District Attorney Gregory I). Totten announced today that Eric Gabriel Suarez (DOB 9/6/84) of Oxuard, Cimitrio Ambris Cervantes (D013 5/5168) of Mission Hills, and Fernando Ambris Cervantes (DOB 6/22/66) of Santa Paula were arrested in a multi-agency crackdown on store owners who pay cash to recipients of government food assistance benefits. Suarez and Cimitrio Cervantes have been charged with felony grand theft and welfare fraud. Suarez is also charged with trafficking more than $150,000 of government benefits and stealing more than $200,000. Fernando Cervantes has been charged with misdemeanor welfare fraud. This case was the result of ajoint investigation by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Secret Service.

CaLFresh and the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provide nutrition assistance benefits to eligible, low-income individuals and families. It is illegal for a store owner to redeem these food assistance benefits for cash. Trafficking in SNAP and CalFresh benefits occurs when a merchant pays a welfare recipient cash for these government benefits. The operation targeted markets in both Ventura and Fillmore. It is alleged that from October 2010 to February 2013, Eric Suarez trafficked in government benefits while working at Avenue Mini Market in Ventura. It is alleged that beginning in early 2012 to May 2013, Cimitrio and Fernando Cervantes trafficked in government funds by exchanging Electronic Benefit Transfer (ERT) benefits for cash while working at Victor’s Market in Fillmore.

Eric Suarez and Cimitrio Cervantes were released on $10,000 bail and both will be arraigned on October 8, 2013, in courtroom 12 at 9:00 a.m. Fernando Cervantes was released on $5,000 bail and will be arraigned on January 2, 2014, at 8:15 a.m. in courtroom 10.

Misdemeanor welfare fraud charges have also been flied against 25 additional defendants fbr illegally selling their food assistance benefits for cash, in lieu of arrests, letters have been sent directing those defendants to appear on October 22, 23, and 24, 2013. for arraignment. Additional misdemeanor charges will be filed in near future against other individuals for similar conduct.

 


 
Photo by Keith Macleod
Photo by Keith Macleod
Enlarge Photo
Photo by Keith Macleod
Photo by Keith Macleod
Enlarge Photo

The Ventura County Sheriff's, Fillmore Search and Rescue Team, rescued a dog on Thursday after it became stranded 150ft over the side of a cliff.

City firefighters arrived on scene first and found some good Samaritans attempting to rescue the dog on their own. The firefighters were concerned for the safety of the good Samaritans and decided to notify the Sheriff's Department.

The situation was evaluated by members of the Sheriff's Search and Rescue unit, and a decision was made to activate the Fillmore Search and Rescue Team and have them take the lead in the rescue.

Seven members from the Fillmore Search and Rescue Team responded to the scene. Once on scene team member N. Brown immediately jumped into action and rappelled 150ft over the side of the cliff. After two tries the frightened dog was eventually brought to safety and returned to his worried owner.

The Fillmore Search and Rescue Team is comprised of highly trained volunteers who donate hundreds of hours of their time each year to trainings and call-outs. Additional members are currently in Lake Arrowhead assisting the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept in their search for a missing hiker.

 


 

At the October 8, 2013 Fillmore Unified School Districts (FUSD) Board Meeting a presentation was given by Art Teacher Doris Nichols and teacher Josh Bricker on the Fillmore Middle School NASA Program conducted after school during the summer break. The 20 day 10 exercise course provided students with a non-traditional classroom environment that reinforced the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students were given questions and problems requiring them to find their own solutions, both individually and in groups of four, through a hands-on empirical process. With real world constraints such as time, weight to power ratios, questions of sustainability/waste management concerns and a finite amount of materials (everything they used was recycled material and had to fit into a small cup by the end of the day) requiring budget restraints, the students were forced to develop creative solutions to the types of problems NASA engineers face daily.

They learned how to use gravity to aid travel, how to insulate with weight considerations and thermo design along with design and use of a solar oven and how to control its temperatures. One exercise required the students to design a propulsion system forcing them to engineer and design a space craft containing a specific list of essential elements; finding the volume of their craft to ensure the essential payload would fit, weighing their space craft, testing the rockets and an understanding of drag and aerodynamics.

From the activities students CONTINUED »

 
Friday, at 2 p.m. a two vehicle accident occurred in the Super A parking lot. A female driver, traveling perpendicular to the parking lanes, crashed into a parked van causing moderate damage to both vehicles. No injuries were reported and the cause of accident was not reported.
Friday, at 2 p.m. a two vehicle accident occurred in the Super A parking lot. A female driver, traveling perpendicular to the parking lanes, crashed into a parked van causing moderate damage to both vehicles. No injuries were reported and the cause of accident was not reported.
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Over $100,000 worth of breathing apparatuse was donated to the Fillmore Fire Department by the Fillmore Fire Foundation. Fire Chief Rigo Landeros and Fillmore Fire Foundation President Scott Beylick formed the foundation in 2010. The current board members are Scott Beylick (President), Mike Bush (Treasurer), Bill Morris, Mike Richardson and Scott Klittich.
Over $100,000 worth of breathing apparatuse was donated to the Fillmore Fire Department by the Fillmore Fire Foundation. Fire Chief Rigo Landeros and Fillmore Fire Foundation President Scott Beylick formed the foundation in 2010. The current board members are Scott Beylick (President), Mike Bush (Treasurer), Bill Morris, Mike Richardson and Scott Klittich.
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Fillmore Fire Foundation recently purchased 18 new breathing apparatuses and extra air bottles and donated them to the City of Fillmore Fire Department. The cost of this new equipment exceeded $100,000. Fire Chief Rigo Landeros and Fillmore Fire Foundation President Scott Beylick formed the foundation in 2010. The current board members are Scott Beylick (President), Mike Bush (Treasurer), Bill Morris, Mike Richardson and Scott Klittich. This 5 member board volunteers their time and helps raise donations for equipment, firefighter training, safety prevention programs and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. If you wish to make a tax deductible donation to the Fillmore Fire Foundation, Inc. please send your donation to Fillmore Fire Foundation, P.O. Box 331, Fillmore, CA. 93015.

 
A two vehicle accident occurred last week at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 126 in the early afternoon. One vehicle suffered light damage, the other moderate front end damage. No serious injuries were reported.
A two vehicle accident occurred last week at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 126 in the early afternoon. One vehicle suffered light damage, the other moderate front end damage. No serious injuries were reported.
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Two loaded rifles and methamphetamine packaged for sale
Rodrigo Jasso Ortiz, Oxnard, 36
Rodrigo Jasso Ortiz, Oxnard, 36

During a bar check, a Sergeant Aguirre contacted Ortiz sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Sespe Saloon. Aguirre discovered Ortiz had a loaded rifle on the seat next to him. Upon further investigation, the Sergeant discovered Ortiz had a second loaded rifle concealed under his seat and approximately one ounce of methamphetamine packaged for sale in the vehicle. Ortiz was arrested for several weapon and drug charges and was booked into the Ventura County Jail. The estimated street value of the methamphetamine was $2,800.00.

Nature of Incident: Narcotics Arrest
Report Number: 13-21805
Location: Sespe Saloon 251 “A” Street Fillmore CA. 93015
Date & Time: September 27, 2013 2200 hours
Unit(s) Responsible: West County Patrol Services – Fillmore CA
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Rodrigo Jasso Ortiz Oxnard 36
Prepared by: Sgt. J. Hendren
Media Release Date: 9/28/2013
Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. A. Aguirre 805-524-2233
Approved by: Captain Wareham

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

 
09/24/2013 – 09/30/2013
City of Fillmore
City of Fillmore

09/24/13
Threats
600 Blk Mnt. View
Search Warrant
700 Blk. Isl. View
Keep the Peace
1000 Blk. King
09/25/13
Surveillance
900 Blk. 4th St.
Search Warrant
200 Blk. Cherrywood
Burglary CONTINUED »

 
The suspect was described as a white male, between 50 to 60 years old, approximately 5’10” tall with a heavy build. The suspect was wearing a baseball style cap, black jacket, black gloves, white shirt, white pants, black tennis shoes, and he was in possession of a dark colored backpack.
The suspect was described as a white male, between 50 to 60 years old, approximately 5’10” tall with a heavy build. The suspect was wearing a baseball style cap, black jacket, black gloves, white shirt, white pants, black tennis shoes, and he was in possession of a dark colored backpack.
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On September 30, 2013, at approximately 0803 hours, a suspect armed with a handgun entered the Rabobank located at 470 Arneill Road in the city of Camarillo. The suspect brandished the handgun at bank employees before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect was described as a white male, between 50 to 60 years old, approximately 5’10” tall with a heavy build. The suspect was wearing a baseball style cap, black jacket, black gloves, white shirt, white pants, black tennis shoes, and he was in possession of a dark colored backpack.

Anyone with information regarding this robbery is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant John J. Gleason at (805) 384-4727. If you wish to remain anonymous, Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and criminal complaint against persons responsible for crimes such as this one. The caller may remain anonymous and the call is not recorded. The number for Crime Stoppers is 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Nature of Incident: Bank Robbery
Report Number: 13-21951
Location: Rabobank @ 470 Arneill Road, Camarillo, Ca.
Date & Time: September 30, 2013 @ 0803 hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Special Services, Major Crimes Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
V- Rabobank
Prepared by: Sergeant John J. Gleason
Media Release Date: 9/30/2013
Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant John J. Gleason
(805) 384-4727
Approved by: Captain Chris Dunn

 
September 24, 2013