A federal jury convicted a 44-year-old Arizona man of wire fraud, impersonating a federal officer, and stalking on Friday in Fresno.
According to trial evidence, Ivan Isho, 44, of Peoria, Arizona, pretended to be an FBI agent and told residents of Assyrian descent in the San Joaquin Valley community of Ceres that he would help them get visas for relatives living outside of the U.S.
In addition, charging documents stated that Isho received $6,700 from his victims to facilitate the visa process. However, Isho kept the money without helping the victims get visas in 2016-17.
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Never an FBI Employee
As part of the fraud, Isho displayed fake FBI credentials and a gun to his victims. He has never been employed by the FBI, prosecutors said.
Isho also harassed a female victim and her husband through repeated phone calls and emails in which he threatened the couple, according to a Department of Justice news release.
During the four-day trial, Isho took the stand and claimed that he only used the fake FBI credentials as part of a Halloween costume — directly contradicting the evidence presented at trial.
Sentencing Scheduled for May 31
Isho is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on May 31, 2022. He faces up to five years in prison.
The FBI investigated the case. U.S. Attorneys Laura D. Withers and Laura Jean Berger are the prosecutors.
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