Community
Gang Members Charged Following 18-month Sureño Investigation
| Nature of Incident: | Gang Members Charged Following 18-month Sureño Investigation | ||
| Report Number: | 24-144557 | ||
| Location: | Ventura County, California |
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| Date & Time: | September 17, 2025 @ 11:00 AM | ||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Special Crimes Unit Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Oxnard Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit Oxnard Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office West County Special Enforcement Unit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit Federal Bureau of Investigation Fillmore Police Department Detective Unit Camarillo Police Department Detective Unit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Gun Violence Reduction Program Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Main Jail Classifications Unit California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation |
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| Narrative: | |||
| In late July 2025, detectives assigned to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Special Crimes Unit (SCU) concluded an 18-month investigation into the illegal distribution of narcotics by members of several local Ventura County gangs and associates, in furtherance of the Sureño prison gang. The Special Crimes Unit consists of detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Oxnard Police Department who work jointly to investigate organized crime organizations affecting the livelihood of citizens of Ventura County. In early 2024, Special Crimes Unit Detectives initiated an investigation into an Oxnard based, Ventura County criminal street gang suspected of illegally being in possession of firearms and distributing narcotics for the benefit of the criminal street gang. As a result of that investigation, detectives arrested two criminal street gang members and recovered three firearms and indicia identifying the subjects as active criminal street gang members. In June of 2024, Special Crimes Unit Detectives concluded an additional investigation into another local gang member suspected of illegally possessing firearms, illegal transfer of firearms, and possession of methamphetamine and cocaine for sales. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at the gang member’s residence and recovered four handguns, a sawed-off rifle, ammunition, 834.7 gross grams of cocaine, 248 gross grams of methamphetamine, indicia used for narcotics sales, and $21,000.00 of U.S Currency suspected to be proceeds of the narcotics sales. In the third quarter of 2024, SCU detectives initiated an investigation into a Ventura County criminal street gang suspected of illegally being in possession of firearms and distributing narcotics for the benefit of the criminal street gang and the Sureño prison gang. As a result of that investigation, detectives seized 85.6 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.9 pounds of ecstasy pills, $10,000 of U.S Currency suspected to be proceeds of the narcotics sales, ammunition and three handguns from a narcotics source of supply in Los Angeles County. In November of 2024, SCU detectives initiated an investigation into a Ventura County criminal street gang member working as a Sureño prison gang member on behalf of the Mexican Mafia. During the investigation, detectives identified one of the gang members’ narcotics couriers responsible for trafficking narcotics. As a result of that investigation, detectives seized 9.36 pounds of methamphetamine destined for Oxnard, California. Special Crimes Unit Detectives continued the investigation through the Spring of 2025. Investigators served several search warrants in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. As a result of that investigation, detectives arrested an additional thirteen gang members. Detectives seized twelve handguns, five rifles, two shotguns, 56 gross grams of cocaine, 439.3 gross grams of heroin, 293.3 gross grams of methamphetamine, ammunition, $107, 205.46 of U.S Currency suspected to be proceeds of narcotics sales, and one vehicle. During one of the investigations, detectives discovered that a gang member from a Ventura County criminal street gang had engaged in a five-year, unlawful sexual relationship with a minor and was arrested. Furthermore, investigators uncovered that an additional gang member from a Ventura County criminal street gang had engaged in an online, sexual relationship with a minor with the intent to send, distribute or exhibit harmful or obscene material to the minor with the intent to engage in sexual intercourse. The following individuals have been arrested as a result of this investigation;
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant Brian Whittaker, Special Crimes Unit |
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| News Release Date: | September 17, 2025 | ||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Steve Eckman Office: 805-384-4771 [email protected] Detective Jose Torres Office: 805: 383-8725 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Matthew Young, Special Services Division YES NO |
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Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511
