FRESNO, Calif. - Douglas Jason Way, of Evanston, Ill.; Timothy Ortiz, 43, of Waukegan, Ill.; and Natalie Middleton, 28, of Clovis, Calif., have been arrested as part of a nationwide law enforcement effort to combat the threat of synthetic drugs. The arrests were announced by United States Attorney Benjamin B...

FRESNO, Calif. - A three-month multi-agency law enforcement operation, “Operation Red Eye,” culminated today with the arrest of several methamphetamine traffickers and the search of more than 30 locations. According to court documents, six individuals are being charged federally with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and other controlled substances: Luis Tejeda-Hurtado...

FRESNO, Calif. - Leopoldo “Polo” Rodriguez, 42, resident of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute, marijuana. According to court documents, Rodriguez and his fellow conspirators planned to send large quantities of marijuana from Bakersfield to Memphis, Tennessee. On August 26, 2013...

FRESNO, Calif. - Ana Lilia Angulo, 30, of San Jose, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute nine pounds of heroin. According to court documents, on April 23, 2013, Angulo was stopped for a traffic violation while driving a vehicle northbound on I5 near...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Ruben Barajas, 37, of Stockton, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 11 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Barajas was selling methamphetamine out of his taco truck. He was found in possession of...

OAKLAND, Calif. - Anthony Keslinke was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday and charged with money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Jay Fitzpatrick, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez. The Indictment alleges that between...

FRESNO, Calif. - Miguel Sanchez-(Sanchez), 46, of Mexico, was sentenced today to eight years in prison for conspiring to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. According to court documents, Sanchez and a co-defendant maintained a stash house in Bakersfield from where law enforcement...

FRESNO, Calif.) - Three marijuana cultivators were sentenced today in separate large-scale marijuana cultivation cases involving private lands in Stanislaus and Fresno Counties. Fresno/Alabama Drug Ring Member (1:12-cr-38 AWI) - Herman Graves, 47, of Fresno, was sentenced eight months in (four months in prison and four months home detention) for...

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - After collecting more than 84 tons of unwanted prescription medications in Northern California and the Central Valley over the past three-and-a-half years, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and its national, tribal, and community law enforcement partners will hold another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April...

FRESNO, Calif. - U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill sentenced Saul Antonio Morales, 49, of Alpaugh, today to 17 and a half years in prison for drug offenses relating to his involvement in a large marijuana cultivation operation that he maintained on his property. On October 31, 2013, a federal...