News

The Grand Opening of The Arthur @ Blackstone, an Affordable Housing Development

FRESNO - A new chapter begins in Fresno's history with the grand opening of The Arthur @ Blackstone, a transformative, affordable housing development. This innovative project, located on the site once home to the beloved "Arthur's Toys" store and AJ's Tuxedo Shop, marks a significant milestone in addressing the housing needs of the community, especially young people transitioning from foster care.

The Arthur @ Blackstone will offer a welcoming community with 1, 2, and 3- 3-bedroom units for a total of 41 units in the City of Fresno. The property will provide an affordable and permanent housing community for residents, with half of the units reserved for transitional-aged youth.

Professional Rock Climber Convicted of Sexual Assaults in Yosemite National Park

SACRAMENTO - A federal jury found Charles Barrett, 39, guilty today of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact that occurred during a weekend in Yosemite National Park, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the victim went to Yosemite for a weekend of hiking, and Barrett, who was working and living in the park, sexually assaulted her three times. During the trial, three other women testified that Barrett also sexually assaulted them. These assaults were not charged because they were outside federal jurisdiction but were admitted at trial as relevant to the charged assaults.

One Sentenced, One Pleads Guilty in 2 Separate Cases Involving Debit and Credit Card Skimming Schemes

FRESNO - Artak Vardanyan, 40, of Burbank, was sentenced today to 11 months in prison for conspiring to commit credit and debit card fraud, and Christos Mavrokelos, 37, a Romanian national operating in Fresno and elsewhere, pleaded guilty today to using counterfeit debit cards and skimming devices, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Vardanyan used credit and debit card Skewers at gas stations to steal nearly $200,000 in Fresno and Southern California.

According to court records, in November 2015, Vardanyan and his co-defendant, Akop Dongelyan, went on a crime spree in Fresno and Southern California, where they stole multiple victims’ credit and debit card information through skimmers placed at gas stations.

Prison Officials Investigating the Death of an Incarcerated Merced Murderer as a Homicide

SAN DIEGO - The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is investigating the Feb. 3, 2024, death of an incarcerated Merced man at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) as a homicide. At approximately 2:20 p.m., officers responded to an altercation between incarcerated persons Michael Mendoza and Maurice Vasquez against incarcerated person Guy Perez.

Responding staff arrived and observed Mendoza and Vasquez striking Perez in the upper torso with inmate-manufactured weapons. Staff orders to stop were ignored. Chemical agents were then used to quell the attack.

Prison Officials Investigating the Death of Prisoner as a Homicide

COALINGA – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the Jan. 24, 2024, death of an incarcerated person at Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) as a homicide. At approximately 10:15 p.m., officers were conducting security rounds and approached a cell occupied by Jaime Ambriz and Roberto Briseno.

The officer observed Ambriz unresponsive in the cell and immediately summoned for medical response. Responding staff initiated lifesaving measures, summoned an ambulance, and transported Ambriz to the prison’s triage and treatment area. He was pronounced deceased at 10:48 p.m. by Coalinga Fire Paramedics.

Fresno Code Enforcement and State Raid Exclusive Golf Club Discovering Elaborate Illegal Marijuana Operation

FRESNO – On Thursday morning, the City Attorney’s Office Code Enforcement Division, California Department of Tax and Fee, and State of California Department of Cannabis Control jointly served a search warrant at AOA Private Golf Club.

The business is an upscale private golf club near the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. During the search, thousands of dollars worth of illegal cannabis, cannabis products, and paraphernalia were discovered. The illegal operation appears to have been ongoing for a significant time.

Madera Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine

SACRAMENTO - Elias Hernandez-Valencia, 48, a Mexican national residing in Madera, was sentenced Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between May 22, 2018, and August 8, 2018, Hernandez-Valencia and others were part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. As part of this conspiracy, Hernandez-Valencia directed deliveries of methamphetamine to others within the drug trafficking organization (DTO) and remitted the proceeds from the drug sales to the head of the DTO, a person known as “Tio” (or “Uncle”).