A Santa Paula man already serving a de facto life sentence received another sentence of 35 years to life after he was caught orchestrating the transportation and sale of methamphetamine.
Omar Hernandez Ruiz, 38, pleaded guilty on Aug. 18 to a felony count of conspiracy to transport or sell methamphetamine, as well as special allegations and aggravating factors including previous convictions for felonies and association with a gang, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
“Ruiz, a prison gang member, was incarcerated at the California State Prison, Centinela at the time of these crimes,” the release said. “He is already serving 156 years to life in prison for a 2013 Santa Paula murder and assault on a peace officer.”
The additional decades in prison date to September through November 2024, when Ruiz “coordinated from prison the transportation of high quantities of drugs utilizing several co-conspirators,” prosecutors said.
That scheme was halted on Nov. 14, 2024, when 9 pounds of meth was found in the possession of a woman who was allegedly a runner for Ruiz.
“When the drug runner was pulled over by Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies for speeding, she was on the phone with Ruiz,” the release said.
Ruiz has been transferred from state custody to the Ventura County Jail to face these charges.
“The complex criminal enterprise that Ruiz was running from prison underscores the threat to public safety he presents even while incarcerated,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Leija said. “When he returns to state prison, we hope this sentence puts an end to his ability to orchestrate criminal activity from behind bars.”
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