MIL Security Engine-1

Source: US FBI

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Orlando Torres Angulo, 30, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 12 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distributing methamphetamine, and use of a cellphone in aid of racketeering, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

According to court documents, in February 2021, Torres Angulo conspired with other individuals in both Mexico and California to distribute methamphetamine in pound quantities. Torres Angulo arranged for the delivery of 4 pounds of methamphetamine to a customer, who was in fact an undercover officer in Fresno. Torres Angulo later delivered another 2 pounds of methamphetamine to the undercover officer in Roseville. While discussing this deal, Torres Angulo told the undercover officer that he would set aside 15 pounds of methamphetamine if the undercover officer came to his place in Tulare. Torres Angulo then helped coordinate a third deal for 10 pounds of methamphetamine in Terra Bella.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.

Source: US FBI

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Eastern District of California Law Enforcement Awards. These awards are presented annually to law enforcement agencies and investigators in the District’s Sacramento and Fresno divisions to recognize outstanding collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement in addressing public safety issues in this region.

“Congratulations to all of our award recipients on being chosen and for their efforts to address dangerous crimes that threaten the residents of the Eastern District of California,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “We owe a debt of gratitude to these agencies, detectives, and agents who conduct extensive investigations to seek justice for victims and for the public. It is a privilege for our office to work alongside them to keep our communities safe.”

Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Awards

The Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award is presented to a local or state law enforcement agency that has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, commitment to public safety partnerships, and strong support for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s initiatives.

The Fresno Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) is the 2023 recipient of the Eastern District of California Law Enforcement Award for Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency in the Fresno Division. MAGEC received the award for two investigations. The first led to the arrest and charging of more than 25 Norteño gang members in Parlier and surrounding communities for murder, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, and witness and victim intimidation. The second led to the charging of 10 members of the MS-13 gang for six different murders committed in and around the Mendota area. MAGEC is composed of personnel from the Clovis Police Department, the Fresno Police Department, the Kerman Police Department, the Kingsburg Police Department. the Parlier Police Department, the Sanger Police Department, the Selma Police Department. the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, working in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Fresno County Probation, the California Department of Justice’s Special Operations Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, and FBI. MAGEC demonstrates our shared commitment to keeping our communities safe from violent criminal gangs through teamwork among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.

The Sacramento Hi-Tech Crimes / Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is the 2023 recipient of Eastern District of California Law Enforcement Award for Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency in the Sacramento Division. The ICAC Task Force received the award for investigations that led to the successful charging and prosecution of some of the Sacramento region’s most serious sexual offenders in 2023, including multiple defendants who produced child pornography and sexually abused minors. Those defendants included a physician, a nurse practitioner, and an adoptive and foster father who sought to sexually exploit young children. The ICAC Task Force is composed of personnel from the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the Citrus Heights Police Department, the Elk Grove Police Department, the Folsom Police Department, the Rocklin Police Department, the Tracy Police Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, as well as from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. The ICAC Task Force exemplifies commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our community by thoroughly investigating internet-facilitated crimes against children.

Outstanding Individual Awards

The Outstanding Investigator and Outstanding Federal Agent awards are presented to local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism; timely, thorough, quality investigations; exceptional knowledge and investigative skill; energy and commitment to public safety; and commitment to law enforcement partnerships and teamwork.

The Outstanding Investigator award for the Sacramento Division was given to Yuba County Sheriff’s Office Peace Officer Sixto Torres for his work as a DEA Task Force Officer on Operation Splazh Down, an investigation into a large-scale, poly-drug distribution organization in the Sacramento Area. During Operation Splazh Down, TFO Torres identified the leadership structure of a drug trafficking organization. As a result of his efforts and that of his team, DEA seized more than 500 pounds of methamphetamine and large amounts of cocaine, fentanyl, heroine, and firearms. Torres dedicates exceptional energy to his investigations and consistently exemplifies professionalism and service before self.

The Outstanding Investigator award for the Fresno Division was given to Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Scott Schwamb for his work with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. One case where Schwamb was the lead investigator culminated in a 21‑year prison sentence for the defendant. That case began when Schwamb received information that hidden cameras were recording a minor in her bedroom and bathroom. Despite having already worked a full shift, Schwamb reviewed the evidence and assembled an investigative team that evening and applied for a search warrant. By early the next morning, evidence had been collected at the suspect’s home and work and the suspect had been interviewed. Schwamb continued to work on the case by preparing for trial and was the prosecution’s key law enforcement witness at trial. While working on the Task Force, Schwamb has assisted in the investigation of hundreds of leads involving child sexual exploitation, and as a result, dozens of cases have been prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.

The Outstanding Federal Agent award for the Sacramento Division was given to FBI Special Agent Jessi Groff for her work as a member of FBI’s international terrorism squad. She has led the investigations into some of the most important cases in the District, using her unique ability to master details of a case while never losing sight of the big picture. Her work is often unheralded and tedious, yet Special Agent Groff maintains a positive demeanor and attitude. Throughout her years of service, she has become a bedrock of federal law enforcement.

The Outstanding Federal Agent award for the Fresno Division was given to Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jackie Lovato for his work on the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (FORT). Agent Lovato has spearheaded the investigation into dozens of fentanyl traffickers in the Central Valley, including some who caused overdose injuries and deaths. One of his cases led to charges against 20 fentanyl and cocaine traffickers, including the self‑proclaimed counterfeit M-30 fentanyl “King of Fresno.” Special Agent Lovato has also offered support to overdose victims and their families and played a key role in educating the public about the dangers of fentanyl in schools, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations.

Source: US FBI

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against Raquel Mosqueda, 36, of Porterville, California, and Jimmie L. Carter, 44, charging them with conspiring to violate the constitutional rights of another inmate at California State Prison-Corcoran, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

Mosqueda was a Correctional Officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and Carter was an inmate.  According to court documents, on or around April 20, 2022, Mosqueda, while serving as a correctional officer at California State Prison-Corcoran, agreed with Carter to permit Carter to “get rid of” the victim.  Mosqueda facilitated an assault of the victim by permitting Carter and other inmates to enter the victim’s cell and assault him.  The assault caused bodily injury to the victim.

Mosqueda is additionally charged with depriving the victim of his constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, which includes the right to be reasonably protected from the threat of violence by fellow inmates.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Office of Internal Affairs.  Assistant United States Attorney Karen A. Escobar and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Mosqueda and Carter face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge.  Mosqueda faces an additional 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the charge of deprivation of constitutional rights. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: US FBI

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against Daniel Chartraw, 51, formerly of South Lake Tahoe, charging him with wire fraud, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.  The indictment was unsealed this week after Chartraw’s arrest.

According to court documents, Chartraw was responsible for defrauding multiple victims in a cryptocurrency investment scheme.  Chartraw claimed that his companies, Crypto-Pal LLC and TDA Global, were developing and possessed a proprietary algorithm that was capable of generating exceptional returns on cryptocurrency investments.  However, instead of investing money from his victims as he promised, Chartraw used the money to fund his personal lifestyle and travel.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Delaney is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Chartraw faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: US FBI

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steven Raymon Waller, 46, of Sacramento, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 39 months in prison for access device fraud. 

According to court documents, between November 2017 and March 2019, Waller used stolen credit card numbers to buy at least $927,000 worth of gift cards from a national retailer.  

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Drozd ordered Waller to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $927,000 in restitution to the retailer.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg prosecuted the case.

Source: US FBI

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ronald Yandell, 62, of Pinole, and William Sylvester, 56, of Norco, were each sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to two consecutive life terms in prison for murder in aid of racketeering and various other RICO-related crimes, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between 2011 and 2016, Aryan Brotherhood members and associates engaged in racketeering activity, committing multiple acts involving murder, conspiracies to murder, and drug trafficking crimes. The trial evidence showed that Aryan Brotherhood members oversaw a significant heroin and methamphetamine trafficking operation from their California prison cells using smuggled cellphones to direct drug trafficking activities, order murders, and oversee other criminal activities inside and outside of the prisons.

Yandell’s murder in aid of racketeering

According to evidence presented at trial, on August 15, 2015, two inmates carried out a brutal murder of another inmate at CSP-Sacramento on Yandell’s order.  Before the murder, Yandell offered the two inmates membership in the Aryan Brotherhood if they were able to execute the killing.  About a year after the murder, DEA intercepted calls made by Yandell over a contraband cellphone in which he bragged about directing the murder and sponsoring the killers for membership in the gang.  Yandell also directed that money earned from Aryan Brotherhood criminal activities be directed to support the two murderers.

Sylvester’s murder in aid of racketeering

According to evidence presented at trial, on October 7, 2001, Sylvester murdered another inmate at CSP-Sacramento to earn his membership in the Aryan Brotherhood.  In particular, Sylvester murdered the other inmate because the victim was a member of a gang that refused to recognize the Aryan Brotherhood’s authority and, as a result, members of the victim’s gang were marked for death. 

To carry out the murder, Sylvester and another inmate used substantial planning and premeditation to carry out the attack within an extremely-restrictive prison environment. They used inmate-manufactured weapons and surprised the victim with multiple lethal stab wounds to the victim’s body. Sylvester earned membership in the gang for carrying out the killing.

In April 2024, following a nine-week trial before, a federal jury found Yandell, Sylvester, and co-defendant Danny Troxell, 71, guilty of RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to murder, murder in aid of racketeering, and multiple counts of drug trafficking.  Troxell will be sentenced on February 18, 2025.

Charges remain pending against one defendant, Kevin MacNamara, 44, of La Palma.

The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Vallejo Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, Ross Pearson, and David Spencer are prosecuting the case.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

Source: US FBI

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Randy Anger, 57, of Carnelian Bay, pleaded guilty today to distribution and receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. 

According to court documents, in May 2021, Anger distributed and received child sexual abuse material on the Kik Messenger app while communicating with Brent Hooton.  Hooton was separately charged and convicted in the Eastern District of California with production and distribution of child pornography and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.  In November 2021, Anger also received several images of child sexual abuse material on the Wickr app.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance by Homeland Security Investigations and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.

Anger is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd.  On both the distribution and receipt counts, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison per count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.

Source: US FBI

FRESNO, Calif. — Karina Arceo, 34, of Wasco, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to commit bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft in a long-running credit card fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

“The defendant used patient healthcare files to commit fraud and identity theft instead of treating those files with the care and sensitivity they deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Let this case serve as a warning those who consider abusing such access to patient files: my office will work tirelessly with the FBI and our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute fraud and identity theft crimes committed with sensitive patient information.”

“Arceo violated her employer’s trust by abusing her access to personally identifiable information, fueling an elaborate, greed-driven scheme that she and her partner enjoyed until they were taken into custody,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “This case should serve as a reminder to all to freeze and routinely check your credit to ensure accounts are not opened without your knowledge. It is also a reminder to would-be criminals that the FBI will identify and pursue anyone who abuses a position of trust to exploit others for personal gain.”

According to court records, from February 2016 through August 2022, Arceo and her partner and co-defendant, Miguel Leyva, stole the personally identifiable information (PII) for more than 125 victims. They stole much of the PII from patient files at health care providers in Kern County where Arceo worked.

As part of their fraud scheme, Arceo and Leyva used the stolen PII to open thousands of fraudulent credit cards in the victims’ identities and made hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases on the credit cards in Fresno County, Kern County, the Bay Area, and elsewhere. The fraudulent purchases included home appliances, furniture, wall art, automobile accessories, designer clothing and shoes, luxury camping equipment, tickets to concerts and sporting events, and travel, among other items. Indeed, they used fraudulent purchases to remodel their home kitchen and their child’s room.

Arceo and Leyva also resold many of the items that they fraudulently purchased for cash and reaped a windfall because they did not actually pay for the items. They also used checks that had been stolen from companies in Kern County to access the companies’ bank accounts and make fraudulent payments towards the credit cards so as to keep their scheme going. Altogether, their scheme caused a total actual loss of more than $825,000.

Selfie of defendants celebrating after fraudulent purchase at Bed, Bath, & Beyond

Arceo’s sentence was enhanced because text messages that she exchanged with Leyva showed that she was the leader of the scheme. Arceo would pull the stolen PII used to open the fraudulent credit cards from her cloud account and send it to Leyva. The text messages also showed that Arceo would coach Leyva on how to make the fraudulent purchases. For example, she would tell him which cashiers to target at the stores and what to say if the cashiers started asking questions. Finally, the text messages showed that Arceo used lyrics from a popular hip-hop song at the time to describe herself as being “the boss” of the scheme who “makes money move” and to Leyva as just being a “worker.”

Leyva was previously sentenced to 65 months in prison.

At the sentencing hearing, Arceo submitted a letter to the court that Leyva wrote from prison where he tried to minimize her role in the scheme and identified himself as being the leader. That argument was rejected by the court.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton and Arelis M. Clemente are prosecuting the case.

Source: US FBI

FRESNO, Calif. —Jake Soberal, 38, and Irma Olguin, Jr., 44, the founders and leaders of the failed Fresno-based start-up company, Bitwise Industries (“Bitwise”), were sentenced to 11 years and 9 years in prison, respectively, for defrauding people out of approximately $115,000,000, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

“Defendants likened themselves to gods and joked about deceiving their well-intentioned investors while committing a massive fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert.  “They lied repeatedly to pull in over $100 million to a dying business venture that they knew never had any meaningful revenue.  To make themselves rich and keep up the façade, they used fabricated bank statements, false financial information, forged documents, and fake loan collateral.  These sentences serve as a reminder of the hazards of such financial crimes, and my office will continue to work with the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who commit them.”

“The willful and egregious fraud carried out by Irma Olguin Jr. and Jake Soberal will have long lasting impacts on not only those who invested in the well-orchestrated scam of Bitwise, but also the nearly 1,000 employees and contractors who abruptly lost their jobs when the Bitwise swindlers ran out of money,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kulbir Mand. “White-collar crimes are damaging to victims, families, and communities alike. IRS-CI and its law enforcement partners are experts at investigating financial crimes and building cases that lead to justice. Today’s sentencing should serve notice that the consequence for committing white-collar crime is severe.”

“This case demonstrates how disastrous the impact can be when a company’s executives fail to conduct themselves ethically and lawfully.  Bitwise Industries co-CEOs Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin, Jr. repeatedly lied to investors and lenders to keep their massive Ponzi scheme afloat, despite knowing that the business model would never generate positive revenue. The $115 million loss is significant, but the damage to the professional reputations of innocent parties and the loss of more than 900 jobs and associated benefits employees depended on will have a lasting, negative impact on the economy and individual lives,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “The FBI remains steadfast, safeguarding our economy by working with all partner agencies to ensure that those who exploit positions of trust to commit large-scale corporate frauds are held accountable for their criminal activity.”

According to court records, Bitwise was, and still is, the biggest startup company to come from California’s Central Valley.  The company’s objective was to use technology to create jobs for underserved groups of people, revitalize blighted urban areas, and show that such a project could be profitable.

Olguin, Jr. and Soberal received national media attention by appearing in publications like Forbes Magazine and giving Ted Talks where they portrayed Bitwise as being a success.  They also made a substantial annual salary.  By early 2022, however, the company was not generating any revenue and was running low on funds.  Thereafter, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal fabricated financial information for its board and for investor materials and doctored audit reports to make it appear as though Bitwise was generating revenues and turning a profit.  They also altered bank statements and forged bank representatives’ signatures on bank correspondence to inflate the company’s cash balances.  They did so to convince people that Bitwise was excelling when the company was actually failing.

The following are illustrative examples of Olguin, Jr. and Soberal’s fraud:

• In a February 2022 presentation and July 2022 prospectus that were circulated to investors, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal represented that Bitwise’s cash balance was over $44,000,000 as of the end of 2021.  They also represented that the company’s revenue was more than $58,000,000.  In reality, the company’s cash balance was less than $12,000,000 at that time and its revenue was non-existent. 
• In June and July 2022, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal falsely represented to a California-based investment firm that Bitwise had secured a $150,000,000 investment from another, London-based investment firm.  This was done to convince the California-based investment firm to purchase several buildings that Bitwise owned.  Several months later, Soberal falsely represented to another lender that Bitwise still owned those buildings to to provide collateral for another loan from another lender of millions of dollars. 
• In a March 2023 presentation circulated to investors, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal represented that Bitwise’s cash balance was over $77,000,000 as of the end of 2022.  They also represented that the company’s revenue was more than $143,000,000.  In reality, the company’s cash balance was less than $5,000,000 at that time and its revenue nominal. 
• Also in March 2023, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal provided an investor with an altered version of an audit of Bitwise that was previously conducted by an international audit firm.  They altered the audit to make it appear as though Bitwise’s revenue was 300 percent higher than the true number. 
• Also in March 2023, Soberal represented to a long-time Bitwise employee that the company had sufficient resources on-hand to induce the employee to make a significant loan to the company.

This pattern continued until the end of May 2023 when Bitwise ran out of money and the company collapsed.

Olguin, Jr. was a computer engineer who had previously run another technology company, and Soberal was an attorney who had previously practiced at a law firm doing intellectual property work.  Moreover, the defendants hired unqualified family members and friends, which allowed them to compartmentalize information and work in secret to spin the false statements needed to conceal and continue with their fraud.  For these reasons, Olguin, Jr. and Soberal received special sentencing enhancements. 

This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Barton and Henry Z. Carbajal III prosecuted the case.