Local News

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl Pills

FRESNO - Mario Garcia, 28, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between Oct. 2 and Dec. 16, 2020, Mario was incarcerated at the Fresno County Jail in an unrelated case. From inside the jail, he used the jail’s telephones to contact his brother Isaiah Garcia, 19, and discuss a plan to distribute counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl to Isaiah’s customers. On Dec. 16, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Isaiah’s residence and seized about 1,200 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills.

Primary 2022: A Night of Run-Aways, Run-Offs and Too Close To Calls

MADERA – Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue had an early and decisive victory overr former Chowchilla Police Sergeant Ruben Mendoza Tuesday night. When the first ballots were counted a little after the poolsclosed at 8 pm, Pogue was already over 50 points ahead of his opponent, a member of the Madera Unified School District board of trustees. By the end of the night, Pogue scored more than 80% of the total votes counted Tuesday.

Katherine Rigby defeated her opponent in another early run-away to replace her father as a Madera County Superior Court Judge. Alaina Ybarra, who Madera City Mayor Santos Garcia backed, could not break the 30% threshold votes counted Tuesday evening. Rigby’s father, Mitch, retired earlier this year from the bench. She is currently employed as a prosecutor for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office in Fresno.

Madera Women Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

FRESNO - Leah Guillen, 39, of Madera, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to three years and three months in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in early 2018, Guillen obtained the name, Social Security account number, and date of birth of an individual. Guillen then used this information to impersonate the victim and fraudulently gain access to the victim’s bank accounts at Golden1 Credit Union. Using an unauthorized debit card, Guillen drained the victim’s bank accounts over a three-month period between April 18, 2018, and June 30, 2018, causing a loss in excess of $210,449.

Grand Jury Indicts Former UC Davis Assistant Water Polo Coach

SACRAMENTO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Daniel Joseph Noble, 26, of Davis, charging him with distribution of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, while working as the assistant water polo coach for UC Davis men’s team and the associated youth team, Noble joined a Kik group where users exchanged videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children. On multiple dates in 2022, Noble sent the Kik group different videos showing children being sexually abused. Noble was arrested during the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Davis on May 19, 2022.

Fresno Fleeing Felon Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison

FRESNO - Angelo Joseph Fernandez, 42, of Fresno, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to six years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Feb. 25, 2021, Fernandez was found to be in possession of ammunition after he led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase throughout Fresno reaching speeds of over 80 miles per hour on surface streets and at times traveling in opposing lanes of traffic. At the time, Fernandez was out on bail in another case. Fernandez is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing ammunition.