Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative continues its efforts to curb violent crime and gun violence through strategic enforcement priorities. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced several recent prosecutions under this program, resulting in significant sentences for individuals found guilty of illegal firearm possession.
Arturo Talamantes, 31, from Fresno, received a four-year prison sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Court documents reveal that on December 16, 2023, police responded to a call about a man with a gun at a crowded bar in Fresno. Talamantes was found with a loaded Kahr P40 handgun and ignored officer commands before hiding the weapon inside the bar. His prior felony convictions include manufacturing a short-barreled rifle and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. The case was investigated by the Fresno Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
David Diaz, 48, from Bakersfield, was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison on March 3, 2025. He was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition after an incident on September 20, 2023. Diaz and co-defendant Jesus Alejandro Lopez attempted to sell methamphetamine while armed when they were arrested by police. A stolen Rock Island Armory .45 caliber handgun was seized from Diaz during the arrest. His previous convictions involved controlled substances and domestic violence offenses.
Lopez pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled for sentencing on June 23, 2025. He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case involved investigations by the Fresno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Tionte Beard, 25, also from Fresno, received three years and ten months in prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. On October 28, 2023, police conducted a compliance check at his apartment after he posted images of guns online. Officers discovered multiple firearms hidden within his residence.
Amed Taylor Muhammad was sentenced to two years and six months in prison on January 13, 2025. He was apprehended near schools following reports of gunfire in southwest Fresno on September 26, 2023.
Felix Alejandro from Delano received four years and three months for possessing ammunition illegally after being stopped for traffic violations on August 2, 2023.
These cases highlight PSN's commitment to reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and local police departments across California.
