Massive $1 Million Heroin Bust Made, Linked To Elsinore Home

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — One of two brothers suspected of dealing heroin out of a Perris home, where nearly 20 pounds of the drug was seized, posted a $250,000 bond Thursday and was released from jail, while his sibling remained behind bars.

Ernesto Valenzuela Beltran, 26, and Luis Valenzuela Beltran, 24, were arrested Tuesday and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of possession of heroin, possession of drugs for sale and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Ernesto Beltran met his bail obligation Thursday morning. Luis Beltran remains in custody in lieu of $250,000 bail.

According to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Sean Brown, deputies went to Ernesto Beltran's residence in the 400 block of East Hill Street in Lake Elsinore about 10 a.m. Tuesday to conduct a probation check.

Brown alleged that while going through rooms in the home, deputies spotted a powdery substance in the bathroom that was confirmed to be heroin. The elder Beltran was taken into custody without a struggle, and a search warrant was obtained and served at another house in the 2100 block of Jean Marie Way in Perris that the probationer shared with his younger brother, according to the sergeant.

He said that while scouring the property, deputies located 19 pounds of heroin, with a street value exceeding $1 million.

"Evidence of narcotics sales, and a large amount of cash was also seized," Brown said.

Luis Beltran, who was arrested without incident, has a prior misdemeanor conviction for reckless driving, according to court records.

Ernesto Beltran has prior convictions in another jurisdiction that were not listed. According to Brown, he is suspected in a recent auto theft, but no charges have been filed.

— By City News Service / Images via Riverside County Sheriff's Department