Indictment Names Gang Member

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles on Friday issued an indictment on firearms charges against an Oxnard Colonia Chiques gang member, authorities said.

Frank Samora, 30, was arrested May 3 after fleeing from police who wanted to question him on why he was in a rival’s neighborhood, Police Sgt. Eric Sonstegard said.

During a foot chase, Samora pulled a 9-millimeter handgun out of his waistband and threw it over a fence onto a driveway where children were playing, Sonstegard said.

Samora was later arrested and the handgun recovered, Sonstegard said.

After a joint investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, authorities decided to seek federal charges against Samora, he said.

The Colonia Chiques gang is responsible for dozens of firearm-related assaults in Oxnard over the past five years, police said.

Previously, Samora had been arrested on suspicion of possession and transportation of controlled substances, terrorist threats, battery, domestic violence and numerous parole violations, police said.

Samora was taken to the federal detention center in Los Angeles on July 16, where he is being held pending a trial date.