News

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.

FBI Impersonator Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Impersonating a Federal Officer, Wire Fraud, and Stalking

FRESNO - Ivan Isho, 44, of Peoria, Arizona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to five years in prison for wire fraud, false impersonation of a federal officer, and stalking, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

On March 4, 2022, a federal jury found Isho guilty of the charges. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, Isho pretended to be an FBI Special Agent and falsely represented to his victims, members of the Assyrian community in Ceres, that he could help them obtain visas for their family members living outside the United States. He displayed fake FBI credentials and a gun to aid his misrepresentations to his victims.

Southern California Woman Indicted for Knife Assault on a Camper in Sequoia National Park

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Sarah E. Meenahan, 28, of Manhattan Beach, charging her with assault with a dangerous weapon, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and failure to obey a lawful command, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on May 16, 2022, Meenahan entered a camper van in Sequoia National Park and attempted to stab the occupant. The occupant was able to subdue Meenahan before she could stab him, and Meenahan fled the camper van. Meenahan was driving a vehicle that had been taken from a repair shop – neither the repair shop nor the owner gave anyone permission to drive the vehicle. When National Park Service rangers encountered her and tried to arrest her, she refused to comply with commands, and was only taken into custody after rangers deployed a taser.

U.S. Attorney Talbert Announces Greater Fresno Hate Crimes Task Force

FRESNO - U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today the first in-person convening of the Greater Fresno Hate Crimes Task Force, which seeks to directly connect federal, state, and local law enforcement with diverse communities in order to build trust and encourage the reporting of hate crimes and hate incidents.

One of the most valuable and sustained efforts undertaken by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California is the Greater Sacramento Hate Crimes Task Force, which was first convened in 1999 following the “Summer of Hate” crimes that included the murder of a gay couple in Shasta County and arson attacks on Jewish synagogues in Sacramento. In April 2021, using the Sacramento-based Hate Crimes Task Force as a model, the U.S. Attorney’s Office launched the Greater Fresno Hate Crimes Task Force to serve the southern part of the district.