June 2, 2023 - Ventura County Sheriff’s Office officials report that investigators with the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VCFOCUS) concluded an investigation of Jessica Valadez of Oxnard for selling counterfeit prescription pills containing Fentanyl to Ventura County residents.
During the month of May 2023, investigators assigned to the Ventura County Fentanyl Overdose and Crimes Units (VCFOCUS), received information that Jessica Valadez was selling counterfeit prescription pills that contained the deadly drug Fentanyl. The pills appeared to be legitimate Oxycodone pills, light blue in color and stamped with "M 30" but were actually fraudulent pills containing Fentanyl.
During the investigation, investigators obtained a search warrant for Valadez' residence and vehicle. On May 26, 2023, at approximately 8:10 P.M., VCFOCUS investigators located Valadez driving into the parking lot located in the 2000 block of North Rose Avenue. Valadez was detained and the search warrant was served. As a result, investigators seized 309 fraudulent Oxycodone pills. The street level price for one of these pills is approximately ten to fifteen dollars per pill. The approximately value of the pills possessed by Valadez is $3,090.00
Jessica Valadez was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail for violating California Health and Safety Code section 11351(a) / possession of a controlled substance for sale, and 11352(a) / transportation of a controlled substance.
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, fraudulent prescription Oxycodone pills, such as the ones seized from Valadez, typically contain .02 to 5.1 milligrams of fentanyl per tablet and a potentially lethal dose of Fentanyl is 2 milligrams.
The Ventura County Fentanyl Overdose and Crimes Units (VCFOCUS) is a task force made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies. The primary mission of this partnership is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic.
VCFOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Opioid Abuse Suppression Taskforce (COAST) 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.
The public may contact investigators from the VCFOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or VCFOCUS@ventura.org with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.
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).
Nature of Incident: Oxnard Woman Arrested for Possession and Transportation of Fraudulent Prescription Pills Containing Fentanyl
Report Number: 23-59566
Location:
2000 Block of North Rose Avenue, Oxnard
1400 Block of Flora Lane, Oxnard
Date & Time: May 26, 2023 @ 8:10 P.M.
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VCFOCUS)
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, City of Residence Age (D)ecedent
(S) Jessica Vazquez Valadez Oxnard 32
Source & photo: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
