News

Madera Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

FRESNO - Leah Guillen, 39, of Madera, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, Acting 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 her and fraudulently gain access to her bank accounts at Golden 1 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.

Stockton Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking of a Child

SACRAMENTO - Angel Jesus Sanchez-Manriquez, 22, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 11 years and three months in prison for sex trafficking of a child, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between October and December 2020, Sanchez-Manriquez posted approximately 70 advertisements on a website, each of which contained photos of a 16‑year-old victim, advertising the victim’s availability to perform commercial sex acts. Sanchez-Manriquez referred to the victim as his “Snow Bunny.”

Sanchez-Manriquez rented motel rooms in and around the Stockton area in which the victim performed commercial sex acts. After executing search warrants, law enforcement agents learned that Sanchez-Manriquez also used his cellphone to take photographs and record videos of the victim engaged in sex acts with adults, including Sanchez-Manriquez.

Hanford Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Manufacturing and Distributing Machine Guns

FRESNO - Jose Moreno, 26, of Hanford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to three years and one month in prison for illegally distributing a machine gun, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on May 22, 2019, Moreno sold a machine gun to an individual in a parking lot in Hanford. Shortly after the meeting, the individual departed in his car and law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop. During a search of the car, officers found a fully automatic handgun with two 16-round magazines. Moreno’s involvement in this machine gun sale and several others was uncovered during a months-long wiretap investigation into the Nuestra Familia Prison Gang operating in Kings and Tulare Counties. The investigation revealed that Moreno was manufacturing and selling machine guns to street gang members.

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

FRESNO — Tanner Joel Hernandez-Fields, 21, of Fresno, pleaded guilty Monday to receipt and distribution of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between March 19, 2019, and April 12, 2019, Hernandez-Fields did knowingly receive or distribute one or more matters containing any visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct using an Apple iPhone. Hernandez-Fields received between 150 and 300 images, including video files. These images included depictions of pre‑pubescent minors including material that meets the definition of sadistic or masochistic conduct.

Professor-Arsonist Indicted for Setting Fires Behind Firefighters Fighting Dixie Fire

SACRAMENTO. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Gary Stephen Maynard, 47, of San Jose, charging him with arson to federal property and setting timber afire, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Maynard engaged in an arson spree in the vicinity of the then ongoing Dixie Fire in areas of the Shasta Trinity National Forest and the Lassen National Forest. Some of the fires Maynard set were new fires behind the firefighters fighting the Dixie Fire. Maynard is charged with setting the following fires during this arson spree: the Cascade Fire (July 20), the Everitt Fire (July 21), the Ranch Fire (Aug. 7), and the Conard Fire (Aug. 7).

Mexican Native Sentenced to over 2 Years in Prison for Harmful Marijuana Grow in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County

FRESNO - Lester Eduardo Cardenas-Flores, 25, a native and citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to two years and five months in prison for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Cardenas was also ordered to pay $48,000 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for the extreme damage that the cultivation operation had on public land. Cardenas pleaded guilty on Aug. 24, 2021.

Lemoore Union Treasurer Convicted of Embezzlement and Aggravated Identity Theft

FRESNO - After a 2–day trial, a federal jury found Kevin Neal Crownover, 49, resident of Lemoore, California, guilty today of one count of embezzlement and theft of union assets and one count of aggravated identity theft, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The trial was held before United States District Judge Dale A. Drozd.

According to evidence presented at trial, Crownover was treasurer of International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 2947 at Lemoore Naval Air Station from June 2015 through October 2016. During that time, Crownover made unauthorized cash withdrawals and wrote unauthorized checks to himself, which he then endorsed into his own personal bank account. Crownover used a forged signature on the checks. The total loss was over $50,000.