Adams County has seen over twelve individuals indicted for purportedly stealing cars from Denver International Airport and the neighboring Denver metro area, subsequently employing some of those vehicles in various criminal activities. The comprehensive indictment comprises 121 charges connected to burglary, aggravated motor vehicle theft, theft, and the Colorado Organized Crime Act.
The 13 individuals who have been charged are connected to a highly active group that has been under surveillance by the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force for over a year.
According to the Adams County District Attorney, between February 2022 and March 2023, a group of individuals are accused of committing vehicle thefts from different places, including DIA. Additionally, they allegedly used some of these stolen vehicles to forcefully crash into businesses. Subsequently, it is alleged that they would secure straps around ATMs inside the establishments and extract the machines.
Earlier this year, CBS News Colorado’s Karen Morfitt reported on the rise of vehicle thefts at DIA parking lots.
The criminals reportedly chose Ford F-150 Raptors as their preferred mode of transportation and specifically targeted businesses housing ATMs. Additionally, Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge Challengers, and Dodge Chargers were allegedly stolen and utilized in the commission of these offenses.
According to the District Attorney, the defendants purportedly employed specialized tools to reprogram key fobs, enabling them to steal the vehicles. Additionally, they allegedly deactivated the GPS tracking system of the vehicles in order to evade capture.
The purported offenses took place in several areas, encompassing Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Jefferson, and Logan counties. A grand total of 59 vehicles were reported stolen, accompanied by 31 cases of attempted or successful burglaries.
In a news conference earlier this month, DIA CEO Phil Washington addressed the issue of vehicle thefts and the measures taking place to keep that from happening, “One car that’s stolen out here is one car too many.”
The indictment lists the following defendants: Marc Morales Cisneros, who is currently evading authorities, Hector Escalera Hernandez, who is currently detained in Mexico, David Nava Delgado, Carlos Nava Delgado, Jorge Cadena Lujan, Stephanie Reza Ramos, Rene Ruiz Ochoa, Alejandro Silva-Vasquez, who is also evading authorities in Mexico, Cesar Poblano Hernandez, Brian Valladares, Rodrigo Perez-Gonzalez, Cruz Cordova, and Jose Merino Ramos, all of whom are currently in custody.
