News

Dunkin’ Donuts Debuts in Madera with Grand Opening of New Restaurant at WalMart

MADERA – Dunkin’ Donuts kicked off the opening of its newest restaurant in Madera with a grand opening celebration on Tuesday morning the Madera Wal-Mart on West Cleveland Avenue. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Madera Mayor Andy Medellin. Customers of Wal-Mart and Dunkin’ Donuts gobbled up special giveaways and product samples and had photo opportunities with Dunkin’ Donuts’ iconic mascot, Cuppy.

As part of the grand opening, Dunkin’ Donuts made a $1000 charitable donation to Valley Children’s Hospital. The hospital’s mascot George showed up to accept the check and take photos with kids and eat up some delicious donuts.

Amtrak San Joaquins Begins Early Morning Service to Sacramento

FRESNO - Beginning this morning riders travelling from as far south as Fresno can board an Amtrak San Joaquins Morning Express train and arrive in Sacramento before 8:00AM. With support from businesses, local and state elected leaders, and members of the community, this new service will make travel on the San Joaquins more convenient – helping increase ridership and bringing environmental benefits from reduced greenhouse gas emissions as more passengers avoid driving along congested highways.

“The SJJPA prioritized the Morning Express service as a significant improvement that will make our trains a more attractive option for many travelers in the Central Valley,” said Vito Chiesa, Chair of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors. “Increased reliance on passenger rail will facilitate economic growth in a vibrant and connected Central Valley.”

Madera County Waste Disposal Costs Increased $2.9 Million: Audit Says Lack of County Oversight Leads to Massive Over-Billing & Significant Risk for Fraud by Red Rock

MADERA – Following a six month investigation and audit by the Madera County Auditor-Controller’s office, a recently released report claims that the provider of waste disposal services for the county of Madera, Caglia Environmental LLC, maybe guilty of massive overbilling of county customers. It also asserts that the company has not lived up to the financial terms of their county contract. County auditor Todd Miller believes that his office has found that this contract presents a significant risk for fraud against the county. The internal audit also sites a consistent lack of county oversight over the existing contract.

In June of 2012, the County gave notice to their previous waste disposal contractor, Waste Connections, and due to contract issues began the process of requesting proposals to replace them. This includes operation of the Fairmead Landfill, the North Fork Transfer Station and the Collection Franchise services in the valley area below 1,000' elevation. Once bids were evaluated, Caglia Environmental, LLC. dba Red Rock Environmental Group, was selected by the Madera County Board of Supervisors as the new contractor.

Fresno Trucking School Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery and Identity Fraud

SACRAMENTO - Mangal Gill, 58, of San Ramon, pleaded guilty today to two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and identity fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Gill owned Central Truck Driving School, which had locations in Fremont, Lathrop, Fresno, and Salinas. Between April 2012 and April 2015, Gill conspired with employees of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and others to fraudulently obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) for Gill’s truck school students and others who did not take or pass the written or the behind-the-wheel driving examinations.

Gill received money from those wishing to obtain a CDL and, in turn, paid money to the DMV employees, who would access the DMV’s database to alter records indicating that the individuals had passed tests when, in fact, they had not passed them or, in some instances, taken any examination at all. As a result, individuals were able to obtain driver’s licenses, including commercial licenses to operate tractor-trailer trucks, without having taken and passed the requisite written or behind-the-wheel driving tests.

San Francisco IT Business Owner Sentenced in Bid-Rigging Conspiracy Involving State Government Contracts

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.