On February 20, 2019 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Los Banos Police Detectives with the help of the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team served a search warrant at a home in the 800 block of Nevada Avenue. Michael Espinoza, 32 of Los Banos was arrested and charged with ten felony crimes involving weapons and narcotics offenses.
Police found AR-15 and .308 rifles, and multiple handguns inside the home. Some of the weapons found in the home were modified allowing them to fire as fully automatic weapons. Detectives found an elaborate drug sales operation inside the home including prepackaged cocaine, MDMA (Ecstasy), and Marijuana all packaged for sales.
Michael Espinosa remains in custody at the Merced Main Jail under a no bail hold on several felony charges. Some of those charges are; felon in possession of a firearm, possession of an assault weapon, possession of classified controlled substances, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of large capacity magazines, possession of metal knuckles, child endangerment, and possession of cocaine.
