News

Clovis Man Pleads Guilty to Running $24M Ponzi Scheme

FRESNO - Seth Adam Depiano, 36, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a real estate investment Ponzi scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Depiano operated a Ponzi scheme that lured real estate investors to give money to Depiano and the businesses he controlled, including The Rental Group, US Funding and Home Services LLC, and Draymond Homes.

Depiano fraudulently promised investors that he would use their money to purchase residential properties and either manage the properties for rental income or arrange for them to be renovated and resold. In many cases, Depiano promoted the properties to investors with documents that falsely represented high occupancy rates. Depiano oftentimes had no authority to purchase or sell the properties and misled investors with fraudulent documents misrepresenting the properties’ ownership. Some of the properties Depiano marketed to investors did not even exist.

Madera DA Hoping California Attorney General Will Initiate Operation Rezone II with Madera County BOS & CAO

MADERA - Madera County District Attorney, David A. Linn, announced today that the California Attorney General’s office will take charge of all matters concerning his criminal investigation of members of the Madera County Board of Supervisors. This action is due to the potential conflict of interest between Linn and the supervisors, and future litigation between the two parties.

Linn previously announced that he was conducting a criminal investigation against all members of the Board of Supervisors for unethical and illegal conduct in trading favors with developers for political contributions, entering into highly questionable contracts with county vendors, and the inappropriate spending of county funds.

Traffic Stops Nets Two Bulldog Gang Members for Guns & Narcotics

FRESNO - On Sunday, March 11, 2018, at 6:20am, a member of the Fresno Area Express (FAX) policing unit was patrolling the transit corridors in downtown Fresno. The FAX officer initiated a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Charger for swerving in the roadway. He contacted the driver, Javier Macias, 23 of Fresno and the passenger Marcos Amezcua, 24 also of Fresno.

Macias did not have a driver’s license. Since the vehicle was going to be impounded, an inventory search was conducted. Inside the vehicle next to where the driver was sitting, less than an ounce of suspected methamphetamine was found.

Kmart Corporation Pays $525,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Improper Medi-Cal Billings

SACRAMENTO - Kmart Corporation has paid $525,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act when it knowingly submitted claims for reimbursement to California’s Medi‑Cal program that were not supported by applicable diagnosis and documentation requirements, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today.

Kmart is an Illinois corporation that provides pharmacy services in several states with approximately a half dozen locations in California over the relevant time period. The Medi-Cal program is administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and relies on both federal and state funding to provide health care to millions of Californians, including those with low incomes and disabilities.

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Laser Strike on Police Helicopter

FRESNO — Michael Vincent Alvarez, 32, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to striking Air-1, a Fresno Police Department helicopter, with a green laser beam, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, on October 22, 2017, Alvarez struck a Fresno Police helicopter several times with a powerful green laser.

The laser caused visual interference of the Tactical Flight Officer and disrupted an air support response to a domestic violence call. Alvarez was driving a vehicle on Highway 99 when he allegedly pointed the laser at the helicopter and tracked and struck it. When ground units were called to apprehend Alvarez, he drove through the streets of Fresno at a high rate of speed, eluding officers for several miles until he crashed into the center divider at First Street and Floradora Avenue.

Madera County DA Linn Set to Run or Re-Election

MADERA - Madera County District Attorney David A. Linn announced today that he is a candidate for re-election as Madera County District Attorney in the June 5, 2018 election. Linn stated that although he said when he was first elected he was not sure if he would seek re-election, he has now decided to.

All necessary documents and filing fees were provided to the Madera County Clerk’s Office/Elections Division earlier this week. Linn stated that his candidacy will be a working campaign so that he can continue to efficiently run the District Attorney’s office and to continue his ongoing investigation of all Madera County Supervisors and the County Administration.

Inspiration for California "3 Strikes Law" Sentenced to Life for Domestic Violence

FRESNO - Douglas David Walker (53) (53, of Fresno, one of the inspirations for California’s Three Strikes Law after his participation in the murder of Kimber Reynolds, was sentenced to a term of nineteen (19) years plus twentyfive (25) years to life in prison, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has announced. Mr. Walker also has three (3) prior “strike” convictions (Robbery, Attempted Robbery, and Attempted Robbery), as well as four (4) prior commitments to State Prison.

In December 2017, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Kent Hamlin found Douglas Walker guilty of a charge of Felony Corporal Injury to a Spouse or Cohabitant and three Felony counts of Dissuading a Witness from Prosecuting a Crime. Plus three Misdemeanor Contempt of Court.