Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office Receives Award for Contributions to the Mission of the Department of Justice

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner is pleased to announce the 2015 winner of the Eastern District of California Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award in the Fresno Division. This is one of four awards presented annually to a law enforcement agency and an officer in each of the Sacramento and Fresno divisions of the Eastern District of California to recognize outstanding collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement in addressing criminal conduct in this region.

The 2015 Fresno division’s Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award goes to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office for its participation in task forces that resulted in a number of significant prosecutions involving violent crime and fraud in the mortgage industry.

U.S. Attorney Wagner stated: “Our success is only ever possible because of dedicated, hard-working law enforcement officers in both federal and state law enforcement. The investigators with the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office deserve particular recognition for their skill, diligence, and spirit of cooperation.”

“District Attorney Birgit Fladager said, “We truly value the partnership we have with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and are grateful for this recognition. Serving crime victims and holding criminals accountable can best be done when working together.”

Two investigators merit particular mention this year: Lieutenant Froilan Mariscal who worked on the gang task force that investigated the notorious, violent gang Nuestra Familia, and Investigator Glenn Gulley who worked on the FBI’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force while it was in operation and continues to work extensively with our office.

Lt. Mariscal spearheaded a long-term and complex investigation of the Nuestra Familia gang that resulted in a RICO prosecution and a 20-year sentence for the lead defendant. So far, nine co-defendants have pleaded guilty. The case involved a series of assaults executed in jail, drug trafficking, an armed home invasion and carjacking, and a gang fight involving a shooting. Lt. Mariscal was relentless in his pursuit of this investigation and brought with him knowledge, gang expertise, good judgment, and dogged determination.

Investigator Gulley currently has several significant fraud cases pending with the office. He has comprehensive knowledge of real estate fraud, including industry practices and case-specific knowledge of pertinent real estate transactions. Gulley investigated the case against Xue Heu, who was a serial investment fraudster. He posed as a government representative to purportedly sell distressed properties to unwitting investors. Heu was indicted for defrauding victims, and was indicted in the Western District of Texas for a separate real estate investment fraud scheme. Investigator Gulley coordinated the case with other investigators in Texas, marshaled evidence to obtain a guilty plea in the Eastern District of California case, and also found the time and energy to uncover additional criminal conduct Heu perpetrated while out on bond. Investigator Gulley’s determination resulted in a prison sentence of over five years, as well as an additional state court conviction for Heu’s criminal conduct while on bail.