Eastern District of California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Hector Absi, 51, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Absi is the former head of the sales department of Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (MBI), a company headquartered in Davis, California that produces “bio-based” pesticides. Absi also served as MBI’s Chief Operating Officer from January 2014 until his resignation in August 2014. MBI is a publicly traded company; its stock trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol “MBII.” As a publicly traded company, it is required to file quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In its reports, MBI stated that it recorded revenue in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

According to Absi’s plea agreement, in order to increase sales, Absi sold MBI products to customers with side agreements that offered “inventory protection” under which MBI agreed to either repurchase the product from the customer or continue the date by which the customer would need to make full payment for the product. Under GAAP, revenue from sales that include such agreements cannot be recognized on the company’s books at the time of the sales. Between March 2013 and July 2014, Absi conspired with at least one other MBI employee to misrepresent to MBI’s accounting department, its external auditors, and the investing public that MBI had made sales under such terms. By concealing the practice, Absi caused MBI to report a doubling of its revenue in 2013 in comparison to 2012. Absi also conspired to backdate the delivery of certain shipments of MBI’s products to enhance MBI’s reported revenues for the quarter. Absi received a performance-based bonus and exercised stock options during a time when MBI’s inflated revenue figures were being reported.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed a civil complaint against Absi in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleging that Absi violated the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and federal rules issued under the Exchange Act, and seeking an injunction against Absi, disgorgement of wrongfully obtained benefits, and civil penalties.

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

U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. is scheduled to sentence Absi on Feb. 20, 2020. Absi faces a maximum statutory penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross loss or gain. 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. — Damanpreet Singh, 34, of Los Angeles, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to nine additional months in prison for failing to self-surrender to serve his prison sentence, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Sept. 14, 2018, Singh was sentenced to two years in prison for conspiring to commit bribery, identity fraud and unauthorized access of a computer. He was ordered to self-surrender to begin serving his prison sentence on Jan. 4, 2019. Rather than turn himself in, however, Singh purposefully took steps to remain out of custody. He stopped answering his phones and drove a rental car to avoid detection.

When he was eventually arrested at the Burbank Airport on March 13, 2019, Singh lied to officers about who he was in order to remain out of custody.

This case was a product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosanne L. Rust prosecuted the case.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Antonio Soto-Perez, 26, of Stockton, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, over the course of four undercover purchases, Soto-Perez sold an informant a total of nine firearms, including a weapon with a high-capacity magazine, one with an obliterated serial number, and two assault rifles.

This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Soto-Perez 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.

FRESNO, Calif. — Elvia Sanchez, 42, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person, and the illegal transportation of firearms received in a state of residency, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Nov. 29, 2016, and June 12, 2017, Elvia Sanchez mailed firearms from Tennessee to Rafael Sanchez in California in connection with a conspiracy to traffic in firearms.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Lenoir City Police Department in Tennessee, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Newman and Stephanie Stokman are prosecuting the case.

Elvia Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill on Jan. 6, 2020. Sanchez faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine related to the conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine related to illegal transportation of firearms from her state of residence. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Eby, 46, of Fair Oaks, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with the owners of home health agencies to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Eby is a registered nurse who was a case manager at a nonprofit hospital in Sacramento. As a case manager, Eby was responsible for assisting Medicare beneficiaries in selecting post-acute care providers, including home health care and hospice agencies, after the beneficiaries were discharged from the hospital. Eby used his position to steer Medicare beneficiaries to home health agencies in Folsom and El Dorado Hills. From approximately September 2015 through November 2018, the home health agency owners used an intermediary to pay Eby illegal kickbacks for beneficiary referrals.

According to court documents, in total, Eby referred approximately 55 beneficiaries to the agencies in exchange for kickbacks, and Medicare paid the agencies approximately $250,000 for services they purportedly provided to the beneficiaries. Because the agencies obtained the beneficiary referrals by paying kickbacks, they should not have received any reimbursement from Medicare.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, Eby pleaded guilty to one count of accepting a $1,000 cash kickback in exchange for referring five Medicare beneficiaries to the home health agency in Folsom.

This case is a product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.

U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. is scheduled to sentence Eby on Jan. 9, 2020. Eby faces maximum statutory penalties of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and 10 years in prison for the kickback charge. Eby also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss for each 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.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nathan Paul Barnes, 24, of Rancho Cordova, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute narcotics, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Barnes operated a drug distribution enterprise called “Fine Cali Herb” that used various social media platforms, including Instagram and Snapchat. Barnes sold marijuana, THC products, and psilocybin mushrooms to customers throughout the United States and abroad. Barnes received payment for the narcotics in several forms, including bitcoin.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, consisting of agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force targets all forms of dark-web and cryptocurrency criminal activity in the Eastern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant B. Rabenn and Paul A. Hemesath are prosecuting the case.

Barnes is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge John A. Mendez on Jan. 14, 2020. Barnes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million 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.

FRESNO, Calif. — Sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, more than 225 educators, school nurses, counselors, mental health clinicians and others with an interest in student health have convened today at the Opioid Awareness Summit for Educators. The daylong summit is being held at Fresno State University.

The summit is focused on four specific goals 1) building awareness of the scope and state of the national opioid epidemic and its impact on young adults in our region; 2) destigmatizing opioid misuse to provide for more effective treatment interventions; 3) having a beneficial conversation with a student if approached about drug misuse; and 4) building awareness of the warning signs that a student or child is misusing opioids.

Participants will hear from medical, public health and law enforcement professionals about the science of addiction, treatment options, ready-for-use resources for educators, and best practices for implementing an opioid awareness program in their own schools. Additionally, U.S. Department of Justice policy and current enforcement efforts will also be discussed.

U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott said: “Opioid abuse is one of the most urgent law enforcement and public health challenges facing our country today and needs a three-pronged approach: education and prevention, treatment, and enforcement. Today’s opioid summit for educators brings together all three prongs and highlights our office’s ongoing commitment to keeping communities safe by preventing drug abuse and overdose deaths.”

Jim Yovino, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools explains about the importance of this summit: “The opioid crisis is not only a national epidemic, but it is gripping families close to home. As educators, we must participate in this important discussion to keep our students healthy and safe.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is sponsoring the summit, along with the California Narcotic Officer’s Association, the Central Valley Opioid Safety Coalition, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Foundation at FCOE, the Fresno County Department of Public Health, the Fresno Madera Medical Society, the Fresno Police Officer’s Association, the Fresno State Police Department, the Fresno State University, and the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. Assistance was also provided by the California Health Collaborative, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, the Fresno Police Department, the Lock It Up Project, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Patterson man pleaded guilty today to defrauding concert promoters and investors of $550,000 by claiming to be able to secure well-known artists to perform concerts, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Jordan Mouton, aka Big Cheeze, 39, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for falsely representing his ability to arrange concerts featuring well-known entertainment artists. Mouton also pleaded guilty to engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property.

According to court documents, Mouton held himself out as a person of substantial reputation in the entertainment industry who could secure the services of entertainment artists to perform concerts in Asia and elsewhere, including the services of artists known as Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, and Rihanna, among others. Mouton provided concert promoters and investors numerous fraudulent documents, including documents containing forged signatures of entertainment artists and their managers. For example, Mouton gave one victim an “Artist Management Agreement” containing a forged signature of Snoop Dogg. The agreement purportedly appointed Mouton to serve as Snoop Dogg’s “[m]anager, adviser and representative throughout China and greater Asia.” Mouton provided the same victim with counterfeit passports purportedly belonging to members of Maroon 5. Additionally, Mouton admitted that he gave another victim letters containing forged signatures that purportedly authorized Mouton to book and organize performances by Rihanna and another artist on what Mouton and others referred to as the “Asia Monster Tour” or “Asian Monster Tour.”

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.

U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller is scheduled to sentence Mouton on March 16, 2020. Mouton faces maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss on the wire fraud charge. For engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property, Mouton faces maximum statutory penalties of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of property involved in the transaction. Finally, the statutory maximum penalties for aggravated identity theft are a mandatory term of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. 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. — Bertoldo Arellanes-Perez, 32, of Chihuahua, Mexico pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Feb. 22, Arellanes-Perez and two other individuals traveled to the United States from Mexico with four kilograms of heroin. Before he traveled to the United States, Arellanes-Perez brokered the sale of the heroin in a series of phone calls. In the recent past, Arellanes-Perez transported narcotics to other locations in the United States, including Colorado.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee also assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman is prosecuting the case.

Arellanes-Perez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Jan. 13, 2020. Arellanes-Perez faces a mandatory minimum 10 year sentence up to a lifetime terms, and a $10 million 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.

FRESNO, Calif. — William James Farber, 39, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute narcotics, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Farber and his co-conspirators, operating under the name PureFireMeds, sold narcotics including marijuana, cocaine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, psilocybin, MDMA (Ecstasy), LSD, and ketamine on dark web marketplaces, including Silk Road. After Silk Road was shut down by law enforcement in Oct. 2013, Farber and his co‑conspirators began selling on the AlphaBay dark web marketplace under the name HumboldtFarms. It became one of the largest vendors on AlphaBay, completing tens of thousands of orders for marijuana on the site to customers throughout the United States.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Bakersfield Police Department with assistance from the Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant B. Rabenn and Ross Pearson are prosecuting the case.

Farber is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on April 20, 2020. Farber faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million 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 part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

FRESNO, Calif. — Rafael Sanchez, 40, of Kettleman City; Victor Luna, 25, and Ashley Sanchez, 23, both of Lenoir City, Tennessee pleaded guilty today to conspiring to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person, and Rafael Sanchez also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, from April 2016 until March 2018, Tennessee-based co‑conspirators Victor Luna, Ashley Sanchez, Juan Gonzalez-Mejia, and Alexis Sanchez assisted in purchasing firearms in Tennessee that were shipped to California. At the direction of Rafael Sanchez, Victor Luna and Juan Gonzalez-Mejia purchased firearms in Tennessee that the other co-conspirators packaged and mailed to Rafael Sanchez in California. Rafael Sanchez then sold the firearms to individuals in California. Rafael Sanchez also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm after having been convicted a felony violation of assault with a deadly weapon in 1999. Rafael Sanchez admitted in his plea that, despite knowing he could not lawfully possess a firearm, he directed others to mail firearms to him in California, and on March 8, 2018, he was in possession of a ROMARM Cugir, Model Mini Draco.

On May 6, 2019, Juan Gonzalez-Mejia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9. On Sept. 30, Alexis Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person and conspiracy to distribute narcotics. She is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 16.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Lenoir City Police Department in Tennessee, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Newman and Stephanie Stokman are prosecuting the case. 

Sentencing for today’s defendants is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2020. Victor Luna, Ashley Sanchez, and Rafael Sanchez face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine related to the conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person. Rafael Sanchez also faces maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine related to the conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person. 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.

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

FRESNO, Calif. — Rafael Sanchez, 40, of Kettleman City; Victor Luna, 25, and Ashley Sanchez, 23, both of Lenoir City, Tennessee pleaded guilty today to conspiring to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person, and Rafael Sanchez also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, from April 2016 until March 2018, Tennessee-based co‑conspirators Victor Luna, Ashley Sanchez, Juan Gonzalez-Mejia, and Alexis Sanchez assisted in purchasing firearms in Tennessee that were shipped to California. At the direction of Rafael Sanchez, Victor Luna and Juan Gonzalez-Mejia purchased firearms in Tennessee that the other co-conspirators packaged and mailed to Rafael Sanchez in California. Rafael Sanchez then sold the firearms to individuals in California. Rafael Sanchez also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm after having been convicted a felony violation of assault with a deadly weapon in 1999. Rafael Sanchez admitted in his plea that, despite knowing he could not lawfully possess a firearm, he directed others to mail firearms to him in California, and on March 8, 2018, he was in possession of a ROMARM Cugir, Model Mini Draco.

On May 6, 2019, Juan Gonzalez-Mejia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9. On Sept. 30, Alexis Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person and conspiracy to distribute narcotics. She is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 16.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Lenoir City Police Department in Tennessee, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Newman and Stephanie Stokman are prosecuting the case. 

Sentencing for today’s defendants is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2020. Victor Luna, Ashley Sanchez, and Rafael Sanchez face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine related to the conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person. Rafael Sanchez also faces maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine related to the conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person. 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.

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

FRESNO, Calif. —Today, U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced Filiberto “Beto” Chavez, 38, of Fresno, to 20 years and 10 months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiring to engage in interstate travel for prostitution and use of a cellphone to promote prostitution, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents and testimony at trial, on July 8, 2017, Chavez, a Bulldog gang member, sold methamphetamine to convicted co-defendant, Robert Lockhart. Convicted co-defendant Amina Padilla stored methamphetamine for Chavez and gave a portion of what she had stored to convicted co‑defendant Carlos Melgar to deliver to Lockhart. On July 11, 2017, agents served search warrants at Padilla’s and Lockhart’s apartments and seized methamphetamine from both.

Additionally, in June and July of 2017, Chavez and others travelled to New York to engage in prostitution activities. During the trip, Chavez used his cellphone to communicate with his co-defendants about prostitution and to make arrangements for posting prostitution ads. The ads were located in New York on Backpage.com.

“We’re pleased with the outcome of this investigation as it represents another important stride in our ongoing efforts to combat gang-related crime and sex trafficking in Northern California,” said Tatum King, special agent in charge, HSI (San Francisco and Northern California). “HSI will continue to partner with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in focusing our collective resources to pursue, disrupt, and dismantle transnational criminal organizations that show no regard for our nation’s laws or human welfare.”

Chavez is one of more than 25 defendants who were charged as part of “Operation Alpha Dog,” an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno Police Department, the Multi‑Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez, Jeffrey Spivak, and Thomas Newman are 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jonathan Shane Blakeley, 25, of Vallejo, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Sept. 20, law enforcement officers attempted to stop Blakeley for a traffic violation, but Blakeley refused to yield and led police on a high-speed chase through Vallejo. Blakeley crashed his car on Interstate 80 and got out of his car and ran through several lanes of traffic. He tried to get into the passenger seat of a car that stopped to avoid hitting him. After police apprehended Blakeley, they found a Glock 9 mm pistol with a high-capacity magazine in his car. Blakeley cannot lawfully possess firearms or ammunition because he has previously been convicted of three felony offenses. When the current offense took place, Blakeley was on federal probation. He had just been released from federal prison less than 30 days prior, after having served a 30-month sentence for possessing a firearm as a felon.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Vallejo Police Department with assistance from the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office.

If convicted, Blakeley 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.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Ivan Martinez-Lopez, 29, a Mexican national, and Saul Moreno-Lemus, 22, of Reedley, charging them with conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Martinez-Lopez and Moreno-Lemus arranged to sell several kilograms of heroin to a confidential informant who was working with law enforcement authorities at the time. At an arranged time and place, the informant met with the two men who showed the informant the heroin in the back seat of their car. At that time, the informant gave a signal to law enforcement agents surveilling the transaction. Officers converged on the scene and took both defendants into custody.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Joaquin County Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, both defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, with a maximum of life, 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 defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Xavier Alexander Speropoulos, 25, and Lauren Crowe, 20, both of Roseville, pleaded guilty today to illegal use of a cellphone in furtherance of a drug crime, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, from Oct. 2017 through Jan. 22, 2019, when they were arrested, the defendants operated the vendor account “Dankstix” on Dream Market, a dark web marketplace. Through the Dankstix vendor account, the defendants illegally sold marijuana to customers throughout the United States in exchange for cryptocurrency.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy Task Force (NCIDE), composed of agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the IRS Criminal Investigation. The NCIDE Task Force is a joint, federal task force focused on targeting all forms of dark-web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant B. Rabenn and Paul Hemesath are prosecuting the cases.

Speropoulos and Crowe are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Jan. 16, 2020. Both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of four 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. — Cody Patrick Cannon, 31, a transient, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of reproduced U.S. Postal Service keys, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between January and August 2018, Cannon and an accomplice engaged in a bank fraud scheme in which they used counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys to open apartment complex mailboxes and steal hundreds of pieces of mail throughout Northern California. From the stolen mail, Cannon and the accomplice then harvested financial information, government-issued IDs, credit and debit cards, and personally identifiable information. They also defrauded banks by using the stolen cards to purchase goods and withdraw cash from ATMs in Vacaville, Folsom, Rocklin, and Rancho Cordova.

On Aug. 2, 2018, Cannon and co-defendant Candice Freitas were arrested at their RV, which was parked in a hotel parking lot in Rancho Cordova. They were found to be in possession of stolen mail, checks, multiple stolen and fake California driver’s licenses, at least two passports bearing the names of others, and at least seven counterfeit U.S. Postal Service mail keys.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has identified over 1,500 victims of mail theft associated with these offenses.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Folsom Police Department, and the Vacaville Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz is prosecuting the case.

Freitas has pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment and remains in custody pending trial, which is scheduled for April 20, 2020. The charges against her are only allegations; she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Darren Duane Coleman, 24, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. 

According to court documents, during a traffic stop, police officers observed Coleman reaching up in the area of the sunroof of the car that he was driving. Officers subsequently located a loaded firearm tucked in a pocket behind the car’s sunroof. Coleman is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fresno Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Schuh is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Coleman 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 was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

FRESNO, Calif. — Monday, a federal jury in Fresno convicted two defendants for assisting in an effort to help Paulo Virgen Mendoza’s escape from California to Mexico after he allegedly killed Newman Police Corporal Ronil Singh during a traffic stop, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Virgen Mendoza’s brother, Conrado Virgen Mendoza, 34, an illegal alien from Colima, Mexico, residing in Chowchilla; and friend, Erik Quiroz Razo, 28, an illegal alien from Michoacán, Mexico residing in Merced, were found guilty of conspiring to aid and abet Paulo Virgen Mendoza’s flight to avoid prosecution for murder. The jury acquitted other family members, Erasmo Villegas Suarez, 36, and Maria Luisa Moreno, 57, both of the Bakersfield-Lamont area. However, Villegas and Moreno have been issued notices to appear initiating deportation proceedings and Villegas faces additional federal charges relating to fraud involving identification documents. Villegas is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 21 in connection with that case, and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Paulo Virgen Mendoza’s girlfriend, Ana Leydi Cervantes Sanchez, 31, an illegal alien from Michoacán, Mexico, who was residing with Paulo in Newman, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiring to aid and abet Paulo’s flight to avoid prosecution for murder, conspiring to harbor an illegal alien, and harboring an illegal alien. Paulo Virgen Mendoza is an illegal alien from Colima, Mexico. Virgen Mendoza’s brother, Adrian Virgen Mendoza, 26, an illegal alien from Colima, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to aid and abet his brother’s flight to avoid prosecution for murder and was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison. Moreno’s husband, Bernabe Madrigal Castañeda, 60, an illegal alien of Colima, Mexico, also previously entered a guilty plea to the conspiracy and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison. Cervantes, Adrian Virgen Mendoza, and Madrigal have been issued notices to appear initiating deportation proceedings after serving their prison terms.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 2018, Paulo returned to his residence in Newman after killing Newman Police Corporal Ronil Singh during a traffic stop. In the following two days, Paulo’s friends and relatives conspired together to help him escape to Mexico. Conrado, Quiroz, Cervantes, Adrian Virgen Mendoza, and Madrigal were aware from news coverage, social media, and from cellphone alerts that Paulo was wanted for murder of an officer. Nevertheless, Conrado and Quiroz helped him to conceal his truck and drove him to various locations, and Quiroz disposed of Paulo’s loaded firearm. Cervantes provided Paulo with clothes, and Madrigal provided him with food and shelter.

As part of the conspiracy, Adrian Virgen Mendoza arranged for a smuggler to take Paulo across the border, and Adrian and Madrigal purchased a new cellphone for Paulo to use to communicate with the smuggler. On Dec. 28, SWAT officers were deployed to Moreno and Madrigal’s residence after receiving information that Paulo was there. Paulo was then arrested for murder.

Throughout the manhunt, there were immediate and widespread media reports and various alerts indicating that Paulo was wanted for killing Corporal Singh, identifying Paulo as an illegal alien, and showing Paulo’s photograph and the truck that he was driving at the time of the shooting. None of the defendants notified the authorities of their contacts with Paulo when they learned that he was wanted. Ultimately, Conrado directed law enforcement officers to the dumpster where Quiroz had thrown the gun.

This case is the product of an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force; Southern Tri-County HIDTA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; California Highway Patrol; California Department of Justice, the Sheriffs’ Offices for Kern, Merced, and Santa Cruz Counties; and the Police Departments for Merced, Turlock, Modesto, and Santa Cruz. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen A. Escobar, Laura D. Withers, and Michael G. Tierney are prosecuting the case.

Conrado Virgen Mendoza and Erik Quiroz Razo are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on January 13, 2020. They face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 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.

FRESNO, Calif. — Martin Hernandez, 45, of Selma, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain unauthorized Social Security benefit payments, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Hernandez met Social Security benefit recipients through his employment at the Social Security Administration. Hernandez recruited certain recipients to receive fraudulent payments in addition to the benefits that they were entitled to receive. These recipients agreed to return a substantial amount of the money they received from the fraudulent payments back to Hernandez. Hernandez electronically initiated the payments from his workstation at the Social Security Administration offices where he worked. After Hernandez caused the beneficiaries to receive the fraudulent overpayments, he would instruct them to meet him in person to give him cash. During the course of the scheme, Hernandez caused the Social Security Administration to make unauthorized payments of over $446,000.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McKeon is prosecuting the case.

Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Jan. 13, 2020. Hernandez 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.

FRESNO, Calif. — Fernando Daniel Velez Ruvalcaba, 35, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for being an alien in possession of a firearm, which was found to have been used in connection with marijuana cultivation in the Sequoia National Forest, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers found Velez, an illegal alien who had previously been removed from the United States in 2012 and 2013, in a vehicle in the vicinity of a marijuana cultivation site in the Sequoia National Forest apparently waiting for suspects who fled from the site when it was raided. He was in possession of a loaded handgun that he had bought on the street for $600.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service and Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and was part of Operation Forest Watch, an enforcement effort targeting marijuana cultivation operations on public land and the damage they cause. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case.

FRESNO, Calif. — Alexis Sanchez, 20, of Kettleman City, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute narcotics and conspiring to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, between April 2016 and March 2018, Sanchez participated in a conspiracy to purchase and ship firearms from Tennessee to California. Sanchez assisted in sending firearms that were purchased by co-conspirators in Tennessee to California. The California-based co-conspirators then sold the firearms for a profit. In her plea agreement, Sanchez acknowledged that none of the conspirators were licensed firearms dealers. In addition, from Jan. 2017 to March 2018 Sanchez conspired with some of the same individuals to distribute narcotics.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Lenoir City Police Department in Tennessee, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Newman and Stephanie Stokman are prosecuting the case.
Alexis Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on Dec. 16. Sanchez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison related to the distribution of narcotics, and a $1 million fine; and a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine related to the conspiracy to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person. 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 Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
 

FRESNO, Calif. — Arnold Peterson, 57, of Big Pine, pleaded guilty today to operating a plane without an airman’s certificate, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on June 8, 2017, Peterson flew a private aircraft into Portales Municipal Airport located in Portales, New Mexico without having a valid airman certification issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

On June 8, 2017, Peterson flew an aircraft through Class C Airspace at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport in Lubbock, Texas without calling the airport’s Air Traffic Control (ATC). Two-way radio communication with ATC is required prior to entry into and while in Class C Airspace. His action caused a regional jet to deviate from its flight path in order to avoid the unknown, uncommunicative aircraft. ATC tracked the aircraft until in landed in Portales, New Mexico. A subsequent investigation established that the aircraft’s registration was expired and that Peterson’s previously issued airman certificate had been surrendered for revocation on June 17, 2014, and had never been reinstated.

“The guilty plea in this U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) investigation demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding the National Airspace System,” said Jeffrey Dubsick, DOT-OIG Regional Special Agent-in-Charge. “Working with the Federal Aviation Administration and our prosecutorial partners, we will continue our efforts to vigorously pursue unlicensed pilots who illegally operate aircraft.”

This case is the product of an investigation by the DOT-OIG and the Federal Aviation Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura D. Withers and Vincente A. Tennerelli are prosecuting the case.

Peterson is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16 by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill. Peterson faces a maximum statutory penalty of three 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. — Today, Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced three defendants for conspiring to commit wire fraud in a mortgage fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Moctezuma “Mo” Tovar, 50, of Sacramento, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison; Jun Michael Dirain, 47, of Antelope, was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by six months of home detention; and Sandra Hermosillo, 57, of Woodland, was sentenced to nine months of home detention.

According to court documents, Tovar was the founder and president of Delta Homes and Lending Inc., a now-defunct Sacramento-based real estate and mortgage lending company. Delta Homes opened one office in 2003 and eventually had several offices in Sacramento and Woodland. As the president of Delta Homes, Tovar managed the day-to-day operations of the company and prepared and submitted residential home loan applications on behalf of Delta Homes’ clients. Dirain was a loan processor at Delta Homes, and Hermosillo was a loan officer at the Woodland office and was also responsible for submitting residential home loan applications on behalf of clients.

Between October 2004 and May 2007, Tovar, Dirain, and Hermosillo conspired along with others to obtain home loans from mortgage lenders based upon false and fraudulent loan applications and supporting documents that falsely represented the borrowers’ assets and income, liabilities and debts, and employment status. They provided money to the borrowers in order to inflate their bank account balances. Once the loans were secured, the borrowers returned the money to the defendants. The aggregate sale price of the homes involved in the overall conspiracy was in excess of $10 million. As a result of the conspiracy, mortgage lenders and others suffered losses of at least $4 million.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty and Justin L. Lee prosecuted the case.

Co-defendant Christian Parada Renteria, 43, formerly of Sacramento, pleaded guilty to two counts of concealing felonies related to the wire fraud conspiracy, and was previously sentenced to serve one year in prison.

Co-defendant Manuel Herrera, 39, of Davis, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and co-defendants Jaime Mayorga, 40, and Ruben Rodriguez, 42, both of Sacramento, were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud at a jury trial. Herrera will be sentenced by Judge Shubb on a date to be determined. Mayorga and Rodriguez will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Nov. 5. Each defendant 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.

FRESNO, Calif. — Augustine Amon Reyes, 33, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 15 years in prison for receiving child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between Oct. 28, 2016, and Nov. 27, 2016, in Kern County, Reyes was found to have received or distributed through the internet between 10 and 150 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images also included depictions of prepubescent minors. Reyes also engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse of minors.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Bakersfield office of Homeland Security Investigations as well as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian W. Enos 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 sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Yaniv Gohar, 36, formerly of Berkeley, pleaded guilty today to conducting an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and failure to appear, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Gohar created and led an organization that installed and maintained video slot machines at businesses open to the public across Northern California. Gohar then created a system by which he could launder the proceeds of his lucrative gambling business, involving shell companies and paying cash to employees of a co-defendant’s business in exchange for money transfers from that co-defendant. In total, Gohar laundered at least $492,475 through his co-defendant’s business from Jan. 2015 through Dec. 2017. Gohar also laundered his gambling proceeds by acquiring a boat and real estate in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Court documents also detail Gohar’s escape from the United States by charter jet through Mexico, France, and Israel. Gohar was first arrested on Dec. 8, 2017, in connection with his initial charges and released two weeks later on bond over the government’s objection. Four days later, he violated the terms of his release by failing to stop after allegedly crashing his Porsche Panamera into a parked car in Berkeley. He was cited by Berkeley police for reckless driving. On Jan. 3, 2018, he failed to appear for the violation hearing, and he remained at large for more than a year. In Sept. 2018, a superseding indictment charged Gohar with failure to appear and other offenses. Gohar was arrested and extradited from Israel in July 2019.

Finally, court documents detail threats that Gohar made to at least two witnesses in the investigation, including threatening to break the legs of a confidential source.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and California Department of Justice – Bureau of Gambling Control. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Yelovich and Miriam R. Hinman are prosecuting the case. Significant assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Israeli authorities.Yaniv Gohar’s brother and co-defendant, Orel Gohar, 28, also fled the United States in December 2017 and remains at large. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (916) 746-7000.

Co-defendants Eran Buhbut, 34, of Oakland, pleaded guilty in August to conducting an illegal gambling business and awaits sentencing. Co-defendants May Levy, 28, of Walnut Creek, Atir Dadon, 34, of Sherman Oaks, Bar Shani, 27, of San Francisco, and Adam Atari, 35, of Sherman Oaks, have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. Dadon and Shani are currently serving their sentences.

Co-defendant Raz Razla, 48, of Sherman Oaks, is charged with making false statements to the grand jury. The charge against Razla is only an allegation; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Gohar is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. on Dec. 13, 2019. Gohar faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for the illegal gambling offense, 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy, and five years in prison for failure to appear (to be served consecutively to the other sentences imposed). 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 two-count indictment today against Dezmaighne McClain, 28, of Sacramento, charging him with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, McClain, while on felony parole, sold a firearm to an individual on July 15, 2019, after leaving the parole office. McClain sold the same individual another firearm on July 30, 2019, and continued to discuss potential firearms sales after that date. McClain is prohibited from possessing firearms based on his prior felony convictions. During the search of McClain’s residence, agents recovered an AR-15 “ghost” gun with no serial number and two other firearms and ammunition. 
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, McClain 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.
 

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jerald Esther Williams, 22, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Aug. 14, Fresno Police Department officers saw a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed. They determined the vehicle was going in excess of 97 miles per hour. Williams was the sole occupant of the vehicle. During a search of the car, the officers found a loaded gun on the driver’s side floorboard near Williams’ left heel. The gun had eight rounds of 9 mm Luger ammunition in it. As a previously convicted felon, Williams is prohibited from possessing ammunition.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Williams 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 was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Special Agent-in-Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s Sacramento Division today announced that the independent federal review into the fatal shooting of Stephon Clark on March 18, 2018, found insufficient evidence to support federal criminal civil rights charges against the Sacramento Police Department officers involved. Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI met today with Clark’s family to inform them of this decision. 
After a careful and thorough review into the facts surrounding the shooting, federal investigators and prosecutors determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt a violation of the federal statute. Accordingly, the investigation into this incident has been closed. 
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and career prosecutors in the Civil Rights Division conducted a comprehensive, independent review of the events surrounding the shooting that resulted in Clark’s death. Federal authorities also reviewed all of the evidence generated by the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, and the California Department of Justice in earlier investigations, including witness statements, audio and video recordings, dispatch records, police reports, and autopsy reports, and gathered additional evidence pertinent to the federal investigation. 
The federal investigation sought to determine whether the evidence of the events that led to Clark’s death was sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any officer’s actions violated federal criminal civil rights statutes. Under the applicable federal law, prosecutors must establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a law enforcement officer’s use of force was objectively unreasonable in light of the facts and circumstances at the time and that the officer acted willfully, with the purpose of using objectively unreasonable force.
The Department of Justice is committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources required to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are fully and completely investigated. The Department aggressively prosecutes criminal civil rights violations whenever there is sufficient evidence to do so.
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced William Lamar Blessett, 40, of North Highlands, to 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. The 20-year sentence includes 18 years for Blessett’s December 5, 2018, jury trial conviction, and an additional 2 years for violating his terms of supervised release. Particularly, while on federal supervised release for a 2008 child pornography conviction, Blessett was caught and convicted again in this case for possessing child pornography.

According to evidence presented during a two-day trial in December 2018, between mid-2016 and October 2017, Blessett possessed over 2,000 electronic images and videos of child pornography in a Dropbox cloud storage account and on at least five electronic devices, including a laptop computer, two smartphones, and two tablet computers. Blessett possessed these images knowing that at least some of them showed minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Blessett accessed the pornographic images on the internet, at least in part by using links he obtained on an instant messenger application called Kik. Blessett viewed the images and downloaded them to a Dropbox account that he owned and operated. Blessett then used the account to organize and view the images and transfer them to his electronic devices.

During sentencing, Judge Shubb also relied on additional evidence showing that Blessett was using the internet to contact and communicate with minors. This evidenced showed that Blessett engaged in online communications with several minors and encouraged them to exchange sexually suggestive messages.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, Central Investigative Division, Hi-Tech Crimes Bureau; the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant Rabenn and Amy Hitchcock, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Artuz prosecuted the case.

FRESNO, Calif. — Three members of the Modesto Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, including the Club's Vice President and Secretary, were charged yesterday in four separate indictments, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Hell's Angels Vice President Michael Shafer, 31, of Modesto, was charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana, conspiring to distribute heroin, distribution of marijuana, and two counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Hells Angels Secretary Patrick Gonzales, 31, of Modesto, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition. Hells Angels member Ricky Blackwell was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm after suffering a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

In conjunction with the charges, officers executed search warrants at the residences of Shafer and Gonzales, along with other locations. According to court documents, at Gonzales’s residence officers found the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club World Rules, the rulebook that governs all Hells Angels Motorcycle Clubs. Officers also found the rules for the Modesto Charter of the Hells Angels, minutes of club meetings, membership information, and membership agreements.

This case was the result of a months-long investigation into the Modesto Hells Angels Chapter. Earlier this year, Modesto Hells Angels President Randy Picchi was charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine for leading a drug conspiracy that involved his wife, Tina Picchi, Michael Mize, and Hell's Angels member Michael Pack. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, Modesto Police Department, Turlock Police Department, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Pearson and Laurel Montoya are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Shafer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison, and a $5,000,000 fine. Gonzales faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Blackwell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum 5 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 was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment yesterday against Dave Perkins Jr., 58, of Sacramento, charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Perkins was found in possession of a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver. Perkins is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.  

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael W. Redding is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Perkins 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 was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Walter Ryan Keith, 41, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of a machine gun, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, after execution of a search warrant at his home on June 5, Keith was found in possession of 14 firearms and a machinegun conversion device. Keith is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Massey is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Keith 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 was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Justin Deger, 28, of Fresno, charging him with credit card fraud and possession of stolen mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between Dec. 5, 2018, and March 28, 2019, Deger allegedly conducted more than $1,000 in unauthorized transactions on another person’s credit card, possessed 15 or more people’s credit cards or other access devices without their authorization, and possessed more than 2,000 pieces of stolen mail.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincente Tennerelli and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Deger faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of credit card fraud, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the stolen mail count. Any sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Walter Ryan Keith, 41, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of a machine gun, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, after execution of a search warrant at his home on June 5, Keith was found in possession of 14 firearms and a machine gun conversion device. Keith is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Massey is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Keith 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 was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Russell White III, 38, of San Jose, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to four years and three months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the state of California by filing false unemployment insurance claims, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between July 22, 2015, and July 14, 2016, White conspired with others to defraud the state of California. Pamela Emanuel, 58, of San Jose, worked as a tax compliance representative for the California Employment Development Department (EDD). She allegedly used her position to access the personal identifying information of workers throughout California, and she and her conspirators used that information to file fraudulent unemployment claims in the names of the unknowing victims.

White participated in the scheme by receiving and facilitating EDD documents at two Turlock addresses associated or controlled by him and using at least 12 EDD debit cards issued in the names of identity-theft victims to withdraw the fraudulently obtained benefits. In total, the conspirators filed at least 269 false claims seeking over $2.4 million in fraudulent benefits. EDD’s actual overpayment was approximately $887,199.

“Russell White engaged in a scheme with his co-defendants to defraud the California Employment Development Department by filing for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in the names of identity theft victims who were not entitled to such benefits. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who exploit these benefit programs,” said Quentin Heiden, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Los Angeles Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Employment Development Department, Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Schuller Hitchcock is prosecuting the case.

Three other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced in relation to this scheme. On August 16, 2018, Brittany Maunakea was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $139,000 in restitution. On September 20, 2018, Sergio Doriante Sanchez Reyna was sentenced to four years and three months in prison and ordered to pay $436,000 in restitution. On February 22, 2019, Gregory Lee of Antioch was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay $353,000 in restitution. The charges against Emanuel are pending; she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a three-day trial, James Randolph Sherman, 55, of Stockton, was found guilty today of eight counts related to his heroin and crack cocaine trafficking operation, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to evidence presented at trial, Sherman was the head of a heroin and crack cocaine distribution operation based in Stockton. Between March 14, 2012, and July 15, 2013, the operation was investigated using a confidential source to buy heroin and crack cocaine from Sherman’s front man and co-defendant, Lindsey Mills, 61, of Stockton. During the investigation, Mills sold 226.1 grams of heroin and 451.2 grams of crack cocaine. On the day of his arrest on July 15, 2013, Mills was found in possession of 22.9 grams of crack cocaine. Through recorded conversations, phone toll records, physical surveillance, and other investigative techniques, agents were able to confirm that Sherman was Mills’ heroin and crack cocaine supplier. On Dec. 3, 2015, Mills pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine based upon his partnership with Sherman. He was sentenced on May 19, 2016, to four years and nine months in prison.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Joaquin County Metro Narcotics Task Force, and the FBI’s Safe Streets Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt and Cameron L. Desmond are prosecuting the case.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

Sherman is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. on Dec. 12. Sherman faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life 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.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment on Aug. 22 against Akop Dongelyan, 44, of Glendale, and Artak Vardanyan, 37, of Burbank, charging them with credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Vardanyan was arraigned today, with Dongelyan’s arraignment is scheduled for Sept.23.

According to court documents, Dongelyan and Vardanyan used counterfeit credit and debit cards to make fraudulent cash withdrawals of over $200,000 at ATMs in the Fresno area and in Southern California. The counterfeit cards were created using cardholder information stolen via skimming devices installed at various gas stations.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincente A. Tennerelli is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Dongelyan and Vardanyan each face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for access device fraud, a mandatory two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, 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.

FRESNO, Calif. — Bert Harris, 38, of Fresno, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 10 years and three months in prison for using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Dec. 6, 2017, law enforcement officers saw Harris conducting what appeared to be hand-to-hand drug deals outside an apartment complex in Fresno. When the officers tried to arrest Harris, he fled on a bicycle. Officers chased Harris as he rode away, and eventually Harris turned into a parking lot outside an apartment complex and jumped off his bike. He started running away as an officer gave chase. While Harris was running, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a gun. The officer shot Harris though his hip and Harris dropped the gun on the ground. Harris ran a short distance farther and fell to the ground.

Officers searched Harris and found methamphetamine in his pocket and marijuana in the backpack he was carrying. Harris admitted that he had been selling the methamphetamine and that he had the gun for protection.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Pearson and Melanie Alsworth prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

FRESNO, Calif. —Francisco Fernandez, 26, of Earlimart, pleaded guilty Monday to possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, a search warrant was executed at Fernandez’s residence in April 2019. During the search, federal agents found and seized scales, drug paraphernalia and cocaine. Fernandez admitted to possessing the cocaine for sale to others. Apart from the narcotics, federal agents also found “auto-sear” devices that are used to convert semi-automatic firearms to fire as fully automatic machineguns. In a subsequent search of Fernandez’s storage unit, agents located and seized several firearms, which included a Glock handgun that Fernandez had converted into a machinegun.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Newman is prosecuting the case.

Fernandez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Dec. 16. Fernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million for the distribution of cocaine charge and a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the possession of an unregistered firearm 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 was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — David Sun, 53, of Davis, was found guilty today on all counts related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain California Class A and Class B commercial driver licenses (CDLs) for the students of his commercial driving school, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

After a 7-day trial, a jury found Sun guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit unauthorized access of a computer and to produce identification documents without lawful authority, eight counts of production of identification documents without lawful authority, and one count of conspiracy to produce identification documents without lawful authority and to transfer identification documents produced without lawful authority.

According to court documents and evidence produced at trial, Sun operated a driving school named Commercial Driver Institute USA in the East Bay with a parking lot in Richmond. Sun primarily catered to Mandarin and Cantonese speaking students. He helped students get Class A or Class B commercial driver licenses that allowed them to drive large vehicles like tractor-trailer trucks and buses. Sun typically charged $2,500 to $6,500 per student.

Sun committed two different types of fraud: a testing conspiracy where Sun helped his California students fraudulently bypass the required written or driving tests to get commercial licenses, and a residency conspiracy where Sun recruited students from New York and helped them pose as California residents to get a California CDL. Sun would arrange for the licenses to be mailed to the students who had returned to their actual home state of New York.

Sun’s students struggled with the written tests because of their English language limitations so he helped them bypass the written testing requirements for learner’s permits. Those permits were issued from DMV’s Walnut Creek office under one employee’s login from at least November 2014 through January 2016. None of Sun’s students in the conspiracy or charged counts ever went to that Walnut Creek DMV office or passed the tests on the dates indicated in DMV’s records. Sun instructed his students to attempt the written tests, which they did at various DMV offices in the Bay Area. If they failed, Sun took their DMV receipt, which would show their unique California DMV number, and a fraudulent permit would issue from the Walnut Creek DMV after fraudulent passing scores were entered under the Walnut Creek employee login.

On occasion, Sun provided his students with a Bluetooth device to wear during the driving test, and instructed them to wear a beanie to conceal it, so that Sun could tell the student what to say and do during the test. In addition, on many occasions Sun took his students to a particular license examiner at the DMV in Santa Rosa with whom Sun had a personal relationship. Evidence at trial showed that Sun was paid extra money to guarantee they would pass the driving tests.

This case is the product of an investigation by the California Department of Motor Vehicles Office of Internal Affairs and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosanne L. Rust and Christopher S. Hales are prosecuting the case.

Sun is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Dec. 9. Sun faces a total statutory maximum penalty of 15 years and 5 years in prison respectively for the conspiracy counts, as well as a maximum of 15 years in prison for each of the eight counts of production of identification documents without lawful authority. 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 two indictments today charging a total of seven defendants with conspiracy to cultivate marijuana, marijuana cultivation, and depredation of federal lands, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents in the first case, between July 19 and Aug. 17, Cornelio Morales Rodriguez, 35, of Oaxaca, Mexico; and Ukiah residents Kevin Humberto Quijada Colocho, 23, and Damian Isaac Rios Faber, 20, were involved in the cultivation of 1,806 marijuana plants east of Haman Ridge in Six Rivers National Forest. About 100 pounds of processed marijuana were seized at the site. The defendants are also charged with depredation of federal lands and resources.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Highway Patrol Northern Division Air Operations, and the Trinity County District Attorney’s Office.

According to court documents in the second case, between May 23 and Aug. 28, Timothy Charles Wilson, 70, of Pioneer; Filemon Padilla Martinez, 54, of Mexico; Oscar Francisco-Diego, 31, of Guatemala; and Francisco Gomez Sanchez, 37 of Chiapas, Mexico, were involved in the cultivation of 1,054 marijuana plants in the Tomhead Mountain area in in Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Tehama County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with assistance from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Justice.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting both cases.

If convicted of the marijuana charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. If convicted of damaging public lands, the defendants face a maximum 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 several variables. These charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Adam Fuller, 33, of Sacramento, charging him with assault on a federal employee or officer, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. 

According to court documents, on Aug. 27, Fuller assaulted a court security officer outside the United States Federal Courthouse in Sacramento by punching him in the face, causing injury to the security officer.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Protective Services and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cody are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Fuller 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On August 29, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against William Dan Powell, 67, of Redding, charging him with possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Powell possessed pornographic material depicting prepubescent children. Powell is scheduled to be arraigned today in Sacramento.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Powell 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. 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 sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Stephen J. Dougan, 57, formerly of Granite Bay, now residing in Utah, to three years in prison and one year of supervised release for corruptly endeavoring to impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue Laws, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, during an Internal Revenue Service audit of his 2006 and 2007 tax returns, Dougan made false statements, including falsely representing that he was redacting checks to protect client confidentiality when in fact, he also redacted his own name from checks he wrote to himself; withheld documents from the IRS; and provided false and misleading documents to the IRS that substantially underrepresented his income in 2006 and 2007. He also made false statements and provided false and misleading documents to the IRS in order to substantiate various business expenses he claimed on Schedule C of his 2006 tax return, including submitting a false advertising invoice and falsely claiming that his personal divorce attorney was his assistant or paralegal.

U.S. Attorney Scott stated: “This defendant is a lawyer who refused to obey the law. As determined by the trial judge and jury, he did not make an impulsive error in judgment, but rather his conduct was long-term, complex, and deliberate. This sentence reflects the discredit he brought to the legal profession.”

“The defendant used his legal knowledge and his lies to organize a complex scheme to hide over $1.4 million of income,” said Kareem Carter, Special Agent in Charge IRS Criminal Investigation. “When the IRS audited his tax returns, he concealed more than $650,000 in back taxes in an effort to obstruct the audit. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those involved in these types of schemes will be held accountable for their crimes.”

This case was the product of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael M. Beckwith, Chi Soo Kim, Matthew D. Segal, Matthew M. Yelovich, and Amy S. Hitchcock prosecuted the case.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment today against Jason Raysean Broadbent, 32, of Sacramento, charging him with assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon and various firearms and drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to the indictment, on November 19, 2015, Broadbent assaulted Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents by firing and brandishing a Glock semi‑automatic pistol while they were performing their official duties in Sacramento County. Broadbent, a convicted felon, allegedly possessed multiple firearms, including two machineguns and a pipe bomb. The indictment further alleges that Broadbent possessed methamphetamine for distribution within 1,000 feet of a private secondary school and on a premises where children were present or resided.

This case is the product of an investigation by ATF, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, the Woodland Police Department, the Yolo County Narcotic Enforcement Team, and the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W. Spencer and Justin L. Lee are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Broadbent faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $20 million fine. Broadbent also faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison on some of the drug trafficking charges. He faces separate mandatory minimum sentences of five to 30 years in prison, consecutive to any other prison term imposed, for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. He also faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison for discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and a mandatory consecutive sentence of seven years in prison for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. 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 Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Matthew Lee Roberson, 36, and Randy Lee Collins, 61, both of Rancho Cordova. The indictment charges Roberson with heroin and methamphetamine dealing as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment charges Collins with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on August 22, 2019, deputies from the U.S. Marshals Service assisted DEA special agents in executing a search warrant at the home shared by Roberson and Collins. Roberson complied with the order to get on the floor and was arrested. Collins, however, exited the bedroom and pointed a loaded 9 mm gun at the deputies. When he did not comply with commands to drop the gun, members of the entry team fired their weapons at him. Collins was struck in the hand, and he subsequently dropped the gun. Medical aid was rendered to Collins. During the search, agents discovered multiple firearms, methamphetamine, and heroin in the house.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Roberson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Collins faces a maximum 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; each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Oscar Alfredo Castanaza-Ortega, 34, of Guatemala, charging him with conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, damaging public lands and natural resources, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers located 2,864 marijuana plants in the Twin Springs area of the Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County. Castanaza was found in the grow site with a loaded .38-caliber firearm and a box of .38-caliber ammunition.

The marijuana cultivation operation caused significant damage to the land and natural resources. Native trees, brush and other vegetation were cut down, and large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides were found in the area. Thousands of pounds of trash, irrigation hose, and camping equipment were found at the site.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the California Department of Justice’s Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of the drug conspiracy and manufacturing offense, Castanaza faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, as well as a fine of up to $10 million. The environmental charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Castanaza faces a mandatory consecutive prison term of five years. In addition, he may be liable for restitution to the Forest Service for damage sustained to the land and natural resources as a result of the cultivation activities. 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. — Andrew Stephen Lund, 37, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today to attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, in April 2018, Lund engaged in online sexual chats with a person whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover agent. Lund was an elementary school teacher in Vallejo at the time he attempted to entice the minor.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Schuller Hitchcock is prosecuting the case.

Lund is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Dec. 5. Lund faces a mandatory statutory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, as well as a fine up to $250,000. 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 sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.