Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On April 22, 2022, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) concluded an investigation into Lenay Guevara-Mendez regarding her involvement in a fatal drug overdose.

On August 21, 2021, Fillmore Patrol deputies were dispatched to the 200 block of Arundell Circle the City of Fillmore reference a subject who was deceased as the result of a fentanyl overdose. PCU detectives took over the investigation and determined Guevara-Mendez was the subject who sold fentanyl to the victim that caused the fatal overdose.

During the month of April 2022, Special Crimes Unit (SCU) detectives developed additional information that Guevara- Mendez was responsible for drug sales in Ventura County. SCU, with the assistance of PCU, detained Guevara-Mendez and served a search warrant at her residence. Detectives seized 286 grams of methamphetamine, 39 grams of fentanyl, 6 grams of heroin, numerous counterfeit pills believed to contain fentanyl, scales, packaging material, $1099 in US currency and 3 rifles.

Guevara-Mendez was arrested for 11351 HS- Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance, 11352 HS- Sales of a Controlled Substance, 11378 HS- Possession of a Dangerous Drug, and 11379 HS, Sales of a Dangerous Drug. Guevara-Mendez’s was booked into the Ventura County Jail and is currently out of custody on $50,000 bail. She is scheduled for arraignment on May 6, 2022, in Ventura County Superior Court.

The public may contact investigators from the Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit at (805) 383-8700 or pharm.tip@ventura.org 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.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is an active member of the County Opioid Abuse Suppression Taskforce (COAST). We have partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.VenturaCountyResponds.org.

Nature of Incident: Fatal Overdose Investigation Leads to Narcotics Arrest
Report Number: 22-52693 / 21-112308
Location: 700 block of Forest Park Boulevard- Oxnard, CA
Date & Time: April 22, 2022- 0845
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU)
Ventura County Sheriff Special Crimes Unit (SCU)
Fillmore Patrol Station
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(S) Guevara- Mendez, Lenay, Oxnard, 39
Prepared by: Sergeant John Hajducko
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