Local News

Former Clovis Pastor Defrauded Church Congregants of Over $2 Million - Pleads Guilty to Real Estate Development Fraud

FRESNO - Sherman Smith, 74, of Monterey, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Smith was the executive pastor of Sonrise Church of Clovis.

Smith induced investors, including church congregants, to give money to the church by representing that the money would be used to finance a real estate development project for the benefit of the church. Smith made appeals from the pulpit, via email, and in-person for monies to pay off the church’s mortgage and fund an income-generating development.

Teenager Killed in Central Madera Shooting (UPDATE)

MADERA – Madera Police are investigating the homicide of a teenager in Central Madera. Officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of West 4th Street around 9:30 PM Wednesday evening regarding a man who had been shot. The 19-year-old victim was transported to Madera Community Hospital where he died from his wounds.

While detectives are still at the beginning stages of the investigation, the murder may have been gang-related. .Detectives and officers are still working the scene and gathering evidence. At this time Madera Police have no further information but stay tuned to BVN for updates throughout the day.

Former California EDD Employee Sentenced for Disability Benefits Fraud and Identity Theft

SACRAMENTO - Katherine Decker, 49, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to three years and seven months in prison for a disability benefits fraud and identity theft scheme, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between June 14, 2013, and May 1, 2017, Decker and co‑defendant Angela Stubblefield, 49, of Tacoma, Washington, formerly of Martinez, participated in a scheme to defraud the State of California by filing fraudulent claims for disability insurance benefits with the California Employment Development Department (EDD).

Bakersfield Man and Two Others Indicted for Conspiring to Traffic Over 10,000 Fentanyl Pills and 10 Pounds of Methamphetamine

FRESNO — Jorge Luis Velasquez, 33, of Mexico, Omar Velazquez Landeros, 27, of Bakersfield, and Victor Romero Galvan, 29, of Mexico, were indicted today for conspiring and possessing with intent to distribute over 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, and for carrying firearms in furtherance of these crimes, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on or about January 28, 2020, in Kern County, Landeros distributed approximately one pound of nearly pure methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Bakersfield. Velasquez assisted with coordinating that transaction. On or about March 13, 2020, Landeros distributed approximately 1,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills, which Velasquez helped to coordinate as well.

Clovis Man Charged with Attempted Online Enticement of Minor to Engage in Illegal Sex Acts and Receipt of Child Pornography

FRESNO — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment yesterday against Thomas Layman Binford, 55, of Clovis, California, charging him with separate counts of attempting coercion and enticement of a minor and receipt of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, as well as receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Binford traveled to a park in Fresno, California on the evening of July 28, 2020, with the intent of meeting and engaging in illegal sex acts with a 13-year-old minor he had earlier met online through the Skout social media application. Upon his arrest at the park, his cell phone was seized and subsequently searched, where over 250 images of minors being sexually exploited were found.