Local News

Jury Finds Sacramento Man Guilty of Trafficking Cocaine

SACRAMENTO - A federal jury found Benjamin Macias, 40, of Sacramento, guilty today of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, in 2014 and 2015, Macias supplied Sergio Ambriz, 29, of Sacramento, with cocaine. On four occasions, Ambriz sold this cocaine to an undercover agent in Sacramento and El Dorado Counties.

Agents planned to arrest Macias and Ambriz at a fifth transaction on June 9, 2015. Shortly before they could do so, Macias sped away from the scene at about 90 miles per hour. Agents searched Macias’s car after they apprehended him. In the glove compartment, they found a Ruger 9 mm pistol loaded with hollow-tipped bullets; they also found more than 1 pound of cocaine in the trunk. On the same day, agents searched Macias’s Sacramento home and found ammunition, a 35-round magazine, and more cocaine.

Farm Bureau Survey: Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Down for Third Straight Year

WASHINGTON - The American Farm Bureau Federation's 33rd annual survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year's feast for 10 is $48.90, or less than $5.00 per person. This is a 22-cent decrease from last year's average of $49.12.

"Since 2015, the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner has declined steadily and is now at the lowest level since 2010," said AFBF Chief Economist Dr. John Newton.

Election Irregularities Surface as Ballot Count Continues, Vendor Acknowledges Mistakes in Over 400 Ballots

New Voting System Leads to Improved Strong Voter Turnout

MADERA - The Madera County Elections Department is continuing to process ballots and is calling the midterm turnout an overwhelming success. With just over 1,500 ballots remaining to be counted, Madera County turnout is already at 65%, over 13% higher than the last midterm election in 2014.

According to data provided on the Registrar’s website, 65% turnout will make this midterm turnout higher than any midterm in the last 20 years, as far back as online records go. “My hope has always been to increase turnout,” explained Madera County Registrar Rebecca Martinez. “Implementing the Voter’s Choice Act and making the voting process more convenient, more accessible, and more efficient has proven to yield the results we were hoping for. All Madera County voters should be proud; I know that I am proud of them!”

Two Delano Residents Sentenced for Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme

FRESNO - Raul Oropeza Lopez, 51, and Ana Maria Oropeza, 45, both of Delano, were sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill. Raul Oropeza Lopez was ordered to serve three years and one month in prison and to pay $1,283,160 in restitution. Ana Maria Oropeza was sentenced to three years of probation, and ordered to serve eight months on house arrest. The defendants were also ordered to forfeit over $167,00 in seized cash.

According to court documents, Raul Oropeza Lopez obtained social security numbers, names, and other personal identifying information of U.S. citizens and legal residents and then fraudulently used such information to provide undocumented workers with false identities required to work in the United States as farm laborers.

Second Defendant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Series of Armed Robberies in Tulare and Kern Counties

FRESNO - Ulises Medina, 25, of Earlimart, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Medina was a member of a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies of gas stations, convenience stores, and liquor stores from May 19, 2016, until July 26, 2017.

Medina and his conspirators committed at least seven armed robberies in Tulare and Kern Counties between May 2016 and January 2017. The next month, Medina and his associates travelled to Nebraska, where they committed two more robberies. They then returned to California, where they committed three more armed robberies.