This all began December 2024 when VC FOCUS detectives first learned that Brock and Taing were involved in the sale of counterfeit M-30 (opioid) pills containing fentanyl to Ventura County residents. Over the next several months, detectives conducted covert surveillance of the couple and observed multiple narcotics sales within Ventura County.

Brock and Taing were arrested for a variety of drug and firearm charges including Possession for Sales of Controlled Substances, Sales of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance While Armed with a Firearm, Possession of a Concealed Firearm and Conspiracy. Both subjects were booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility. Taing posted bail and was later released. Brock remains in custody on $55,000 bail.

Counterfeit pharmaceutical pills are highly abused and often contribute to fatal and non-fatal overdoses within Ventura County. These counterfeit pills are mass produced by drug cartels and sold throughout the United States for large profits. The pills look identical to legitimate medications and are frequently mixed with fentanyl. Analysis by United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has shown that as many as six out of every ten pills seized by law enforcement agencies across the United States are counterfeit and contain fentanyl, making them extremely dangerous to the community. 

Fentanyl is characterized as an extremely powerful synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. As little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose of this deadly drug. 

Prior VC FOCUS Arrests

Jason Cotsis, 52, and Edward Staab, 50, both of Simi Valley were reportedly booked at the Ventura County Jail for crimes by the VC FOCUS team, however, to date no criminal cases have been filed or prosecuted. Other cases are being prosecuted, such as Ronald Joseph who was arrested in November 2024 for advertising illicit drugs on Instagram and set up undercover purchases of the drugs. Joseph is scheduled for a disposition conference on March 7.

About VC FOCUS

In January 2023, the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units or VC FOCUS was created as a partnership made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Simi Valley Police Department, Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol, as well as federal law enforcement partners. 

The primary mission of this task force is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic.

VC FOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Overdose Awareness & Solutions Team (COAST) in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.ThinkAgainVC.com and www.dea.gov/onepill .

The public may contact investigators from the VC FOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or VCFOCUS@ventura.org with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.

Report Number: 25- 22409