2 Banning Felons Found With Guns, Ammo, Drugs, Fake Vaxx Cards

BANNING, CA — Two convicted felons from Banning remained jailed Thursday following their arrests this week in connection with an ongoing investigation into the Southside Beaumont Gang.

Adrian Kadri Rocha, 23, and Marco Kadri Valenzuela, 18, were taken into custody Wednesday morning by Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force Officers after a search warrant was served in the 1300 block of East Lincoln Street in Banning. Both men were arrested at the location.

During the search, officers found a shotgun, a stolen handgun, over 400 ammunition rounds, 1 pound of honey oil wax, 4 ounces of psilocybin mushrooms, over 100 vape pens containing THC, 1 pound of marijuana, $7,500 in cash, and 50 fraudulent CDC COVID-19 vaccination cards, according to Banning police Sgt. Mike Bennett, who serves on the gang task force.

Rocha and Valenzuela were booked into Banning's Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of felony and misdemeanor drug charges, as well as felony firearms and ammunition charges. Valenzuela was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail; Rocha's bail was set at $30,000, according to jail records.

Both men, who have felony records and are prohibited from owning guns and ammunition, are due to appear in court Friday.