Local News

Bakersfield Men Indicted for $25 Million Tax Refund Fraud Scheme Using Stolen Identities

FRESNO - On Sept. 21, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment charging Bakersfield residents Miguel Martinez, 39, and Victor Cruz, 38, for their involvement in a $25 million tax refund fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

Martinez and Cruz were each charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and submit false claims to the Internal Revenue Service. Martinez was also charged with identity theft. He has been in custody since his arrest in June 2023 on a criminal complaint. Cruz was arrested Monday at the Los Angeles airport upon his arrival from Mexico.

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $160,000 in COVID-19 Relief Money

FRESNO - Jaswinder Bhangoo, 50, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to stealing $163,750 in COVID-19 relief money, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between May 2020 and November 2021, Bhangoo applied for over $250,000 in COVID-19 relief loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In the applications, Bhangoo falsely represented that he owned multiple businesses with several employees and substantial revenues. He also represented that he had not been convicted of a felony in the previous five years when, in fact, he had been convicted of insurance fraud. Based on Bhangoo’s false representations, some of his loan applications were approved, and he received approximately $163,750 in federal funds to which he was not entitled.

Kern County Residents Charged with Federal Explosives Violations

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Joseph Roy Vigneault, 20, of Lake Isabella, and Michael Roy Anglin, 21, of Wofford Heights, charging them with the receipt and transportation of explosives without a license and distributing explosives to a non-licensed person. Vigneault was also charged with stealing explosive materials from a licensed manufacturer, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in May 2023, Vigneault allegedly was involved in the theft of over 700 pounds of Hydromite, an explosive and blasting agent, from Austin Powder West LLC, a licensed explosives manufacturer. The Hydromite contained ammonium nitrate, which is used militarily as an explosive and has been used in several terrorist acts, including the Oklahoma City bombing.

Shoots Fired Investigation in Upscale Community of Tesoro Viejo

TESORO VIEJO – Early Tuesday morning, residents of the upscale community of Tesoro Viejo awoke to the sound of gunfire. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office received calls from concerned citizens regarding hearing gunshots in the 4400 block of Hillside Road, located in the community near Highway 41 and Avenue 15.

Deputies responded to the area and located evidence of a shooting; however, they could not locate anyone involved in the incident. During their investigation, the Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives identified the parties believed to be involved.

Kern Valley State Prison Investigating Death of Incarcerated Person as Homicide

DELANO – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the death of an incarcerated person at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) as a homicide. At 6:37 p.m. on Oct. 6, two incarcerated people, Juan P. Camacho and John Martinez, allegedly attacked another incarcerated person, Richard A. Aguirre, with an inmate-manufactured weapon.

Aguirre sustained multiple stab wounds, and life-saving measures were performed. He was transported via ambulance to Kern Medical Center, and pronounced deceased at 7:20 p.m. No staff or additional incarcerated people were injured.