“There are many reasons why the number of animals taken is limited in California and most hunters respect that. The illegal poaching of wild animals can disrupt the balance of California’s wildlife population. These investigations can take time and certainly put CDFW wardens in harm’s way.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
VENTURA COUNTY – On December 5, 2022, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced the filing of charges against a group of poachers and wildlife traffickers known as the “E-Bike Crew.” Seven people have been charged with 21 counts of filing a false or forged document, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of untagged bear, and animal abuse or cruelty.
Six of the seven defendants were arraigned on December 5th in the Ventura County Superior Court. There is an active arrest warrant in the amount of $200,000 for the seventh defendant.
California Department of Fish & Wildlife investigated the “E-Bike Crew” discovering that they allegedly worked with Lizette’s Market in Piru to fraudulently reprint hunting licenses and tags. The six-member wildlife trafficking organization (“WTO”) is accused of conspiring with Lizette’s Market beginning in June 2019 through October 2021, allegedly producing the false and fake tags to hunt and take more deer, pigs and bears than legally allowed by state law.
The charged members of the WTO include:
- Martin Bravo Sr., 59, of Oxnard,
- Martin M. Bravo, 30, of Oxnard,
- Walfre Lopez y. Lopez, 38, of Oxnard,
- Gilberto Lopez Hernandez, 34, of Thousand Oaks,
- Jaime Mendoza Avila, 41, of Porterville,
- and Cristian Lopez Perez, 31, of Los Angeles.
Juventino Reyes Guerrera, 44, of Piru, is facing the same charges and was the operator of Fish & Wildlife licensing equipment located at Lizette’s Market.
There is an active arrest warrant in the amount of $200,000 for Defendant Lopez y Lopez.
