ANTIOCH –  On April 6, 2018, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of an Antioch man allegedly involved in buying guns in Nevada that are illegal in California and then selling them in the Golden State.

In March, the Contra Costa County Anti-Violence Support Effort (CASE) team launched an investigation into alleged criminal acts by Virgilio Salazar, 50, of Antioch.  Salazar was allegedly buying guns in Nevada, transporting them into California where the purchased guns are illegal, and selling them. The CASE team obtained an arrest and search warrant.

Salazar was arrested on March 27, 2018. During a search of his home, the CASE Team seized

• a .223 Colt AR-15 assault rifle,
• CZ 9mm semi-auto assault pistol,
• three large capacity rifle magazines,
• and two large capacity pistol magazines.

Salazar was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: importing an assault rifle, possession of an assault rifle, and importing large capacity magazines.

The CASE Team is a joint effort by the Office of the Sheriff, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburg Police Department, Walnut Creek Police Department, and Probation Officers from the Contra Costa County Probation Department.

“Combining resources on every law enforcement level is a great way to combat illegal firearms and reduce violent crime,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Keeping weapons banned in California, out of California is a giant step toward keeping us safe.”