Photo: Frank Rivera and Gabriel Moreno
Ventura County – As in most things in life, when engaging with the judicial system, one’s reputation can have a meaningful impact on how people treat you.
Case in point: the January 9th arrests of 37-year-old Frank Rivera and 29-year-old Gabriel Moreno, both residents of the City of Ventura. According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Detective Ernan Jauregui, Mr. Rivera— a known gang member —had been a subject of growing interest in the eyes of a joint task force comprised of the FBI, the VCSD Gang Unit, and the VCSD Special Crimes Unit for a period of two months.
No doubt Rivera’s history of previous felony convictions with respect to firearms and narcotics violations inspired an investigation in Rivera’s most recent activities and to the issuance of search warrants targeting his residence and vehicle.
Those warrants were served late in the afternoon of January 9th, at which time contact was made with Rivera and Moreno, as well as with an unidentified female.
The search of Rivera’s residence lead to the discovery of approximately 1,711 grams of methamphetamine, three unregistered firearms, a bulletproof vest, and cash suspected to be the proceeds from illegal narcotic sales.
Both Rivera and Moreno were taken into custody and transported to Ventura County Jail. Moreno was charged with possession for sale of a controlled substance, unlawful transfer of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. He was subsequently released on a $55,000 bond.
For his part, Rivera remains in custody, booked on Moreno’s charges as well as additional counts of possession of an undetectable firearm and possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, with his bail reportedly set at $3,000,000.
Photos: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking
