A Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy, Jorge Oceguera Rocha, has been arrested and charged with drug trafficking. Oceguera, a 25-year-old deputy assigned to the jail in his hometown of Banning, was apprehended after authorities discovered 104 pounds of fentanyl in the trunk of his car during a traffic stop on the 10 Freeway. The investigation leading to Oceguera’s arrest was wider than previously known, with two other individuals also arrested in connection to the case.
According to court documents, Riverside County sheriff’s investigators obtained a wiretap on Oceguera’s phone, intercepting conversations between him and a relative discussing drug trafficking. Sheriff’s Capt. Adriaan Roggeveen emphasized the department’s commitment to rooting out any employees involved in criminal activities, stating that maintaining public trust is paramount.
Oceguera, who pleaded not guilty, is currently being held on $5 million bail. His attorney, Randy Collins, maintains his client’s innocence, describing him as a young person who is not a “bad person.” The arrest of Oceguera adds to a series of recent embarrassments for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, including the arrest of Deputy Brent Bishop Turnwall for suspected drug possession and being under the influence.
Jorge Oceguera Rocha, a U.S. citizen, grew up in Banning and attended Cal State Long Beach, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He joined the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 2019 and was assigned to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. Oceguera was engaged to be married and had recently purchased a house in his hometown.
During the traffic stop, deputies discovered four trash bags filled with 520,000 “blue fentanyl-laced M30 pills” in the trunk of Oceguera’s car. Additionally, his duty weapon, a loaded Glock handgun, was found in a bag on the backseat. Deputy Joshua Ricard argued for Oceguera’s high bail, citing him as a grave threat to public safety due to his knowledge of the dangers of fentanyl and his possession of a significant quantity of the drug.
