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Category Archives: Drugs

Guns, drugs and nunchuks seized from a speeding felon by the Garden Grove police

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Early on Friday morning, Garden Grove Police Officers were conducting speed enforcement in the area of Chapman Ave and Medina Dr. when they noticed a driver exhibiting unsafe speed.

A vehicle stop was conducted and the driver was found to have a suspended license. As the police officers inventoried the car, incidental to a suspended license tow, they located 3.7 grams of cocaine.

A further search of the car, yield an unregistered and un-serialized AR-15, a Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum, high-capacity magazine, ammunition and nunchucks.

The driver was also later found to be a convicted felon, prohibited from possessing any of the items.

The driver was arrested and later booked into the Orange County Jail.

The SAPD seized several guns last week including a loaded AR-15

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The SAPD has posted their weekly gun seizure update for the week of 15/2022 – 01/21/2022.

While on patrol SAPD Directed Patrol officers observed a subject they recognized as an AB109 probationer with an active warrant for his arrest. Upon contact the subject attempted to flee but was detained. The police searched him and found a loaded.32 caliber firearm in his pants pocket.

SAPD gang detectives observed a suspicious vehicle exiting a parking lot at a high rate of speed. The detectives followed the vehicle and stopped the driver.

The detectives contacted the driver of the vehicle and he was recognized as an active gang member with several outstanding felony warrants for his arrest.

A search of the suspect found he was in possession of a loaded .45 semiautomatic firearm in his waist area. He also had approximately five ounces of narcotics.

SAPD gang detectives contacted a subject they recognized to be on parole for assault with a deadly weapon.

Upon contacting the subject the detectives located more than one ounce of narcotics on his pearson and almost ten thousand dollars in cash.

The suspect was arrested for sales of narcotics and a follow-up parole search of his residence was also completed. The police found a loaded AR15 with extended magazines and additional ammunition was also recovered.

SAPD gang detectives contacted four male subjects in a vehicle and one of the suspects fled on foot into the driveway of a residence.

The detectives observed the suspect discard a firearm into that residence’s backyard. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and the detectives located a loaded 9mm firearm, a pistol grip shotgun and additional ammunition with extended magazines. Gang indicia and narcotics were also find inside the residence.

Three suspects were taken into custody on several felony charges.

An unidentified victim was lying in bed when a suspect barged into the room and pointed a gun at him. The suspect demanded the victims wallet and subsequently pistol-whipped the victim on the head.

The victim fled from the scene and called the SAPD. When the police officers arrived they initiated an area check and were able to find the suspect.

The suspect also was in possession of a ghost gun. He was taken into custody.

The SAPD busted a large illegal marijuana grow operation in north Santa Ana

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Today, SAPD Vice Detectives, Directed Patrol Officers, and Code Enforcement Inspectors served a search warrant on a suspected illegal residential marijuana cultivation in the 2300 block of North Linwood, a few blocks west of Portola Park and near a U.S. Postal Service branch on Grand Ave.

Police personnel detained 3 adult females and 1 adult male.

The officers also discovered a small child living in these deplorable conditions. Child Social Services was called to help ensure the child’s safety.

The investigation is ongoing to determine everyone’s association with the residence and the illegal cannabis cultivation.

Alleged O.C. drug dealer told to hum in court to avoid hearing about possible murder charges

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued the following statement regarding a Deputy Orange County Public Defender instructing his client to hum in open court in an attempt to avoid hearing the controlled substance advisement being given by a prosecutor warning the drug dealer that if someone dies as a result his drug-related activities he could be charged with murder:

The drug dealer was shackled as he pled guilty to possession for sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine last month.

The handcuffs on his wrists meant putting fingers in his ears wasn’t an option.

So his lawyer – an Orange County Deputy Public Defender – told the drug dealer to start humming. He had been instructed to keep humming until his lawyer gave him the signal to stop.

The deputy public defender didn’t want him to hear what the Orange County District Attorney’s Office had to say. And what my prosecutor had to say could put him on the hook for murder.

In Orange County, fentanyl-related deaths have increased more than 1,000% over the last five years.

Hundreds of drug-related deaths are still pending at the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner to determine if they too are part of the deadly drug toll.

Statewide, fentanyl-related deaths are up more than 1,500 percent since 2016 and last year the number of Americans who died in drug-related deaths topped 100,000 for the first time ever.

2022 is predicted to be even worse. Just three days into the new year – in less than two hours – Anaheim police responded to four drug-related deaths. A fifth person was in critical condition.

Last November, I announced a new policy to charge drug dealers with murder if they are convicted of selling or making drugs with fentanyl that leads to someone’s death after they have been warned of its dangers.

My prosecutors now give an advisement to anyone who agrees to plead guilty to a wide variety of drug-related offenses, including drug sales, possession for sale, and manufacturing and distributing of any controlled substance that if someone dies as a result of their future drug-related activities they can be charged with murder.

Every law enforcement agency in Orange County has agreed to provide the warning at the time of arrest so it can be used in court later.

And when a defendant is convicted or accepts a court offer, we ask the judge to give the admonishment so it is part of the official court record. Some judges do. Some judges refuse.

But we are doing whatever we can to get the message out – and save lives.

These are not overdoses. These dealers are essentially handing a loaded gun to unsuspecting victims knowing that they will probably die, and they don’t care.

Fentanyl is cheap, it’s easy to get and it’s killing people who had no idea they were taking it.

And I’m not going to let these drug dealers get away with murder.

This defendant – and his deputy public defender – don’t want to hear it.

The judge wasn’t having it, telling the public defender in no uncertain terms she was not going to allow humming in her courtroom. It was inappropriate, she scolded.

The judge let the defendant withdraw his guilty plea – and if he’s convicted, we’ll have another opportunity to read him the advisement – and put him on notice that he could be charged with murder.

You can hum all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that drug dealers are killing people by selling them fentanyl and at some point they will face the music.

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and Driver’s License checkpoint tonight

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The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, January 14th, 2022. It will begin at 7:00 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:00 AM.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver is.

The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.

All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Costa Mesa police arrested a Fentanyl dealer who also stole several guns

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Last week, Costa Mesa police officers located an online marketplace advertisement for fentanyl being sold in Costa Mesa. Detectives responded to the advertisement and arranged to meet with the seller. The subject selling the deadly drug also indicated he also had access to guns.

CMPD detectives met with the subject at a motel in the Fullerton area and purchased two ounces of fentanyl. Shortly after the purchase, detectives arrested the man on felony possession for sale of narcotics. He was also found to be in possession of a large amount of cash and a room key to a motel room.

A record check of the arrestee revealed he is on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS), probation with search and seizure terms, and had two outstanding warrants. Detectives confirmed the key was to a room at the motel where they met him and performed a search of the room.

During the search, detectives found additional fentanyl, 20 morphine pills, a digital scale, numerous firearms, a ballistic vest, over 100 rounds of ammunition, and cash. Detectives recovered approximately three pounds of fentanyl. A subsequent investigation into the firearms revealed they were from a storage unit in a neighboring city belonging to a victim who was unaware of the theft.

The Orange Police Dept. is conducting a DUI and Driver’s license checkpoint tonight

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The Orange Police Department is conducting a DUI and Driver’s license checkpoint tonight at 600 W. Katella Avenue between 9:00 pm and 2:15 am.

The checkpoint will be at a light industrial/retail area a block west of a Home Depot.

Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The FBI arrested several members of Anaheim’s Brownwood Gang and seized guns, drugs and cash

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The FBI and several local police departments in Orange County announced a crackdown on a couple of gangs including the Brownwood Gang, which is largely based in Anaheim at a news conference on Wednesday.

Sixteen alleged members of the Brownwood street gang are facing charges including:

  • Felon in Possession of Ammunition
  • Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
  • Possession of Unregistered Firearms and a Destructive Device
  • Possession of Firearms Not Identified by a Serial Number
  • Transporting Unregistered Firearms and a Destructive Device in Interstate Commerce

Ten of those people were arrested and three of them including Jonathan Castaneda, Cassandra Camacho and Cristobal Flores are considered fugitives.

The Anaheim police began investigating the case back in July 2019, alleging that the Brownwood Gang was involved in illegal firearms sales and drug distribution in Orange County.

Brownwood Gang members would travel from Texas to California to trade guns for drugs and then other gang members would illegally sell those guns and also narcotics throughout Southern California.

The FBI bought drugs and guns from several of the charged gang members a number of times between July 2019 and August 2020 using a confidential source. That confidential source made 25 separate purchases of approximately 759 grams of methamphetamine and 23 guns, according to the FBI.

The FBI, DEA and other agencies also seized six rifles and pistols; rifle scopes; AR15 upper receivers; one suppresser; and one pipe bomb as well as drugs, cash and a Sig Sauer handgun and the operation on Wednesday led to the seizure of seven more weapons.

Joining the FBI and DEA at Wednesday’s news conference were members of the Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Santa Ana police departments, along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, all of whom were involved in the task forces and the gang investigations. Also involved were members of the Riverside, Fullerton and Huntington Beach police departments, among other law enforcement agencies.

11 transients were arrested during a cleanup at Santiago Park

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The Santiago Creek area, in Santa Ana’s Santiago Park, got cleaned up again on Wednesday morning, as a large scale, multi-agency initiative involving the City of Santa Ana, the City of Orange, Cal Trans, California Highway Patrol, City Net (a homeless outreach provider contracted by the City), and the County of Orange Mental Health Services Agency worked collaboratively to address homelessness at various locations in that area.

Cal Trans and the City of Santa Ana contract crews cleaned the area of any abandoned property and graffiti. City Net also offered services to 23 individuals experiencing homelessness but only 1 individual accepted shelter.

City Net will continue to connect with individuals experiencing homelessness in the city through ongoing case management support.

Additionally, 11 individuals were arrested for outstanding warrants, trespassing or other SAMC violations. Regrettably such individuals often end up right back on the street in short time.

Learn more about the City of Santa Ana’s work to address homelessness on our data dashboard at https://www.santa-ana.org/HomelessData.

A tip from a hotel employee led to a Fentanyl bust in Orange

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On Jan. 12, before midnight, an employee from a local hotel called the Orange Police Department to report drug paraphernalia left in a vacant room.

Orange graveyard police officers were collecting approximately 13 grams of suspected Fentanyl, a scale, and empty baggies when a male and female, who were previously residing in the room, returned to the area.

The male, 28-year-old Timothy Shenett, was on probation and in possession of controlled medication without a prescription. Shenett was also in possession of property used to commit identity theft and burglary tools.

The female, 31-year-old Melissa Parks, was in possession of an additional 51 grams of fentanyl. Based on the quantity and other mentioned items, Parks was arrested for possession of fentanyl for purposes of sales.

Both subjects were booked at the Orange County Jail.

The Orange Police Department cannot express enough the dangers of fentanyl and the potential it has to kill. They are grateful for the employee who called the Orange Police Department and the opportunity to remove this illegal substance from our streets.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S.1

There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage cancer.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin 100 times stronger than morphine
However, most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which is distributed through illegal drug markets for its heroin-like effect. It is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous.

Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficker and money launderer sentenced to prison

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A drug trafficker and money launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced yesterday to 188 months in prison for supervising the smuggling of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin from Mexico into the United States and the smuggling of drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico.

Roberto Gallegos-Lechuga, 39, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to the United States in March 2020. In July 2021, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit international money laundering. According to court documents, Gallegos-Lechuga coordinated the smuggling of large quantities of illegal narcotics through ports of entry in Southern California. Gallegos-Lechuga also supervised and managed couriers who smuggled hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at a time, from the illegal sale of drugs, from the United States to Mexico as part of the cartel’s ongoing efforts to promote drug trafficking.

“This defendant was part of a violent transnational criminal organization that posed a danger to our communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who export dangerous narcotics to the United States and finance those activities through money laundering. I want to thank the Government of Mexico for extraditing Gallegos-Lechuga to the United States. Through such partnerships, we will continue to work to dismantle dangerous drug cartels.”

“Those who manage drug trafficking and money laundering efforts for the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most violent criminal organization in the world, will continue to face justice in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California. “Stopping the flow of funds to drug cartels and of deadly drugs into the United States continues to be a priority for us and our law enforcement partners.”

“This sentencing is the culmination of years of relentless work by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and its partners targeting the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of HSI San Diego. “This investigation highlights HSI’s dedication to go after both cartel drug trafficking and money laundering activity. The sentencing sends a resounding message to Transnational Criminal Organizations that HSI and our partners are unyielding in our pursuit of justice.”

Seven other defendants have previously pleaded guilty in the case and been sentenced: Omar Ayon-Diaz, Osvaldo Contreras-Arriaga, Cesar Hernandez-Martinez, Gibran Rodriguez-Mejia, Oscar Rodriguez-Guevara, Bianca Acedo Ojeda, and Joel Acedo Ojeda. In addition, approximately 20 other individuals linked to the scheme who served as drug and money couriers and drug stash house operators have entered guilty pleas and been sentenced in related cases.

The investigation was conducted by HSI. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest of Gallegos-Lechuga in Mexico and his extradition to the United States.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Counsel Mark Irish of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Casper of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.

The SAPD seized guns from a DUI suspect and several gangbangers this week

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SAPD Traffic officers conducted a stop of a vehicle that was driving erratically. The driver was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of narcotics and/or alcohol.

The driver was removed from the vehicle and a loaded 9mm firearm was discovered in his waistband.

Officers conducted a search of the vehicle incident to arrest and located 437 grams of Methamphetamine, 63 grams of cocaine, and $660.00 in cash.

SAPD Gang detectives observed several active gang members loitering and upon contacting the subjects they fled on foot into a nearby residence. All subjects were eventually ordered out of the residence and were detained.

Three of the subjects were active gang members on parole and probation for firearm related charges.

SAPD Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence. Detectives located (2) semi-automatic 9mm pistols, (1) .380 cal pistol, narcotics, ammunition, and gang indicia inside the residence.

A police pursuit ended in Santa Ana and the suspect had drugs and replica firearms in the vehicle

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Over the weekend, a Westminster Police Officer attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of Brookhurst/McFadden. The driver failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated – terminating in Santa Ana where the suspect collided into a curb and disabled their vehicle.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Officers located replica firearms and drugs inside the vehicle. The driver was arrested for felony evading and other charges, and was later booked at Orange County Jail.

The Fountain Valley Police Department thanked the Santa Ana Police Department, and Huntington Beach Police Departments for their assistance.

A vehicle stop in Westminster led to a big drug bust

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Over the Christmas holiday, Westminster police officers conducted a car stop for CVC violations in the area of Westminster Blvd and Newland St.

Officers searched the vehicle and located over 50 grams of crack cocaine, 15 grams of methamphetamine, numerous MDMA pills, and other items related to drug sales.

The driver was arrested for drug sales/other charges and later transported to Orange County Jail.

Court agrees with the OCDA that DUI defendants are not eligible for diversion

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – In a published opinion issued Tuesday, the District Court of Appeal agreed with Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer that driving under the influence (DUI) defendants are not eligible for misdemeanor diversion under newly enacted Penal Code section 1001.95 because existing law already specifically prohibits granting diversion to DUI defendants, pursuant to Vehicle Code section 23640.

“Orange County is facing a crisis when it comes to drivers driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both. Driving under the influence of drugs rose more than 40 percent and felony driving under the influence filings increased 25 percent during the pandemic. Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after taking drugs or drinking has the potential of killing someone. That someone could be your husband or wife, your father or mother or even your child,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Prosecutors must be able to hold drunk and drugged drivers accountable – to prevent first-time offenders from becoming repeat offenders – and to be able to charge repeat offenders with murder if they get behind the wheel impaired and they kill someone. Once diversion is completed, it’s as if the crime never happened – and those prior convictions wash out despite the fact that state law allows prior DUIs to be pled and proven for up to 10 years. They couldn’t be used as a prior – and the families whose lives were shattered by an impaired driver would not get the justice they deserve. This opinion not only corrects the reckless and misguided behavior of the state Legislature and Governor Newsom, it will undoubtedly save innocent lives.”

This is the first published opinion by the Court of Appeal on the issue in the state and clarifies the limits of Penal Code section 1001.95, which gave judges broad discretion to grant diversion to misdemeanor defendants with very few exceptions. Defendants charged with driving under the influence were not specifically prohibited from a grant of diversion under the new law.

For that reason, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office along with the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) fought vigorously to defeat AB 3234 (Ting). Despite those efforts, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law, which went into effect as Penal Code section 1001.95 on January 1, 2021.

In his September 30, 2020 signing statement for AB 3234, Governor Newsom wrote that he was concerned that DUIs were not excluded from diversion eligibility by the new law and promised to expeditiously remedy the issue in the next Legislative session.

To date, it has not been remedied by the Legislature.

Misdemeanor DUI defendants immediately began filing petitions for diversion under the new law. Among those was Nancy Grassi, who was charged by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office with driving under the influence of drugs in 2019.

In February 2021, Grassi filed a motion for misdemeanor diversion under the new misdemeanor diversion law. Her request was denied after Orange County prosecutors argued Vehicle Code section 23640, which was enacted in 1998, already prohibits driving under the influence defendants from receiving diversion. Grassi sought review in the Court of Appeal.

Presiding Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, wrote the unanimous published opinion in Grassi v. The Superior Court of Orange County, affirming that driving under the influence defendants are not eligible for court-initiated misdemeanor diversion pursuant to Penal Code section 1001.95 because Vehicle Code section 23640’s specific language – which prohibits diversion for any DUI defendant under any circumstances – still applies.

As a result, the current state of the law in California is that DUI defendants are categorically ineligible for diversion.

A copy of the published DCA opinion in Grassi v. The Superior Court of Orange County can be found here: https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/G060362.PDF

Deputy District Attorney George Turner of the Writs & Appeals Unit argued this case.