Massive train robbery operation busted in California in latest embarrassment for Gavin Newsom

 October 13, 2025

Southern California just busted a real-life Wild West train robbery ring right in the heart of the Victor Valley area.

Breitbart reported that over a dozen suspects were nabbed in a sweeping operation targeting a sophisticated scheme of train burglaries, with search warrants uncovering stolen goods, piles of cash, and illegal firearms.

Last Monday, the Rural Crimes Task Force, alongside BNSF railroad police and Hesperia Station detectives, kicked off the crackdown with a 6:30 a.m. raid on a residence in Hesperia’s 14600 block of Willow Street.

This wasn’t a random shakedown—it was the culmination of a deep dive into a string of train thefts plaguing the region.

Chaos Unfolds During Hesperia Raid

Things got downright cinematic at the Hesperia home when seven of the suspects tried to bolt, only to be rounded up by Sheriff’s Aviation and local deputies. Another seven were found inside, bringing the total arrested there to 14.

Those detained in Hesperia include Jose Rodriguez Cecena, 28; Tomas Valdez Olivares, 25; Jesus Jimenez Gonzalez, 24; Johan Camargo Salazar, 25; Juan Oliveras Valdez, 27; Jesus Fierro Escalante, 22; Leobardo Corral Corrales, 46; Juan Jimenez Garcia, 29; Ezequiel Jimenez Gaxiola, 36; Jose Navarette Carrillo, 24; Isidro Mendivil Mendez, 23; Armando Gonzalez, 20; Eloid Paz Lizarraga, 21; and Guadalupe Alejandro Raya, 26.

Inside that Hesperia house, investigators hit the jackpot—property stolen from BNSF railroad worth about $42,500, plus a cool $55,000 in cash just sitting there. If that doesn’t scream “criminal enterprise,” I don’t know what does.

The operation didn’t stop at Hesperia—search warrants were also executed at a home and a store unit in Victorville. While details on exact locations are sparse, the haul from these raids tells a story of its own.

At another residence in the 14100 block of Anacapa Road, authorities recovered nearly $42,000 in cash and a staggering $133,867 worth of pilfered train property. That’s a small fortune in stolen goods, enough to make you wonder how long this operation was running under the radar.

Adding fuel to the fire, officials confiscated eight illegal firearms during the searches, including four rifles and four pistols. In a state with some of the strictest gun laws on the books, this discovery raises serious questions about enforcement gaps that criminals seem to waltz right through.

Total Arrests Shock the Community

While the Hesperia raid netted 14, CBS News reports a total of 31 individuals arrested in connection with these train heists across the region. That’s a small army of suspects, and it’s a wake-up call about the scale of organized crime hitting critical infrastructure like railroads.

Now, let’s talk about the bigger picture—train robberies aren’t just a quirky throwback to the 1800s; they’re a modern scourge that disrupts supply chains and jacks up costs for everyday Americans. When progressive policies prioritize leniency over accountability, is it any surprise that bold schemes like this take root?

Sadly, no direct quotes from the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Department press release were provided to give us their take, but the facts speak louder than any soundbite could. The sheer volume of cash and stolen goods suggests a network that’s been at this for a while, thumbing its nose at law and order.

Here’s the rub: while some might argue these folks are just “down on their luck,” the reality is that organized theft on this scale hurts communities, businesses, and hardworking taxpayers. We can sympathize with personal struggles without excusing actions that undermine public safety.

California’s soft-on-crime reputation, fueled by years of policies that seem to coddle rather than correct, isn’t doing anyone any favors—not the victims, not the public, and certainly not the perpetrators who need a clear line drawn. Let’s hope this bust is a sign of authorities finally clamping down on lawlessness before our railroads turn into a free-for-all.

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