Nature of Incident: Investigators Arrest Suspects for Sales and Distribution of Ecstasy and Bath Salts
Report Number: 12-28169
Location: Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks
Date: December 26, 2013
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Lieberman, Aaron Simi Valley 23
(S) Brand, Samantha Simi Valley 22
Narrative:
The Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit completed a several month long investigation into the sales of Ecstasy and Bath Salts in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties with the arrest of Aaron Lieberman and Samantha Brand (see photos of suspects and evidence seized at http://tinyurl.com/methylone).
The main drug involved in this investigation was Methylone. Methylone is an illicit drug that is illegal to possess or sell in the State of California pursuant to the Health and Safety Code. Methylone is an ecstasy type drug which has been sold as both ecstasy and bath salts in the past. Methylone is abused for its stimulant and hallucinogenic affects. It is typically ingested by teenagers and young adults and is popular in the rave culture. It is known locally as “moon rocks” and “sassafras.” It resembles raw brown sugar in appearance and is typically orally ingested in capsule form. A typical dose is .1 - .2 grams.
The pharmaceutical unit began investigating the use and sales of Methylone after information was received that there was a large amount of it being sold in eastern Ventura County and western Los Angeles County. Methylone also came to the attention of law enforcement when Alejandro Pope was arrested earlier this year for killing his back seat passenger during a driving while drugged collision. Pope was found to have Methylone, among other drugs, in his system.
The pharmaceutical unit, through its investigation, identified Aaron Lieberman as the ultimate source of supply of most, if not all, Methylone for eastern Ventura and western Los Angeles Counties. The case concluded with the arrest of Lieberman when he was witnessed selling a pound and a half of Methylone in Simi Valley on December 26. Lieberman had also been witnessed selling the drug on other occasions in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.
Lieberman’s residences were searched in the 900 block of Quimisa Drive, in Simi Valley and 3500 block of Mapleknoll Place, in Thousand Oaks pursuant to his probation terms for a prior drug related conviction. Lieberman’s girlfriend, Samantha Brand, was present at the Quimisa address and was arrested for possession for sale of Methylone. Several kilograms of Methylone, over $40,000 in cash, 2 pill presses, and a large amount of cutting agents, steroids, and suspected LSD were also recovered. Additionally, glass ware and other paraphernalia were seized indicating past production of bath salts and ecstasy type drugs. In total, the street of value of drugs seized from Lieberman was over $400,000.
The investigation revealed Lieberman and Brand were importing chemicals and finished product from China to produce and resell these drugs. The investigation did not reveal any domestic source of supply for Lieberman, suggesting he was the head of Methylone sales for the area.
The Thousand Oaks Police Department Special Enforcement Unit, Thousand Oaks Police Bike Patrol Team, and members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office West County Street Narcotics Team provided significant assistance in the investigation.
Lieberman was booked into the Ventura County Main Jail for multiple narcotics violations including several counts of drug sales. His bail is currently set at $350,000. Brand was booked and subsequently secured bail. Both have pending court dates.
The Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit is comprised of members of law enforcement from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Simi Valley Police Department, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. The main mission of the unit is to stem the flow of prescription medication to the illegal market. A secondary, and related, mission is identifying and stopping new trends of non-traditional drug sales that target teenagers and young adults in Ventura County.
Prepared by: Ventura County Sheriff’s Sergeant Victor Fazio
Media Release Date: December 27, 2013
Follow-Up Contact: Ventura County Assistant Sheriff Gary Pentis
(805) 947-8074
Approved by: Ventura County Sheriff’s Captain Curt Rothschiller
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