WEST HARTFORD–Eight years after a warrant was issued for his arrest, Gabriel Estrela, 30, was taken into custody by West Hartford Police on charges that he stole from homes while on official business for the Salvation Army.
Estrela has been incarcerated in Maine since the time a warrant was issued for his arrest in West Hartford, and on December 29, when his sentence ended, West Hartford police went to Portland, Maine to take Estrela into custody. Estrela had already waived his rights for extradition.
The incident in question occurred in the summer of 2007. Police say Estrela and an accomplice, James Ryals, were working for the Salvation Army picking up furniture at homes for donation when they used their job’s access to enter other parts of residents’ homes and take things.
One one occasion police say they stole rare jewelry from the homeowner’s child.
Police believe there were other thefts, but this was the only instance in which the pair was charged.
The pair is then said to have pawned the items at Fast Eddy’s pawn shop.
Ryals was arrested and charged with burglary in the second degree, conspiracy to commit burglary in the second degree, larceny in the third degree, conspiracy to commit larceny in the third degree, and larceny in the sixth degree.
Ryals was convicted in November 2007, and sentenced to three years in prison, with the sentence suspended, and three years of probation.
Estrela is now being held on $250,000 bond and has been charged with burglary in the second degree, larceny in the third degree, conspiracy to commit larceny in the third degree, conspiracy to commit larceny in the sixth degree and conspiracy to commit burglary in the second degree.
