Six UCSC Students Arrested in MDMA Drug Sales Ring

The Santa Cruz Police Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) in cooperation with Homeland Security Investigations and the US Postal Inspection Service-San Jose Team has dismantled an organized drug sales ring operated by University of California, Santa Cruz students. The arrestees were members of the affiliated Lambda Phi Epsilon Fraternity and alpha Kappa Delta Phi Sorority. SCPD NET worked alongside agents from Homeland Security Investigations and US Postal Service Inspectors-San Jose Team, to develop case information resulting in the arrest of six individuals responsible for the drug sales.

Mariah Dremel, age 21

Mariah Dremel - Conspiracy and Possession of Controlled Substance for Sale

Benny Liu, age 21

Benny Liu - Conspiracy and Possession of Controlled Substance for Sale

Cesar Casil, age 21

Cesar Casil - Conspiracy and Possession of Controlled Substance for Sale

Nathan Tieu, age 21

Nathan Tieu - Charges: Conspiracy and Possession of Controlled Substance for Sale

Hoai Nguyen, age 21

 

Hoai Nguyen - Charges: Possession of Controlled Substance

Cecilia Le, age 21

Ceilia Le - Charges:Possession of Controlled Substance

Over the past few weeks, the Santa Cruz Police Department became aware of several packages of MDMA tablets being shipped through the US Postal Service. The packages were shipped from overseas and were bound for three addresses in the city of Santa Cruz. The investigation revealed that the illegal drug MDMA known by its street names as Ecstasy, or Molly was being imported and shipped to a number of students at Lambda Phi Epsilon Fraternity and alpha Kappa Delta Phi Sorority members.

On Friday, March 4, 2016, search warrants were served at three residences after shipments of drugs were delivered. Members of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, US Drug Enforcement Administration, US Postal Service Inspectors and Homeland Security Investigations assisted in the search warrants. More than $100,000 in MDMA was seized. Additionally, SCPD learned of another large shipment that was intercepted by Homeland Security on Friday. The second shipment was destined to the same group.

The Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team executed search warrants at residences in the 400 block of Locust Street, 200 block of Castillion Terrace, and 100 block of Peach Terrace after the delivery of the MDMA laden packages. A total of 4.1 pounds or about 5000 tablets of MDMA were seized. The tablets have a street value of over $100,000.

MDMA is widely known as “ecstasy” when found in a tablet form and is a controlled substance which is consumed for its euphoric effects. According to the World Health Organization, the use of MDMA is done in a variety of contexts and is commonly associated with dance parties, raves, and electronic dance music.

The proliferation of drugs like MDMA is a serious concern for the Santa Cruz area. The drug alters perception and awareness, as well as increasing emotions of trust and lowering inhibitions oftentimes resulting in sexual exploitation. This dangerous combination undermines the efforts of affirmative consent work undertaken by many college campuses. The drug can have other adverse health effects such as elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and inability to regulate body temperature.

Please continue to contact SCPD when suspicious activity occurs in your neighborhood. 

The Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) is specialized unit. NET works as a team to focus on mid to long-term issues works focus is on enforcement strategies in order to suppress crimes of violence, gangs and drugs throughout the City of Santa Cruz.

Four arrested during joint narcotics sting operation.

On Friday February 19th, between 1:30pm and 3:15pm, the Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team and Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team conducted a narcotics sting operation in the City of Santa Cruz. The joint operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects for conspiracy and sales of narcotics to undercover officers. The suspects sold methamphetamine and heroin to undercover officers. The arrests were made in the areas of San Lorenzo Park and the east river levee of the San Lorenzo River near Riverside Ave.

The suspects arrested have been identified as:

Rafael Saldana - 46 years old, Transient, Santa Cruz

Rafael Saldana  was arrested for (1) Sales of Heroin 11351H&S, (2) Conspiracy to Commit Crime 182 PC 

Juan Gonzalez, - 41 years old, Transient, Santa Cruz

Juan Gonzalez was arrested for (1) Sales of Heroin 11351H&S, (2) Conspiracy to Commit Crime 182 PC

Benjamin Kirkley - 59 years old, Transient, Santa Cruz

Benjamin Kirkley was arrested for (1) Sales of Methamphetamine 11378H&S, (2) Conspiracy to Commit Crime 182PC

John Pitts - 37 years old, Transient, Santa Cruz

John Pitts was arrested for Arrested for (1) Sales of Methamphetamine 11378H&S, (2) Conspiracy to Commit Crime 182PC
  
This successful drug arrest is due to the combined work of the Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team.

Please continue to contact SCPD when suspicious activity occurs in your neighborhood. 

The Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) is specialized unit. NET works as a team to focus on mid to long-term issues works focus is on enforcement strategies in order to suppress crimes of violence, gangs and drugs throughout the City of Santa Cruz.

3 Arrested in Drug Ops on Ocean Street

The Santa Cruz Police Department’s created a specialized unit called NET (Neighborhood Enforcement Team) whose primary focus is the suppression of crimes of violence, gangs and drugs throughout the City of Santa Cruz.

On 10/05/2015, SCPD’s Neighborhood Enforcement Team served three search warrants related to an investigation into narcotics sales and stolen property at an apartment complex on the 300 block of Ocean Street. Three residents were arrested during the service of the search warrants.

Jose Rodriquez-Becerra, 58, was arrested for possession and methamphetamine for sale.

Misael Mijia, 23, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and heroin for sale and Child Endangerment.

Inocensio Maldonado, 32, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine for sale and Child Endangerment. 

This was a successful drug arrest operation. Bindles of Meth and heroin was found packaged for sale along with a variety of stolen property.

The Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team has plans to continue with a variety of enforcement strategies to address problems in our neighborhoods. 

Please continue to contact SCPD when suspicious activity occurs in your neighborhood.
The Santa Cruz Police Department (831) 420-5820.  Anonymous tips can be sent through our Tip Line (831) 420-5995 or Online Crime Tip Form -http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/…/leave-a…/report-a-crime-tip

Six Arrested in Drug Sales Sting

It is so good to have the staffing to bring back our Neighborhood Enforcement Team.  The team is making an impact and paying dividends with their hard work! 

On Friday last week our team was back at it.  This time conducting a drug sales sting.   Their efforts resulted in the arrest of six people for selling methamphetamine to undercover officers. 

Here is what we did:

Posing as buyers, our officers focused on the Harvey West area and the top of Ocean Street.  Officers purchased various quantities of methamphetamine from street level sellers in these areas.  Sometime after the deal was done, arrest teams swooped in and arrested the sellers.   

Here are the arrestees:


Kevin Jones, 42 years – County resident, a felony probationer.  Mr Jones sold us methamphetamine at Harvey West Park

Kathryn Gibbons, 32 years – Transient, a state parolee and felony probationer.  Ms. Gibbons sold us methamphetamine at Grant Street Park

Paul Ensminger, 49 years – County resident.  Mr. Ensminger both conspired and sold us an amount of methamphetamine in the area of the 200blk of Coral Street

Anthony Rodriguez, 52 years – Santa Cruz resident.  Mr. Rodriguez both conspired and sold an amount of methamphetamine in the area of the 200blk of Coral Street

John Burke, 55 years – Santa Cruz resident.  Mr. Burke both conspired and sold an amount of methamphetamine at Harvey West Park

James Beck, 45 years – Santa Cruz resident, a felony probationer, both conspired and sold an amount of methamphetamine at Harvey West Park

Note to Drug Sellers........Our Neighborhood Enforcement Team will be back!!!