Big Valley News
Central Valley's Independent News Source
MADERA – Thanks to one particular reader of Big Valley News the suspect in a recent rash of mail thefts on Madera’s Westside has now been identified. James “Skyy” Vasquez (19) was identified by his mother following seeing his photos on our Facebook page.
Big Valley News shared the information with Madera Police Wednesday evening only to learn the next morning the suspect was arrested overnight by Fresno Police on car theft charges and an active warrant for domestic violence.
FRESNO - On Monday, Devone Johnson, 32, and Anthony Thomas, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing firearms, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, on October 9, 2016, Johnson and Thomas possessed an Uzi Model A, 9 mm rifle. Thomas was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a previous felony conviction. Johnson was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
Johnson and Thomas were arrested on November 3, 2016, along with 18 other defendants following a year-long multi-agency investigation that targeted criminal street gangs in Fresno. Other defendants also have pleaded guilty to various firearms and drug offenses, including:
FRESNO - U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced Michael Galloway, 63, of Bakersfield, to 21 months in prison for tax evasion, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Galloway was ordered to surrender to serve his sentence beginning on November 14, 2018.
On March 21, 2018, a jury in Fresno returned a guilty verdict today, convicting on four counts of tax evasion. Galloway owns and operates the website, Catholic Online. According to court documents, Galloway generated revenue by selling advertising and hosting to faith-based businesses.
FRESNO - Sandra Haar, 57, of Merced, pleaded guilty today to health care fraud and conspiracy to receive kickbacks, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Haar was the founder and chief executive officer of Horisons Unlimited, a nonprofit public benefit corporation that provided health and dental services in Merced and surrounding communities.
According to court documents, between January 1, 2014, and March 2017, Haar orchestrated a scheme to bill Medicare and Medi-Cal for services she knew were not reimbursable, and she profited by over $3.7 million from her fraud. For example, Haar billed Medi‑Cal for health and dental services that were not rendered and for unnecessary health care services. She also billed Medi-Cal for office visits with purportedly licensed doctors when the patients instead were dispensed Suboxone, an opioid medication, in the parking lots of McDonald’s and Rite Aid in baggies.
MADERA – A Clovis man died Saturday evening following a crash in the 21st lap of the 360 Super Modified at the Madera Speedway. Donnie Large Sr. was leading the four car race while coming down the front straightaway it appeared as though his car lost power.
Large coasted around turns one and two as the car slowed down and hit the turn two wall and turned left to slowly came down the track until it stopped against the inside retaining wall after making contact with third place driver Lance Jackson.
