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7 Indicted in Fresno for Helping Alleged Killer of Police Cpl. Singh
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 6 years ago on
January 26, 2019

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FRESNO — Seven friends and relatives of a Mexican national charged with the shooting death of a Northern California police officer have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly helping him evade capture, federal officials said Friday.
U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott said a federal grand jury on Thursday indicted the five men and two women with charges of “conspiring to harbor an alien” for helping Gustavo Perez Arriaga, who is in the country illegally.

Singh Shot to Death After Making DUI Stop

The seven defendants conspired to help him evade capture after he fatally shot Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh during a traffic stop on Dec. 26, federal prosecutors said. He was arrested two days later as he prepared to flee to Mexico, authorities said.
Perez Arriaga’s two brothers, Adrian Virgen-Mendoza and Conrado Virgen Mendoza, his girlfriend, Ana Cervantes-Sanchez, and four friends, Erik Razo Quiroz, Erasmo Villegas-Suarez, Bernabe Madrigal-Castaneda, and Maria Luisa Moreno transported and housed Perez Arriaga and gave him clothes, money, and a new cellphone. They also allegedly hid his pickup truck and made plans to smuggle him to Mexico.

Facing State Charges as Well

The seven also face state charges for helping Perez Arriaga try to flee to avoid prosecution and lying to investigators.
Prosecutors said the 33-year-old Perez Arriaga shot Singh after the officer stopped his vehicle to check if he was driving drunk. He has two previous drunken driving arrests, authorities said.
Perez Arriaga’s attorney, Stephen Foley, questioned his client’s mental competency, leading the court to delay the case until a mental health evaluation. Perez Arriaga is set to return to court Feb. 7.

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Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

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