News

Bitwise Industries Founders Charged for $100 Million Fraud Scheme

FRESNO - Irma Olguin Jr. and Jake Soberal, the founders and leaders of the failed Fresno-based technology company Bitwise Industries, self-surrendered today on a federal complaint charging them with conspiring to commit wire fraud and taking more than $100 million from various businesses and individuals, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

“The defendants could have chosen simply to admit the failure of Bitwise’s business model. Instead, they used lie after lie to pull over $100 million into a dying venture through fraud,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “Olguin and Soberal fabricated bank statements, lied to investors, provided false financial information to their board of directors, forged documents, and used buildings Bitwise no longer even owned as collateral for loans, all while lining their own pockets. Our office will continue to investigate and prosecute those responsible for such financial crimes, and we are grateful for the hard work of the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation and the civil enforcement work of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.”

Arrest Made in Bakersfield Firearms Trafficking Investigation Involving Over One Hundred Guns Found at Crime Scenes

BAKERSFIELD - Joshua Ruic Kimball, 40, of Bakersfield, was arrested today on a criminal complaint for unlawful trafficking of firearms controlled by the National Firearms Act and for unlawful trafficking of firearms in violation of state law, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The criminal complaint was unsealed following the arrest. Kimball will appear on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher D. Baker in Bakersfield.

City of Fresno Breaks Ground on Largest Solar Energy and Battery Storage Projects in California

FRESNO -- The City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities (DPU) conducted a ground-breaking ceremony today for the development of its on-site solar energy and battery storage portfolio, which is now taking shape at three energy-intensive sites – the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility, the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility, and the Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility. DPU's 27 megawatt-DC (MW-DC) "behind-the-meter" portfolio is being developed in partnership with ForeFront Power, a leading developer of solar energy and battery storage projects in the U.S. and Mexico, and the projects will be constructed by local union labor from the IBEW Local 100.

The DPU projects are part of the City of Fresno's comprehensive plan to lower its energy costs, bolster environmental resiliency, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At a time of rising electricity costs, these DPU projects will save the City an expected $100 million in taxpayer dollars by 2045. Development of the City's solar and storage portfolio has created 192 local jobs, with the three DPU sites contributing 120 of these local jobs.

Arrest Made in Reedley Bio-Lab Investigation

FRESNO - Jia Bei Zhu, aka Jesse Zhu, aka Qiang He, aka David He, 62, a citizen of China who formerly resided in Clovis, was arrested today on a criminal complaint for manufacturing and distributing misbranded medical devices in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and for making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

“As part of his scheme, the defendant changed his name, the names of his companies, and their locations,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “The disarray at the Reedley lab led to the glare of publicity he was trying to avoid, and the ensuing investigation unraveled his efforts to circumvent the requirements that are designed to ensure that medical devices are safe and effective.”

Former Fresno Resident Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking and Sending Interstate Threats

FRESNO - William Lee Robinson, 43, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, pleaded guilty today to five counts of sending threatening interstate communications and three counts of cyberstalking, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Robinson worked at a business in Fresno from June to November 2017. After the business fired him, Robinson began sending threatening messages to his former supervisor and other co-workers in an attempt to extort them for money.

Bakersfield Men Indicted for $25 Million Tax Refund Fraud Scheme Using Stolen Identities

FRESNO - On Sept. 21, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment charging Bakersfield residents Miguel Martinez, 39, and Victor Cruz, 38, for their involvement in a $25 million tax refund fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

Martinez and Cruz were each charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and submit false claims to the Internal Revenue Service. Martinez was also charged with identity theft. He has been in custody since his arrest in June 2023 on a criminal complaint. Cruz was arrested Monday at the Los Angeles airport upon his arrival from Mexico.

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $160,000 in COVID-19 Relief Money

FRESNO - Jaswinder Bhangoo, 50, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to stealing $163,750 in COVID-19 relief money, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between May 2020 and November 2021, Bhangoo applied for over $250,000 in COVID-19 relief loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In the applications, Bhangoo falsely represented that he owned multiple businesses with several employees and substantial revenues. He also represented that he had not been convicted of a felony in the previous five years when, in fact, he had been convicted of insurance fraud. Based on Bhangoo’s false representations, some of his loan applications were approved, and he received approximately $163,750 in federal funds to which he was not entitled.