| Nature of Incident: |
Local Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled |
| Report Number: |
22-150639, 22-151475, 22-159188, 22-165273 |
| Location: |
County of Ventura |
| Date & Time: |
02/02/2023 |
| Unit(s) Responsible: |
Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCAT)
Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau
Ventura County Special Crimes Unit
Oxnard Police Department Narcotics Unit
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence
|
Age |
(S) Mauricio Yepez
(S) Marc Anthony Mendoza
(S) Omar Garay
(S) Rodrigo Jimenez
(S) Saulo Barragan
(S) Jesus Larios |
Oxnard
Oxnard
Oxnard
Oxnard
Oxnard
Oxnard |
29
23
28
32
32
29 |
Narrative: |
Six Oxnard residents who were involved in the importation and distribution of at least 10 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, including illicit M-30 pills, in Ventura County were arrested during the months of November and December 2022. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office worked in close collaboration with the Oxnard Police Department Narcotics Unit during this case to ensure these dangerous drugs were not distributed throughout the county.
During the end of 2022, VCAT detectives identified Mauricio Yepez and Marc Anthony Mendoza, members of a drug trafficking organization involved in pound level sales of methamphetamine to residents of Ventura County. VCAT detectives continued their investigation and identified Rodrigo Jimenez as a source of supply for Yepez and Mendoza. Detectives identified Jesus Larios as being a methamphetamine courier for Jimenez. Omar Garay was identified as a stash house operator and also distributed street level quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine for Jimenez in the City of Oxnard. Through various investigative methods, VCAT detectives identified Saulo Barragan as a primary source of supply of fentanyl in Ventura County.
On November 12, 2022, VCAT detectives learned Jimenez instructed Larios to transport a bulk quantity of methamphetamine to a customer. Narcotics Detectives, with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle being driven by Larios in City of Fillmore. The traffic stop yielded approximately six pounds of methamphetamine.
During the month of December 2022, VCAT detectives obtained search warrants for multiple residences in the City of Oxnard, associated with Jimenez, Garay, Larios and Barragan. During the service of the search warrants 4 pounds of methamphetamine, 19 ounces of fentanyl, 3 ounces of cocaine, 4 ounces of heroin, 1000 M-30 pills believed to contain fentanyl, 5 firearms, packaging material nearly $60,000 in narcotics proceeds, and multiple vehicles purchased with ill-gotten gains, and used in the transportation of narcotics were seized.
Felony narcotics and firearms related cases have been submitted to the District Attorney’s office for consideration in filing.
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| Prepared by: |
Sergeant Odilon Malagon |
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| News Release Date: |
02/02/2023 |
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| Media Follow-Up Contact: |
Detective H. Contreras 805-383-8700
Detective M. Smiley
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Approved by:
Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Brian Slominski
YES NO |
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