News

FRESNO STATE - Fresno State announced last week that Sigma Chi has been placed on suspension through Feb. 3, 2020, arising from underage drinking of alcohol, several instances of physical assault and noise violations at a fraternity-sponsored event on May 5, 2019.

If the fraternity satisfies certain University-imposed conditions, such as completing a risk-management program, the chapter will regain recognition and most of the privileges that come with full recognition by Feb. 3, 2020. It will not regain its right to serve alcohol to students of legal age at its functions until May 25, 2020.

MADERA - Hailing from Hollywood, CA, via Juarez, Mexico, METALACHI is a musical/comedy stage show that somehow seamlessly blends the world of Spinal Tap and Cheech & Chong into an over-the-top stage spectacle. The band is comprised of a five-piece ensemble of classically trained mariachi musician siblings, that have been fused together with the power of heavy metal.

Fans can expect an unlikely meshing of metal classics from artist such as Metallica, Slayer, Ozzy Osbourne and more with traditional mariachi standards from the likes of Vicente Fernandez and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan... all played with traditional mariachi instrumentation but with a stage show that strays far from traditional!

FRESNO  -   Sherman Smith, 73, of Monterey, was indicted today on seven counts of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Smith was the executive pastor of a church in Clovis.

Smith allegedly 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.

FRESNO  -   A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Lester Eduardo Cardenas-Flores, 23, and Luis Madrigal-Reyes, 36, illegal aliens from Mexico, charging them with conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, and damaging public lands and natural resources, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers located over 1,000 marijuana plants in the Dutch Oven Creek area of the Sierra National Forest in Madera County. Both defendants were found in a processing area near growing marijuana plants and fled when law enforcement officers arrived to investigate.

SACRAMENTO   -   Aaron Gilliam, 51, of Sherman Oaks, was sentenced today to 22 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bribery, to commit identity fraud, and to commit unauthorized access of a computer, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Gilliam worked at the Hollywood DMV starting in October 2006. Between January 2011 and July 2017, Gilliam was a Motor Vehicle Representative at the DMV’s Hollywood office where he processed driver’s licenses.

FRESNO -  On Aug. 9, after a five-day jury trial, Jarvis Thomas, 34, of Bakersfield, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between Sept. 27, 2017, and Sept. 11, 2018, Thomas conspired with others to possess and distribute methamphetamine in Bakersfield and North Dakota.

According to court documents, on Dec. 14, 2017, after a 10-month investigation, more than 35 members and associates of West Side Crips (WSC), a local criminal street gang, were arrested on federal and state charges including burglary, illegal gun possession, drug sales, and murder.