Santa Paula – A major illegal narcotics operation apparently came to a screeching halt on March 25th when Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Stewart Wesley Reid, 53, Michael Ricketts, 54, Brenda Felix, 20, and Cleofas Leon, 24, pursuant to a protracted investigation into their activities throughout Ventura County in recent months.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Mike Horne, Reid—a Ventura County resident well known to law enforcement—had been under surveillance for several months pursuant to information developed by VCSD Narcotics Bureau investigators indicating a high level of activity involving the sale of methamphetamine and heroin.
When, in the course of that surveillance which included stakeouts of Reid’s residence, “a vehicle was seen to arrive and detectives observed what appeared to be a narcotics transaction” right before their very eyes, detectives followed the car away from the home and then conducted a traffic stop of the car. Inside were Felix and Leon, who reported their homes as being in Riverside County. But far more than their place of domicile interested the detectives, for what truly caught their eye was nearly $30,000 in cash inside the vehicle.
A search of Reid’s residence then ensued under terms of his probationary status. Inside the home were both Reid and Ricketts…along with 6 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.5 pounds of heroin, and nearly $200,000 in cash. Apparently unable to convince detectives that they had no knowledge of or use for any of those items, Reid and Ricketts were arrested on the scene and booked into Ventura County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine and heroin for sale, as well as upon assorted felony warrants. As characterized by Horne, “Reid was responsible for the sale of significant quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in several Ventura County communities.”
Felix and Leon were not allowed to make the drive back to Riverside, but were arrested and charged with transportation of methamphetamine and heroin.
All four currently reside in Ventura County Jail with bail set at $500,000 each.
Read more:
EdHat: Narcotics arrests
KCLU: Ventura man among 4 arrested in drug dealing operation
