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    2 charged in fatal Santa Ana drive-by shooting
    • February 20, 2025

    SANTA ANA — A man with a lengthy criminal history and a fellow gang member were charged Tuesday in a fatal drive-by shooting in Santa Ana.

    Santino Javier Fausto, 28, and Stephany Vuelvas, 26, were both charged with murder in the Aug. 26 shooting of 32-year-old Erik Alegria of Santa Ana in the 800 block of South Townsend Street, near Jerome Park.

    Vuelvas drove to rival gang territory and Fauston got out to shoot someone he felt was associated with a rival gang, the criminal complaint alleges.

    Fausto is charged with murder with a special circumstance allegation of a drive-by shooting and gang activity with sentencing enhancements for discharge of a gun causing death, shooting at a building, possession of a gun by a felon and conspiracy.

    Vuelvas is charged with murder, shooting at a building, drive-by shooting and conspiracy, all felonies, with sentencing enhancements for a gang member vicariously discharging a gun causing great bodily injury and gang activity.

    Fausto pled guilty June 21, 2019, to carrying a loaded gun in public and possession of a gun by a felon, both felonies, and admitted sentencing enhancements for gang activity, according to court records.

    Fausto pleaded guilty in June 2015 to car theft, buying or receiving a stolen vehicle and participating in gang activity, all felonies, with sentencing enhancements for gang activity. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a gun in a school zone with a sentencing enhancement for gang activity in January 2015.

    The two did not enter a plea at their arraignment on Tuesday, which was rescheduled for March 7.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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