Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero announced that Fernando Jauregui Ochoa, age 30, of Ceres, has been convicted of 18 counts of obtaining money by fraud, with an allegation that the total fraud exceeded $500,000, one count of witness intimidation, and an aggravating factor that Ochoa specifically targeted vulnerable victims based on their immigration status.
Ochoa will be ordered to pay restitution and is scheduled to receive a 20-year prison sentence on October 30, 2026.
The investigation into this case began after the District Attorney’s Office received multiple consumer fraud complaints involving Ochoa’s food truck business, which took thousands of dollars from victims for custom food trucks that were never built. Following an initial review, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation (BI) with the assistance of the Ceres Police Department launched a comprehensive criminal investigation that identified more than 40 victims defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Investigators determined that Ochoa used the funds for drugs, vacations, and other personal luxuries rather than delivering the food trucks he was paid for and promised. Many victims had entrusted Ochoa with what amounted to their entire life savings in hopes of starting new businesses. At the conclusion of the investigation, BI investigators arrested Ochoa, who has since been held on $1 million bail.
“This case demonstrates the devastating impact fraud can have on unsuspecting victims. These individuals trusted Ochoa with their life savings,” said District Attorney Jeff Laugero. “Instead, he exploited their trust and vulnerabilities and stole from them. I am extremely proud of the work of our Bureau of Investigation in uncovering the full scope of this fraud and identifying dozens of victims who might otherwise never have received justice. The 20-year prison sentence in this case sends a clear message that those who deliberately target victims for financial gain will be held accountable.”
