FRESNO - Jason Vertz, 51, of Fresno, and Alana Powers, 45, an inmate at the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla, were each sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to five years and one month in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Vertz and Powers submitted several fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in Powers’ and other CCWF inmates’ names to the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Recorded jail calls and emails show that Powers and other inmates provided names, dates of birth, and social security numbers for inmates at CCWF to Vertz to submit the fraudulent claims. Shortly thereafter, the benefits were loaded onto debit cards that were mailed to the addresses the defendants provided.
FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Carlos Perez, 45, of Fresno, charging him with assault on a federal contractor, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on June 21, 2021, Perez assaulted a Court Security Officer inside the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Fresno by striking the officer in the face.
MADERA -Jesse Harley Davis, a 30-year-old Madera resident, was arrested following an investigation by Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives. MCSO Deputies took a report of a sexual assault on a minor. 
SANGER - Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives have booked 37-year-old J.D. Torrence of Corcoran into the Fresno County Jail on charges of sexual battery and unlawfully detaining a person. He has since made his bail that was set at $250,000.
FRESNO - On June 24th, a burglary took place at a home on the 4300 block of N. Arthur Ave. in Fresno. Stolen items included: A laptop computer, cell phone, smartwatches, and a wallet containing credit cards and a driver’s license. Detectives obtained surveillance video from the house and identified the suspects involved.
