News

Mexican Native Sentenced for Toxic Marijuana Cultivation Operation in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County

FRESNO - Luis Madrigal-Reyes, 37, 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. Madrigal 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.

According to court documents, the cultivation operation consisted of 2,307 marijuana plants in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County. U.S. Forest Service agents saw Madrigal carrying fertilizers into the grow site and later apprehended him after they chased him down the side of a mountain. The cultivation operation caused significant damage to the area, which serves as habitat for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, an endangered species and California spotted owl, which is currently being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Agents found deadly banned pesticides sprayed directly on the plants.

Ex-Husband Convicted of First Degree Murder of Estranged Wife

MADERA - On July 14th of last year, Julio Garay changed the lives of so many people when he took the life of his estranged wife. This week aA Madera County jury has convicted Julio Garay of first-degree murder after he shot Calley Jean Garay to death in front of their three young children.

The jury found that he was lying in wait for his estranged wife at her doctor’s appointment. This special circumstance means he could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for November 17, 2021, in Department 22 of the Madera Superior Court.

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Burglarizing 8 Post Offices

FRESNO - Steven Martin, 39, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to burglarizing a post office, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in December 2018, Martin burglarized eight different post offices in Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties. He stole cash registers, packages containing clothes, and other mail, and caused thousands of dollars in damages.

Clovis CPA Indicted for Stealing over $1 Million from a Bank

FRESNO - A grand jury returned an indictment last week against Kenneth Gould, 65, of Clovis, charging him with bank larceny for stealing over $1 million from a federally insured financial institution, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed today, and Gould will be arraigned tomorrow on Oct. 14.

According to court documents, Gould was a CPA in Clovis who owned and operated a payroll services company. From October 2017 through March 2018, he initiated over 90 fraudulent Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments totaling over $20 million from one of his clients’ accounts to his payroll company’s account at the same bank. An ACH payment is a type of Electronic Funds Transfer used to move money from one bank account to another account.

Fresno Man Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of Multiple Children Through Social Media Apps

SACRAMENTO - A Fresno man was sentenced today to 55 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.

Jacob Blanco, 29, of Fresno, pleaded guilty in May 2020 to sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt and distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors. According to court documents, Blanco’s activities were discovered in March 2017 when the parents of a then six-year-old discovered the child had communicated with and created sexually explicit images at the request of another user on the social media application Musical.ly (now TikTok). Law enforcement investigators subsequently identified the offender as Blanco.

Federal Charges for Fresno Man Caught with Approximately 9,000 Fentanyl Pills

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Salvador Ortiz-Padilla, 24, of Fresno, charging him with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl pills, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Sept. 22, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence of a suspected fentanyl-pill dealer, Ortiz-Padilla. During the search of the residence, agents found approximately 9,000 fentanyl pills hidden in a safe that Ortiz-Padilla controlled.

Jury Convicts MS-13 Member of Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

FRESNO - A jury found Lorenzo Amador, 23, of Mendota, guilty of one count of assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering and one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Amador was a member of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a violent criminal street gang that engages in racketeering activity, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking. On Aug. 12, 2018, Amador and fellow MS-13 members kicked, hit, and stabbed a member of a rival gang in the back with a knife, slicing his diaphragm and sending him to the emergency room where he had to have life-saving surgery.