4 people from Fresno sentenced to prison as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Four residents of Fresno have been sentenced to prison terms as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program to reduce violent crime and gun violence, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced on Monday.

Launched in 2001, the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

26-year-old Mike Marty Hernandez was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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According to court documents, on May 23, 2022, detectives arrested Hernandez after observing him in possession of a loaded firearm equipped with a large-capacity magazine.

Hernandez is not allowed by law to possess firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions.

This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI and the Fresno Police Department Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca.

26-year-old Oshay Laray Pullen was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

According to court documents, on Oct. 21, 2020, Pullen was on parole for a prior conviction for assault with a firearm and was found to be in possession of a firearm and a loaded magazine.

Pullen is not allowed by law to possess firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions.

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This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI and MAGEC and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio.

25-year-old Andres Nunez was sentenced to seven years in prison for distributing fentanyl to a person under 21 years old and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

According to court documents, in February 2021, Nunez delivered counterfeit M30 pills, laced with fentanyl, to a juvenile.

During a search of Nunez’s residence, several firearms, including an automatic handgun were found.

This case was the product of an investigation by FORT, a multi-agency team investigating fentanyl trafficking composed of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), DEA, and the Fresno Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio.

31-year-old Leo Torres was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine.

According to court documents, in January 2021, Torres conspired to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine into the Fresno County Jail for further distribution among inmates.

Recorded jail calls revealed the plan to sneak the drugs into the jail inside a pair of athletic shoes destined for an inmate.

Officers at the jail intercepted the shoes and found heroin and methamphetamine in hidden compartments.

This case was the product of an investigation by HSI, DEA, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fresno Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio.