ATF weapons trafficking sting nets Watsonville, Salinas arrests
By JESSICA YORK | jyork@santacruzsentinel.com | Santa Cruz Sentinel
PUBLISHED: November 8, 2021 at 4:27 a.m. | UPDATED: November 8, 2021 at 4:28 a.m.
WATSONVILLE — Local residents were among nine men caught up in the net of a federal weapons-trafficking operation this week.
U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents, in partnership with the Watsonville Police Department on Thursday, arrested Ramon Castillo, 25, and Carlos Manuel Ruiz-Montanez, 20, both of Watsonville, on illegal firearms-related charges. Ruiz-Montanez is being held on suspicion of aiding and abetting the illegal possession and transfer of machine guns and dealing firearms without a license, while Castillo faces a charge of illegal possession and transfer of machine guns.
During the operation, which spanned primarily Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, some 50 firearms, including AR-type rifles, short-barrel rifles, shotguns, handguns, ghost guns, a machine gun and more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition were seized, according to a media release from the Northern District’s U.S. Attorney’s Office. According to affidavits filed Monday, undercover ATF operatives allegedly purchased at least 35 firearms, including machine guns, numerous rounds of ammunition and quantities of methamphetamine from the defendants from February 2020 to September 2021.
Agents also purchased eight machine gun conversion devices called “switches” or “sears” from the defendants. The devices illegally allow semi-automatic firearms to function as fully automatic weapons.
“We had our special investigations unit out there helping, as well as detectives and officers,” said Watsonville Police Department spokesperson Michelle Pulido. “Of course, when federal officers or any other agencies come and ask for our help, we’re always more than willing to help and ensure that we have a safe community for our residents and that we’re doing whatever we can to get illegal guns off our streets.”
The sales occurred in various locations in Salinas and Watsonville, including the parking lots of local businesses and the defendants’ residences.
“The criminal complaints unsealed today, taken together, describe sales of over 25 firearms, including privately made firearms also known as “ghost guns” and conversion devices that enable firearms to function as fully automatic weapons,” Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds was quoted in a media release Thursday. “Operations such as this one target the pipeline of firearms to the street. By reducing the availability of illegal firearms, we take an important step toward reducing violent crime.”
The ATF also coordinated with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the Salinas Police Department to arrest Gregory Cabrera, 34, Francisco “Chito” Javier Jaramillo, 27, Cody Lee Moreno, 23, and Ruben Adolfo Pimentel, 29, all of Salinas. Additional arrests included Martin “Silent” Campos Jr., 24, of Springdale, Arizona and Gabriel Penuelas-Garcia, 43, of Aromas.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/11/08/atf-weapons-trafficking-sting-nets-watsonville-salinas-arrests/