January 8, 2024 - Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report on December 22, 2023, at approximately 11:30 AM, Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Fabian Garibay in the City of Fillmore for felony street gang coercion reference the gang tattooing of a minor.  On January 5, 2024, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed felony Street Gang Solicitation and misdemeanor Tattooing of a Minor violations against Garibay in the Ventura County Superior Court.       
 
During the months of September and October 2023, a Fillmore Patrol Station Deputy initiated an investigation after learning Garibay had tattooed a juvenile male with gang symbols.  The Patrol Deputy determined the tattooing occurred in Ventura County and likely was committed with the intent to solicit or recruit the juvenile into a Fillmore criminal street gang.
 
In late October 2023, West County Special Enforcement Unit (WC-SEU) detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and obtained a search warrant for Garibay’s Fillmore residence.  Detectives served the warrant and located evidence related to the investigation, including additional evidence of Garibay’s affiliation with a criminal street gang.  Detectives later obtained a felony arrest warrant for Garibay.
 
On December 22, 2023, at approximately 11:30 AM, Fillmore Patrol Deputies arrested Garibay during a traffic stop in Fillmore and he was booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility. 
 
The gang tattooing case against Garibay was presented to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, who subsequently filed felony PC 186.26(a) - Street Gang Solicitation and misdemeanor PC 653 - Tattooing a Minor violations against Garibay in the Ventura County Superior Court on January 5, 2024. Garibay posted bail on the matter and has a pending court date in February 2024.      
 
The investigation is on-going. If you have any information about this case or Fillmore gang activities, please contact Detective Austin Whittaker at 805-654-3509.
 
The West County Special Enforcement Unit is comprised of eight detectives whose primary focus is assisting West County Patrol Services with the investigation of gangs, illegal firearm activities, and violent crimes.
 
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.
 
Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.   
Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office