SIMI VALLEY : 3 Men Indicted on Cocaine Charges
The Ventura County grand jury has indicted three Simi Valley men on charges of conspiracy, possession of cocaine for sale and selling cocaine.
Joseph A. Hernandez, 23; Joseph C. Arviso, 26, and Mark D. Smith, 34, were named in the three-count indictment returned Monday.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Gregory G. Phillips said the charges stem from an undercover operation in Simi Valley on Feb. 25. Hernandez agreed to supply an informant with two kilograms of cocaine in exchange for $44,000, Phillips said. Arviso and Smith also played roles in the alleged conspiracy, he said.
Hernandez and Arviso were arrested as the deal was being transacted, Phillips said, but were released pending further investigation. They were arrested again, along with Smith, in early October.
Smith pleaded not guilty Tuesday at his arraignment before Superior Court Judge Lawrence Storch. Arviso’s arraignment was postponed until next Tuesday. Arviso and Smith are being held in the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $200,000.
Hernandez is free on bail pending his arraignment later this month.
Trial is set for Nov. 25.
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