Inside the Riveting Capture: How Riverside County Sheriff’s Investigators Apprehended a Rogue Agent – Orange County Register

On September 16, Jorge Alberto Oceguera-Rocha made a phone call and drove from his home in Banning to a residence in Victorville. Little did he know that Riverside County sheriff’s investigators were secretly monitoring his conversation and observing his movements.

However, they were.

Several hours later, Oceguera-Rocha, a former Riverside County sheriff’s correctional deputy, found himself in custody. Authorities discovered 104 pounds of potentially lethal fentanyl pills in his car, which they believe he was trafficking on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel.

Oceguera-Rocha, 25, entered a plea of not guilty on Monday to charges of possession and distribution of narcotics, as well as the additional charge of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in custody.

Currently, Oceguera-Rocha is being held at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on $5 million bail. A hearing to determine the validity of the bail has been scheduled for October 31. Oceguera-Rocha’s attorney has not responded to a request for comment.

One of the investigators involved in the case has filed a document in Superior Court, requesting that Oceguera-Rocha provide evidence that any money used for bail comes from a legal source.

According to the investigator’s declaration, “‘The Mexican Cartel’ is a term used to describe various criminal drug organizations operating in Mexico, responsible for the majority of narcotics trafficking in the United States.” Sergeant Wenndy Brito-Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, clarified that the term does not refer to a specific cartel, but rather encompasses multiple criminal organizations.

The investigation into Oceguera-Rocha began earlier this month, with investigators obtaining permission to tap his cell phone. On September 16, they intercepted a phone call in which he mentioned traveling to a narcotics stash house in Victorville. When Oceguera-Rocha arrived at the residence, he made another call to a family member before entering the garage. Soon after, he left and began driving back to Banning, with deputies following closely behind.

When Oceguera-Rocha was pulled over on the 10 Freeway in Calimesa, a K9 unit detected the presence of narcotics. Deputies then discovered over half a million blue, fentanyl-laced M30 pills in his trunk. Fentanyl, an extremely potent opioid, has contributed to a widespread drug epidemic, often leading to accidental overdose and death for unsuspecting users.

Additionally, authorities seized a registered Glock handgun from Oceguera-Rocha.

During his arrest, Oceguera-Rocha chose not to make a statement and was subsequently read his rights. Initially set at $1 million, his bail was increased to $5 million due to concerns that he may attempt to flee to Mexico, where he has family ties.

Following his release on September 20, Oceguera-Rocha was re-arrested by the Sheriff’s Department on the same day. The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to file federal charges against him, but no further details were provided for this decision.