News

Following a two-week trial, a jury found Jia Bei Zhu, 64, a Chinese national, guilty of fraudulently selling more than a million COVID tests for nearly $4 million through his Fresno-based company Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI), to customers across the United States and lying to the FDA about his identity and role with UMI.

David Garcia, 39, of Bakersfield, was sentenced Monday to 21 years and 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Gabriel Cabrera, 23, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to eight years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Following a bench trial before visiting U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake, Rodger Githens, 48, of West Sacramento, was found guilty of attempted enticement of a minor and receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against Ruben Garcia, 49, of Turlock, and his brother-in-law Heriberto Ayala, 48, of Delhi, charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against Anthony Julian Ramirez, 32, of Sacramento, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, a national of El Salvador residing in Stanislaus County, charging him with two counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and one count of destruction of government property.

Kyle Matthew Lisman, 30, of Bakersfield, was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for wire fraud, possessing stolen mail, and aggravated identity theft. 

Monique Marie Gonzales Grado, 32, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to four years in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Richard Best, 72, of Fresno, was sentenced today to three years in prison and ordered to pay $2 million in restitution for his role in a fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars’ worth of canola (used to make livestock feed) from international food processors

Gonzalo Hernandez, 38, of Oakdale, pleaded guilty today to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Shana Gaviola, 39, of Fresno, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour to three years in prison for interstate violation of a protection order for causing her estranged teenage son to be taken against his will and transported from California to Missouri.