May 31, 2023 – Fresno County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against eighteen individuals with 47 
felony counts in
four separate cases stemming from Operation Broken Bonds, a multi-month, multi-agency effort to target violent street gangs in Parlier, Reedley, and the surrounding rural areas.
In People v. Valentino Alvarez et al, eleven individuals are charged with 27 felony counts. Valentino Alvarez, Joey Magadan, Miguel Barragan, Jonathan Maldonado, Matthew Mendez, Crispin Trinidad, Diego Ramirez, Noel Flores, Alejandro Hawkins, Edgar Moreno, and Victor Casillas with crimes arising from a criminal street gang conspiracy, including conspiracy to threaten a witness for the benefit of a street gang, conspiracy to commit grand theft for the benefit of a street gang, possession of an assault weapon and transport for sale of controlled substances.
Valentino Alvarez and Joey Magadan have been charged with conspiracy to threaten a witness for the benefit of a street gang, carrying a maximum punishment of life in prison. Miguel Barragan, Jonathan Maldonado, Matthew Mendez, Crispin Trinidad, Diego Ramirez, and Noel Flores have all been charged with multiple incidents of conspiracy to commit grand theft. Miguel Barragan faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit grand theft while Jonathan Maldonado faces a maximum sentence of ten years in state prison for each count. All other defendants face a maximum sentence of seven years for each count of conspiracy to commit grand theft for the benefit of a street gang.
Noel Flores and Victor Casillas have been charged with transport for sale of cocaine, carrying a maximum punishment of five years. Alejandro Hawkins has been charged with possession for sale of cocaine base, with a maximum punishment of four years. Edgar Moreno has been charged with possession of an assault weapon, with a maximum punishment of three years.
In People v. Miguel Barragan et al., six individuals are charged with 12 felony counts. Miguel Barragan, Joey Magadan, Jonathan Maldonado, Ivan Hernandez, Yonivel Sanchez, Jorge Delores-Cruz have been charged with the carjacking and robbery of three victims in Parlier, CA in January 2023, all for the benefit of a criminal street gang. The maximum punishment is life in prison for all six defendants.
In People v. Tony Adayan et al., three individuals are charged with 6 felony counts. Tony Adayan, Johnny Zapata, and Alejandro Aranda have been charged with Home Invasion Robbery in Concert and First-Degree Residential Burglary. Zapata and Aranda with both out on bail at the time of the offense. The maximum punishment is nine years in state prison for Adayan, twenty years in state prison for Zapata, and eleven years in state prison for Aranda.
In People v. Gustavo Arzola, one individual is charged with 2 felony counts. Gustavo Arzola is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum punishment of three years in state prison.
Miguel Barragan is additionally charged with five prior “strike” offenses, Jonathan Maldonado with one prior “strike” offense, and Johnny Zapata with one prior “strike” offense.
Arraignment on all four cases is expected for Wednesday, May 31 in the Fresno Superior Court.
This operation was led by the Fresno Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (M.A.G.E.C.), the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by attorneys assigned to the M.A.G.E.C. task force.
Source: Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
Read More: 18 Charged with 47 Felony Counts as Part of Operation Broken Bonds Targeting