‘Crime tourism group’ busted in Los Angeles also operated in Illinois

LOS ANGELES — Six people were arrested Wednesday and charged in Southern California for their alleged involvement in a nationwide theft ring that included Illinois.

The Department of Justice said a man and his live-in girlfriend, 57-year-old Juan Carlos Thola-Duran and 41-year-old Ana Maria Arriagada, facilitated a ‘crime tourism group’ comprised of South Americans and other individuals.

The couple allegedly used their California-based car rental business to help the crime tourism theft group from January 2018 until July of this year.

According to prosecutors, the group would use stolen credit cards to buy goods, which they would sell. Prosecutors also said the ‘tourists’ would break into luxury homes and steal high-end merchandise.

Prosecutors suggest the group made more than $5 million and used the money to purchase real estate and horses, among other things.

“Once the crime tourist had gone across the country and stolen merchandise, money, credit cards, debit cards, they would send much of that back to the defendant. The defendant would then fence or sell that merchandise and take a percentage of the profits,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.

According to the indictment , the suspects used stolen credit cards linked to a theft ring in Rockford, Peoria, and Springfield. The suspects used the stolen credit cards to purchase a $2,717 computer in Rockford and nearly $8,000 in gift cards from Walmart stores in Springfield and Peoria.

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