Arrests made in alleged organized crime ring targeting Placer County and beyond

Three people have been arrested for allegedly being involved in a highly organized criminal network that targeted numerous businesses and citizens in Placer County and other regions. These arrests are also symbols of frustration amongst local law enforcement over a state law which they say hampers their ability to catch criminals and prevent more crime. The Placer County Sheriff's Office announced these arrests come on the heels of a complex investigation into organized thefts across Placer County and surrounding regions. The suspects are linked to highly organized criminal networks often referred to as Transnational Theft Groups or South American Theft Groups, according to Placer County officials. These crews travel throughout the country, targeting affluent homes and retail businesses. Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said these crews are sophisticated, coordinated, and known to move quickly between jurisdictions to avoid detection. "These groups are responsible for significant financial losses among residents and business owners," said Sheriff Woo. "Our detectives and deputies worked diligently to identify, track, and safely apprehend these suspects, preventing additional burglaries in our community." Arrested were: Carlos Mario Corredor-Lamprea, 37, Jose Boade-Payares, 29, and Ivon Vergararincon, 29. The suspects are in the country illegally from South America and have multiple arrests in California, according to Sheriff's officials. In the most recent arrests, the suspects were caught targeting customers at Safeway in North Auburn. Working in teams, they distracted victims while shopping, then stole wallets and phones from carts. The stolen credit and debit cards were used immediately for fraudulent purposes. Detectives from the Property Crimes Unit were able to identify getaway vehicles used in the crimes, which led to the arrests. Upon further investigation, the detectives uncovered evidence that the suspects had selected and mapped a high-end residence in South Placer County for a planned burglary. The Placer County Sheriff's Office said this group is believed to be connected to similar thefts in multiple states, underscoring the need for strong collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies. Despite the efforts of local law enforcement, many offenders involved in organized theft rings are repeatedly released back into the community, said Sheriff's officials; they added a key factor contributing to this cycle is Senate Bill 54 (SB54). While the law was created to protect certain populations, it has created serious challenges for law enforcement. SB54 restricts local agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, even when offenders are repeat criminals or pose clear threats to public safety. Many suspects in organized theft and burglary crews are foreign nationals operating illegally in the United States, according to Placer County Sheriff's officials. Under SB54, deputies cannot notify or transfer custody of these individuals to federal partners such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless they meet very narrow criteria. As a result, offenders are often released after booking, sometimes within days, only to resume their criminal activity. Sheriff Woo said this revolving door undermines community safety and the work of law enforcement throughout the state. "SB54 has made it easier for organized crime groups to keep operating and harder for law enforcement to stop them," explained Sheriff Woo. "These organized crime groups exploit the gaps it created, and our communities pay the price. That's unacceptable for the people we're sworn to protect." The investigation is ongoing. Photos of the three suspects have been released in an effort to help identify other victims. Anyone who believes they were targets should contact the Placer Sheriff's Office at 530-886-5375.,