prison

Man arrested in South Lake Tahoe indicted on kidnapping charge

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Matthew D. Muller, a 38-year-old disbarred lawyer from Orangevale, charging him with one count of kidnapping.

Muller is charged with kidnapping physical therapist Denise Hoskins at the Vallejo home she shared with her boyfriend on March 23 and keeping her captive for two days before dropping her off near her mother's house in Huntington Beach. He allegedly demanded a $15,000 ransom.

Man tracked to South Lake Tahoe after robbery pleads no contest

Matthew Muller, the man who was tracked to South Lake Tahoe after a home invasion robbery in Dublin, plead no contest to the crime this week in Alameda County Court.

The aftermath of Proposition 47: Property crime up in South Lake Tahoe

In November, 2014, 60% of the voters in California approved Proposition 47, the "Safe Neighborhoods and School Act."

Since then, South Lake Tahoe and other cities across the state are seeing a big increase in crime. Prop. 47 reduced the penalties for certain theft and drug crimes in California. Several crimes that were once a felony because a misdemeanor overnight.

Woman involved in deadly South Lake Tahoe accident pleads no-contest

In the early hours of November 24, 2014, a drunken high speed car ride down Pioneer Trail in South Lake Tahoe ended the life of one local woman and injured another.

The driver of the car, Olga Nayeli Pena-Arce, pleaded no-contest on September 14, 2015 to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury.

Two men charged with growing almost 5,000 pot plants in national forest

A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment Thursday against Jesus Gonzalez-Alvizo, 25, and Reimundo Arriaga-Arriaga, 37, residents of Mexico, charging them with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and depredation of public lands and resources.

El Dorado County man pleads guilty to embezzling $400,000

El Dorado Hills resident Jeffrey Lamson, 51, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to embezzle money from his former employer.

According to court documents, from at least 2009 through 2011, Lamson embezzled over $400,000 from a company located in Placer and Sacramento Counties while he served that company as controller. Lamson used company funds to make unauthorized payments to himself and others and made payments to a fictitious vendor, controlled by Lamson, for services that were never performed.

Carson City man pleads guilty to aggravated identity theft

Glenn Litton, 47, of Carson City, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to aggravated identity theft arising from false statements he made in an application for a United States Passport, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Sweepstakes scammer sentenced for defrauding elderly

A California woman was sentenced to 130 months in prison for her role in a half-million dollar Costa Rica-based “sweepstakes fraud” scheme that victimized hundreds of U.S. residents.

Patricia Diane Clark, 57, of Sacramento, California, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Clark was also ordered to pay $642,032 in restitution and to forfeit the same amount jointly and severally with her co-defendants.

South Lake Tahoe Chiropractor to adjust inmates at San Quentin

Dr. Joshua Welch of South Lake Tahoe will be joining a dozen other chiropractors in giving inmates adjustments at the 11th Annual San Quentin TRUST Health Fair on Saturday, August 21. TRUST stands for Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training.

Seven inmates injured in Carson City prison fight

A fight between two inmates Tuesday at the Warm Springs Correctional Center in Carson City resulted in one of the prisoners being flown by Care Flight to a Reno hospital after he was shot by guards with rubber pellets, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections. Six others were injured.

Former Sierra Army Depot employee sentenced for stealing military equipment

Reno resident Tony Herrin, 36, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to two years and nine months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $411,333 for theft of government property, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Plays, comedy and music fill Valhalla summer schedule

Boot stomping to bluegrass in a 1920’s boat house turned theater with Lake Tahoe in the background, kicking back at free concerts on a historic lakeshore estate’s grand lawn, and experiencing the Washoe tribe’s ceremonial dances and drumming are some of the many iconic experiences at Lake Tahoe’s Valhalla Arts, Music & Theatre Festival this July.

Drunk driver sentenced for Highway 50 fatal accident

A trip to South Lake Tahoe for the 4th of July fireworks turned deadly in 2014 for a couple from Dixon, CA when the motorcycle they were riding was struck by a drunk driver in the Twin Bridges area.

Megan Hickel, 28, was sentenced on Monday to 12 years in state prison for killing the couple, 48-year-old Richard Schwab and his wife Kelly, age 49.

El Dorado County Superior Court Presiding Judge Suzanne Kingsbury handed down the sentence after Hickel pled guilty to two counts gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

South Lake Tahoe sent to prison for Genoa golf course scheme

A South Lake Tahoe man who bilked 11 people out of $3.6 million will be spending the next 19.5 years in prisons.

Scott H. Summerhays, 56, made false statements and used phony documents to solicit the money from victims who thought they were helping him purchase the Genoa Lakes Golf Course.

On Monday, May 18, Senior U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks ordered Summerhays to prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution.

Reno man sentenced to jail after using plane to transport marijuana out of state

Kevin Dennis Golden, 39, of Reno, Nevada, was sentenced today to two years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute approximately 88 pounds of marijuana that he was attempting to fly in a private plane to Pennsylvania, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Former CFO of El Dorado County firm convicted of $2.5 million embezzlement

Vincent J. Doyle, former CFO of Morton & Pitalo, was sentenced on Wednesday by United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 51 months in prison for mail fraud arising out of his embezzlement from his former employer of more than $2.5 million. Doyle was also ordered to pay over $2.5 million in restitution.

Op/Ed: Treatment Not Jails

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Treatment Not Jails

Across the nation, many counties are investing huge sums of money to house people with mental illness in jails, with little return for the community in terms of public safety or treatment for people who need it most. A new national initiative, Stepping Up, provides an opportunity for counties to get support in addressing this problem.

Valhalla's Art, Music & Theater Festival starts June 17

Families, art and music lovers, and history buffs can expect a spectacular season of entertainment on the shore of Lake Tahoe at this year’s Valhalla Arts, Music & Theatre Festival, June 17 – August 26, 2015. Free music on the lawn, boot stomping roots music in a 1920’s boathouse, classic theatre productions, outdoor art camps for kids, cultural dance performances and fine art shows are some of the many highlights that await 2015 festival goers. Tickets are on sale now at ValhallaTahoe.com.

Female South Lake Tahoe sex offender called 'dangerous'

A 36-year-old South Lake Tahoe woman, described as dangerous, is being sought by police after she reportedly violated her parole and failed to register as a sex offender.

Jaime Lynn Olson's prison sentence stems from her arrest for kidnapping, sexual battery, multiple counts of forced oral copulation and false imprisonment, officials with the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office said in a Facebook post.

Thursday afternoon, Dave Stevenson, with the El Dorado County District Attorney's investigation division, said Olson and a man are believed to have committed a kidnapping.

Habitual DUI offender convicted in El Dorado County Court

The El Dorado County District Attorney's office announced the felony DUI conviction of six time offender Michael Ramirez. The 44-year old was convicted of two counts of felony driving under the influence and three counts of driving on a suspended license on February 26 in Placerville.

Ramirez had four prior DUI convictions, one of which was a felony, as well as two prior prison terms within the past 10 years.

He is currently in the EL Dorado County Jail in Placerville awaiting his April 6 sentencing.

Ex-South Lake Tahoe fire captain indicted for sexual exploitation of minors

A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment today against Mark McLeod Wygant, 44, resident of Chico and former South Lake Tahoe Fire Captain, charging him with Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of Minors, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Shark Lake, a movie about Lake Tahoe, is filming along the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Shark Lake is a feature film staring Dolph Lundgren about the shark infested waters of Lake Tahoe.

Sacramento drug dealer sentenced to over 21 years in prison

John Winton Harris, 31, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to 21 years and 10 months in prison for possessing more than 163 grams of crack cocaine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Reno man pleads guilty after flying marijuana across country

Kevin Dennis Golden, 39, of Reno, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Placerville business owner sentenced for filing false tax returns

Thomas Stringfellow of Placerville was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and order to pay $687,182 in restitution for willfully making false tax returns.

The 55-year old underreported his business income on tax returns by more than $1.1 million from 2006 to 2010 according to court documents. During that time he was also found guilty of underreporting his personal income by more than $1,000,000.

LTCC trying to add four year Public Safety Administration degree

A four year degree program could be in Lake Tahoe Community College's near future. They are waiting to hear from the California Community College's Chancellor's office to see if they are one of the 15 community colleges in the state who will be allowed the opportunity to offer one four-year degree.

LTCC's Baccalaureate Degree Steering Committee submitted a proposal to the Chancellor's office and should hear on January 21, 2015 if they are going to be offering a four-year degree in Public Safety Administration.

SLT man to spend one year in jail and pay $160,000 for worker's comp fraud

A South Lake Tahoe man who spent at least 40 days a year skiing while claiming he was totally disabled from employment was sentenced today to one year in prison and ordered to pay $160,000 in restitution.

El Dorado County officials join SLT Police Chief Uhler in opposition of Prop 47

The list of people against California's Proposition 47 grew today with the addition of El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, Sheriff John D'Agostini and County Supervisors joining the fight against what has been touted "The Safe Neighborhood and Schools Act."

Voter registration forms due by October 23 to be eligible to vote November 4

There are less than two weeks left for Californians to register to vote on the November 4 election day. In order to be eligible to vote, one must be 18, a U.S. citizen, are not in prison or on parole for conviction of a felony, or have not been ruled mentally incompetent to vote by the courts.

Prop 47: Safer schools and neighborhoods or 10,000 convicted felons on the streets?

Being touted as "The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act" by proponents, Proposition 47 will mandate misdemeanors instead of felonies for “non-serious, nonviolent crimes," unless the defendant has prior convictions for murder, rape, certain sex offenses or certain gun crimes.

The reason Prop 47 got this name is because a fund bearing it's name will be created by the estimated savings of $150M to $250M the state will receive by not having to prosecute crimes that would become misdemeanors.

Operation Vigilance; Law enforcement check for sex offender compliance

There are 134 registered sex offenders in Douglas County. They were the subject of "Operation Vigilance" which was a joint operation of the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and U.S. Marshals.

They wanted to make sure all those registered were in compliance with Nevada law. Nine of the registered sex offenders were not in compliance, and an investigation is being conducted to determine if prosecution is warranted.

Of the remaining 125, 115 were found to be in compliance and 10 were either deceased, in prison or deported.

Tuolumne County hunter indicted for starting the Rim Fire; Faces jail time and fines

One of the largest fires in California history, as well as being one of the costliest, was started by an illegal campfire started by a bow hunter according to a federal grand jury indictment returned Thursday.

South Lake Tahoe Man Admits Fraudulent Golf Course Scheme

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A Lake Tahoe-area man accused of bilking 11 investors out of $3.6 million in a fraudulent scheme to buy a Douglas County golf course has pleaded guilty to 24 federal charges, including wire fraud and money laundering.

U.S. Attorney Dan Bogden says 55-year-old Scott Summerhays of South Lake Tahoe, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Reno.

From 2008-10, prosecutors say Summerhays told potential investors he was purchasing Genoa Lakes Golf Club near Gardnerville for $17 million.

El Dorado County Sheriffs Trying to Reunite Recovered Property With Owners

Throughout recent months El Dorado County Sheriff's Office detectives have been investigating an increasingly high volume of residential burglaries. As previously released, four suspects were arrested related to burglaries. One of those suspects was Gary Joseph Masse who was paroled in July 2013 after serving prison time for a previous burglary conviction.

Former South Lake Tahoe police officer sentenced to 18 months in prison

U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Wednesday sentenced former South Lake Tahoe police officer John Gerald Poland, 45, to 18 months in prison for one count of obstruction of an official proceeding. He was ordered to self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on Nov. 6.

Former South Lake Tahoe Resident Faces Second Murder Charge

Former South Lake Tahoe resident George Aaron Carver, 40, was arraigned in San Bernardino on charges he committed another murder over the Labor Day weekend. Carver, who was a patient at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, was charged with the first degree murder of fellow patient, Kenneth Taylor, 65.

In 2006, Carver was sentenced to 4 years in prison for the hammer attack on a Cool, Calif., man. While serving time in the Napa State Prison he was charged with the murder of patient David Wengall. He was found guilty of manslaughter on that charge.

El Dorado County man sentenced for bilking families of millions in investment fraud scheme

A former El Dorado County resident was sentenced Thursday to four years and nine months in prison and ordered to pay $2.8 million in restitution, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Daniel Chartraw, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr., after he pled guilty to wire fraud on Jan. 24, 2013. Many victims submitted letters discussing the impact of Chartraw’s fraud on their finances and their families, according to a news release.

Placerville couple indicted, face federal charges of filing false tax return and liens

A Placerville couple was arrested Tuesday and face criminal charges after federal investigators said they defrauded the government by filing false tax returns and false liens against IRS employees.

Charles and Victoria Tingler face conspiracy and other charges. According to an indictment, the Tinglers and Teresa Marie Marty, are charged with filing liens against the property of three IRS employees and filing liens of at least $84 million against the property of two U.S. Justice Department attorneys, according to a news release.

Bank robber known as 'Fedora Bandit' sentenced to 9 years in prison

David Griffith Osborne, 75, known as the "Fedora Bandit" for his lengthy string of bank robberies in northern California, Lake Tahoe and at least one in Carson City, was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for three counts of armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

El Dorado County women indicted in nationwide $60 million tax fraud refund scheme

In an indictment unsealed Tuesday, three El Dorado County women — Teresa Marie Marty, of Pollock Pines, Rebecca Bandera-Marty of Shingle Springs, and Pamela Harris of Placerville — were charged with conspiring to defraud the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service announced.

In addition to the conspiracy count, Marty is charged with 33 counts of false claims against the United States, and Bandera-Marty is also charged in 16 of these counts.

South Lake Tahoe police officer Poland pleads guilty to witness tampering, obstruction

John Gerald Poland, 44, of South Lake Tahoe, pleaded guilty Wednesday by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and the State of California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (SLEDNET Task Force). Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

Las Vegas man sent to prison for defrauding South Lake Tahoe investor of $2.9 million

A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 5 years and three months in prison for defrauding a Lake Tahoe investor of more than $2.9 million, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. sentenced Jed Baron, 55, of Las Vegas, on Friday, May 10 to prison for wire fraud related to the investment scheme, according to a news release.

Marijuana trafficker with El Dorado County grow operations sentenced to more than 17 years in prison

A Fresno man was sentenced Monday to prison on marijuana trafficking and conspiracy charges, in which he had grow operations in El Dorado, Placer and Tehama counties and then he and partners distributed the marijuana throughout the country.
Uriel Ochoa-Espindola, 44, received a sentence of 17.5 years, according to U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner.
Below is a U.S. Justice Department news release:

South Lake Tahoe pot club owner sentenced to five years in federal prison; agrees to forfeit drug money

Former City of Angels 2 pot club owner Gennaro "Gino" DiMatteo of South Lake Tahoe was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller.

DiMatteo had pled guilty to a felony for marijuana trafficking on Jan. 9. As part of his plea agreement, DiMatteo agreed to forfeit more than $40,000 to the United States.

Fremont man sentenced for Tahoe casino attack on two women

MINDEN, Nev. -- A Fremont man has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for beating two women at a Lake Tahoe casino so severely that one victim suffered a miscarriage.Douglas County District Judge...

Prison sentence for man who fired gun at Whiskey Dick's

A man who was arrested in June after allegedly holding a gun to the head of a South Lake Tahoe man inside a bar has been sentenced to seven years in state prison.On Feb. 25, El Dorado County Superi...

Saunders: Does this broomstick go with my prison stripes?

In its wisdom - and yes, I am being ironic - the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco issued a ruling Tuesday that revives a California inmate lawsuit to force the state Department of...

Placerville man pleads guilty to interstate marijuana trafficking

A 26-year-old Placerville man pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner said.

Dylan Hudson was in charge of an interstate marijuana-trafficking conspiracy, according to court documents. More than 1,100 pounds of processed marijuana, more than $329,000 in cash, and eight firearms were seized during the course of the investigation.

AP Exclusive: Inmate lawsuits cost Calif. $200M

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown has begun aggressively challenging federal court oversight of California's prison system by highlighting what he says is a costly conflict of interest: T...

South Lake Tahoe police officer Johnny Poland indicted for witness tampering, obstruction

John Gerald Poland, 44, of South Lake Tahoe, was indicted today by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and the State of California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (SLEDNET Task Force). Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

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