Big Valley News
Central Valley's Independent News Source
FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Ryan Brandon Bailey, 40, of Modesto, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 14, 2021, Bailey possessed a rifle in Modesto. Bailey was previously convicted of second-degree burglary in 2012 and being a felon in possession of ammunition in 2015 and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
FRESNO - Chhoun Douring, 35, of Long Beach, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on May 6, 2021, at approximately 3:30 p.m., officers on patrol at Fashion Fair Mall in Fresno approached Douring. Douring admitted to carrying a firearm in a shoulder pouch. Officers seized the firearm, a loaded Ruger semi-automatic 9 mm handgun. Douring is a convicted felon having previously been convicted of second degree robbery and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
FRESNO - Randal Jason Newell, 41, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Dec. 5, 2020, Newell drove from Bakersfield to Mexico to obtain and smuggle narcotics from Mexico to Bakersfield, which he agreed to do for $7,000. On Dec. 7, 2020, Newell drove to the San Ysidro port of entry crossing from Mexico into the United States. Law enforcement officers inspected Newell’s vehicle at the border crossing and discovered approximately 98 packages containing approximately 111 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the vehicle’s gas tank, the rear compartment wall, the driver- and passenger-side exterior frame pillars, and underneath the floor.
FRESNO - Joseph D. Sanford, 74, of Ceres, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act by operating cockfighting and fighting-bird breeding business, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Sanford was the owner and operator of Joe Sanford Gamefarm in Ceres, where he bred and sold gamecocks for cockfighting.
Sanford also fought his own roosters. Following an undercover purchase of a trio of fighting game birds, federal agents searched Joe Sanford Gamefarm, where Sanford resides and found a large cockfighting enterprise consisting of 2,956 game fowl. In pleading guilty, Sanford acknowledged that he had shipped game fowl within the United States and to Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines for cockfighting.
FRESNO - Leah Guillen, 39, of Madera, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in early 2018, Guillen obtained the name, social security account number, and date of birth of an individual.
Guillen then used this information to impersonate her and fraudulently gain access to her bank accounts at Golden 1 Credit Union. Using an unauthorized debit card, Guillen drained the victim’s bank accounts over a three-month period between April 18, 2018, and June 30, 2018, causing a loss in excess of $210,449.
