News

MADERA – It seems like the entire city of Madera is morning the loss of a child they never met. A sweet little boy that, in death, has touched the hearts of people shocked by what two parents are being accused of doing to someone they were supposed to love and protect.

Two murals, commissioned by Joe’s Mobile Tint Shop, have been painted to memorialize the young boy, gifts are being left in the area the young boy's burnt body was found last week. Facebook pages are popping up and there is talk of scholarships being funded for all three of Madera’s high schools in the boy’s name. There is no shortage of love for this young boy.

MADERA RANCHOS – Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives Madera Ranchos resident Dylan Colby Nichols Dobbs (27) Tuesday after an investigation involving his abuse, coercion, and sex trafficking of a 22-year-old woman  

Dobbs has been using social media to contact and befriend potential victims. Detectives believe he has been sex trafficking several women and girls in the San Francisco Bay and Las Vegas areas and controlling them through coercion, threats, and violence.

FRESNO  -  A Modesto couple was indicted today by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Jose Juan Garcia-Herrera, 59, and Lupe Aime Busio-Valencia, 41, were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and with possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, during the investigation, detectives observed Garcia-Herrera transferring items from a residence to an area under the driver’s seat of a vehicle. During a subsequent stop of the vehicle driven by Garcia-Herrera and accompanied by Busio-Valencia, detectives seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of heroin.

FRESNO -  A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Elias Muhammad, 23, of Fresno, charging him with attempted possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Muhammad was arrested after a vehicle stop on May 5. He was in possession of a firearm and .40 caliber ammunition after having suffered two prior felony convictions. He posted bail on that offense on May 10 and was released from custody.

FRESNO  -   A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against three members of the Mongolian Boys Society, charging them with conspiring to commit murder in aid of racketeering for acting as lookouts for a gang shooting that killed four, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Fresno residents Pao Vang, 30; Jhovanny Delgado, 19; and Johnny Xiong, 25, were members of the Mongolian Boys Society (MBS), a criminal organization active in Fresno and Visalia.

FRESNO  -  A Fresno business owner was arraigned today for a scheme to defraud the customers of his classic car business, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. On July 23, a federal grand jury returned a 22-count indictment against Jeffrey Scott Hedges, 48, currently residing in Irvine, charging him with wire fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, Hedges owned and operated West Coast Chassis LLC. Between November 2015 and January 2019, Hedges advertised his business online as one dedicated to the restoration of classic cars like Corvettes, Camaros, and others. However, instead of providing the promised chassis and modifications to the vehicle frames that his customers sent him, Hedges kept the money and failed to provide the promised product. Hedges allegedly defrauded his customers out of more than $600,000.