Five Arrested After Ventura County Gun Bust Uncovers Illegal Weapons Operation

On May 8, 2026, five individuals were arrested on charges related to illegal firearm manufacturing and possession following an almost month-long investigation. Two of the suspects were also charged with child endangerment, according to a report released by Sergeant Jarrod Foote of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation was prompted on April 19, 2026. That day, Fillmore Station cops stopped by 36-year-old David Chavez’s Moorpark residence following a noise complaint from a neighbor. While searching Chavez’s property and vehicle, authorities found an unregistered assault weapon in his car.

Chavez has served time in prison and is classified as a felon. Under California law, felons are generally not allowed to own firearms or assault weapons.

Chavez was thus arrested on several felony charges, including possession of a firearm, possession of an assault weapon, unlawful firearm transfer, and possession of a large-capacity magazine.

Chavez was transported to the Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he was booked without incident. He later posted bail and remains out of custody pending court proceedings. 

Following the suspect’s arrest and a brief investigation, Fillmore detectives identified people they believed to be affiliated with Chavez’s illegal activities.

To check their suspicions, Fillmore detectives, in partnership with the Gun Violence Reduction Program, Camarillo SEU, West County SEU, Thousand Oaks SEU, and Moorpark SEU, issued search warrants at three residents’ properties in Northridge and Moorpark.

While searching the Northridge property, it was also discovered that Danis Perdomo was hiding a stolen firearm in his six-year-old child’s backpack, resulting in his arrest. His wife, Katelyn Perdomo Miller, who was on the scene, was also arrested.

Miller was charged with conspiracy and child endangerment, and Perdomo was charged with child endangerment and possession of a stolen firearm.

Additionally, during the search at the Moorpark properties, detectives identified and seized various unlawfully stolen or owned firearms and assault weapons. They also found and took “illegally manufactured suppressors, hundreds of illegally manufactured silencers, and firearm manufacturing equipment.”

Elpidio Chavez, who was on scene, was arrested for aiding and abetting. Joshua Michel was also detained and charged with unlawful firearm transfer, manufacturing assault weapons and firearms without licensure, selling unserialized parts of firearms, and possessing an assault weapon and a silencer, alongside converting a firearm to a machine gun.

Michel and Chavez were both released after posting bail, but they still have pending court cases to be tried for.

Miller and Perdomo were later released pending a case submission and charges being filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. 

“The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their ongoing support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships,” Foote wrote in the report.