Eastern District of California Blog

EDCA Lawsuit Claims Fresno Police Unlawfully Shot Man To Death

"Fresno police officers shot Miguel Moreno Torrez to death as he fought with his brother in front of his home on June 11, 2014, their family claims in Federal Court."  Courthouse News, 5/11/15 

EDCA U.S. Attorney Appointed To Co-Lead DOJ White Collar Subcommittee

Benjamin Wagner, the U.S. attorney for the Sacramento-based Eastern District of California, has been appointed co-chair of a subcommittee advising U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch on white collar crime, according to an announcement Thursday from Wagner’s office.

Sac Bee, 5/13/15

EDCA Judge Declines To Dismiss $453 Million In Fines Against Barclays Bank

A Sacramento federal judge has rejected a bid by Barclays Bank PLC and four of its employees to escape $453 million in fines for allegedly manipulating electricity markets in California and other Western states.

U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley ruled Wednesday that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which sought to impose the fines on Barclays PLC and its four traders in July 2013, “has alleged both a sufficient factual and legal basis to support its claim of manipulation.”

Sac Bee, 5/21/15

Court To Decide Motion To Reconsider In Schweder Marijuana Case Without Oral Argument

Today, Judge Mueller issued a minute order stating that she would decide the defense's Motion for Reconsideration based on Section 538 of the Budget Act in the Schweder marijuana case without oral argument and vacating the July 1 hearing date.  

Stratos Found Guilty Of Facebook Stock Fraud

Troy Stratos, the self-described entertainment entrepreneur and globe-trotting businessman, was found guilty Tuesday in federal court in Sacramento of concocting an $11 million fraud involving Facebook stock.

Stratos, 49, whose taste for the high life included a $14,000-a-month Marina Del Ray condominium, exotic luxury cars and his self-described friendship with comedian Eddie Murphy’s ex-wife, was convicted of four counts of wire fraud and two of money laundering.

The eight-man, four-woman jury in U.S. District Court in Sacramento deliberated less than two hours on its verdict, which came at the conclusion of a nine-day trial before Judge Troy L. Nunley.

Stratos, who did not testify in the case and did not noticeably react to the verdict, still faces trial in the fall on charges that he swindled Nicole Murphy out of $8 million by promising to handle her financial affairs following her divorce from Eddie Murphy.

Sac Bee, 5/19/15

Domestic Violence Victim Files Federal Lawsuit Against Former Clovis Police Officer

A domestic-violence victim took an unusual step Monday by stepping out in public and suing her ex-boyfriend — former Clovis police officer Kyle Pennington — of federal civil rights violations.

Besides Pennington, the suit names his parents and the Clovis and Sanger police departments, accusing them in federal court of civil conspiracy, negligence, and denying her right to due process and equal protection under the law.

In her lawsuit, Desiree Martinez contends Pennington abused and tormented her for more than year while the Clovis and Sanger police departments ignored her pleas for help.

Kyle’s parents, Kim and Connie Pennington of Sanger, are named as defendants in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Fresno because, either through “intentional or neglect conduct,” they helped conceal their son’s criminal behavior, said Fresno attorney Kevin Little, who represents Martinez.

Fresno Bee, 5/4/15

"Bank Robbing Babe" Sentenced To Long Prison Term

The Sacramento Bee reported that a woman called the "Bank Robbing Babe" on the CNBC show, American Greed: The Fugitives, was sentenced by Judge Mueller today to 187 months imprisonment for various bank fraud offenses.  No. 2:09-CR-325-KJM.

Guilty Verdicts in Markevich Jury Trial

After a 12-day trial before Judge Mendez, a jury convicted all six defendants on all counts of wire fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing is set for August 11, 2015.  U.S. v. Markevich, No. 2:11-CR-490-JAM.

New Schedule In Schweder Marijuana Case

The Court today approved the parties' stipulation to vacate tomorrow's hearing and instead set a schedule for additional pretrial motions and jury trial in the Schweder, et. al., marijuana case.  Defendants' motions are due July 1 with a motion hearing on September 23, 2015.  A jury trial is scheduled to begin February 22, 2016. 

Sacramento Jury Trials This Week

The Markevich, No. 2:11-CR-0490, six defendant mortgage fraud trial before Judge Mendez winds down with closings arguments scheduled to begin about 10 a.m. Monday.  It's in the 16th Floor Ceremonial Courtroom.  

Also on Monday, another multi-week fraud trial begins in United States v. Troy Stratos, No. 2:11-CR-0537-TLN, before Judge Nunley in courtroom 2.  Stratos is charged with a scheme to defraud a financial manager of more than $11 million by offering to sell him Facebook stock at a very favorable price before the company went public.  Motions in-limine will be heard in the morning starting at 9:00 a.m and jury selection begins at 1:30 p.m. [updated 5/3, 9:30 p.m.]