Fabian Garibay, 31, of Fillmore. Fillmore Gazette stock photo, August 2019.

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.

Report Number: 23-136303
Location: Ventura County
Date & Time: December 22, 2023 @ 11:30 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore PAtrol Services and West County Special Enforcement Unit
(S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent

(S) Fabin Garibay Fillmore 31
(V) Juvenile Male Fillmore 16

Prepared by: Sergeant Beau Rodriguez
Approved by: Captain Sean Britt