Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Prime Minister of Yemen’s Houthi Government Killed in Israeli Strike

3 days ago

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Law Redrawing Congressional Maps

4 days ago

US Air Force will Offer Military Funeral Honors to Slain Capitol Rioter

4 days ago

US Republican Senator Joni Ernst Will Not Run for Re-Election, CBS News Reports

4 days ago

Wall Street Falls as Dell, Nvidia Drive Tech Losses

4 days ago

US Denies Visas to Palestinian Officials Ahead of UN General Assembly

4 days ago

Minneapolis Children Revealed Courage, Absorbed Fear During Church Shooting

5 days ago

Ford Recalls Nearly 500,000 Vehicles Over Brake Fluid Leak

5 days ago

Fresno-Bound Passenger Says Delta Attendant Slapped Him, Seeks $20M

5 days ago
Meth-Dealing Bulldog Gang Member Gets 21 Years in Prison
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 6 years ago on
October 7, 2019

Share

Filiberto “Beto” Chavez, a member of the Bulldogs street gang, was sentenced to 20 years, 10 months in prison Monday for conspiring to traffic in methamphetamine and prostitution.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill issued the sentence in a Fresno courtroom Monday morning.


Listen to this article:


The Evidence

According to court documents and testimony at trial, on July 8, 2017, Chavez, 38, of Fresno, sold meth to a convicted co-defendant, Robert Lockhart. Convicted co-defendant Amina Padilla stored meth for Chavez and gave a portion of what she had stored to convicted co‑defendant Carlos Melgar to deliver to Lockhart.
On July 11, 2017, agents served search warrants at Padilla’s and Lockhart’s apartments and seized methamphetamine from both.
Additionally, in June and July of 2017, Chavez and others traveled to New York to engage in prostitution activities. During the trip, Chavez used his cellphone to communicate with his co-defendants about prostitution and to make arrangements for posting prostitution ads. The ads were located in New York on Backpage.com.

Special Agent’s Statement

“We’re pleased with the outcome of this investigation as it represents another important stride in our ongoing efforts to combat gang-related crime and sex trafficking in Northern California,” said Tatum King, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations.
“HSI will continue to partner with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in focusing our collective resources to pursue, disrupt, and dismantle transnational criminal organizations that show no regard for our nation’s laws or human welfare.”

About ‘Operation Alpha Dog’

Chavez is one of more than 25 defendants who were charged as part of “Operation Alpha Dog,” an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno Police Department, the Multi‑Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez, Jeffrey Spivak, and Thomas Newman are prosecuting the case.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

DON'T MISS

US Issues Iran-Related Sanctions on Network of Shipping Companies, Vessels

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

DON'T MISS

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

DON'T MISS

Thousands of Israeli Reservists Report for Duty, as Military Chief Clashes With Ministers

DON'T MISS

Vogue Appoints Chloe Malle to Succeed Anna Wintour as US Editorial Head

DON'T MISS

Garnet Fire in Fresno County Grows to 26,982 Acres, 12% Contained

DON'T MISS

US Construction Spending Dips in July

DON'T MISS

New Quake of Magnitude 5.5 Shakes Devastated Afghan Region as Death Toll Exceeds 1,400

DON'T MISS

Trump Set to Move Space Command Headquarters to Alabama From Colorado, Sources Say

UP NEXT

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

UP NEXT

Garnet Fire in Fresno County Grows to 26,982 Acres, 12% Contained

UP NEXT

Tulare County Authorities Investigate Porterville Shooting

UP NEXT

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to 18,748 Acres in Sierra National Forest

UP NEXT

Classic Cars Will Still Need a Smog Test in California After Lawmakers Reject Jay Leno Bill

UP NEXT

Dollar Trades Lower With Fed Cut In View, On Course For Monthly Drop

UP NEXT

Visalia Semi Crash Injures Amazon Truck Driver After Red Light Collision

UP NEXT

A Goodbye Love Note to My Dog: Remembering My Best Friend Harriet

UP NEXT

California Schools Reverse Truancy Trends. Improving Reading Scores Could Be Next

UP NEXT

High-Speed Rail Hits a New Snag as Lawmakers Reject Proposal to Expedite Construction

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

55 minutes ago

Thousands of Israeli Reservists Report for Duty, as Military Chief Clashes With Ministers

58 minutes ago

Vogue Appoints Chloe Malle to Succeed Anna Wintour as US Editorial Head

1 hour ago

Garnet Fire in Fresno County Grows to 26,982 Acres, 12% Contained

1 hour ago

US Construction Spending Dips in July

1 hour ago

New Quake of Magnitude 5.5 Shakes Devastated Afghan Region as Death Toll Exceeds 1,400

1 hour ago

Trump Set to Move Space Command Headquarters to Alabama From Colorado, Sources Say

1 hour ago

Tulare County Authorities Investigate Porterville Shooting

15 hours ago

Trump’s World Liberty Token Falls in First Day of Trading

15 hours ago

Bessent Expects Supreme Court to Uphold Legality of Trump’s Tariffs but Eyes Plan B

15 hours ago

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

Clovis police arrested one driver on suspicion of DUI during a saturation patrol Saturday night that targeted impaired driving, the departme...

34 minutes ago

34 minutes ago

Clovis Police Make DUI Arrest During Weekend Saturation Patrol

United States Department of the Treasury logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. (Reuters File)
37 minutes ago

US Issues Iran-Related Sanctions on Network of Shipping Companies, Vessels

A view shows the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Wall Street entrance in New York City, U.S., April 7, 2025. (Reuters File)
40 minutes ago

Wall Street Hits Over One-Week Low on Tariff Uncertainty, Data in Focus

National Guard troops wear gas masks during protests against federal immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
55 minutes ago

US Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Use of Troops in Los Angeles

An Israeli soldier stands on top of a military vehicle at the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, August 26, 2025. (Reuters File)
58 minutes ago

Thousands of Israeli Reservists Report for Duty, as Military Chief Clashes With Ministers

Anna Wintour attends opening remarks during a press preview of The Costume Institute's exhibition "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, U.S., May 5, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Vogue Appoints Chloe Malle to Succeed Anna Wintour as US Editorial Head

A lightning-sparked wildfire in the Sierra National Forest has burned 24,851 acres and is 12% contained, prompting evacuation orders for several zones in Fresno County as more than 1,470 firefighters work to contain the blaze amid thunderstorm threats, officials said Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service)
1 hour ago

Garnet Fire in Fresno County Grows to 26,982 Acres, 12% Contained

Construction workers are shown at work on a multi-unit residential housing project in Encinitas, California, U.S., July 28, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

US Construction Spending Dips in July

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend