Sheriff’s office arrests 10, seizes cocaine, firearms and cash in investigation
– The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office arrested 10 people Sept. 10 and 11 on outstanding arrest warrants as part of an investigation into the sale of controlled substances that benefited the Nipomo 13 criminal street gang, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office and its Special Enforcement Detail, with assistance from several other law enforcement agencies, made the arrests. The arrests resulted from an investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office Gang Task Force.
The investigation focused on the sale of controlled substances that benefited the Nipomo 13 criminal street gang, which is based in San Luis Obispo County.
The investigation also uncovered information regarding a conspiracy to sell controlled substances from two businesses: Munchiez 805 restaurant in rural Arroyo Grande and Head Liners barbershop in Nipomo.
During the investigation, Gang Task Force detectives authored numerous search warrants that resulted in the seizure of 2.2 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of approximately $220,000; 25 firearms; $60,426 in cash; and evidence related to drug sales and gang activity.
Following the seizures, detectives continued the investigation by identifying co-conspirators, conducting interviews, reviewing social media and cell phone evidence, analyzing surveillance video, and completing additional investigative reports.
The people arrested were Rolando Belmontez, 41, of Santa Maria, on suspicion of conspiracy to sell cocaine with a gang enhancement; Robert Ramirez, 43, of Nipomo, on suspicion of conspiracy to sell cocaine with a gang enhancement; and Josef Ramirez, 27, of Nipomo, on suspicion of conspiracy to sell cocaine with a gang enhancement.
Carlos Jovani Torres, 36, of Portland, Oregon; Carlos Antonio Torres, 67, of Santa Maria; Emmanuel SilvaSerna, 33, of Nipomo; Efren Rodriguez, 31, of Nipomo; Alonzo QuintanaCastillo, 33, of Nipomo; Joseph Silva, 31, of Orcutt; and Esteban CarrilloGomez, 31, of Grover Beach, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to possess cocaine for sale with a weight enhancement involving more than 1 kilogram.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office thanked the agencies that assisted with the arrests, including the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, San Luis Obispo Regional SWAT Team, Santa Maria Police Department, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and Portland Police Bureau.
Gang Task Force detectives have also requested additional charges against some of the people listed based on information developed during the investigation.
The requested additional charges include felony child endangerment, sales of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of assault weapons, maintaining a location for the sale and use of a controlled substance, and active participation in a criminal street gang.
