Wildlife Trafficking Crew in Piru Charged with Poaching Crimes
Wildlife traffickers known as the “E-Bike Crew” were operating out of Lizette’s Market in Piru. Seven people have been charged with 21 counts of filing a false or forged document, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of untagged bear, and animal abuse or cruelty. By Gazette Staff Writers — Wednesday, December 7th, 2022
Case #: 2021030478 District Attorney Erik Nasarenko has announced the filing of charges against a group of poachers and wildlife traffickers known as the “E-Bike Crew.” Seven people have been charged with 21 counts of filing a false or forged document, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of untagged bear, and animal abuse or cruelty. On December 5, 2022, six of the seven defendants were arraigned in the Ventura County Superior Court. California Department of Fish & Wildlife investigated the “E-Bike Crew” discovering that they worked with Lizette’s Market in Piru to fraudulently reprint hunting licenses and tags. The six-member wildlife trafficking organization (“WTO”) is accused of conspiring with Lizette’s Market beginning in June 2019 through October 2021, allegedly producing the false and fake tags to hunt and take more deer, pigs and bears than legally allowed by state law. Martin Bravo Sr. (DOB 04/14/63), of Oxnard, Martin M. Bravo (DOB 05/13/92), of Oxnard, Walfre Lopez y. Lopez (DOB 06/14/84), of Oxnard, Gilberto Lopez Hernandez (DOB 02/15/88), of Thousand Oaks, Jaime Mendoza Avila (DOB 10/02/81), of Porterville, and Cristian Lopez Perez (DOB 02/11/91), of Los Angeles, are the charged members of the WTO. Juventino Reyes Guerrera (DOB 09/11/78), of Piru, is facing the same charges and was the operator of Fish & Wildlife licensing equipment located at Lizette’s Market. |