Drug trafficking operation taken down by law enforcement in multiple counties

AENN

BY WILL ANDERSON

YUBA COUNTY, Calif. - A multi-year investigation by the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Task Force (NET-5), in partnership with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), into elements of a transnational drug trafficking organization (DTO) culminated Wednesday with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies serving 20 search warrants in Yuba, Tehama, Butte, and Sutter Counties.

Authorities say that through hard work and patience, investigators revealed that a group of family members engaged in drug trafficking, moving hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other drugs from Mexico into California and beyond.

The Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Task Force says that the family of traffickers imported the drugs and sold them to street-level dealers throughout Northern California.

On Wednesday, during the execution and service of the search warrants, law enforcement officers found and disrupted two clandestine drug labs and found/seized firearms, ammunition, drugs, scales, and other packaging consistent with drug sales.

As of this week, the investigation has resulted in the seizure of the following items:

• Methamphetamine - 342.4 pounds

• Heroin - 8.8 pounds

• Fentanyl - 1,556 pills

• Cocaine - 0.71 pounds

• Marijuana - 17 pounds

• Firearms - 9

• United States Currency - $153,154

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Officials say that the drug seizures on March 26, 2025 were lower than anticipated. Based on information provided to authorities by confidential sources, members of the DTO have complained about the shortage of drugs caused by recent changes at the U.S. Border with Mexico that has increased security.

The Yuba-Sutter Narcotics & Gang Task Force is thankful to President Donald J. Trump and the Trump administration for taking steps to shut down the flow of poison from abroad.

During the service of the search warrants on March 26, 2025, 20 people were taken into custody by law enforcement, putting the total number of arrests as part of the investigation at 45.

More than 125 law enforcement personnel participated in the multi-county operation on Wednesday. Tragically, one of the officers participating in the operation lost their life when executing a search warrant on Kestrel Court in Olivehurst Wednesday morning.

Marysville Police Officer Osmar Rodarte was killed while helping the Yuba-Sutter Regional S.W.A.T. team secure the residence. Authorities say that Rick David Oliver ambushed officers inside of the house, shooting Officer Rodarte.

Officer Rodarte and one of his teammates returned fire at Oliver, which resulted in Oliver's death. Officer Rodarte was transported to Adventist Health & Rideout Hospital in Marysville for his gunshot wound. Unfortunately, Officer Rodarte succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.

The Yuba-Sutter Narcotics & Gang Task Force says that Oliver was the target of the search warrant that was serviced at the residence on Kestrel Court. During the course of the investigation, Oliver was identified as a low-level dealer helping to distribute narcotics in the local area.

Oliver was a registered sex offender with prior convictions for the following offenses:

• Soliciting lewd acts in public

• Indecent exposure

• Felony unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor

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Authorities say that Oliver also had a history of drug offenses and failing to appear in court. As a convicted felon, Oliver was prohibited from legally acquiring or possessing a firearm.

The Yuba-Sutter Narcotics & Gang Task Force says that their hearts are broken for Officer Rodarte, his family, and the entire law enforcement community. NET-5 would like to thank the following federal, state, and local partners who helped bring this major investigation to a close:

• Marysville Police Department

• Yuba City Police Department

• Yuba County Sheriff's Office

• Yuba County District Attorney's Office

• Yuba County Probation Department

• Sutter County Sheriff's Office

• Sutter County District Attorney's Office

• Butte County Sheriff's Office

• Butte County District Attorney's Office

• Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF)

• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

• California Highway Patrol

• Colusa County Sheriff's Office

• Sutter County Probation Office

• Tehama County Sheriff's Office

• United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California

• United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

• United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• Wheatland Police Department

• Yolo County Sheriff's Office

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NET-5 would like to thank all of the firemen, ambulance personnel, and hospital staff who fought to save Officer Rodarte's life.

The following individuals were arrested as part of the operation:

• Kimberly Allegret (41 years old)

• Sara Ballard (50 years old)

• Kelly Blake (47 years old)

• Gregory Bowman (58 years old)

• Joshua Bridges (51 years old)

• Lucila Calderon (40 years old)

• Za Cheng (46 years old)

• Patrick Ferguson (64 years old)

• Erik Guzman-Flores (27 years old)

• Steffanie Kimerer (43 years old)

• David Metcalf (56 years old)

• Julian Moore (35 years old)

• Lisa Nichols (50 years old)

• Todd Nichols (53 years old)

• Tabbitha Pennock (38 years old)

• Shurron Roberts (58 years old)

• Greg Roth (47 years old)

• Nai Saecho (43 years old)

• Katherine Smith (63 years old)

• James Spradley (43 years old)