News

Traffic Stop in Fresno County Results in Charges for Washington Residents Traveling with 300,000 Fentanyl Pills

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Joseph Hill, 40, of Mount Vernon, Washington, and Brigit Marie Bissell, 27, of Bothell, Washington, charging them with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Jan. 14, 2022, Hill and Bissell were traveling northbound on Interstate 5 in Fresno County, when stopped by police for speeding. When the officer had his narcotics detection dog run a sweep around the car, the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed three bags containing approximately 75 pounds of fentanyl or over 300,000 fentanyl pills.

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Attempting to Sell Large Amounts of Fentanyl, Cocaine and Methamphetamine

FRESNO - Jose Mario Quintero Beltran, 31, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on March 31, Quintero Beltran arranged to meet a customer at a Bakersfield shopping mall and sell him 20,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl for $42,000. During their meeting, Quintero Beltran also offered to sell the customer methamphetamine. Afterward, law enforcement officers searched Quintero Beltran’s vehicle and residence and located a total of 51,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, approximately 40 pounds of cocaine, and approximately 3 pounds of crystal and liquid methamphetamine, all of which Quintero Beltran intended to distribute to others.

Fresno Father Killed in Barbershop Shooting

FRESNO - On Saturday, April 19, 2025, shortly before 5:15 pm, officers were dispatched to a ShotSpotter activation at Los Viejones Barbershop, located at 201 North Van Ness Avenue, Suite A. Officers determined that a shooting occurred inside and outside of the business. Two gunshot victims were located at the scene, and a third was found a short distance away.

One of the victims, 44-year-old Jampier Quintero, was transported to Community Regional Medical Center, where, despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced deceased on April 20, 2025. The two additional Hispanic male victims, ages 20 & 17, were treated at CRMC for gunshot wounds and later released.

Arrest Made in Oakhurst for Possession and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

OAKHURST - The Madera County Sheriff's Investigations Bureau received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material activity occurring in Madera County. Detectives identified 30-year-old Oakhurst resident Bobby Dean Alexander as a suspect in the case.

Alexander was believed to be a transient and residing within the Madera County Mountain Region. An arrest warrant was issued for Alexander and on April 05, 2025, Madera County Sheriff’s Mountain Patrol Deputies successfully located and arrested Bobby Dean Alexander into custody. He is currently in custody at the Madera County Jail.

Top Executive for Fresno-Based Business American Labor Alliance Receive Multi-Year Prison Sentences

SACRAMENTO - Fresno residents Marcus Asay, 69, and Antonio Gastelum, 53, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to five years in prison and two years in prison, respectively, for committing a long-running pension fraud scheme through their company, Agricultural Contracting Services Association dba American Labor Alliance (ALA), Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

ALA also received a corporate fine of $2.5 million. Asay and ALA were each ordered to pay $69,250 in restitution.

Fresno Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Tax Evasion

FRESNO - Pilar Rose, 51, formerly of Fresno, was sentenced today to two years in prison for tax evasion and obstructing an IRS audit, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. Rose was also ordered to forfeit more than $2.5 million of proceeds from the sale of her and her husband’s mansion and BMW, which authorities had seized.

According to court records, from 2012 through 2015, Rose prepared false financial statements for her husband’s orthodontics practice that significantly underreported the practice’s profits. As a result, Rose evaded more than $870,000 that she and her husband owed in federal taxes.

Random Shooting at Walgreens Leaves One Dead

MADERA - Shots rang out at the West Cleveland Avenue Walgreens in Madera on Monday evening around 9:30 p.m. One employee was killed, and Madera Police have one suspect in custody. Little is known at this time about 30-year-old Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, who drove from his hometown of Pixley in search of a pharmacy to shoot up, as he appears to have a grudge against that type of business.

Walgreen’s employee Erick Velasquez was in the process of calling 911 when he was allegedly shot with a bullet from Fernandez’s weapon. Police say Fernandez emptied his gun in the store and was in the process of reloading when Madera Police took him into custody. It appears the killing was random as police say there was no known relation between the two men, nor does the suspect have any ties with the city of Madera.