SACRAMENTO - John Brewer, 48, of San Francisco, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to 15 months in prison for bid rigging, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Brewer and his co-defendant, Brent Vinch, were the owners of, and senior executives for, a company called Expert Network Consultants (ENC), which submitted bids to the State of California for various government contracts.
Brewer admitted that from 2008 through early 2012, he conspired with co-defendants Vinch and Loraine Dixon, among others, to rig the state’s competitive bidding process by creating inflated bids for submission by co-conspirators to state contracting agencies in an effort to ensure that Expert Network Consultants received the contracts.
Modesto Doctor Arrested for Illegally Prescribing Opioids
FRESNO - A Modesto physician, Sawtantra Kumar Chopra, 71, was arrested today, charged with prescribing opioids to patients outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. On April 19, 2018, a federal grand jury in Fresno brought a 22-count indictment against Chopra. He was arrested at his home in Modesto.
“Medical professionals who abuse their position of trust and fuel the opioid epidemic for profit will be held responsible,” said Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “Prescription drug abuse is a serious public health crisis that harms families and communities throughout California. Combatting the epidemic and healing our communities takes a team effort. At the California Department of Justice, we will use every tool at our disposal to prosecute bad actors and protect the public.”
Southwest Patrol Officers Arrest Armed Gang Member After Foot Chase
FRESNO - On April 28, 2018, just after 9:00 p.m. Fresno Police Officer Andrew Espino and Officer Arthur Barraganfrom the Southwest Patrol district were assigned as a Proactive Patrol Unit working a known gang area. The officers chose to continue their efforts in focusing on subjects armed with illegal firearms.
Halfway through their shift the officers spotted 43-year old, Jose Garcia, a Parkside Bulldog Gang Member. Officer Espino and Barragan attempted to stop Garcia for riding his bicycle in violation of the vehicle code. Garcia refused to stop, first he fled on his bicycle and then on foot. After a short foot chase Garcia ran into a light pole and his firearm fell out of his waistband. The firearm was a loaded .22 caliber revolver. The officers safely arrested Garcia and placed him into custody.
Inmate Attack on Correctional Officers Under Investigation
DELANO – Two correctional officers are recovering from injuries sustained during an attack by inmates Saturday at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP). At 3:38 p.m. Saturday, April 21, about 12 inmates began punching and kicking two correctional officers in the dayroom of a dorm at KVSP’s Minimum-Support Facility.
Responding staff ordered all inmates to get down, and non-involved inmates complied, while the attackers continued to strike the officers. The officers responded with physical force, but were unable to quell the attack. Responding staff used pepper spray to stop the attack and separate the inmates from the officers.
Former Valley Police Office Arrested as Golden State Killer & East Area Rapist
SACRAMENTO – After over 40 years a suspect is now in custody for the serial killing over 12 people and rape of 51 women. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department the Golden State Killer and East Area Rapist has been captured and he turns out to be a former police officer from two departments within the state.
On Tuesday evening at exactly 5:00 P.M. detectives from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department arrested 72-Year-old Joseph James DeAngelo of Citrus Heights, California. DeAngelo was linked by DNA as a positive match for the DNA profile of the East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, and Golden State Killer, along with a method of operation link to the double murder of Brian and Katie Maggiore and the Visalia Ransacker.