FRESNO, Calif. - Two large-scale marijuana cultivators pleaded guilty and one was sentenced today in federal court, according to Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce C. Balzano and U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner. The defendants were involved in separate marijuana cultivation operations in Kern, Kings, and Stanislaus...

DENVER - Raul Mendoza, 48, Julia Castillo-Caraveo, 28, both of Denver, Colorado, and Isidro Noe Mendoza-Ortiz, 25, of Thornton, Colorado, were arrested on March 5, 2013 for structuring and money laundering, the United States Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement (DEA), IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Department of Homeland (HSI) announced. All...

FRESNO, Calif. - Manuel Vasquez, 30, a Fresno bail bondsman who resided in Selma, pleaded guilty today to participating in a long-term methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and aiding and abetting a convicted felon, Edwan Dablan, 37, of Kingsburg, to possess multiple firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce...

FRESNO, Calif. - Operation Mercury, a multicounty marijuana initiative focusing on agricultural marijuana grows, has resulted in the guilty plea today of Christopher Gallegos, 19, of Temecula, and the sentencing today of Ramon Manjarrez Del Vaal, 37, of Sinaloa, Mexico, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce C...

FRESNO, Calif. - Joseph Taylor, 53, of Thousand Oaks, and Dustin York, 35, of Newbury, were sentenced to prison today for their involvement in a conspiracy to cultivate marijuana in a warehouse on South Union Avenue in Bakersfield, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce C. Balzano and...

FRESNO, Calif. - United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neil sentenced Alejandro Uriostegui Rodriguez, aka Jose Salgado Valladares, aka Guerrero, aka Alejandro Basave Uriostegui , 40, an undocumented alien from Guerrero, Mexico, today to four years in federal prison for conspiring to cultivate, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Yesterday, United States District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. sentenced two brothers from Union City for conspiring to distribute (Ecstasy). Judge England sentenced Masod Rahimi, 26, to nine years in prison and Mansore Rahimi, 24, to two years and 11 months in prison, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - On February 11, 2013, United States District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Sulaimen Safi, 31, of Vancouver, Canada, to six years and nine months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and Ecstasy, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce C...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - After a three-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge John A. Mendez, a federal jury found Brandon Alton Conley, 31, of Arroyo Grande, guilty of cultivating at least 100 marijuana plants and of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting...

FRESNO, Calif. - The third of nine defendants charged in connection with a large marijuana cultivation operation in Alpaugh, was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce C. Balzano and U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. U.S. District...