Local News

Chinese National Residing in Fresno Charged in Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Yunquan Jiang, 48, a Chinese national residing in Fresno, charging him with cultivating and possessing with intent to distribute over 1,000 marijuana plants inside his residence, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Feb. 7, narcotics detectives served a search warrant at a house on East White Avenue in Fresno. The living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and garage had been retrofitted with fluorescent grow lights suspended from the ceiling, charcoal air-filtration systems, ballasts, and numerous fans. Authorities discovered a total of 1,263 marijuana plants inside the home. Jiang, the sole occupant, was arrested for cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.

We Believe, The Schools are Closed in Madera Too

MADERA - At a special emergency meeting of the Madera Unified School District Friday evening, Superintendent Todd Lile called these times unprecedented as he announced the Board of Trustees voted to follow the paths taken at Fresno Unified and Central Unified School Districts and close down all the Madera schools until April 14^th.

Lile said in a written statement following a closed session meeting, “After careful deliberation with health agencies, neighboring school districts, local officials, and an emergency board meeting, effective immediately, Madera Unified will close all schools and programs and plan to reopen Tuesday, April 14, 2020. The closure is a measure to help limit the spread of the new coronavirus or COVID-19. We do not have any presumptive or confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in our schools, but we are taking this step to help protect public health. We believe this is a short term sacrifice for long-term gain.”

Modesto Man Indicted for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm Offense

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Jason Allen Celes, 37, of Modesto, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Celes was arrested in Modesto in possession of methamphetamine packaged for sale and a loaded firearm with an “auto-sear” device attached to it. Auto-sear devices are used to convert semi-automatic firearms to fire as fully automatic machine guns. Celes is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Fresno Man Sentenced to over 20 Years in Prison for Illegal Firearms Possession and Drug Trafficking

FRESNO - Darien Hatcher, 29, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 20 years and six months in prison for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

On Oct. 22, 2015, Hatcher was arrested in Fresno for possession of a loaded Ruger 9 mm pistol that was not registered in his name and had been reported stolen. Hatcher was a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. On July 18, 2016, Hatcher pleaded guilty to the charge.

Leader of Mendota MS-13 Gang Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Assault with a Deadly Weapon

FRESNO - Denis Barrera-Palma, 25, of Mendota, pleaded guilty today to assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Barrera-Palma was the leader in Mendota of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a violent criminal street gang that engages in racketeering activity, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking.