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Weapons seized in gang investigations
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
Fillmore resident one of ten arrested
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department A Fillmore residence was raided in connection with a Saticoy shooting and a Solimar Beach gang fight. Suspect Samuel Espinoza, 27, was arrested for a variety of weapons charges. He is suspected of selling firearms to gang members. Gang investigators served a search warrant at the location. During the search of the residence, four handguns, a rifle, and a high capacity magazine were recovered. One of the handguns had its serial number removed. During the Month of March 2011, The Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit began investigating several shootings that were occurring in the unincorporated area of Saticoy. Most of the shootings went unreported and were not discovered until gang deputies began canvassing the neighborhoods soliciting information. Investigators found that two rival gangs located on the east end of Ventura were in the process of retaliating against each other for prior shootings. During the later part of March 2011, Sheriff’s patrol deputies and members of the Sheriff’s Gang Unit responded to Solimar Beach on a report of a gang fight. During the investigation, investigators found that a group of young men attacked a black male victim and his friend who were at the beach. During the attack, the two victims were struck several times with a stick and one victim was stabbed. Investigators learned that the attack was unprovoked and the suspects yelled racial slurs both before and during the attack. During the investigation they also learned that 21-year-old Carlos Ek was responsible for the stabbing. The victim was transported to the hospital by friends where he was treated for his injuries and later released. At the scene, Investigators recovered evidence linking the suspects with the gang activity in the unincorporated area of Saticoy. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office formed a task force with a specific intent to arrest those responsible for the recent incidents of gang violence. The task force, led by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, included investigators from the Ventura Police Department, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Oxnard Police Department, and other specialized Sheriff’s Units including the Gang Unit, Narcotics Bureau, Technical Services Unit, and Major Crimes Bureau. As part of the Task force’s mission, law enforcement personnel began conducting an intensive three-month investigation of the various gang members suspected of committing the recent violence. Early in May 2011, the Ventura Police Department received a call of Shots Fired in the neighborhood of Cabrillo Village. Shortly after the call, Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies detained two juveniles and 20-year-old Eric Gibson as they were running in the Santa Clara River bed away from the area of the shots fired call. All three were determined to be local gang members. Deputies conducting the investigation were able to confirm that a shooting had occurred and the three detained were responsible for the shooting. During the investigation it was found that the three subjects shot at a group of four individuals as they walked on a levy near the Cabrillo Village neighborhood. The four individuals included two rival gang members and a mother with her 9-year-old son. The suspects, ages 13, 17, and 20, were all arrested for attempted murder and street terrorism. The two juveniles remain in custody without bail and Gibson remains in custody on $1,100,000 bail. In mid May 2011, investigators narrowed their investigation to Ventura gang members Jonathan Gaona and Dion Mendoza. Both Gaona and Mendoza were living in the City of Santa Paula. Gang investigators found that both were associating with a Santa Paula tagging crew, including crewmember Robert Alamillo. All were connected to a residence in the City of Fillmore where the occupant was suspected of selling firearms to gang members. Gang investigators served a search warrant at the location. During the search of the residence, four handguns, a rifle, and a high capacity magazine were recovered. One of the handguns had its serial number removed. The sole occupant of the residence, Samuel Espinoza, was arrested for a variety of weapons charges. During an investigation it was learned that Robert Alamillo was possibly in possession of a handgun. Santa Paula Police Department assisted in conducting a probation search on Allamillo’s residence where they located and recovered a loaded 38 cal. handgun. In early June 2011, members of the Sheriff’s Gang Unit went to the 500 block of Santa Barbara St., Santa Paula with the intent of arresting Carlos Ek for the Solimar Beach stabbing. Investigators located Ek walking toward his residence. During the arrest, he was holding a loaded .45 cal. handgun wrapped in a T-shirt. He was arrested for a variety of charges that include attempted murder, and street terrorism. He was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility and remains in custody on $500,000 bail. On June 8, 2011, Gang investigators also arrested Dion Mendoza, Jonathan Gaona, Stephen Gaona, Joseph Sandoval, and Robert Alamillo for the stabbing in Solimar Beach. Their charges include assault with a deadly weapon, Street Terrorism, and Violation of Civil Rights. All suspects remain in custody awaiting trial. Anyone having additional information concerning any criminal activity involving these subjects or others should contact the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit at the Gang Tip Hotline (1-800-58GANGS) or the Ventura County Crime Stoppers Hotline. 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). Report Number: Multiple |
