Santa Barbara County – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, having conducted a protracted investigation into the criminal activities of a number of the area’s known gang members, reports significant progress with the June 26th announcement of the arrest of Ventura resident Mike Avila, 28, and Gilbert Garcia, 43, of Santa Paula.
According to SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, “two additional suspects are wanted in association with the investigation”, with Gang Unit Detectives believing them to be located in the northern part of the county in and around the City of Santa Maria. The two individuals still sought in the ongoing investigation are Mark Silvas, 28, “wanted for vehicle theft and gang related charges with $135,000 warrant issued for his arrest,” and Rosalio Estrada, 27, “wanted for vehicle theft, extortion and gang related charges with $150,000 warrant issued for his arrest.”
Rosalio Estrada
The two men now in custody face a plethora of criminal charges. For his part, Avila has been booked on charges of possession of a concealed weapon, possession of a loaded firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, all compounded by gang enhancements that saw his bail set at $1,000,000 when he was booked into Ventura County Jail.
Garcia was likewise booked into Ventura County Jail, facing charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, extortion of money or other property by the means of force or fear, infliction of mental suffering upon an elder, embezzlement from an elder, witness intimidation, robbery, all exacerbated with criminal gang enhancements.
Both Ventura County Sheriffs and Santa Barbara County Sheriffs urge member of the public with any information regarding the whereabouts of Estrada or Silvas to contact the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Anonymous tip line at (805) 681-4150.
Mark Silvas
Photos: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking
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Santa Maria Times: SM men wanted in investigation
