Full Notification

Turlock CA – A home invasion robbery in unincorporated Turlock on March 17, 2020, started what turned out to be a months-long criminal investigation into the Norteno criminal street gang. This investigation concluded at the beginning of December. It resulted in twenty-three (23) arrests and the seizure of eighteen (18) firearms, $19,800 cash, 2 pounds of methamphetamine, 786 marijuana plants, 19.4 pounds of processed marijuana, 4.8 grams of cocaine, and 293 prescription pills.

The joint operation by the Stanislaus Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) included the Turlock Police Department (TPD) and the Central Valley Gang Impact Task Force (CVGIT).

During the investigation, detectives uncovered evidence of robberies, home invasions, drug sales, illegal weapons sales, and criminal street gang activity. The investigation was primarily focused on three Norteno gang subsets, “Turlocos,” “Familia Unida (FU),” and “Varrio West Side Turlock (VWST),” all operating in the Turlock area.

While investigating the March 17 home invasion, detectives learned that Adrian Ortiz (26- Turlock) was a suspect. Detectives obtained a wiretap warrant for his phone, which led to wiretap warrants on other involved parties. During this wiretap, detectives learned of additional drug deals and drug houses and how the gang would tax its members and even members of the public operating lawful business in the territory that the gang claimed belonged to them.

“This gave us a unique insight into how the gang was operating and how they were making money for the gang,” said Sheriff’s SIU Lieutenant Cook. “The investigation led us to multiple residences where drugs were being sold, and search warrants at many of those locations resulted in the seizure of drugs, cash, and weapons.”

Not everyone involved in the drug trade was a gang member; however, they worked with the gang members to grow, manufacture, and sell illegal drugs and prescription pills. Authorities served search warrants at seventeen (17) different locations throughout this investigation. They wrote more than fifty (50) search warrants for wiretaps and to search cell phones, computers, cars, and other buildings involved in the illegal activities.


“TPD and CVGIT were a huge help in this large investigation. These gang members are not limited by jurisdiction, and we have been able to identify suspects that committed crimes in the city as well as the unincorporated areas of the county,” said Cook. “Gang investigations can be difficult because many gang members won’t talk to law enforcement and many citizens living in these gang-infested neighborhoods fear retaliation if they offer information or cooperate with authorities.”

“The Sheriff’s Office is committed to keeping our communities safe and will expend every effort to dismantle, arrest and prosecute these gang members which prey upon on the neighborhoods that they operate in,” said Sheriff Jeff Dirkse.

For booking photos and photos of some of the weapons and drugs, copy the following link into your browser:
https://scsdonline.com/images/pio/2020-12-23_Booking-Photos. zip

The following suspects were all arrested during the course of this investigation for the following charges:

-Adrian Ortiz (26 Turlock)- 212.5 PC, 211 PC, 459 (1) PC, 12020 PC, 422 (a) PC, 186.22 PC, 11351 H&S, 11358 H&S, 11359 H&S.
-Jean Betgeorge (50 Turlock)- 136.1 (b)(1) PC
-Victor Origel (60 Turlock)- 29800 (a)(1) PC, 30305 (a)(1) PC, 182 (a)(1) PC, 23920 PC, 1203.2 PC, 11358 H&S, 182/11359 H&S
-Armando Tirado (37 Modesto)- 148 PC
-Christopher Sanchez (29 Turlock)- 186.22 PC, 11351 H&S, 11375 (b)(1) H&S
-Joe Peres-Cacho (37 Keyes)- 29800 (a)(1) PC, 30305 (a)(1) PC, 135 PC, 11358 H&S, 11377 (a) H&S.
-Ivan Gonzalez-Velasquez (24 Turlock)- 212.5 PC, 459 (1) PC, 12022 (b) PC
-Israel Beltran (29 Turlock)- 182 PC, 11351 H&S, 11359 H&S
-Fabian Beltran (33 Turlock)- 182 PC, 11351 H&S, 11359 H&S
-Yordy Gonzalez (21 Turlock) 273.5 PC
-Alexandrea Garcia (33 Turlock)- 182 PC, 11351 H&S
-Jesse Mulgado (32 Turlock)- 11370.1 (a) H&S, 11351 H&S, 11378 H&S
-Rosalva Garza (65 Turlock)- 11351 H&S
-Richard Benavides (38 Turlock)- 29800 (a)(1) PC, 496 PC, 11350 (a) H&S, 11358 H&S
-Andrew Padilla (33 Delhi)- 11378 H&S, 2800.1 (a) CVC, 2800.2 (a) CVC, 23152 (a) CVC, 14601.2 (a) CVC
-Adolfo Velasquez (44 Turlock)- 25850 (c)(6) PC, 25850 (a) PC, 25400 (c)(6)(b) PC
-Damian Ceballos (18 Turlock)- 21810 PC
-Marcos Murillo (33 Turlock)- 30605 (a) PC, 273 (a)(b) PC, 11366.5 H&S, 11379.6 H&S, 11358 H&S, 11359 H&S
-Manuel Maldonado (28 Turlock)- 273 A(a) PC, 11358 H&S, 11359 H&S, 11378 H&S
-Joshua Trimble (24 Turlock)- 211 PC
-Fernando Diaz (23 Modesto)- 11359 H&S, 11366 H&S
-Santos Nunez (27 Turlock)- 30305 (a)(1) PC, 529 (a)(3) PC, 1203.2 PC, 11350 (a) H&S, 14601.1 CVC.
-Fernando Baltazar (55 Turlock)- 30305 (a)(1) PC, 182 (a)(1) PC, 11358 H&S, 11359 H&S

If you have any information, you can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also submit tips at www.stancrimetips.org or use the mobile app "P3" and you may be eligible for a cash reward.

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Jeff Dirkse, Sheriff – Coroner

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