Nature of Incident: Narcotics Arrest Related to Fatal Overdose Investigation
Report Number: 21-114622
Location: 8900 block of San Fernando Road, Sun Valley CA
Date & Time: December 1, 2021 – 1520 Hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU),
Ventura County Narcotics Street Team,
Ventura County Combined Agency Team,
Moorpark Patrol Station,
(S)uspects         City of Residence     Age
(S) John Lester    Van Nuys          40
Narrative:
On December 1, 2021, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) served a search warrant in connection to a fatal drug overdose that occurred in the City of Moorpark. As a result of this search warrant, John Lester was arrested for various narcotics and weapons charges.
On August 29, 2021, Moorpark Patrol deputies were dispatched to the 15100 block of Campus Park Drive in the City of Moorpark reference a subject who was deceased as the result of a drug overdose. PCU detectives took over the investigation and identified Lester as a possible suspect who sold the fentanyl to the victim that caused their death.
On December 1, 2021, PCU detectives, located Lester in the Sun Valley area of Los Angeles and detained him pursuant to a search warrant. During a search of his mobile home, detectives located fentanyl, methamphetamine, a firearm with a threaded barrel capable of accepting a silencer, and U.S. currency indicative of drug sales.
Lester was arrested for 11351 HS- Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale; 11352 HS Sales of a Controlled Substance; 11370.1 HS, Possession of a Controlled Substance with a Firearm; 11378 HS- Possession of a Dangerous Drug, 29800(a)(1) PC- Possession of a Firearm by an Addict or Felon; 30305(a)(1) PC- Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and 30605(a) PC- Possession of an Assault Weapon. Lester was booked into the Ventura County Jail and is scheduled for arraignment on December 15, 2021, in Ventura County Superior Court. He was released from custody after posting $50,000 bail. The investigation into the fatal overdose is still ongoing.
The public may contact investigators from the Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit at (805) 383-8700 or [email protected] with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.
The Ventura County Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit is a task force made up of members from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Thousand Oaks Police Department; The primary mission of the task force is combatting the transfer of legal prescription medication and fentanyl to the illegal market. In addition, the task force works to identify and stop new trends of abuse among the younger population and investigates overdoses due to both prescription medication and illicit drug use.
Prepared by: Sergeant John Hajducko
News Release Date: December 13, 2021
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Jeff Miller (805) 383-4749
Approved by: Captain Brian Slominski
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) or at www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org
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