In a strike against illegal firearms and gang activity, Ventura County Sheriffs have arrested two suspects, Kevin and Juan Carlos Ramos, after executing a search warrant in Oxnard, according to a news release distributed by Senior Deputy Steve Krupnik. The operation, carried out early Wednesday morning, yielded a loaded unregistered firearm, ammunition, and gun parts, leading to charges that include unlawful transfer of a firearm and participation in a criminal street gang.
The arrests followed a trail that began with Kevin Ramos's June booking for graffiti vandalism—acts he allegedly committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang. The information gathered during that arrest eventually pointed authorities towards the firearms offenses during the December raid, occurring at the 1600 block of California Street and the 200 block of Lupita Street. Both Kevin, 19, and Juan Carlos, 24, were taken into custody, with the latter facing charges for possession of a firearm.
Collaborative efforts by the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit, along with the Camarillo Directed Enforcement Unit, the Oxnard Police Violent Crimes Unit, and the Oxnard Police SWAT, underlined the extensive investigative work and community collaboration leading to the arrests.
Currently, the suspects are held at the Ventura County Main Jail awaiting trial, with Kevin Ramos facing multiple charges, including a violation of PC 27545 for the unlawful transfer of a firearm and PC 186.22(b) for gang participation, and Juan Carlos Ramos charged with a violation of PC 29815(a).
The Sheriff's Office encourages the public to remain engaged in crime-fighting efforts by following their activities on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and by signing up for Nixle alerts. The Ventura County Crime Stoppers are offering up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests in such cases, promising anonymity for those who wish to help anonymously.
