Fresno Police Department
America’s latest hot felon is an accused bisexual female gang banger from Fresno. Mirella Ponce, 20, was arrested during a traffic stop in Fresno on the night of October 23, according to a Facebook post from local police. The cops say Ponce was in the car with her baby as well as two members of the Tiny Rascal Gang. Also in the car were two stolen guns which were listed as stolen. Ponce was then booked at Fresno County Jail on two weapons charges. Another passenger in the car was arrested on an unrelated charge.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Ponce’s Bail Has Been Set at $100,000; There Is No Shortage of Suitors on Twitter Who Will Gladly Pay it
Fresno Police DepartmentOne of the guns that was taken from Mirella Ponce’s car. One Facebook commenter wrote, “”I don’t know what’s cuter, her or this gun.”
Within two days of the Fresno PD post, Ponce’s photo had been shared over 3,500 times. The most liked comment under the original post reads, “The only she committed was stealing my heart.” While another person wrote, “Ima just go bail her out. Free this hot gangster chick.” Ponce’s bail has been set at $100,000.
One dissenting voice wrote, “All about her looks and not about the child in the car or the fact she’s a gang member carrying a gun with other gang members.” While another said, “The girl is pretty but she wrong for riding dirty with her baby. Very simple.”
Speaking to CBS Fresno, bail bondsman Charles Vang said that it’s not a good idea to randomly pay someone’s bail. Vang said, “You have to know and trust that person in jail that he or she is going to do the right thing.” Vang added that if Ponce were to miss her court appearance, the bail payee would be on the hook for the entire amount.
2. Ponce Says She Has Been Bisexual ‘for the Longest Time’
Instagram/Mirella Ponce
Visible from Ponce’s mugshot are her tattoos. One across her chest reads, “Love is pain,” while another reads, “Pain is pleasure.” In an Instagram post (above), Ponce says that she has been bisexual for the “longest time.” During the same comments thread, Ponce complained about a girl breaking up with her. While on her Twitter page, Ponce has one message from 2014 that reads, “Bitch I’m love by few and hated by many. Nd Idgaf Cause Only God Can Judge me.”
3. Ponce’s Looks Could Help Her Legal Case; An Expert Says
Instagram/Mirella Ponce
Ponce’s good looks could be the key to her getting off in her case. CBS Fresno’s legal analyst Charles Magill said, “I think the rule of thumb is, judges do go more lenient on women period because of the bias. But there ar lot of female judges out there as well.” Magill that if Ponce is convicted on her charges, she could face up to 10 years in prison.
4. The Tiny Rascal Gang Is the Largest Asian Street Gang in the Land
The Fresno cops have named Ponce as a member of the mainly-Asian Tiny Rascal Gang. The group is known as the largest Asian street gang in America, according to Police Magazine. The feature in the magazine adds that the gang was started by Cambodian refugees in California in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The piece continues saying that the gang adopted a similar style to the Latino gang, the East Side Longos of Long Beach. There have been Tiny Rascal Gang sets reported in Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Missouri, Kansas, Massachusetts, Texas, Georgia, California, New York and Canada. The average age for gang members is between 14 and 24 years old. The gang is also believed to have been the first to break a gender barrier in allowing female members.
Infamously, in February 2006, a 20-year-old pregnant woman named Nath Ouch was killed when she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between the Tiny Rascal Gang and the Asian Boyz.
5. Ponce Should Hold on to Hopes of a Modeling Career; the Original Hot Felon Was an Accused Gang Member
The most famous hot felon, Jeremy Meeks, continues to make news today, three years on from his original arrest in California in 2014. Meeks embarked on a modeling career almost immediately after leaving the clink on firearm and grand theft auto charges. Hollywood Life reported that in 2002 Meeks violently beat a 16-year-old boy while admitting to being a member of the North side Gangster Crips in his native Stockton, California. Since then, Meeks has appeared on cat walks in New York City and Milan.