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Six arrests made in major drug bust in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties

Posted: March 26, 2008 05:30 PM PDT

Reported by: Melissa Mecija

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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

An investigation between Santa Maria police and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department leads to six arrests and a search for two others in a major drug bust.

The operation spread throughout Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County, with warrants served from as far south as Sylmar, near LA, to Santa Maria.

This investigation started more than six months ago. Narcotics units teamed up to serve 11 search warrants in two different counties, but the work is still not over.

Evidence of a drug ring: 125 pounds of marijuana, valued at about $625,000. That, plus 15 guns, including an AR15, and near $200,000 in cash.

Investigators say the man behind the operation is 31-year-old Marcel Garcia.

"The investigation found that Garcia and his associates were involved in a conspiracy to sell marijuana together," said Santa Maria Police Chief Dan Macagni.

Marcel Garcia's neighbors say he lived on Dove Canyon in Buellton with his brother, Alexio, who was also arrested. Next door neighbor Mary Woyak can't believe they were involved in something like this.

"I just know them as really, really nice, outgoing, friendly neighbors," Woyak said. "I'm shocked. I didn't know that I lived next door to somebody who had firearms and was doing drugs."

Neighbors say the brothers own Gino's Pizza. Action News visited the shop, where employees told us we had to leave. One man, who did not want to identify himself, told us to call his lawyer.

Investigators also arrested four others from L.A. and Santa Barbara counties:

33-year-old Forrest Buchanan from Santa Barbara
27-year-old Robert Chevalier from Sylmar
27-year-old Joe Lino III from Santa Maria
29-year-old Jonathan Villarreal from Santa Barbara

They say the suspects also had marijuana for sale.

"This is an example of what we do in Santa Barbara County very well, and that's cooperate between law enforcement agencies," said Sheriff Bill Brown.

Police are still searching for two more involved. One man, the operator of Pacific Greens, a medical marijuana facility in Santa Barbara. Arrests they are determined to make.

The Garcia brothers' attorney says his clients are out on bail. David Najera, the medical marijuana operator, is wanted for illegal sales of marijuana.

Investigators are also searching for another associate, 22-year-old Gary Lyghts.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is leading the investigation of the marijuana facility. The men face felony charges ranging from conspiracy to possession for sales of marijuana.

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