Illegal firearm probe leads to arrest of Oxnard men by sheriff's detectives

Four rifles and two handguns were seized by Ventura County Sheriff's detectives and a pair of Oxnard men were arrested Wednesday following a probe of illegally possessed firearms.

Wednesday's arrests stemmed from an investigation started earlier this month involving illegal sales and transfer of firearms, the sheriff's office reported.

During the investigation, detectives identified John Flores, 49, and Camilo Zamora, 58, as subjects involved in such activities, according to the department's account. Both men live in Oxnard and are barred from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition due to previous felony convictions, the department said.

On Wednesday, Flores and Zamora reportedly fled in a vehicle and on foot when detectives made contact with them in Oxnard, authorities say, and were subsequently arrested. During the initial contact, detectives say they recovered several firearms and also found Flores had a small amount of heroin and some syringes.

A search warrant was later executed in Port Hueneme, in the 1900 block of North 6th Place, located east of Ventura Road near Sunkist Elementary School. More firearms and ammunition were reportedly found there.

Another site in Oxnard was also searched when detectives followed up on information.

In all, 10 guns were recovered, the sheriff's office reported. Detectives are continuing to investigate the seized firearms.

Flores remained in Ventura County jail as of Saturday night with bail set at $150,000, according to online jail records. He could face multiple felony level charges related to the arrest, the records showed, including evading an officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Zamora was also in jail Saturday night facing potential felony level charges related to firearm possession, online records showed. Bail for the alleged offenses was set at $150,000, but Zamora was listed as "not bailable" due to a separate warrant arrest, according to the records.