A multi-state home burglary ring, originating on the East Coast, came to an end in Oregon with the arrest of four out of seven accused Chilean nationals. The arrests took place on Jan. 8 in Carlton, a small town near McMinnville, Oregon.
According to the Attorney General’s Office in Newark, NJ, the group of men targeted homeowners in New Jersey and Massachusetts, stealing at least $100,000 worth of designer handbags, jewelry, watches, perfume, and other high-value items. After being intercepted in a vehicle carrying stolen goods on the East Coast, four of the suspects fled across the country to Seattle, carrying more stolen items. They eventually rented an Airbnb in Carlton to hide out.
Authorities revealed that the suspects used fake identities and short-term rental services, making it difficult to track them. One of the stolen items was a Porsche rented through Turo from Jose Cienfuegos in Happy Valley. When Cienfuegos noticed his car had been moved without his knowledge, he discovered it had been seized by Oregon State Police. Upon investigation, Cienfuegos learned from authorities that the car was connected to an FBI investigation into a Chilean burglary ring operating out of New Jersey.
The suspects, including Felipe Munoz and Carlos Valencia, along with five other men, face charges of conspiracy to sell or receive stolen property and receipt of stolen property, with a potential maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Were these “Chilean Nationals” here illegally?
That is yet to be revealed by the authorities.