SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Charles Miller Hilkey Jr., 58, of the Nevada City area, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton in connection with the cultivation of marijuana and structuring cash transactions to avoid reporting requirements, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce C. Balzano...

FRESNO, Calif.) - Two large-scale marijuana cultivators in Kern County entered guilty pleas and two cultivators in Kings and Fresno Counties were sentenced today in federal court, Acting Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Bruce C. Balzano and U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Guilty Plea in Federal Wiretap...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Lynn Farrell Smith, 62, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to federal marijuana charges that include conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, two counts of manufacturing marijuana and six counts of distributing marijuana from storefronts in Stockton and Sacramento, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce...

JAN 15 - LOS ANGELES - A “keyholder” who oversaw the criminal activities of the Azusa 13 street gang and its long-running plot to violate the civil rights of African-Americans in the City of Azusa was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison. Santiago Rios, also known as “Chico,” 48...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gennaro DiMatteo, 43, of South Lake Tahoe, pleaded guilty today to count two of the indictment, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams and United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. This case is the product of...

OAKLAND, Calif. - On December 18, 2012, ten people were arrested for their participation in a network that obtained significant quantities of prescription narcotics through forged prescriptions, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams and United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced. Among those arrested were Letitia Montgomery...

FRESNO, Calif. - David Chavez Sr., 53, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute marijuana, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams and United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal...

FRESNO, Calif. - Ramon Manjarrez-Del Vaal, 36, of Sinaloa, Mexico, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to cultivate, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 1,019 marijuana plants grown on a five-acre parcel of land in Devil’s Den in Kings County, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams...

DEC 6 - LOS ANGELES - Law enforcement authorities this morning arrested 18 defendants named in three federal grand jury indictments stemming from Operation Roman Empire, a 2½-year investigation into South Los Angeles street gangs allegedly controlled by a Mexican Mafia member who directs criminal activities through his daughter. A...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Five defendants have been charged in three separate cases with narcotic trafficking, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams and U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner announced. A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Wednesday charging Enrique Amezcua, 25, and Michael Anthony Robles, 23, both...