Moorpark | Gang related narcotics trafficking organization/arrests

Added by Debra Tash on December 10, 2018.
Saved under Police Blotter, Simi Valley / Moorpark/Fillmore
Tags: Gang, narcotics, Ventura County Sheriff Department

Ventura County Sheriff Department – Incident Press Release

Over the past year, the Moorpark Police Department along with other Sheriff’s Office investigative units have been investigating a gang related drug trafficking organization operating in Ventura County and being orchestrated from inmates within the California Department of Corrections. The investigation led to the seizure of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, firearms, US currency and the arrests of Ricardo Ruiz, Oscar Bautista, Gabriel Garcia, Maxine Rodriguez, Alana Mora, Nicholas Lerma, Rogelio Camacho, Adam Valdez, Ilse Mena, Alejandro Garcia, Fernando Martinez, Alberto Angeles, Nestor Cardenas and Anthony Alarcon. The arrest of Edwin Mora is pending.

In late 2017, the Moorpark Investigations Bureau received information that narcotics were being distributed and sold by gang members in and around Moorpark. An investigation began and it was determined the trafficking of narcotics was being organized and directed by Edwin Mora from a California prison. Mora was organizing shipments of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin into Ventura County from prison. The narcotics were then sold by gang members in smaller quantities to street level dealers and narcotics users.

On December 6, 2018 Investigators executed search warrants at 10 different locations within Moorpark, Simi Valley, Saticoy and in the Calipatria State Prison resulting in the seizure of narcotics including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, handguns, ammunition, evidence related to narcotics trafficking and a large sum of U.S. currency.

Ricardo Ruiz was arrested for conspiracy to distribute narcotics, possessing narcotics for sale, sales of a controlled substance and gang allegations. Oscar Bautista was arrested for conspiracy to distribute narcotics, possessing narcotics for sale, sale of a controlled substance and gang allegations. Gabriel Garcia was arrested for possession of firearm/illegal transfer of a firearm with gang allegations. Maxine Rodriguez was arrested for conspiracy to distribute narcotics with a gang allegation. Alana Mora was arrested for conspiracy to distribute narcotics with a gang allegation. Nicholas Lerma was arrested for conspiracy to distribute narcotics with a gang allegation. Rogelio Camacho was arrested for possession of a firearm and illegal transfer of a firearm with a gang allegation. Adam Valdez was arrested for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and possession for sale of narcotics with a gang allegation. Ilse Mena was arrested for possession of narcotics for sale and conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Alejandro Garcia was arrested for possession of narcotics for sale, conspiracy to distribute narcotics with a gang allegation. Fernando Martinez was arrested for possession of narcotics. Alberto Angeles was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Nestor Cardenas was arrested for possession of narcotics and for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Anthony Alarcon was arrested for possession of narcotics for sale. It is anticipated Edwin Mora will be arrested for conspiracy to distribute narcotics with a gang allegation. This investigation is continuing and more arrests are anticipated.