Ventura men receive prison sentences for crime spree that included extortion of a taco truck vendor and robbing small businesses last year

Two Ventura County men were sentenced to federal prison terms today for their involvement in a crime spree late last year that included the extortion of a taco truck vendor and the robbing of two small businesses, as well as the fraudulent use of debit and credit cards belonging to a victim robbed at gunpoint.

Oscar Aguirre Silva, 31, of Ventura, was sentenced to 72 months (six years) in a federal prison by U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera, who also ordered him to pay $2,941 in restitution.

Silva pleaded guilty on April 25 to one count of obstruction of public commerce by extortion (Hobbs Act), two counts of obstruction of public commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), three counts of bank fraud, two counts of attempted bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

In a separate hearing today, Judge Vera sentenced co-defendant Edward Donaldo Ramirez Martinez, 28, of Ventura, to 54 months (4½ years) in a federal prison. Ramirez was ordered to pay $1,597 in restitution.

On April 25, Ramirez pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and illegal possession of ammunition.

“The victims in this case were people who were simply trying to make a living operating a food truck when they were allegedly robbed at gunpoint,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Violent crimes involving firearms tear at the fabric of our society. Punishing those who engage in violent gun crimes has been and will continue to be a priority for my office. Our community deserves nothing less.”

On November 6, 2023, Silva threatened a taco truck vendor in Oxnard with violence in an attempt to extort money. Four days later, Silva robbed a woman at gunpoint and stole her iPhone and purse, which contained a credit card and debit card in the victim's name, as well as a debit card in another victim's name. Ramirez acted as the getaway driver in this armed robbery. Both men then drove to a Walmart store in Ventura, where they used the stolen cards to purchase $524 worth of merchandise. Later, Silva and another co-defendant, David Ray Reyes, 30, of Ventura, used the stolen cards and attempted to use them to purchase additional items at a tobacco shop in Oxnard.

On November 25 and 26, 2023, Silva robbed two stores in Oxnard – a tobacco store and a grocery store.

Finally, on December 2, 2023, while under the influence of methamphetamine, Ramirez possessed an assault rifle with no serial number – commonly known as a “ghost gun.” The weapon had four rounds of ammunition. Ramirez was not legally allowed to possess the ghost gun or the ammunition because he had been convicted in February 2020 in Ventura County Superior Court of carrying a loaded firearm.

Reyes pleaded guilty on March 6 to two counts of attempted bank fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. On June 6, Judge Vera sentenced Reyes to 26 months in a federal prison.

All three defendants remain in federal custody.

Operation Safe Cities sets strategic law enforcement priorities with a focus on targeting the key drivers of violent crime. In this region, the most damaging and gruesome crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic law enforcement approach is designed to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of repeat offenders who engage in the most dangerous behaviors. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes related to illegal weapons, individuals with prohibited weapon possession, or robbery gangs that cause chaos and major losses in retail establishments.

The Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the FBI, Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff's Office and Ventura Police Department, conducted this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndsi C. Allsop of the Violent Crimes and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.