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Fairfield driver arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after dispute, attempting to run over pedestrian
FAIRFIELD, California - A 67-year-old driver was arrested on October 8 after allegedly attempting to run over a pedestrian on West Texas Street, according to the Fairfield Police Department. The incident followed a dispute in which the driver reportedly brandished a large knife, causing a minor injury to the pedestrian.Officers observed the vehicle accelerating towards the pedestrian, who was walking his bicycle across the street. The driver was subsequently booked into County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon, and the vehicle was towed, stated the department.
Sacramento police arrest driver in fatal hit-and-run involving bicyclist
SACRAMENTO, California - A fatal collision between a vehicle and a bicyclist occurred late Saturday night, resulting in the death of an adult male, according to the Sacramento Police Department. The driver, who fled the scene, was later apprehended and showed signs of intoxication.The incident took place on October 12, 2024, just after 11:30 p.m., near Marysville Boulevard and Main Avenue. The Sacramento Police Department's Major Collision Investigation Unit, along with crime scene investigators, responded to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation, which included processing the area, canvassing for witnesses, and gathering evidence.The driver, identified as 53-year-old Vicente Perez of West Sacramento, was arrested on related charges. The identity of the deceased will be released by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office after notifying the next of kin.The Sacramento Police Department is urging any witnesses with information about the incident to contact their dispatch center at (916) 808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Anonymous tips can also be submitted using the free P3 Tips smartphone app.
Nevada City man arrested in animal cruelty case involving 34 dogs
NEVADA CITY, California - A 67-year-old Nevada City man was arrested on Oct. 6 on multiple counts of animal cruelty after authorities seized 34 dogs from his property. Brady Fehr faces 33 misdemeanor and one felony charge, according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.The investigation began on Oct. 1 when the Sheriff's Office received a complaint about more than 60 Husky-type dogs roaming freely on the 24,000 block of Banner Quaker Hill Road. Fehr claimed ownership of 47 dogs and said 14 belonged to another rescue, operating under the name Mother Lode Husky Haven. Upon inspection, animal control officers noted...
Porter Ranch parents charged in death of infant son
PORTER RANCH, California - Jalyn Simone SmithJermott and Eric Shannon Johnson face charges in connection with the death of their three-month-old baby, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. SmithJermott is charged with murder and assault on a child causing death, while Johnson is charged with child abuse. The infant was discovered unresponsive in his bassinet on September 10 and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Johnson, age 34, of Porter Ranch, California, was arraigned on October 7 and pleaded not guilty, with a preliminary hearing set for October 17. SmithJermott, age 21, of Porter Ranch, California,...
San Diego doctor and clinic settle $3.8 million fraud allegations
SAN DIEGO, California - Dr. Janette J. Gray, of San Diego, and her former medical practice, The Center for Health & Wellbeing, have agreed to pay $3.8 million to settle allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The allegations involve submitting false claims to Medicare and TRICARE programs over a decade. Dr. Gray and The Center, which promoted alternative treatments such as IV infusion and hormone therapy, allegedly billed for services not covered by Medicare and TRICARE by misrepresenting providers and services, "unbundling" procedures, and billing for unnecessary services, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for...
California immigration service operators indicted for asylum fraud
SAN FRANCISCO, California - A federal grand jury has indicted Dongquan "Derek" Jin and Yimin "Kelly" Lu for allegedly aiding and abetting false statements on asylum applications. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and other officials. Jin and Lu operated Gospel Immigration Service, Inc., a Newark, California-based corporation, which purportedly assisted individuals with immigration documents and benefits, including asylum, according to the indictment filed on August 20, 2024, and unsealed on September 19, 2024. The indictment alleges that Jin and Lu were listed as application preparers on over 200 asylum applications submitted to U.S. Citizenship...
Riverside man sentenced to 10 years for leading deadly migrant smuggling ring
SAN DIEGO, California - Felipe de Jesus Rosales-Herrera, a Riverside, California, resident, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for orchestrating a migrant smuggling operation that illegally transported over 100 migrants and resulted in one death. Rosales-Herrera charged approximately $10,000 per migrant, according to court documents. Rosales-Herrera employed foot guides to lead migrants across the border and drivers to transport them to a stash house in the U.S. Some smuggling events led to high-speed chases and crashes, endangering migrants, drivers, law enforcement, and the public, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. A tragic collision on December 25, 2021, resulted...
Los Angeles health agency settles for $399,990 over PPP loan violations
LOS ANGELES, California - Allstar Health Providers Inc., a home health agency based in Rancho Cucamonga, and its owner, Maria Chua, have agreed to pay $399,990 to the United States to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The Justice Department announced the settlement, which addresses claims that the agency improperly received and retained more than one Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan before December 31, 2020. The PPP, established under the CARES Act in March 2020, was designed to aid small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Justice Department. Borrowers were required to certify they would not...
Former Los Angeles law firm executive pleads guilty to embezzlement scheme
LOS ANGELES, California - Christopher Kazuo Kamon, a 51-year-old former executive of the now-defunct Los Angeles law firm Girardi Keese, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges related to embezzling millions from the firm's clients. Kamon, who was arrested in The Bahamas in November 2022, admitted to his role in the scheme that spanned from 2004 to 2020. Kamon, formerly of Encino and Palos Verdes, worked closely with Thomas Vincent Girardi, an 85-year-old former Pasadena resident now living in Seal Beach, and other senior lawyers at the firm, according to a press release. Girardi Keese was forced into bankruptcy in December...
Los Angeles man pleads guilty to $5.6 million luxury watch fraud
LOS ANGELES, California - A Los Angeles man known as "The Timepiece Gentleman" has admitted to defrauding customers of at least $5.6 million through his luxury watch consignment business. Anthony Farrer, 36, formerly of downtown Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and mail fraud charges. Farrer operated a business called "The Timepiece Gentleman," connecting buyers and sellers of high-end watches, including brands like Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Phillipe, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office. Clients would send their watches to Farrer, who promised to sell them and remit the proceeds, minus a consignment...
Los Angeles man sentenced for sexual assault of two boys
LOS ANGELES, California - Andrew Louie Sandoval has been sentenced to 15 years to life for sexually assaulting two boys, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Sandoval, who pleaded no contest to two felony counts of oral copulation with a child 10 years or younger, was sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Margaret Bernal. District Attorney George Gascón emphasized the lasting impact of the crimes, stating, "While the legal process has reached a conclusion, it is important to recognize that no sentence can truly remedy the deep and lasting trauma of what these victims have experienced." He also expressed gratitude to the Sex Crimes Division and Deputy District Attorney Safaan Ahmed for their dedication to the case. Sandoval, who assaulted the boys between November 2015 and 2024, was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and received a 10-year protective order to stay away from the victims. The investigation involved outreach to schools and childcare centers where Sandoval worked, but no additional victims were identified, according to the press release. The case was investigated by the South Gate and Los Angeles police departments.
Fresno man sentenced to three years for pipe-bombing and firearm possession
FRESNO, California - Scott Eric Anderson, a 44-year-old from Fresno, was sentenced to three years in prison for conspiracy to destroy property, malicious destruction by means of an explosive device, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Between November 2022 and February 2023, Anderson conducted a series of pipe-bombings targeting unoccupied vehicles and properties in Fresno, according to court documents. The bombings caused damage to vehicles at two auto-related businesses on Clinton Avenue and a vehicle used by a home health care business on Fallbrook Avenue. Anderson sometimes recorded his crimes on video, and law enforcement recovered a pistol from his bedroom. Previously convicted of carrying a loaded and concealed weapon, Anderson is prohibited from possessing a firearm. The case was investigated by the Fresno Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Tierney prosecuting.
Bakersfield man sentenced to seven years for child pornography charges
FRESNO, California - Christopher Patterson, a 43-year-old from Bakersfield, was sentenced to seven years in prison for receipt of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Between July and November 2018, Patterson used an SD card to receive over 600 files depicting children, some under 12, in sexually explicit conduct. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter. It was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Bakersfield man indicted on charges of child exploitation and pornography
FRESNO, California - A federal grand jury has indicted Rafael Omero Plata Guerrero, a 34-year-old from Bakersfield, on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt of child pornography. The indictment includes two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of receiving child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Court documents reveal that between April 15, 2024, and August 26, 2024, Guerrero allegedly produced visual depictions of two minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, he is accused of receiving child pornography via the internet and a laptop between June 1, 2024, and August 27, 2024, stated...
LA County Sheriffs Deputy pleads no contest in off-duty hit-and-run
COVINA, California - Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Orlando Sotomayor Flores pleaded no contest to charges stemming from an off-duty hit-and-run crash on Interstate 10 in Covina, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The incident, which occurred in March 2018, resulted in one person being injured. Sotomayor Flores, age not provided, is scheduled for sentencing on January 13, 2025, at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Courthouse. He is expected to receive felony probation for two years, pay $5,000 in restitution, complete a three-month DUI program, relinquish his POST certifications, and accept a Watson advisement, stated...
Los Angeles man sentenced for identity theft while incarcerated
FRESNO, California - Sean Lamont Wyatt, a 47-year-old from Los Angeles County, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for identity theft and aggravated identity theft. The sentencing was announced Wednesday by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. According to court documents, in June 2021, 27 pages of victims' personally identifiable information were discovered in Wyatt's assigned inmate bunk at the federal prison in Atwater. Investigations revealed that Wyatt used a contraband phone while incarcerated to impersonate victims in calls to their banks and creditors. He utilized victims' names, dates of birth, addresses, and social security numbers to falsely identify himself and add himself as an authorized user on their accounts, aiming to boost his credit and apply for new credit lines. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Assistant United States Attorney Brittany M. Gunter prosecuted the case, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Los Angeles County District Attorney reviews Marilyn Manson case
LOS ANGELES, California - The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is currently reviewing a case involving Brian Warner, also known as Marilyn Manson, through its Sex Crimes Division. Experienced prosecutors are examining new leads and additional evidence from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's investigation, according to a statement from District Attorney George Gascón. The case file has expanded with recent evidence, and the office aims to ensure a comprehensive understanding of admissible evidence before making a filing decision. Senior staff have engaged with victims and their representatives, maintaining communication throughout the process. Gascón emphasized the commitment to treating victims with dignity and respect, although he noted it would be inappropriate for him to meet with victims personally during the ongoing investigation. A filing decision is anticipated soon, with an update to follow, at which point Gascón looks forward to discussing continued support with the victims.
Former campus security supervisor sentenced for explosives conspiracy
FRESNO, California - Angelo Jackson Mendiver, a 27-year-old from Bakersfield, has been sentenced to two years in prison for conspiring to manufacture and deal in explosive materials and for mailing explosive devices. Mendiver also faced charges for making false statements to FBI agents, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Court documents reveal that Mendiver used an Instagram account to sell explosives and collaborated with a male juvenile from a Bakersfield high school to complete transactions and mail explosives to residents in other states. In messages to the juvenile, Mendiver shared a photo of a titanium salute, an explosive device,...
Los Angeles duo charged in $54 million Medicare fraud scheme
LOS ANGELES, California - A Los Angeles woman and a San Fernando Valley man were arrested on charges of defrauding Medicare of over $54 million through fraudulent hospice and diagnostic testing services. The pair allegedly laundered the proceeds by purchasing gold bars and coins. Sophia Shaklian, a 36-year-old from the Larchmont area of Los Angeles, and Alex Alexsanian, a 47-year-old from Burbank, were taken into custody following a 24-count federal grand jury indictment. They are set to be arraigned in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles, according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice....
Northern California trio indicted for bank robbery conspiracy
SACRAMENTO, California - A federal grand jury has indicted Dontae Jones Jr., 20, and Yasmin Millett, 21, both of Northern California with no fixed address, along with JoMya Mauriyne Futch, 21, of Richmond, on charges of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and unsealed following the defendants' arrests. Between June 2023 and September 2024, Jones and Millett allegedly conspired to commit at least 10 bank robberies across several cities, including Sacramento, Vallejo, and Antioch, according to court documents. The pair reportedly recruited others, primarily women, to assist in...
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