On August 10, 2023, Investigators with the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) concluded an investigation into Kevin Reynolds who was supplying fentanyl and other drugs to Ventura County residents.
During the month of July 2023, detectives received information that Reynolds was selling fentanyl out of his residence in the 2000 block of Alameda Avenue. Detectives conducted surveillance on Reynolds and observed multiple drug transactions he conducted throughout the Montalvo area of Ventura. Detectives obtained a search warrant for Reynolds and his residence based on these drug sales.
On August 10, 2023, detectives obtained a search warrant for Reynolds and his residence. Detectives located Renolds in the area of Seahawk St. and Ventura Blvd. as he was in the middle of a drug sale. Detectives detained Reynolds pursuant to the search warrant and found him in possession of fentanyl powder, methamphetamine, and Xanax. Jordan Katz was with Reynolds and was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Both subjects were arrested for various drug charges. Detectives served the search warrant at Reynolds’ residence and detained Katherine Able and Natasha Ananian who were hiding inside various rooms of the house. Both subjects were also arrested for various drug charges and warrants. The total drugs seized from Reynolds and in his residence was 22 grams of fentanyl, 4 grams of methamphetamine, 10 amphetamine pills and 3 Xanax pills. Detectives also seized scales, packaging material and $1990 in US currency believed to be the proceeds from narcotics sales.
Reynolds was booked into the Ventura County Pre Trial-Detention Facility (PTDF) for 11351 HS- Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance and 11378 HS- Possession for Sales of a Dangerous Drug. Able was booked into the PTDF for an outstanding felony warrant. Both subjects remain in custody. Ananian was issued a citation for 11350 HS- Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Katz was issued a citation for 11377 HS, Possession of a Dangerous Drug. Both subjects were released on their promise to appear.
Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Just 2 Milligrams of fentanyl is considered to be a lethal dose of this deadly drug. The amount of fentanyl seized in this case had the potential to yield 11,000 fatal doses. According to the most recent statistics provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there were 106,699 fatal overdoses in the United States in 2021. Drug overdoses have also become the leading cause of death in the United States for adults 18-46 years of age. The majority of these overdose deaths were caused by fentanyl abuse.
The VC FOCUS is a task force made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. The primary mission of this partnership is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic.
VC FOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Opioid Abuse Suppression Taskforce (COAST) in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.VenturaCountyResponds.org.
The public may contact investigators from VC FOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or [email protected] with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.
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