News

Northern California Woman Sentenced for Tax Refund Scheme

SACRAMENTO - Starsheka Mixon, 35, of Pinole, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to three years and one month in prison for a stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. “The defendants used taxpayer information to enrich themselves by submitting false tax returns to the IRS,” said Tara Sullivan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This scheme went on for three years and victimized innocent taxpayers and the government. Identity theft can have a negative financial impact on taxpayers and can take years to repair. Taxpayers must be careful who they share their personally identifiable information with when choosing a tax return preparer.”

According to court documents, between January 2011 and June 2013, Mixon and co‑defendant Denna Chambers, 35, of Fairfield, conspired together and with others to fraudulently obtain tax refunds by filing false tax returns in the names of other people with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax returns included false statements about the taxpayers’ income, dependents, and occupations in order to obtain refunds and tax credits to which the taxpayers were not entitled, including the Earned Income Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit. Some of the fraudulent tax returns used the name and personal information of individuals without their knowledge or consent.

$30,000 Burglary in Merced Nets One in Custody

MERCED - On August 06, 2018, the Merced Police Department (MPD) responded to a business in the 1700 block of Grogan for a burglary report. Officers arrived and contacted the business owners. The business owner reported that a truck and trailer had been stolen from their business. The stolen trailer had been taken with two riding lawn mowers and several other pieces of commercial lawn maintenance equipment. The total loss to the business was estimated at over $30,000.00.

MPD Detective John Pinnegar immediately began working with patrol officers and they identified the suspect as David Anthony Allen of Merced. Through his investigation, Detective Pinnegar discovered that Allen had stolen the truck and trailer with all the lawn equipment.

Modesto Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

FRESNO - U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced Everitt Aaron Jameson, 27, of Modesto, today to 15 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott made the announcement.

“There is no place in the United States for terrorists and terrorist sympathizers who threaten innocent people, and the National Security Division will relentlessly seek to identify them and bring them to justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Jameson put his fellow Americans at risk by supporting ISIS and planning an attack on behalf of the terrorist organization. This is unacceptable, and I am grateful for the hardworking agents and prosecutors who are responsible for this successful result.”

Fresno Man Arrested for Possession of a Loaded Concealed Firearm During Traffic Stop

FRESNO - On Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 4:51 P.M. Southeast Special Response Team (SE SRT) Officer Sukhbir Chauhan and Officer Martin Padilla were proactively patrolling the Belmont corridor between First Ave and Cedar Ave when they initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that was not equipped with a front license plate, a vehicle code violation. The vehicle stop occurred at First and White Avenues.

Officer Padilla contacted the sole occupant of the vehicle, 29 year-old Robert Wise of Fresno. Officer Padilla asked Wise to step out of the vehicle. Wise cooperated and exit the vehicle and placed his hands on his head. Officer Padilla asked Wise if he had any weapons on him. Wise lowered his head and paused for a moment before he told Officer Padilla he had a gun tucked in his waist band area.

FPD Steps Up Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations

FRESNO - The Fresno Police Department will step up Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations on Monday, August 6, 2018 with focused enforcement on collision causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The department has mapped out locations over the past 3 years where pedestrian and bike collisions have occurred along with the violations that led to those crashes. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and crashes occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries.

Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. Special attention will be directed toward drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to stop for signs and signals, failing to yield to pedestrians in cross walks or any other dangerous violation.

Candidate for California Governor John Cox Commits to We Stand With Seniors

SACRAMENTO - Republican candidate John Cox confirmed his participation in the We Stand With Seniors/KGTV ABC10 gubernatorial debate in San Diego this fall. The debate will be broadcast statewide and is co-hosted by We Stand With Seniors… Will You? and KGTV ABC10, in partnership with the California Broadcasters Association (CBA).

"We commend John Cox for being a part of this debate and letting voters know where he stands in addressing the critical issues facing our older population and their families," said Shelley Lyford, president and chief executive of West Health. "For far too long issues like affordable housing, access to healthcare and caregiver support have been ignored in this state. This is an opportunity for candidates to share their plans, so voters can make the right decision in November."

Beloved Community Leader Passes: Anne Lozano (70)

Anne Marie Lozano (70), a native of New York City, NY and a resident of Madera for 41 years, passed away Thursday, August 2, 2018 at her Madera home. She was an administrative assistant for Madera Unified School District where she worked for 35 years.

Anne was also a past president and active member of Madera Evening Lions and Madera Linkage Foundation. Anne also was the coordinator of Measure G which raised money to build a new high school in Madera.