FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 30, 2012

The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative brings together federal, state and local law enforcement to combat gun and gang crime. At the core of PSN is increased federal prosecution to incapacitate chronic violent offenders as well as to communicate a credible deterrent threat to potential gun offenders. United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announces the following actions in federal PSN cases.

Modesto Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Firearms Possession and Growing Marijuana
Larry Escobedo, 48, of Modesto, was sentenced today to 15 years and eight months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill for growing marijuana and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on June 13, 2011, Modesto police officers served a search warrant at Escobedo’s residence and found over 300 marijuana plants as well as seven firearms and a silencer.  Escobedo has two prior convictions for possessing controlled substances for sale.  In sentencing, Judge O’Neill said that Escobedo had been given breaks and he apparently had not paid attention to them.

Clovis Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking
Jennifer Stroud, 31, of Clovis, was sentenced today to five years in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii for drug trafficking. According to court documents, on April 13, 2011, Stroud delivered 25.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $900.

On June 18, 2012, codefendant Cheryl Stroud was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking. Codefendant Robert Cervantes is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2012 after he pleaded guilty on July 23, 2012 to methamphetamine trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
These cases were the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Modesto Police Department, and the Clovis Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez prosecuted the cases.

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