Community
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
News Story - Bringing Narcotics Into Ventura County Jails - Arrests
| Nature of Incident: | Bringing Narcotics into Ventura County Jails | ||||
| Report Number: | RB# 22-88718 & 22-86145 | ||||
| Location: | 800 South Victoria Avenue | ||||
| Date & Time: | June and July, 2022 | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | PTDF Classification Unit, Narcotics Street Team | ||||
| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Randi Ballai (S) Carlos Barragan (S) Laura Savala (S) Peter Robledo |
Port Hueneme Oxnard Oxnard Ventura |
24 20 31 26 |
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| Narrative: |
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| Narrative During the recent months, the mailroom clerks of the Ventura County Jail located numerous pieces of suspicious mail containing contraband. The Pre-Trial Detention Facility’s (PTDF) Classification Unit began an investigation into the suspicious mail and seized narcotics in the mail before it could be delivered to the inmates. Deputies from the Classification Unit and investigators from the Narcotic Street Team were able to identify a sophisticated criminal conspiracy between inmates housed within Ventura County Jail and suspects out of custody. Through various investigative means, it was discovered that narcotics were being mailed into the facility, which was being orchestrated by inmates Carlos Barragan and Peter Robledo. Additionally, co-conspirators, Randi Ballai and Laura Savala, were identified as the individuals mailing the narcotics to the Pre-Trail Detention Facility and Todd Road Jail. Proceeds from the sales of narcotics were located and seized as evidence based on the facts of the investigation. Robledo was supplementally booked for violations of PC 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy, PC 4573(a) – Bring Drugs into a Jail, and HS 11379(a) – Sales of a Controlled Substance. Barragan was supplementally booked for violations of PC 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy and PC 4573(a) – Bring Drugs into a Jail. On 8/4/2022, a search warrant was executed by investigators from the Narcotics Street Team at the residence of Randi Ballai. During a search of the residence, an unregistered firearm and evidence of her involvement in the crimes were located. Ballai was arrested and booked at the Pre-Trail Detention Facility for violations of PC 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy, PC 4573(a) – Bring Drugs into Jail, and PC 27545 – Unlawful Transfer of Firearm. Ballai has since posted bail and has been released from custody. On 8/10/2022, a search warrant was executed at Laura Savala’s residence. During a search of the residence, additional evidence linking her to crimes was located. Savala was arrested and booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violations of PC 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy and PC 4573(a) – Bring Drugs into Jail. Savala has since been released from custody. All mail destined for the Ventura County jails is screened for contraband including narcotics. Anyone attempting to send contraband into the jail will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. |
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| Prepared by: | Deputy Cody Sulflow | ||||
| News Release Date: | 09/07/2022 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Robert Rawston, 805-797-7231, [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Brian Slominski YES NO |
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Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511