Three charged in Aurora holdup

Two men and a 16-year-old have been charged with the Feb. 26, 2008, armed robbery of a music store in Aurora, authorities said Monday.

Luis Franco-Avalos, 19, of the 6600 block of Hunters Path, Cary, and Abraham M. Silva, 23, of the 100 block of West Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake, were charged with armed robbery and aggravated robbery for their roles in the holdup of Estrella Music in the 700 block of East New York Street, authorities said.

The juvenile, who was not identified because of his age and who is from Woodstock and is the alleged getaway driver, has been charged with aggravated robbery.

Franco-Avalos and Silva made off with a significant amount of cash after one of them a handgun at the store's 21-year-old clerk and demanded money, authorities said. The incident occurred just after the store's 8 p.m. closing.

Police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said all three were charged earlier this month after being arrested on charges of a similar crime in Elgin. An investigation conducted by Aurora detectives and Elgin police, along with physical evidence recovered in the Aurora crime, implicated the trio, he said.

All three suspects are in custody in Kane County jail in St. Charles, and each is being held on $250,000 bond.

Kane authorities said Silva also is being held on an immigration detainer, meaning he likely will face deportation after his criminal case is complete.