The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office has been awarded the Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office lauded the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office for their “participation in task forces that resulted in a number of significant prosecutions involving violent crime and fraud in the mortgage industry.”

“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,” said United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner.

The award gave particular attention to the actions of two investigators at the district attorney’s office — Lt. Froilan Mariscal, who worked on the gang task force that investigated the gang Nuestra Familia, and Investigator Glenn Gulley, who worked on the FBI’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force while it was in operation.

Mariscal spearheaded a long-term and complex investigation of the Nuestra Familia gang that resulted in a racketeering 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,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated in a news release.

Gulley investigated the case against Xue Heu, who was a serial investment fraudster, who 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. 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. 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.

“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,” said Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager.

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.