Significant Case Activities During Shutdown

U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announces actions taken during the recent lapse in appropriations when public affairs functions at the U.S. Attorney's Office were significantly curtailed. This press release contains just a few examples of indictments, trial verdicts, and sentences that took place from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, 2025.

"I extend my gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the U.S. Attorney's Office who have remained on duty throughout this government shutdown," said U.S. Attorney Grant. "Many employees continued the unseen daily work that protects our communities. And those who were not permitted to work eagerly sought a return to service. Their steadfast commitment under challenging conditions exemplifies true public service."

Sentences

Dakota Jeremiah Pevino, aka Dakota Jeremiah Viggiano, 37, of Sacramento, was sentenced on Oct. 21, to 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child. In 2022, Pevino took explicit photographs of a minor and distributed them along with video recordings of child sexual abuse. Pevino pleaded guilty on Aug. 20, 2024. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Druv Sharma and Kevin Khasigian prosecuted the case. The FBI is still seeking to identify potential victims of Pevino. Anyone with relevant information is asked to email the FBI at [email protected].

Andrew Michael Alonso, 36, of Fresno, was sentenced on Oct. 27, to 35 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and committing a felony offense involving a minor while being a registered sex offender, in addition to being on California parole supervision with GPS location monitoring. In 2021, Alonso repeatedly asked a 13-year-old victim to create and send to him images of the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.

On Nov. 10, Jamaine Barnes, 43, of Stockton, was sentenced to 31 years in prison for running a continuing criminal enterprise and related drug trafficking, firearms, and international money laundering offenses. Barnes was the lead defendant of a large organization who for years brought in fentanyl and other opioids from China, pressed them into counterfeit prescription pills, and sold them throughout Stockton, Sacramento, and elsewhere. He also made and sold meth-laced pills made to look like ecstasy pills. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Spencer prosecuted the case.

Trial Verdicts

On Oct. 15, a jury found Ranvir Singh, 42, of Sacramento, guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and ketamine and one count of distribution of cocaine. According to court documents, in April 2021, Singh and two others were indicted for their involvement in a drug trafficking organization based in Sacramento and extending to the greater Toronto Area in Canada. Between October 2020 and March 2021, they arranged multiple kilogram-level drug deals with a Canadian undercover officer, both in Canada and California, using encrypted applications on their cellphones. Singh faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Spencer and Haddy Abouzeid are prosecuting the case.

On Oct. 30, a jury found Christopher Guilford, 54, formerly of Sacramento, guilty of one count of making a false claim against the United States and eight counts of filing a false tax return. Guilford had filed nine false tax returns with the IRS in which he reported false income and false tax withholdings. For one of the tax return filings, Guilford received a refund of $1,172,446. The charges against Guilford stem from his use of a convoluted "redemption" scheme, used by tax protestors and sovereign citizens that has been repeatedly rejected by the courts. For the one count of making a false claim against the United States, Guilford faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. For each of the eight counts of filing a false tax return, Guilford faces a maximum statutory sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany Gunter and Arelis Clemente are prosecuting the case.

On Oct. 31, a jury found Stanislav Yelizarov, 35, guilty of threatening the family of a federal law enforcement officer during a recorded telephone call he placed while an inmate in U.S. Penitentiary, Atwater. According to evidence presented at trial, Yelizarov threatened to kill the "whole family" of a federal law enforcement office in Maryland during a phone call to his mother and in threatening letters sent to the victim. Yelizarov faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Veneman-Hughes and Joshua Banister are prosecuting the case.

Indictments

On Oct. 2, Anibal Hernandez Santana, 63, of Sacramento, was indicted for incidents involving the discharge and possession of a firearm. On Sept. 18, 2025, Santana allegedly discharged a 9 mm handgun within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a high school and an elementary school. On Sept. 19, 2025, while standing on the sidewalk around the block from the KXTV/ABC 10 station, in front of 2555 3rd Street, Hernandez Santana fired into the air in the direction of the station. He then drove to the front of the station and fired three shots directly into the building's lobby. No one was injured. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Santana is also facing state charges. His next federal appearance, a status conference, is scheduled for June 1, 2026. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case.

On Oct. 23, Fresno restaurant operator Robert "Bobby" Salazar, 63, was charged in two indictments. The first indictment charges Salazar, Thomas Qualls, 40, and Shylo Badiali, 43, with engaging in a scheme to defraud an insurance company by setting fire to a commercial property. On April 2, 2024, a fire broke out at the vacant Bobby Salazar's restaurant on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. According to court documents, Salazar's hired Qualls and Badiali to set the fire and then claimed to his insurance company that he had nothing to do with the arson. He was ultimately paid out more than $900,000 for his insurance claim. The second indictment charges Salazar with possession of a handgun with an obliterated serial number that was found during the execution of a search warrant at Salazar's residence. A status conference is scheduled for the three defendants on Jan. 21, 2026. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Veneman-Hughes and Brittany Gunter are prosecuting the case.

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