Nature of Incident: Three Suspects Arrested with 13,000 Pills and 13 Guns
Report Number: 15-6521
Location: Oxnard, CA
Date & Time: March 20, 2015 – March 24, 2015
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit, Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Martin Ipatzi Oxnard 22
(S) Erica Barboza Oxnard 22
(S) Alfredo Leon Oxnard 22
Narrative:
Synopsis: Between March 20, 2015 and March 24, 2015, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit (SGU) and Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) concluded an investigation with the arrest of three individuals suspected of trafficking in prescription medication and guns.
Investigation: At the beginning of 2015, the PCU received an anonymous tip regarding Alfredo Leon selling prescription medication in the County of Ventura. Detectives identified Leon and several of his associates. The Sheriff’s Gang Unit arrested one of his associates, Martin Ipatzi, on 3-20-15. Ipatzi was in possession of approximately 700 pills of hydrocodone and clonazepam. Three handguns were also seized during his initial arrest.
Detectives from the PCU followed up this arrest with several search warrants at Ipatzi’s apartment, a residence where he kept property, and two storage lockers. All locations were in the city of Oxnard. Over 12,300 pills including hydrocodone and clonazepam were seized along with 7 handguns and a rifle. Ipatzi’s girlfriend, Erica Barboza, was also arrested in the investigation. One of the storage lockers was in her name and investigators learned she destroyed evidence in this case after Ipatzi was arrested.
Detectives then served a search warrant at Leon’s residence in the city of Oxnard. He was arrested for conspiracy to sell Alprazolam and Hydrocodone. Two guns were seized from his residence as well. In total, over 13,000 pills and 13 guns were seized in this investigation.
All individuals were booked into the Ventura County Jail for a variety of drug and weapons violations. Court dates are pending. This investigation is continuing and additional arrests are anticipated.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office East County Street Team and Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail assisted on the investigation.
The Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit is a task force comprised of members from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Simi Valley Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation, and the California Highway Patrol. Their primary mission is combatting the transfer of legal prescription medication to the illegal market. In addition, the task force works to identify and stop new trends of abuse among the younger population and investigates overdose deaths due to both prescription medication and illicit drug use. Anyone with information regarding these topics is encouraged to contact the Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit at (805) 383-8700 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Prepared by: Sergeant Victor Fazio
News Release Date: March 25, 2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Captain John Reilly (805) 947 6782
Approved by: Captain Curt Rothschiller
