Gang Task Force Busts Drug Dealer, Parolee with Gun

The county's Gang Task Force has been getting down to business in Watsonville.

The task force has made at least six arrests in Watsonville in 11 days, including two Tuesday.

Agents arrested a suspected drug dealer around 5 p.m. Tuesday when they pulled over Jesus Anaya's car on Williams Avenue, just off Anna Street, for a traffic violation, according to Mario Sulay, commander of the Gang Task Force.

Anaya, 19, reportedly told the officers he was transporting marijuana. They found 231 grams of pot behind the driver's seat of his 200 green Honda Accord, Sulay reported.

That's worth about $2,400 on the street, according to Sulay.

Although Anaya had a medical recommendation for the weed, officers said they found evidence Anaya was selling marijuana and involved in a gang, so they arrested him. He was arrested on marijuana and gang charges, as well as a probation violation for a previous domestic violence conviction.

Also Tuesday, the Gang Task Force went to Anthony Jimenez's home on the 100 block of Rodriguez Street to conduct a parole compliance check, Sulay said.

The officers found a loaded semi-auto handgun in a bedroom, according to Sulay.

Jimenez, 25, isn't allowed to have guns. Sulay said he is a documented gang member who was convicted of shooting at an occupied car, has served his time and was paroled.

Jimenez was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, gang participation and for violating his parole.