THOUSAND OAKS : 4 Suspects Arrested After Drug Raid
County drug investigators arrested four men on suspicion of selling narcotics after finding $19,600 worth of methamphetamines, cash and suspected stolen jewelry at one of the men’s homes, authorities said Thursday.
The arrests were made Tuesday evening after a three-week investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s and Simi Valley Police departments and district attorney’s investigators, Sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Pentis said.
William Raven, 33, of Thousand Oaks was arrested on suspicion of selling methamphetamines. John Pilj, 48, of Thousand Oaks was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamines for sale and of selling the drug, Pentis said.
Investigators found more than 2 ounces of methamphetamines, with a street value of $5,600, at Pilj’s house, along with eight handguns, a shotgun, $4,000 in cash and about $10,000 in jewelry that authorities suspect was stolen from area homes, Pentis said.
“It looks like he was a fence for burglars who needed narcotics,” he said.
Pilj and Raven were released on their own recognizance, a jail spokesman said. Pilj will be arraigned Nov. 26, and Raven will be arraigned Nov. 19.
The other two men probably won’t be charged because of insufficient evidence, Pentis said.
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