SBRNET Dismantles Gun and Drug Trafficking Orginization

Santa Barbara - October 9th, 2008

The Santa Barbara Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team has dismantled a firearm, methamphetamine and cocaine drug trafficking organization after a yearlong investigation.  The organization was found to be distributing assault rifles, methamphetamine and cocaine between Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties.

Several agencies worked together during this investigation including the Department of Homeland Security/ US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE,) Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF,) the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Barbara Police Department and the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.

During the early morning hours on 7-25-08, seven search warrants were served at various residences within the City of Santa Barbara resulting in the arrest of 26 people.  Among those arrested were Dionisio Altamirano Ramirez and Abner “Daniel” Montano and five of the primary suspects involved with the Santa Barbara portion of the drug trafficking organization led by Dionisio Ramirez, a resident in the 300 block of San Roque Rd.  All suspects were booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail facing weapons violations and the following charges: 

Dionisio Altamirano Ramirez of Santa Barbara:  182 PC- Conspiracy, 11379 H&S- Transportation of Methamphetamine, 11378 H&S- Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale, 11352 H&S- Transportation of Cocaine and 11351 H&S- Possession of Cocaine for Sale.

Abner “Daniel” Montano of Santa Barbara:  11351 H&S- Possession of Cocaine for Sale, 11378 H&S- Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale, 273a(a) PC- Child Endangerment, 11370.1 H&S- Possession of Controlled Substance While Armed and 472 PC- Forgery of Official Seal.

Juan Carlos Ramirez of Santa Barbara:  182 PC- Conspiracy, 11379 H&S- Transportation of Methamphetamine and 11352 H&S- Transportation of Cocaine.

Fernando Lobato Rizo of Santa Barbara:  182 PC- Conspiracy and 11352 H&S- Transportation of Cocaine.

Agustin Martinez Anorve of Santa Barbara:  182 PC- Conspiracy, 11378 H&S- Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale, 11352 H&S- Transportation of Cocaine.

Juan Angel Salas of Santa Barbara:  182 PC- Conspiracy, 11352 H&S- Transportation of Cocaine.

Francisco Figueroa Hernandez of Santa Barbara:  182 PC- Conspiracy, 11378 H&S- Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale, 11352 H&S- Transportation of Cocaine and 11351 H&S- Possession of Cocaine for Sale.

As part of the continuing investigation, four search warrants were served at residences in North Hollywood, Pacoima and Long Beach, CA on 10-2-08, resulting in the discovery of two firearms, methamphetamine for sale and a clandestine methamphetamine manufacturing lab.  The two primary targets responsible for supplying Dionisio Ramirez with cocaine and methamphetamine, Rodolfo Yanez Velasquez and Jose Luis Covarrubias, were take into custody and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail with $250,000.00 bail for the charges of 182 PC- Conspiracy, 11379 H&S- Sales of Methamphetamine and 11352 H&S- Sales of Cocaine.

Five suspects were taken into custody at the methamphetamine lab located in the 200 block of E. 68th Way Long Beach, CA.  Jose Renteria, Angel Melquiades, Rodolfo Garcia, Guillermina Mendoza and Maria Ramirez were all booked into the Los Angeles County Jail with $500,000.00 bail and face charges of 11379.6 H&S- Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, 11378 H&S- Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale and 273a(a) PC- Child Endangerment.  Los Angeles County Child Protective Services took into protective custody a child under the age of ten, whom was living at the clandestine lab site.

As a result of this investigation, the methamphetamine lab was dismantled and more than $61,000.00 in cash was seized through asset forfeiture. Law enforcement also seized two fully automatic assault rifles, two shotguns, three handguns, over two kilos of cocaine and over one lb. of methamphetamine with a total street value of approximately $200,000.

For further information regarding this investigation, please contact SBRNET Special Agent Supervisor Ken Bambrick at (805) 686-2555.

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Jose Luis Covarrubias

 Juan Angel Salas

   Agustin Martinez Anorve

Francisco Figueroa Hernandez