LOS ANGELES — A documented member of the Oxnard-based "Colonia Chiques" street gang has been sentenced to a decade in federal prison following a joint federal-local investigation into gang-related narcotics trafficking and illegal fully automatic conversion weapons, law enforcement authorities announced Monday.
Rodolfo Hernandez, a 36-year-old Oxnard resident widely known by his street moniker "Creature," was sentenced on August 17, 2026, to 120 months (10 years) in federal prison by United States District Judge Terry Hatter in Los Angeles.
Hernandez, a convicted felon who has remained in federal custody since his initial arrest in September 2024, formally entered guilty pleas on September 15, 2025, to three federal counts:
- One count: Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- One count: Possession of a Machine Gun
- One count: Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition
The federal prosecution was conducted by Assistant United States Attorney Clifford Mpare of the Central District of California.
Joint Task Force Intercepts Methamphetamine and Fully Automatic Firearms
The criminal prosecution originated from a 2024 federal grand jury indictment returned in Los Angeles following a multi-agency operation target. The initial federal investigation stemmed from separate state-level robbery charges against Hernandez that remain pending in Ventura County Superior Court.
Recognizing Hernandez’s active gang affiliation and prior felony record, members of the Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force—a specialized joint task force comprising special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and detectives with the Oxnard Police Department—launched a targeted probe into his illegal activities.
Search operations yielded substantial evidence of commercial narcotics sales and dangerous illegal weapons. Task force officers seized approximately 98.6 grams of bulk methamphetamine packaged for street-level distribution.
Additionally, investigators seized multiple firearms possessed by Hernandez in furtherance of his drug trafficking operations. Among the seized weapons was a fully automatic .380 ACP caliber pistol machine gun, along with 38 rounds of live ammunition. Federal law strictly prohibits convicted felons from possessing any firearms, with automatic machine gun conversion devices carrying severe federal statutory enhancements.
"Rodolfo Hernandez, also known as 'Creature' and who last resided in Oxnard, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terry Hatter... Hernandez, who has been in federal custody since September 2024, pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a machine gun, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition," FBI Los Angeles Public Affairs Specialist Laura Eimiller stated in an official federal release.
"The indictment alleged that Hernandez, who was a convicted felon, possessed with intent to distribute approximately 98.6 grams of methamphetamine and possessed several firearms, including a .380 ACP caliber pistol machine gun, and 38 rounds of ammunition in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The federal investigation and charges stemmed from state robbery charges which are pending in Ventura County," federal officials added in their briefing.
Federal Law Enforcement Impact on Local Street Gangs
Federal prison sentences carry no possibility of parole, meaning Hernandez must serve the vast majority of his 120-month term inside a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
**The sentencing of a documented Colonia Chiques member highlights the continuing effort by federal prosecutors and local police forces to dismantle violent street gangs operating throughout Ventura County. Street gangs that combine bulk methamphetamine distribution with fully automatic machine guns present an extraordinary threat to public safety. **
By leveraging federal task forces like the Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force, local departments can transfer dangerous, repeat violent offenders into the federal judicial system, where mandatory minimum sentences and the absence of state parole protocols ensure long-term removal from neighborhood streets. **
Law enforcement agencies reiterate that removing illegal fully automatic conversion devices remains a top regional priority.**
Community members with information regarding violent gang activity or illegal weapons sales in Ventura County can contact the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 996-3343 or the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Ventura County Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-8477 or visiting venturacountycrimestoppers.org. Official press statements are available on the FBI Los Angeles Division newsroom and the Oxnard Police Department Facebook feed.