Los Angeles, California - Three men were arrested Thursday on federal drug distribution charges alleging they conspired with a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and others to steal more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana and $645,000 in cash and money orders during an armed robbery of a downtown Los Angeles warehouse that was staged to look like law enforcement was executing a search warrant.

Sacramento, California - The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), working in cooperation with the Shasta County Agricultural Commissioner’s office, has eradicated two hydrilla infestations within the cites of Redding and Anderson, ending a quarantine that began on July 18, 1996. Hydrilla, an invasive aquatic weed, was last detected in Shasta County in 2006.

Sacramento, California - The California Department of Food and Agriculture is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a state agency in 2019. Throughout the year this blog will feature a number of items to commemorate this milestone.

San Francisco, California - Michael James Frew pleaded guilty Tuesday to wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering charges in connection with a fraudulent real estate investment scheme, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett, and Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Kareem Carter.  The guilty plea was accepted by the Honorable Vince Chhabria, U.S. District Judge.

San Francisco, California - Clifton Burch and Peter McKean were convicted by a federal jury today of conspiring to defraud the United States in connection and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud all in connection with a federal construction contract, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett, and Department of Energy Inspector General Teri L. Donaldson.  The guilty verdicts follow a two-week trial before the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, U.S. District Judge.

Sacramento, California - Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the appointment of Tia Boatman-Patterson as Senior Advisor on Housing, Christina Snider as Tribal Advisor and Executive Secretary to the Native American Heritage Commission, and Anna Naimark as Tribal Negotiations Advisor in the Office of the Governor, along with the reappointment of Carl Guardino to the Transportation Commission.