San Francisco, California - Derf Butler, owner and president of San Francisco-based Butler Enterprises, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with a federal construction contract, and making false statements to federal investigators, announced United States Attorney Alex G. Tse, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge James Breckenridge.  The plea was accepted by the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, U.S. District Judge.

Riverside, California - A La Quinta man with a criminal history going back nearly five decades has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for masterminding a series of fraud schemes that cost victims nearly $2 million.

Sacramento, California - Tion Makeise Foster, 23, of Point Arena, was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to twelve and one-half years in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for sex trafficking a minor, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Fresno, California - Deandre Stanfield, 38, of Fresno, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

San Jose, California - A federal grand jury indicted Kristopher Purcell, aka “K-Dawg,” charging him with two counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering; two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to, or possession in furtherance of, a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.

Riverside, California - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz today announced Operation Eastbound and Down, an effort to dismantle the largest criminal street gang in Riverside County. The Operation included the arrest of 45 individuals and the seizure of 63 firearms, including 13 assault weapons.