News

Fresno Bank Employee Arrested for Stealing Over $70,000 from Customers’ Accounts

FRESNO - Lladira Hernandez, 23, of Fresno, was arrested today on charges that she stole over $70,000 from multiple customers’ accounts at a Fresno-based bank where she was previously employed, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in April 2022, Hernandez was hired by the bank as a customer service representative. She began stealing the bank account information of customers she helped over the phone and used it to pay bills for herself and her associates. This included mortgage payments, car payments, and phone bills.

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Using a Stolen Identity to Steal Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Banks and the Federal Government

FRESNO - Brian Stoffel, 38, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for using a victim’s identity to steal money from the victim’s bank accounts and get fraudulent loans in the victim’s name, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between September 2020 and August 2021, Stoffel obtained personally identifiable information for an individual and used it to drain the victim’s savings and apply for loans in the victim’s identity. This included a Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) loan for disaster assistance related to a wildfire.

Tulare County Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

FRESNO - Andras Daniel Lee, 33, of Visalia, pleaded guilty today to failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in March 2017, Lee was convicted in Tulare County of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Shortly after his release from prison, Lee moved to Liberal, Kansas. In March 2018, Lee moved back to California and intentionally did not register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) as required due to his prior conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

12 Defendants Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

BAKERSFIELD - Following an 18-month investigation targeting local criminal street gangs in Bakersfield, 12 defendants have been charged federally, and another 17 defendants were arrested on state charges. The charges include drug trafficking, conspiracy, and firearms offenses.

Seized in operation were 13 firearms, over 15,000 suspected fentanyl pills, approximately 990 grams of fentanyl, approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 7 pounds of heroin, approximately 112 pounds of marijuana, and over $60,000 in U.S. currency.

Sheriff Announces Largest Seizure of Drugs in Madera County History

MADERA COUNTY - In July of 2022, the Madera Narcotic Enforcement Team, the High-Intensity Investigation Team, and the Fresno Drug Enforcement Administration launched a joint investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Ernesto Beltran.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Beltran was part of a large-scale, Mexico-based drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation, manufacturing, and distribution of methamphetamine throughout the state of California and neighboring states.

U.S. Attorney Names District Election Officer to Oversee the Handling of Complaints of Election Fraud and Voting Rights Abuses

SACRAMENTO - U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Khasigian would serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of California in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the November 8 general election.

The DEO is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, DC. In addition, Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Scott will serve as the National Security Cyber Specialist (NSCS) and is tasked with preparing for and responding to digital election threats.

Merced County Doctor Indicted for Multimillion Dollar Disability Insurance Fraud Scheme

FRESNO - On Oct. 20, 2022, a federal grand jury charged Sohail Mamdani, 46, of Los Banos, with mail fraud and money laundering in connection to a disability insurance fraud scheme and unlawful use of a DEA registration number and fraudulently obtaining possession of a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) runs a Disability Insurance program that offers worker-funded benefits to people who meet specific requirements and have had those requirements verified by their physician or medical practitioner. Mamdani was a medical doctor operating a clinic called Walk-In Medical Clinic in Los Banos.