Photo: Armen Kalents
October 13, 2021 – Ventura County, Ca.
When “vaping” became the rage among teens who believed they were slyly avoiding the downsides and prohibitions of underage cigarette smoking, it didn’t take Federal, State, and local legislative bodies long to take notice. Once medical authorities determined that vaping was no less deleterious and habit-forming than smoking, the “fun” came to and end and laws were quickly implemented proscribing their use by and sales to those under the age of 18.
That reality was not likely to have missed the notice of 20-year-old Van Nuys, Ca. resident Armen Kalents who was arrested on October 8, 2021 and charged with selling narcotics and nicotine vape pens to juveniles in the Thousand Oaks area.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Brian Baker, a month earlier Kalents was identified as “the owner of the social media account involved in illegal narcotic sales,” which inspired an investigation in Kalents’ social media usage history.
Using “a variety of investigative resources,” deputies attached to the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit located Kalents on October 8th and found him to be in possession of “numerous vaping cartridges, marijuana gummies, and various nicotine products,” all indicative of his active involvement in the marketing of controlled substances to underage users.
Kalents was transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on charges of selling illegal narcotics to a minor, possession of marijuana for sale, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, with his bail set at $50,000.
Photo: Courtesy Thousand Oaks Patrol
