Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Robbery – Home Invasion
DATE/TIME:	10/31/13 at approximately 2300 hours
LOCATION:	The Colony Mobile Home Park, 2400 East Pleasant Valley
VICTIM(S):	Juana Pitones, 56 year old Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Suspect #1 – Mask and dark colored clothing Suspect #2 – Male, no further description
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Alex Arnett
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Steve Funk Steven.funk@oxnardpd.org or (805)385-7796

DETAILS: On 11/1/13 at approximately 0700 hours, Oxnard police officers responded to a 911 call at the Colony Mobile Home Park, located at 2400 East Pleasant Valley Road. When Officers arrived on scene, they located a female victim named Juana Pitones. Pitones had her hands tied behind her back with rope. Pitones was not injured and did not require medical treatment.

 
Pitones told officers she arrived home last night around 2300 hours and was confronted by two unknown male suspects. The suspects entered the victim’s home and demand money and other valuable items. The suspects tied the victim’s hands behind her back and then tied her to a chair. The suspects fled with the undisclosed amount of money and other valuable items.
 
If anyone has information about this incident, they are encouraged to call Detective Steven Funk at (805) 385-7796.  If you wish to remain anonymous you may call the violent crimes hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.
 
DATE / TIME PREPARED:  11/1/2013, 1005 hours

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ventura Police, the Oxnard Police Department Special Operation
DATE/TIME:	11/20/2013 10:00am News Conference
LOCATION:	City of Oxnard
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager, miguel.lopez@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: 17 Ventura County Gang Members With Ties to the Mexican Mafia Charged For Roles in Mexican-Based Drug Trafficking Organization 

Operation “SuperNova” is Targeting Gang-Related Drug Trafficking
 
LOS ANGELES – In the third phase of Operation “SuperNova,” a multi-agency task force investigation that targeted Mexican Mafia-affiliated street gangs in Ventura County, 17 people have been charged following an investigation by a task force comprised of the FBI; the Ventura Police Department and the Oxnard Police Department. Following arrests this morning, 14 or 17 defendants named in a federal criminal complaint unsealed this morning are now in custody.
Several teams of police officers and federal agents executed arrest and search warrants early this morning and took six defendants into custody without incident. Eight of the 17 defendants charged were already in custody based on unrelated charges and soon will be brought into federal custody. The remaining three defendants charged in the complaint are fugitives, some believed to be residing in Mexico, where they allegedly direct the narcotics-trafficking activity alleged in the complaint.
The criminal complaint details a year-long undercover investigation and outlines a series of narcotics transactions that led to the seizure of more than two pounds of methamphetamine and quantities of heroin that were being sold on the streets of Ventura County. The complaint alleges that the drugs were supplied by a Mexican drug trafficking 0rganization controlled by Mexican Mafia member Martin Madrigal-Cazares. Local street gangs allegedly communicated with the head of the organization in Mexico, while controlling narcotics sales and collecting “taxes” on behalf of the Mexican Mafia in Ventura County.  
This case targeted the “shotcallers” of Ventura County and Oxnard street gangs — including Lemonwood, Surtown and Ventura Avenue Gangsters — whose members control the drug trade in their respective territories. The defendants charged in the complaint  (with the exception of Cazares) are residents of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo and Moorpark. Those named are:
             
·         David Acosta, 33, in custody;
·         Daniel Armendariz, 38, arrested today;
·         Pedro Arrieta, 42, arrested today
·         Robert De La Cerda, 35, in custody
·         Lina Fuentes, 35, fugitive;
·         Daniel Gonzales, 40, in custody;
·         Philip Guerra, 28, arrested today;
·         Ruben Hernandez, 20, in custody;
·         Alejandro Herrera, 38, in custody;
·         David Leal, David, 44, arrested today;
·         Martin Madrigal-Cazares, 38, a fugitive believed to be residing in Mexico;
·         Dillon Mansell, 21, in custody;
·         Armando Molina, 30, arrested today;
·         Edwin Mora, 29, in custody;
·         Librado Navarrete, 27, a fugitive;
·         Frank Ruiz, 32, arrested today; and
·         Javier Tamayo, 35, in custody
 
As a result of the first phase of Operation Supernova in 2011(see: http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/pressroom/pr2011/018.html), 11 defendants were convicted and received sentences of up to 25 years in prison. In the second phase of Operation Supernova in 2012 (see: http://www.fbi.gov/losangeles/press-releases/2011/oxnard-gang-members-arrested-on-federal-drug-and-gun-trafficking-charges-in-second-part-of-operation-supernova), six defendants were charged in connection with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegally sell firearms. The total seizure for the three-phase operation totals 18 pounds of Methaphetamine, five kilograms of cocaine, six pounds of heroin and 46 firearms.  
The defendants named in the complaint are charged conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and, if they are convicted, each would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and statutory maximum sentences of life in prison.
The defendants arrested today will make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles. The federal defendants will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Ventura Police Department; the Oxnard Police Department; and the FBI.
The Ventura Gang Task Force is one of many FBI Safe Streets Task Forces throughout the United States, funded for the purpose of assisting local police in identifying and addressing violent crime in America.
 
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 
MEDIA CONTACTS:
 
United States Attorney’s Office:  213-894-6947
FBI:  310-996-3343
Oxnard Police Department:  Miguel Lopez:  805-385-7631

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Shooting Victim, last night
DATE/TIME:	11/18/13 at approximately 2100 hours
LOCATION:	100 block Eliza Court / 5100 block Columbus Place
VICTIM(S):	Diego Espinoza, 18 year old Oxnard resident
SUSPECT(S):	Unknown
PREPARED BY:	Sergeant Alex Arnett
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Jeff Long jeff.long@oxnardpd.org or (805) 486-6506

DETAILS: On 11/18/13 at approximately 2100 hours, Oxnard police officers responded to the La Colonia neighborhood after hearing numerous shots being fired. Emergency police dispatchers also received numerous calls reference shots being fired in the 100 block of Eliza Court.

 
Officers arrived on scene and located a shooting victim, Diego Espinoza, laying on the walkway north of Eliza Court. Espinoza was shot once in the left knee and transported to the Ventura County Medical Center. His wound is not life threatening.
 
Based on information provided to the police, officers began looking for a suspicious vehicle in the area of the shooting. Specific information about the vehicle was broadcasted to other patrol officers in the area. With the public’s assistance, a possible suspect vehicle was located in the 5100 block of Columbus Place.
 
Investigators from the Oxnard Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit, and the Oxnard Police Department SWAT team responded to the scene to assist with the investigation. No arrests have been made. The investigation is continuing.
 
If anyone has information about this incident, they are encouraged to call Detective Jeff Long at (805) 486-6506.  If you wish to remain anonymous you may call the violent crimes hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.
 
DATE / TIME PREPARED:  11/19/13, 1615 hours

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Robbery (susspect photos attached)
DATE/TIME:	November, 11 2013 @ 10:26 AM
LOCATION:	5300 block Perkins Road (west alley)
VICTIM(S):	Male, 28 Yrs, Oxnard Resident.
SUSPECT(S):	Hispanic Male, late teens to early 20s, 5’8”, 175 pounds, medium build, dark hair, wearing a gray t-shirt, dark colored checkered shorts ***photo attached***
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	White 4 door sedan ***photo attached***
PREPARED BY:	Detective Jaime Miranda
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Jaime Miranda 805-385-7665 jaime.miranda@oxnardpd.org

DETAILS: The Oxnard Police Department is asking the public’s help with identifying a suspect in a robbery. The robbery occurred on November 11, 2013 at about 10:27 AM in the west alley of the 5300 block of Perkins Road.

 
The lone victim was walking through the alley when a white 4 door sedan pulled alongside him and stopped. A passenger in the vehicle exited and approached the victim while pointing a gun at him. The suspect demanded the victim hand over his property. The victim handed over an unknown amount of cash and the suspect returned to the vehicle and fled the area. Video surveillance cameras in the area captured the incident.
 
If anyone can identify the suspect or has further information about this incident, they are encouraged to call Detective Jaime Miranda at (805) 385-7665.  If you wish to remain anonymous you may call the violent crimes hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
 
You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.
 

 
The robbery suspect is the person on the left side of the picture.
 

 
Vehicle associated with the robbery.
 
 
 
DATE / TIME PREPARED:  11-21-13, 1140 hours

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Shooting – Homicide Investigation
DATE/TIME:	11/6/2013 / 1806 hours
LOCATION:	900 block of S. H Street, Oxnard
VICTIM(S):	3 male victims
SUSPECT(S):	N/A
SUSPECT VEHICLE(S):	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager miguel.lopez@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Det. Bob Eckman robert.eckman@oxnardpd.org 805-385-7760

DETAILS: On 11/6/13 at approximately 1800 hours, Oxnard police officers responded to 900 block of S. H Street reference a shooting.

Oxnard Fire and Police responded to the scene where they found three shooting victims.  All three victims were transported to Ventura County Medical Center for medical treatment. One of the victims succumbed to his wounds and was later pronounced dead.   The identities of the victims have not been released, pending an active on-going investigation.  It is too early in the investigation to identify a motive for the crime.

This is the tenth homicide this year.

If anyone has further information about this incident, they are encouraged to call Oxnard PD or Detective Bob Eckman at (805) 385-7760.  If you wish to remain anonymous you may call the Violent Crimes Hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.
 
DATE / TIME PREPARED:  11-6-13 / 2130 hours

Jeri Williams Chief of Police

Oxnard Police Department R. Jason Benites Assistant Chief Scott Whitney Assistant Chief

OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Shooting – Homicide
DATE/TIME:	11/12/13 Approx. 1930 hours
LOCATION:	E. Colonia Road and N. McKinley Ave.
VICTIM(S):	1 male victim
SUSPECT(S):	N/A
WITNESS(ES):	N/A
PREPARED BY:	Miguel Lopez, Community Affairs Manager miguel.lopez@oxnardpd.org
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Gordon Currie, gordon.currie@oxnardpd.org    805-200-5682

DETAILS: On 11/12/13 at approximately 1930 hours, Oxnard police officers received a call of a shooting at E. Colonia Road and N. McKinley Ave.  Officers and EMS responded to the scene reference a shooting, where they found one (1) male victim.  The victim succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.  The identity of the victims has not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

Officers remain at the scene.   This is the eleventh (11^th) homicide this year.
The City of Oxnard offers a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspect(s) in homicide cases.
If anyone has further information about this incident, they are encouraged to call Oxnard PD at (805) 200-5682.  If you wish to remain anonymous you may call the violent crimes hotline at (805) 982-7070 or Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/contactus.aspx to submit a tip via text or email.
 
DATE / TIME PREPARED:  11-12-13 / 2140 hours