Fresno Leader

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California issued the following announcement on Jan. 2.

A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment today against two Fresno residents, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Felipe Barajas, 25, was charged with interfering with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of an unregistered firearm. Brittney Manzo, 24, is charged with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery.

According to court documents, between Oct. 30 and Nov. 21, 2019, Barajas robbed at gunpoint three commercial establishments in Fresno, and attempted to take money from one other. On Nov. 21, Manzo drove the vehicle in which Felipe Barajas fled after two of the incidents. Manzo led police on a pursuit and ultimately both she and Felipe Barajas were apprehended after the vehicle crashed and both attempted to run away.

The stores where the armed robberies were committed/attempted are:

Oct. 30 — El Parian Grocery Market at 3804 E. Butler Ave., Fresno

Nov. 19 — Valley Gas & Mini Mart at 2139 S. Elm Ave., Fresno

Nov. 21 — Andres Liquor at 3953 N. Blackstone Ave., Fresno (attempted)

Nov. 21 — Star Smoke Shop at 453 N. Blackstone Ave., Fresno

This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Stokman is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Barajas and Manzo face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.  Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov.

Original source can be found here.