News

SACRAMENTO -  A federal grand jury returned two indictments Thursday against a total of 17 defendants for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between April 2019 and June 2020, agents seized more than 140 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 500 grams of heroin, and $130,000 in cash.

The first indictment charges 12 defendants with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and more than 100 grams of heroin. In furtherance of this conspiracy, the indictment also charges several defendants with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. As well, each defendant is charged with using a cellphone in furtherance of the conspiracy. Charged in this indictment are: Antonio Mendoza Ramos, 42, of Bakersfield; Leopoldo Gonzalez Jr., 30, of Modesto; Victor Manuel Velazquez, 34, of Ceres; Erasmo Zarate Solorzano, 42, of Sacramento; Estela Acevedo, 60, of Las Vegas; Carlos Cano Manzo, 49, of Mexico; Diana Cervantes, 26, of Ceres; Jose Genaro Vargas-Ramirez, 19, of Des Moines, Iowa; Alma Adriana Mora Madrigal, 49, of Ontario; Alejandro Mora Madrigal, 51, of El Monte; Fernando Cardenas, 47, of Compton; and Humberto Pimentel Caranza, 27, of Modesto.

MADERA - Madera Community College was recently selected to implement Competency-Based Education (CBE). In the traditional education model, students earn credits based on a fixed amount of time in a classroom. Competency-based education allows students to earn credits based on mastery of a skill. CBE is ideal for adults with life and work experience that enable them to prove mastery of skills.

The first CBE program to be offered at Madera Community College will be Business Administration. The initiative will kick off on June 11 with a statewide CBE Collaborative Meeting.

MADERA - Madera Community Hospital has been granted a flex waiver from the California Department of Public Health to close Emergency Services beginning 00:01 am June 9, 2021 –10:00 am, June 10, 2021.

The closure will accommodate the removal and replacement of the air handler serving the Emergency Department(ED). The first eight to twelve hours of the department's closure will be focused on the care of existing ED Patients.

MADERA - Madera Unified School District has received nearly 50 acres from King Husein, CEO of SPAN Construction & Engineering, Inc. The property is located on the south side of West Cleveland Avenue between Avenue 16 and North Westberry Boulevard in the city of Madera.

The vacant lot, which is valued at nearly 9 million dollars, is set to be a future site for a K-8 school pending a review by the California Department of Education and the California Environmental Quality Act. If approved, Madera Unified intends to honor the donor by granting naming rights of "King Husein School" subject to the school board's final discretion in constructing the project.

COARSEGOLD  - The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians announced today the grand opening of the new SONIC Drive-In at the Chukchansi Crossing Fuel Station & Travel Center—a state-of-the-art development that serves more than 750,000 visitors annually. The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians (PRCI) locally owns the Coarsegold SONIC, which brings a one-of-a-kind dining experience to the community and provides the highest level of service featuring a drive-thru and comfortable indoor dining.

With the new SONIC, PRCI is creating 55 new jobs for the local community – with about 90% of employees coming from Madera County – and is expected to contribute significant revenue annually to the local economy.

BAKERSFIELD - After a one–day bench trial, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston found Jason E. Murchison, 37, of Huntington Beach, guilty today of one count of operating an unpermitted business on National Forest land, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to evidence presented at trial, Murchison operated an unpermitted snowboard-instructing service on Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, within the Inyo National Forest. In February 2020, an undercover operation revealed that Murchison was the principal operator of Learn to Snowboard and advertised paid lessons on a website www.learntosnowboardbb.com. Neither Learn to Snowboard nor Murchison had a special use authorization from the U.S. Forest Service to operate on Forest Service lands.