EMPLOYEE ACCUSED OF METH SALES

Fresno County Worker Charged With Selling Drugs To Inmates.

Sheriff's detectives investigating the sale of methamphetamines in Fresno
County Jail on Friday arrested a county employee and charged him with
supplying inmates with the drug.

Ross Camarillo, 43, a 15-year employee, was booked into jail on four counts
of sales of methamphetamines to inmate trustees. His bail was set at $40,000.

A mechanic at the county's fleet service yard, Camarillo was taken into
custody without incident after lunch, Lt. Robert Hagler said.

"He didn't just break a rule," Hagler said. "He sacrificed a 15-year career
by supplying inmates with drugs."

Drugs, tobacco and money are among a number of items inmates can't possess,
but they have created a system to get the contraband.

Typically, it takes an inside source, such as an inmate trustee, to get the
contraband in the jail. County employees also have been caught taking
contraband into the jail, but "it's rare," Hagler said.

Trustees are inmates on a honor system, working outside the jail by doing
such things as cleaning roadways and parks. Although they are supervised, a
relative or friend can strategically place money or drugs in an empty soda
can or envelope for the trustee to pick up.

"Where there's a will, there's a way," Hagler said.

In this case, Camarillo is accused of selling drugs to trustees who worked
at the county yard, where Camarillo serviced dump trucks, road graders and
other heavy duty diesel vehicles.

Hagler said the Sheriff's Department learned of Camarillo's illegal
activity in May and sprang into action.

First, an inmate working with sheriff's detectives on two occasions
purchased a small amount of methamphetamines from Camarillo, Hagler said.
After the inmate was released from jail, the inmate on two more occasions
purchased the amphetamines from Camarillo, he added.

Camarillo was then arrested and search warrants were immediately served at
his home in the 5200 block of East McKenzie Avenue and at a business in the
3500 block of East Central Avenue where he worked part time.

Among items seized, Hagler said, were drugs and weapons.

Detectives said they want to know how long Camarillo may have been
supplying drugs and tobacco to inmates and the amount of contraband that
may have been sold. Anyone with information is asked to call the Fresno
County Narcotics Enforcement Team at (559) 453-4815 or Crime Stoppers at
(559) 498-STOP.