DPS reveals details on criminal ring that stole $1.4 million worth of cars

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Public Safety held a press conference Monday afternoon to provide more details on a criminal ring that used sophisticated ways to steal expensive cars throughout the Valley.

“These vehicles were transported into Mexico to continue the efforts and further goals of transnational criminal organizations. And in this case a total of 22 high-end vehicles were recovered with an estimated worth of 1.4 million dollars were recovered, due to the great work of our vehicle theft task force detectives,” Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety Lt. Col. Ken Hunter said.

What charges will the suspects face?

Jorge Aguilar, Andrew Reyes, Luis Rodriguez, and Douglas Zelaya were indicted by a grand jury for several felony offenses related to stealing and transporting the cars over the border into Mexico.

The defendants each face 12 counts of theft of means of transportation, one count of trafficking and stolen property in the first degree, one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, two counts of conducting a chop shop, three counts of forgery and three counts of criminal impersonation. Reyes faces charges with misconduct that involved weapons, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said during the press conference.

How did DPS learn about the criminal ring?

Back on Oct. 2nd, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office reached out to the vehicle theft task force about a stolen truck, where a suspect was seen on camera with a military grade weapon parked in a driveway of a home in Waddell, Vehicle Theft Task Force Commander for the State of Arizona Erik Axlund said.

This led to a several months long investigation of an organized group of individuals using advanced technology to steal expensive pickup trucks, which led to the arrest of the suspects.

Vehicle thefts are a significant problem in Arizona with dangerous impacts and are often directly tied to violent and organized crime, Hunter said during the press conference.

“Let me be very clear my office will not tolerate enterprises that target the hardworking people of Maricopa County. We are committed to pursuing justice and holding those who engage in organized crime accountable for their actions,” Mitchell said.