News

Former Navy Sailor Sentenced to 47 Years in Prison for Production of Child Pornography

FRESNO - Christopher Jeorge Millican, 29, of Coalinga, was sentenced today to 47 years and six months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for producing and receiving child pornography via the popular instant messaging app, Snapchat, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in July 2018, a parent reported to Snapchat that a user, later identified as Millican, had been engaging in inappropriate communications with her 11-year-old daughter. Snapchat reviewed Millican’s account and discovered images and videos depicting another, then 15-year-old minor, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Snapchat reported the conduct to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which contacted the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Fresno. Investigators identified the minor victim, who informed them that Millican had coerced her into creating and sending him these images. At the time of the offense conduct, Millican was on active duty with the U.S. Navy.

Madera Sheriff Says Two County Deaths a Murder-Suicide

MADERA - On December 6, 2022, around 1:00 pm, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 33000 block of Avenue 12 in Madera for a welfare check. When deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered two adult victims, one male and one female, both victims of gunshot wounds and both deceased.

MCSO Detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident. Preliminary evidence indicates the deaths are the result of a murder/suicide. There is no ongoing danger to the public.

Fresno Woman Pleads Guilty to Over $300,000 in Pandemic Relief Fraud

FRESNO - Cecilia Aquino, 34, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in at least seven states and submitting fraudulent applications for Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans using stolen identities during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between June 2020 and November 2020, Aquino submitted unemployment insurance claims and SBA loan applications that contained several misrepresentations, including that the named individuals last worked as self-employed dancers, owned interior design businesses, and that they lost their jobs and business revenues because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state agencies that administer the unemployment insurance system, the SBA, and the United States suffered an actual loss of $220,000. They were subject to a potential loss of more than $300,000 because of Aquino’s fraud. Aquino used the money for gambling, rent, shopping, and other personal expenditures.

Ten Associated with Nuestra Familia Plead Guilty to Drug Trafficking Offenses in Kings and Tulare Counties

FRESNO - Ten defendants arrested as part of Operation Red Reaper have pleaded guilty today to drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

In 2019, Operation Red Reaper was a federal, state, and local law enforcement operation that targeted the criminal activities of the Nuestra Familia Prison Gang in the counties of Kings and Tulare. After the operation, federal charges were brought against 23 of those defendants, with the remaining being charged by the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

Fresno Man Charged in $4+ Million Ponzi and COVID-19 Benefits Fraud Schemes

FRESNO - Royce Newcomb, 60, of Fresno, charged in connection with schemes estimated to have defrauded investors and the government out of more than $4.2 million, was arrested today in Fresno, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The indictment, unsealed following Newcomb’s arrest, charges him with five counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering for running Ponzi, COVID-19 benefits, and other fraud schemes through his company, Strategic Innovations LLC.

Twelve Defendants Charged in 5 Indictments with Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

FRESNO - Due to the efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies working together over the course of the past 18 months on an investigation targeting local criminal street gangs in Bakersfield, 12 defendants were indicted for drug trafficking and firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

On Nov. 17, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against William Arthur Poush, 43, of Bakersfield; Rosa Fernandez, 43, of Bakersfield; Timothy Robert Hingston, 39, of North Hollywood; Spencer Matthew Hopper, 35, of Montrose; and Dale Vincent Perez, 39, of Bakersfield. According to court documents, on Jan. 20, 2022, and Feb. 24, 2022, Poush and Fernandez sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. On May 11, 2022, Poush sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine and several fentanyl pills to a confidential informant. On Aug. 13, 2022, Hingston and Hopper distributed over 500 grams of methamphetamine and over 400 grams of fentanyl to Poush, and Poush possessed that same quantity with the intent to distribute. On Aug. 19, 2022, Poush and Perez conspired to possess with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and Perez possessed that same quantity with intent to distribute it. And on Sept. 1, 2022, Poush possessed over 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Modesto Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Numerous Children Using Snapchat

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment yesterday against Jacob Jacobsen, 27, of Modesto, charging him with four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Jacobsen came to the attention of law enforcement in Memphis, Tennessee, when the mother of a 13-year-old girl reported that Jacobsen had been communicating with her through Snapchat, requesting sexually explicit content. Investigators with the Memphis Police Department and the Memphis FBI Office executed numerous search warrants.