June 10, 2023 - Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that on June 2, 2023, the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) concluded an investigation into Richard Gonzalez, who was involved in the sales of illegal narcotics to residents of Ventura County.

During the investigation, detectives developed information regarding the drug trafficking activities of Richard Gonzalez.  Additionally, detectives learned Gonzalez had an outstanding Ventura County felony warrant for the sales and transportation of controlled substances while in possession of a loaded firearm.

On June 2, 2023, VC FOCUS detectives located Gonzalez travelling in a vehicle near Parthenia Street and Jellico Avenue in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles and arrested him for the outstanding felony warrant.  During a search of the vehicle, detectives located 477 counterfeit M30 pills, 7 grams of heroin, 5 grams of powder fentanyl, drug packaging, and a digital scale. The driver of the vehicle, Luis Gonzales, was also arrested on an outstanding Ventura County felony warrant that was unrelated to this case.

Gonzales was booked into the Ventura County Pre Trial-Detention Facility for 11351 HS- Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance and 11379 HS- Transportation of a Dangerous Drug. He is still in custody and ineligible for bail due to his PROS status. His arraignment on the charges is set for June 23, 2023, at 1:40 P.M. in the Ventura County Superior Courthouse. 

Counterfeit M-30 (Oxycodone) pills are highly abused and often contribute to fatal and non-fatal overdoses within Ventura County. These counterfeit pills are mass produced by drug cartels and sold throughout the United States for large profits. The pills look identical to legitimate medications and are mixed with fentanyl. As little as 2mg of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose of this deadly drug. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) estimates that six out of every ten pills currently seized by law enforcement agencies across the United States are counterfeit and contain fentanyl, which make them extremely dangerous to the community.

The Ventura County Fentanyl Overdose and Crimes Units (VCFOCUS) is a task force made up of all 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.

Nature of Incident:      Felony Warrant Arrest Leads to Narcotics Seizure

Report Number:          23-70098

Location:         Parthenia Street and Jellico Avenue- Northridge

Date & Time:   June 2, 2023 @ 5:15 PM

Unit(s) Responsible:    Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS)

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).

Source & photo: Ventura County Sheriff's Office