Marc Days News Today

FRESNO, Calif. — The former general manager of a San Joaquin Valley water district, accused by federal prosecutors of carrying out one of the most audacious and long-running water heists

The Panoche Water District allegedly stole 130,000 acre feet of water and redistributed it to farmland across Fresno and Merced counties. Now the feds want retribution but not everyone in the region agrees.

Stolen water is an indelible part of California lore. But the federal case against Dennis Falaschi, longtime head of the Panoche Water District, alleges one of the most audacious water grabs in modern history.

The general manager of the Panoche Water District faces charges of stealing $25 million from Californias Central Valley Project, one of the worlds largest canal systems.

The former head of the Panoche Water District stole more than $25 million in water from a federal canal from 1992 to 2015, prosecutors say.