15 arrested in major heroin bust, $100,000 in drugs seized
Network with ties to Mexican drug cartels operated out of Paso Robles and all around SLO County – Police serve 13 search warrants simultaneously
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday the results of a five-month investigation into a major narcotics operation dealing with trafficking and sales of large amounts of heroin in the county.
Marco Villanueva was arrested in King City.
The Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit, consisting of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit and Gang Task Force coordinated the operation with assistance from the San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande and Atascadero Police Departments, County Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office, CHP, along with federal partners U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI and DEA.
This drug trafficking operation had a network that operated out of Paso Robles, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo and the Five Cities area. This operation had direct ties to Mexican drug cartels, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office worked over 1,500 hours on this case to interdict large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine being sold in the county and to arrest those responsible.
“Prior to today, we have seized approximately 2 1/4 pounds of heroin and one ounce of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $100,000,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Cipolla in a statement released Wednesday.
At approximately 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, 13 search warrants were served at various locations in San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Riverside counties.
During the investigation, an additional quantity of suspected black tar heroin and heroin in pill form were seized. The Sheriff’s Office is in the process of documenting and tabulating the quantity of narcotics seized. Drugs, guns, and money were also confiscated. In addition a stolen gun and stolen ATV and trailer were recovered.
The following people were arrested
1. Aldo De Martino Morales, 22, Atascadero, Several warrants for possession, transportation and sales of narcotics/controlled substance.
2. Adrian De Martino Morales, 24, San Luis Obispo, Several warrants for possession, transportation and sales of narcotics/controlled substance.
3. Jose Jaime Figueroa, 29, Oceano, Several warrants for possession, transportation and sales of narcotics/controlled substance.
4. Colin Matthew Kennedy, 28, Pismo Beach, Several warrants for possession, transportation and sales of narcotics/controlled substance.
5. Melissa Ann Clare, 35, San Luis Obispo, Several warrants for possession, transportation and sales of narcotics/controlled substance.
6. Ismael Quintero, 24, Pismo Beach, Warrant for revocation of probation rearrest
7. Ryan Oray Krebs, 37, Arroyo Grande, Several warrants for possession, transportation and sales of narcotics/controlled substance.
8. Bryan Scott Simpson, 29, San Luis Obispo, Warrant for transportation and sales of controlled substance. Warrant for revocation of probation rearrest.
9. Francisco Enrique Morales, 22, San Luis Obispo, Warrant for failure to appear.
10. Daniel Quintero Figueroa, 23, Pismo Beach, Possession of marijuana for sale.
11. Marco Antonio Villanueva 47, King City, Conspiracy to transport and sales of heroin and methamphetamine
12. Eric Perez, 36, Perris, Conspiracy to transport and sales of heroin, money laundering.
13. Roman Paolo Perez, 26, Moreno Valley, Conspiracy to transport and sales of heroin, money laundering
14. Armando Romero Gonzalez, 23, Riverside, Conspiracy to transport and sales of heroin.
15. Esmeralda Ramos, 25, Riverside, Conspiracy to transport and sales of heroin, money laundering
The Sheriff’s Office says it is aware of the increasing availability, transportation and sales of heroin in the nation, state and at the local level. This case represents an organized and collaborative approach to prevent those drugs from being sold in our county and to make sure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.
Source: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office – More details and photos to follow. Look for updates.
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