News

FBI Impersonator Guilty of Wire Fraud, Stalking

FRESNO - On Friday, March 4, 2022, after a four–day trial, a federal jury found Ivan Isho, 44, of Peoria, Arizona, guilty of two counts of wire fraud, one count of false impersonation of a federal officer, and stalking, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, Isho pretended to be an FBI agent and claimed to 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. They paid him thousands of dollars, including by means of interstate wire transmission, and provided him with copies of personal family documents. However, Isho had no ability to obtain and never helped to obtain visas for the victims’ family members. Isho was never employed in any capacity by the FBI.

Former State Employee Sentenced to over 5 Years in Prison for $2M Scheme to Defraud the Office of AIDS

SACRAMENTO - Schenelle M. Flores, 46, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution for organizing a scheme to divert funds from the California Department of Public Health, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. She was ordered to begin serving her sentence on May 18, 2022.

According to court documents, Flores used her employment at the Office of AIDS, within the California Department of Public Health, to coordinate the fraud scheme between December 2017 and November 2018. The Office of AIDS is responsible for working on behalf of the State of California to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Flores’s scheme involved directing a state contractor to make payments allegedly on behalf of the Office of AIDS and causing the contractor to charge those payments to the state.

Modesto Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Prospect Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking

FRESNO - Michael Pack, 35, of Modesto, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Pack, a prospect of the Hells Angels Modesto Motorcycle Club, was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy led by Hells Angels President Randy Picchi.

The drug conspiracy involved Picchi’s wife, Tina Picchi, Michael Mize, and Michael Pack. Randy Picchi directed Tina Picchi to regularly deliver drugs to Mize and other individuals in Ceres. Randy Picchi also enlisted Pack to help obtain methamphetamine on at least one occasion. Pack was stopped by law enforcement and found to have 499 grams of methamphetamine in his possession.

Leader of MS-13 Gang in Mendota Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Assault with a Deadly Weapon

FRESNO - Denis Barrera-Palma, 27, of Mendota, was sentenced Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, to 10 years and one month in prison for assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Barrera-Palma was the leader in Mendota of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a violent criminal street gang that engages in racketeering activity, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking. On May 14, 2018, Barrera-Palma, along with others, assaulted another individual with a pipe in front of an elementary school in Mendota in order to gain entrance to, or maintain or increase his status within MS-13. On Feb. 28, 2020, Barrera‑Palma pleaded guilty to the charges.

First Defendant in $25 Million, Prison-Based Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty

FRESNO - Daryol Richmond, 31, a Kern Valley State Prison inmate pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges for his role in a $25 million unemployment insurance fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to the plea agreement, Richmond obtained the personal identifying information for other individuals, including inmates and non-inmates, without their authorization. He then provided this information to his co-conspirators inside and outside of prison through emails and jail calls.

Former Members of Tribal Leadership Sentenced for Multimillion Dollar Embezzlement Scheme

SACRAMENTO - Three former leaders of the Paskenta Tribe of Nomlaki Indians were sentenced today for a conspiracy to embezzle or steal from a tribal organization, as well as tax fraud and tax evasion offenses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez sentenced John A. Crosby, 56, of Redding, to four years and nine months in prison and to pay a $10,000 fine; Ines S. Crosby, 76, of Orland, to four years and nine months years in prison; and Leslie A. Lohse, 67, of Glenn, to three years and five months in prison. Lohse has paid $902,208 in restitution prior to today’s sentencing hearing. A hearing will be held on April 19, 2022, to determine the amount of restitution John Crosby and Ines Crosby will pay.

MCSO Celebrates Completion of Oakhurst River Parkway Road (Midtown Connector Project)

MADERA COUNTY - Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue joined Supervisor Tom Wheeler, mountain area residents, allied first responders, and other local dignitaries to celebrate completion of the long awaited River Parkway Road (Midtown Connector) on February 18, 2022.

The project broke ground in November of 2020 and serves as a new access route for the community of Indian Springs, several area churches, Oakhurst Elementary School, Oak Creek Intermediate, and Yosemite High School.