Concierge for Criminals: Feds Say Ring Provided Cars, Maps to Thieves Targeting Upscale Homes Across the U.S.
Seven individuals have been charged in connection with an intercontinental “crime tourism” ring that allegedly targeted affluent neighborhoods across the United States, resulting in over $5 million in stolen goods being shipped to South America, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Federal prosecutors describe the operation as a sophisticated “concierge service” for criminals, where groups of thieves from South America were provided with vehicles, maps, and instructions upon arriving in the Los Angeles area. These criminals were then dispatched to upscale areas nationwide, including states such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, and Kansas, to commit burglaries, shoplifting, and fraud.
The indictment reveals that key figures in the ring, identified as Juan Carlos Thola-Duran and Ana Maria Arriagada, orchestrated the operation by falsifying rental car records to maintain anonymity and give the appearance of legitimacy. This enabled the criminals to carry out their activities without raising immediate suspicion.
According to court documents, the ring’s activities were coordinated via WhatsApp, using coded language to plan and execute the thefts. The stolen goods, including electronics, luxury items, and gift cards, were then sold, with some of the profits allegedly used to purchase real estate and horses. The group reportedly attempted to avoid detection by structuring bank withdrawals to keep them below the $10,000 reporting threshold.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer compared the operation’s sophistication to that of Amazon, noting that instead of dispatching delivery drivers, the ring dispatched trained thieves to rob homes. The stolen goods were often sent to South American countries like Colombia through FedEx or hidden in luggage on flights out of Los Angeles International Airport. The proceeds from these crimes were also transferred to individuals in Chile, according to prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the severity of the issue, stating that “crime tourism” is a significant problem affecting not just Southern California, but the entire nation. The thieves, once equipped with cars and leads on potential targets, reportedly launched widespread theft sprees across multiple states, committing hundreds of robberies.
The individuals indicted by a grand jury in June include Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, Ana Maria Arriagada, John Carlo Thola, Patricia Enderton, Miguel Angel Barajas, and Federico Jorge Triebel IV. They face charges related to burglary, theft, and other crimes committed across the country from January 2018 to July 2024. The Justice Department alleges that the group was responsible for sending stolen property and profits to South America, further highlighting the international scope of their criminal activities.