Local News

Former Public Official Sentenced for Bid Rigging and Bribery

SACRAMENTO - A former Caltrans contract manager and a former contractor were sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento for their roles in a bid-rigging and bribery scheme involving Caltrans improvement and repair contracts.

Choon Foo “Keith” Yong, the former Caltrans contract manager, was sentenced to 49 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $984,699.53 in restitution. According to a plea agreement filed on April 11, 2022, Yong and his co-conspirators engaged in a conspiracy from early 2015 through late 2019 to thwart the competitive bidding process for Caltrans contracts to ensure that companies controlled by Yong’s co-conspirators submitted the winning bid and would be awarded the contract.

Fresno County Deputies Rescue Kayakers Stranded on River; Citations Issued

FRESNO COUNTY - On Thursday afternoon, April 20th, firefighters with the Fresno Fire Department rescued two people and a dog in an inflatable kayak. They got into a dangerous situation on the San Joaquin River.

As the kayakers drifted downstream, they drifted into trees, which popped their kayak. They were able to call 911 for help. Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies and Fresno Fire Department firefighters responded to get them off the river safely. Deputies then issued the two people citations for illegally accessing the river.

Clovis Man Arrested for Operating Business to Buy and Sell Stolen Catalytic Converters

FRESNO - A federal grand jury has indicted George Thomas, 70, of Clovis, for selling thousands of stolen catalytic converters to a company in Oregon for over $2.5 million and then withdrawing the proceeds from his bank accounts in increments under $10,000 to avoid federal reporting requirements, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed today following Thomas’s arrest.

According to court records, between January 2021 and November 2022, Thomas purchased stolen catalytic converters from thieves in the Fresno area who cut the converters off people’s vehicles. The thieves called or texted Thomas to arrange the sales in parking lots and behind buildings during all hours of the day and night. Thomas paid the thieves significantly below market rates and paid them in cash to conceal the source of the converters.

Bakersfield Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegal Cockfighting

FRESNO - Horacio Ortega-Martinez, 36, a citizen of Mexico residing in Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for possessing roosters to use them in an animal fighting venture, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. In addition, the forfeiture of the fighting roosters and 49 breeding hens was ordered. On Nov. 10, 2022, Ortega pleaded guilty to an Animal Welfare Act crime involving the possession of 250 roosters for use in an animal fighting venture.

According to court documents, law enforcement agents became aware of Ortega’s involvement in breeding, fighting, and selling roosters in January 2022 through recorded conversations obtained from a court-authorized wiretap of a phone used by Jorge Calderon-Campos, 42, of Bakersfield. Ortega and Calderon had various telephone conversations about buying, selling, and fighting roosters.

Four Indicted in Scheme to Deliver Drugs into State Prisons by Drone

FRESNO - An indictment, brought on Feb. 16, 2023, has been unsealed, charging four defendants in a scheme to use drones to deliver drugs and other contraband into state prisons, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Michael Ray Acosta, 48, an inmate at Pleasant Valley State Prison, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, conspiracy to own and operate an unregistered drone, and serving or attempting to serve as an airman without an airman’s certificate and using a cellphone in aid of racketeering.