A total of 11 suspects have been indicted on multiple charges after allegedly stealing 41 cars from Colorado airports over the span of six months. According to the authorities, they would then take the vehicles, drive them to Mexico, and sell them to cartels.
According to a news release issued by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, the indictment took place on Monday, June 22. The 11 suspects are facing 52 different counts for their alleged involvement in a “widespread motor vehicle theft ring.”
In total, authorities determined that 41 vehicles were stolen from small municipal airports along the Front Range. Other property was allegedly stolen and damaged, and it is estimated that, including the stolen cars, the vehicle theft ring got hold of $900,000 in value.
This indictment comes more than a year after the last instance of related vehicle theft was reported in Colorado. Now, authorities have a clearer picture of how this theft ring was allegedly able to operate.
Modus Operandi
According to the release, the alleged theft of 41 vehicles occurred between July 2024 and January 2025. The locations were carefully picked: municipal airport parking lots, surrounding hotels, and occasional businesses and residential areas.
Soon, various citizens in Adams, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties saw their cars disappear before their eyes. Full-sized pickup trucks, trailers, and even utility terrain vehicles were the main target of this alleged motor vehicle theft ring.
Furthermore, the suspects would then make use of these stolen vehicles to commit other crimes, authorities said. They managed to avoid detection as these vehicles had not been reported stolen, mainly because their owners returned home days after the fact. After all, most of these alleged thefts occurred at airports.
Mexican Cartels Sale
After the criminals involved in the motor vehicle theft ring got hold of the cars, they would alter their appearance, the release said. Allegedly, these alterations would include switching license plates with other plates from stolen vehicles, changing windshield VIN tags, and even installing fake temporary license plates.
An indictment cited by the news release detailed that many of the stolen vehicles would then be taken to Mexico. These would either be driven or even hauled on trailers.
After crossing the border, the vehicles were then allegedly sold to Mexican cartels. These cartes, the indictment added, would also request specific types of trucks, which the theft ring would then search for back in Colorado.
Charges
The following suspects have been indicted in connection with the motor vehicle theft ring case:
- Yulian Zamarron-Baylon
- Geomar Gomez-Hernandez
- Yester Sagastume-Leyva
- Qurino Vialpando
- Jose Munoz-Miranda
- Jovana Robles-Garcia
- Trinadette Rangel
- Juan Lopez-Sambrano
- Jonathan Cisneros
- Sabino Munoz
- Primo Borjon-Ramirez
As said above, they are facing 52 different charges in connection with the alleged six-month vehicle theft. These include racketeering and conspiracy, second-degree motor vehicle theft, attempted motor vehicle theft, theft, and forgery, among others.