Falaschi signed and filed an individual income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service where he did not report the income that he received from the private water sales.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General, the IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Henry Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.

Falaschi is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Falaschi faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit water theft and three years in prison and $100,000 fine for the tax charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

FRESNO, Calif. — Claus Svelmo Marcuslund, 59, of Odense, Denmark, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release for his conviction of one count of distribution of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

“To vindicate victims of child exploitation and bring criminals to justice, our law enforcement and our communities must work together in partnership across county, state, and national borders,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “Our office is committed to protect our children and hold offenders accountable.”

“We will do everything in our investigative power to bring to justice those who seek to hurt children,” said San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “This sentence holds Marcuslund accountable for his crimes and serves as a warning for those who travel to the United States specifically to abuse a child. HSI and its partners will work diligently to investigate and prosecute these heinous criminals, regardless of location around the world. HSI Fresno appreciates the work of HSI Attaché Frankfurt, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their joint effort in this investigation.”  

According to court documents, in January 2023, Marcuslund contacted an undercover agent who had created the profile of a mother with a seven-year-old daughter, on a dark-web site dedicated to persons interested in pedophilia. Marcuslund told the agent “I’m Scandinavian, professional music producer/songwriter and lyricist and yeah, I’m also a pedophile.” He also stated that “I’m divorced and now searching [for] a nice woman/mom to get to know better, hopefully with the potential of getting together in real life one day. Obviously, she must be 100% supportive of pedophilia and incest.” During the next several months Marcuslund sent messages to the agent through the website’s messaging feature, as well as the fully encrypted Telegram application. Marcuslund explained in graphic detail the sexual acts in which he hoped to engage with the mother and child. During those communications, he sent between 300 and 600 images of adults sexually abusing young children. He also discussed having another child with the mother and molesting the newborn.

Marcuslund flew from Copenhagen to the Los Angeles International Airport and then to Fresno. On July 11, 2023, agents arrested him upon arrival at the Fresno International Airport. On Feb. 20, 2024, Marcuslund pleaded guilty.

This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a seven-day trial, a federal jury found Robert Allen Pooley, 49, of Acampo, guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft related to tandem skydiving instructor courses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2010 Pooley obtained ratings as a “tandem examiner” with the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) and with Uninsured United Parachute Technologies LLC (UPT), a manufacturer of tandem parachute systems. He then began conducting training courses for candidates seeking to obtain their USPA Tandem Instructor ratings and/or their certifications to use UPT tandem parachute systems. The Tandem Instructor certifications Pooley provided enabled students to conduct tandem jumps with members of the public throughout the United States and abroad. Pooley charged money for these courses and conducted them at a skydiving business located in Acampo.

In August 2015, USPA and UPT suspended Pooley’s tandem examiner ratings, which meant that he could no longer conduct the tandem instructor courses on his own. Nevertheless, he continued running USPA and UPT tandem instructor rating courses without authorization, and he concealed his suspensions from tandem instructor candidates. Pooley falsely told students that he was a tandem examiner, led them to believe they could obtain USPA and UPT tandem ratings through his courses, hid the fact that he had been suspended, and helped students fill out USPA and UPT rating paperwork to further the impression that the students would legitimately get their tandem ratings through his courses.

As part of the scheme, Pooley used a digital image of the signature of another properly rated USPA and UPT tandem examiner to sign off on training that Pooley himself had conducted when the other tandem examiner was not even in the country. In 2016, Pooley accepted numerous students in this manner from around the world, including the Republic of Korea, Chile, and Mexico. Each student paid approximately $1,100 for these courses. The signed documents that Pooley provided some of the students led them to believe they were certified to conduct tandem skydives with members of the public. On Aug. 6, 2016, one such student fell to his death in a tandem skydiving accident with a customer who also perished. After those deaths, numerous victims of Pooley’s scheme asked for their money back, but he did not repay them, and several students had to pay for entirely new tandem instructor courses at other locations.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine T. Lydon and Dhruv M. Sharma are prosecuting the case.

Pooley is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26, 2024, by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb. Pooley faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud and a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Shawn Saesee, 20, of Visalia, charging him with unlawful transfer of firearms in violation of the National Firearms Act and dealing and manufacturing firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Saesee sold an undercover agent eight firearms, including five machine guns on four separate occasions. Saesee sold firearms despite being told by the undercover agent he could not legally possess firearms.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Saesee faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Julian Ignacio Ramirez, 18, of Richmond, charging him with distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other charges, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Ramirez distributed 1 pound of methamphetamine in July 2023 and 3 pounds of methamphetamine in October 2023. In November 2023, Ramirez distributed approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills. During the same month, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Ramirez was the front seat passenger. The officers searched the vehicle and seized approximately 4 kilograms of suspected cocaine and 11,000 suspected fentanyl pills. 

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Haddy Abouzeid is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Ramirez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.