Oxnard police arrest suspected gang members in city-wide raid
The Oxnard Police Department arrested seven suspected gang members while serving early morning search warrants at 17 locations across the city and Port Hueneme.
The raids began at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
150 law enforcement personnel from the Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Port Hueneme Police Department, and the Ventura County Probation Department took part in the operation.
The search warrants were related to a series of violent crimes, including robberies, shootings and stabbings, committed by members of an Oxnard criminal street gang over a year-long period.
13 of the locations were in the East Districts of Oxnard with several search warrants served in the Southwinds Neighborhood. The other four locations were in Port Hueneme.
Law enforcement seized a “significant amount” of gang paraphernalia as part of the raids.
Five adults and two juveniles were arrested during the operation for outstanding warrants, probation violations and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.
They are 18-year-old Mark Hernandez, 18-year-old Gabriel Guillen, 19-year-old Cristobal Gonzalez and 40-year-old Jose Villafan Cruz of Oxnard and 32-year-old Antonio Soto of Port Hueneme. Two juveniles are from Oxnard and Port Hueneme.
The Oxnard Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit works to reduce gang crimes and gun violence in Oxnard. Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at 805-385-7600, or online using the Oxnard Police Department’s website.
