THOUSAND OAKS : Authorities Arrest Alleged Drug Dealer
Authorities said they have arrested a major Thousand Oaks methamphetamine dealer and substantially interrupted the flow of the drug in the area.
Ventura County sheriff’s deputies arrested Juan Francisco Diaz, 30, of Hollywood on Monday night while he allegedly sold the drug to John Louis Atallah, 34, of Pasadena in a Hollywood parking lot.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Pentis said evidence found during the arrest of several Thousand Oaks dealers in the last six months led them to Diaz. Deputies staked out Diaz’s house Monday night and followed him as he drove his car to a shopping center in the Eagle Rock neighborhood, where he met Atallah about 8 p.m.
After arresting Diaz and Atallah, deputies found one pound of methamphetamine and about $4,000 in cash at Diaz’s home. They also seized Diaz’s car.
“One pound of meth is a substantial bust,” Pentis said.
“But he had a bigger influence in the area than that.”
Pentis estimated that Diaz sold several pounds of the drug in Thousand Oaks weekly.
One pound of methamphetamine is worth as much as $30,000 on the street, Pentis said.
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