News

Attempted Homicide of a Correctional Lieutenant Under Investigation

CORCORAN – A correctional lieutenant is recovering from injuries sustained during an attack by an inmate Saturday at Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran (SATF).

At around 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, a SATF correctional lieutenant was conducting a Rules Violation Report hearing with inmate Jarvis Bell, 33, regarding his alleged participation in a fight. During the hearing, Bell assaulted the lieutenant with an inmate-manufactured weapon, stabbing the lieutenant twice in the face. Bell was able to gain control of the lieutenant’s pepper spray, using it against the injured lieutenant.

Roseville Wealth Advisor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Investment Fraud Scheme

SACRAMENTO - Lee Loomis, aka Lawrence Leland Loomis, 60, of Granite Bay, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 12 years in prison for schemes that caused millions of dollars in losses to more than 183 investors, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

On January 29, 2016, Loomis pleaded guilty to wire fraud. According to court documents, from 2006 through 2008, Loomis was president of Loomis Wealth Solutions, a business operating in California, Illinois, Washington and elsewhere. Through seminars and face-to-face meetings, he induced individuals to invest money in the Naras Funds, which he claimed were liquid savings account-like investments that yielded a 12 percent annual return. He also claimed the investment was secured by a third party that was using the money to make loans secured by residential properties.

Tulare County Resident Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Tax and Investment Fraud

FRESNO - A Porterville woman was sentenced to four years in prison for tax and investment fraud and ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution. Marie E. Sherrill, 57, of Porterville, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for wire fraud and tax fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. In addition to the repaying the fraud victims, she was ordered to pay $255,900 to the IRS.

According to court documents, Sherrill was a registered tax return preparer operating a bookkeeping and tax preparation business in Porterville under the name Sherrill Financial Services. Between January 2011 and December 2014, Sherrill prepared false tax returns for her clients containing false deductions to maximize their tax refunds, which caused a loss to the IRS of approximately $255,900.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital & Lyft Partner to Allow Riders to Round Up & Donate to Help End Childhood Cancer

MEMPHIS, Tenn - Starting today, Lyft riders can Round Up & Donate to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^® and its mission of finding cures and saving children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases. To help launch the new partnership, country music superstar and St. Jude supporter Brett Eldredge surprised a group of St. Jude patients at a recent concert.

A video highlighting the moment Eldredge invited St. Jude patients to be his personal guests at an upcoming concert, as well as backstage footage from the event, is now live at Lyft.com. Eldredge is a longtime supporter of the hospital.

Stockton Man Charged with Distributing Child Pornography

SACRAMENTO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jason Solomon, 42, of Stockton, charging him with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, in July 2016, Solomon distributed images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On January 9, 2018, Solomon also possessed a video depicting a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Solomon has been in custody since his arrest on January 9, 2018.

Dunkin Donuts Opens in Madera This March

MADERA – As reported on the Big Valley News Facebook page last July, Dunkin' Donuts is coming to the Madera Walmart location on Cleveland Avenue. While an official date for the stores opening has not been announced, our sources within the store tells us the restaurant should open sometime in March.

The national donut-and-coffee shop will occupy the former McDonald’s space in the store. McDonald’s did not renew their lease with Walmart making this space available. The former McDonalds has been closed off to the public since June of 2017.

Assemblyman Travis Allen Calls for DMV Audit Over California Law that Could Register Non-Citizens to Vote

SACRAMENTO - Assemblyman Travis Allen announced that he is requesting a formal audit of the DMV after reports broke of potential illegal voting fraud as the State of California implements the new Motor Voter Law, under which the DMV automatically registers people to vote when they obtain or renew a driver's license - unless they opt-out. He pointed out that a million driver's licenses have been issued to illegal immigrants in the past three years.

"Californians don't believe for one second that an inefficient state bureaucracy like the DMV has put together a fraud-proof system to prevent Motor Voter from registering illegal immigrants to vote," said Allen. "California's citizens deserve to know that they have fair and honest elections. That is why I am calling for a formal audit of the DMV."