LOS ANGELES (TND) — Federal and local authorities uncovered a criminal tourism ring operating under the guise of a car rental business.
Prosecutors warned criminals who come into the country and steal from Americans.
“Anyone who thinks they can come into our country, exploit our freedoms and steal from the American people should think again,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said during a press conference Wednesday. “There will be serious consequences for these people and we will work in creative ways with our local partners to make sure we hold you accountable.”
Estrada alleged that two individuals who operated Driver Power Rentals, a Los Angeles-based car rental business, brought in criminals from South America to steal millions of dollars worth of cash and property from businesses and homes in Southern California and across the country.
Juan Carlos Thola-Duran of Canyon Country and his partner, Ana Maria Arriagada, rented vehicles to criminals who directed them to commit “hundreds of robberies across the country,” including burglaries, thefts, money laundering and other serious crimes, according to the 46-count indictment.
The pair, known as the “quarterbacks,” would provide vehicles to the “crime tourists” and show them where to commit crimes and thefts, Estrada said.
The alleged thefts occurred in 80 cities. Estrada said the investigation revealed 120 cases nationwide.
Investigators found that the defendants in the case stole approximately $5.5 million between 2018 and last month. The thefts included shoplifting at stores such as Target, Best Buy and Home Depot, burglaries of homes and the theft of victims’ credit and debit cards.
Thola-Duran, the leader of the crime tourism ring, “basically ran Hertz’s car rental business for thieves,” said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.
Most of the alleged perpetrators were from Chile, and prosecutors believe that a visa waiver program in which the Latin American country participates made it easier for the co-conspirators to come to the United States.
The defendants claimed to have used their “ill-gotten gains” to purchase real estate and horses. The federal government also alleged that the cash withdrawals were “structured” to prevent banks from reporting transactions over $10,000 to the U.S. Treasury.
Thola-Duran, Arriagada and others are also accused of fraudulently obtaining $274,998 in COVID-19 business relief loans from May 2020 to June 2021, the indictment further states.
“Since 2019, we have arrested over 130 suspects responsible for committing these crimes, the vast majority of whom used vehicles from Driver Power Rentals,” said Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in a federal prison for each count related to wire fraud and money laundering.
Subsequent sentences include up to ten years in prison for each count of structuring and up to five years in prison for each count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods interstate.
