A federal grand jury in Sacramento has indicted four Lodi men on charges of conspiring to traffic firearms tied to the Varrio Mojado Sureños gang, capping a months-long undercover operation that seized 37 firearms, machine gun conversion devices, ghost guns, and hard drugs across San Joaquin County. The four men were arrested Wednesday morning and are set to make their initial court appearances Thursday in Sacramento federal court.
The case grew out of Operation Sparkplug, a joint federal, state and local investigation that began in February 2026 and focused on criminal activity contributing to rising violence in Stockton and Lodi, according to Action News Now. The Justice Department described it as a coordinated federal, state and local operation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Named in the indictment are 24-year-old Angelo Contreras, 19-year-old Felix Saenz, 25-year-old Luke Phillips, and 19-year-old Victor Ramos-Ayala, all Lodi residents. Prosecutors say the four conspired to sell more than 37 firearms through 14 controlled purchases, with Contreras selling the first eight firearms and Ramos-Ayala arranging five additional sales, the outlet reports.
What Investigators Recovered
Undercover purchases, traffic stops and search warrants led law enforcement to recover illegal weapons and narcotics and identify individuals responsible for distributing them, per the same account. In total, agents seized 37 firearms, two privately manufactured ghost guns, three machine gun conversion devices, one suppressor, two ounces of cocaine, and one pound of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said illegal firearms trafficking “fuels violence in our communities, and so dismantling these trafficking networks remains one of our highest priorities,” the report states. Alex Buenaventura also spoke about alleged gang activity, according to the article.
Federal investigators say Varrio Mojado Sureños members engaged in illegal firearms and drug sales, shootings and robberies operating around San Joaquin County, Sacramento County and the Bay Area, per the Department of Justice. The gang operates as an Upstate Sureño set based in Lodi and Stockton and is aligned with the Southern California-based Mexican Mafia prison gang; Sureño identity is associated with the number 13 and blue colors, according to background compiled by Fandom WikiLists.
Charges Vary by Defendant
The indictment charges Contreras with unlawful dealing in firearms, four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a machine gun. Saenz faces charges of unlawful dealing in firearms, possession of a machine gun, and distribution of methamphetamine, while Phillips is charged with unlawful dealing in firearms, four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of distribution of cocaine, per Action News Now's reporting.
Federal defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiring to unlawfully deal firearms, the outlet notes. Beyond that conspiracy count, standalone firearm-trafficking and straw-purchasing offenses carry maximum sentences of up to 15 years; the 25-year enhancement applies to straw purchasing when the firearm is known or reasonably believed to be used in a crime of violence, according to the Jayne Law Group, P.C. Federal law also prohibits possessing a machine gun, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, per the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
State Cases Still Pending
Several cases uncovered during Operation Sparkplug are being prosecuted separately by the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office and remain ongoing, including allegations of attempted carjacking, possession of illegal firearms and high-speed pursuits, the article states.
Participating agencies in the operation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Stockton Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Lodi Police Department, Ripon Police Department, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. The charges remain allegations at this stage.
A Pattern of Firearms Busts in San Joaquin County
The indictments follow a string of large-scale weapons seizures across the county. San Joaquin County law enforcement recovered more than 141 firearms in a November 2024 Stockton raid, and just weeks ago, a former dealer was arrested after investigators found roughly 440 guns, including two machine guns and four suppressors.
