4 plead guilty to drug smuggling into Ventura County jail

Four people were sentenced to Ventura County jail after pleading guilty to either bringing or helping to bring drugs into the jail, officials said Monday.

Investigators said the case against the four began Nov. 22 after Daniel Martinez, 26, an inmate at the jail, was given a work assignment at the pre-trial detention facility, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Martinez had been serving a sentence for identity theft, possession for sale of a controlled substance, physically injuring a spouse or former spouse, possession of a controlled substance and multiple probation violations, officials said.

Investigators said they found drugs on Martinez during a random search. They said they learned that his wife, Ilyanna Hernandez, 27, bought drugs with the purpose of smuggling them into jail.

Martinez, meanwhile, arranged to have another inmate, Michael Curiale, 37, smuggle the drugs into jail through the Ojai Police Station, where he had a work assignment. Curiale had been in jail for evading a police officer.

Investigators said Hernandez agreed with an Oxnard woman, Amber Castillo, 27, to buy drugs.

The drugs were later thrown over a fence at the Ojai Police Station, investigators said. Curiale then picked up the drugs from the parking lot and smuggled them into the pre-trial detention facility, investigators said.

Investigators said the suspects were sentenced to various time in county jail and 36 months of probation after pleading guilty to either bringing or helping to bring drugs into jail.