DENVER (KDVR) — A 20-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 17 years in jail after he pleaded responsible for his function in a retail theft scheme in Citadel Rock and throughout the Denver metro, in line with the twenty third Judicial District Legal professional’s Workplace.
Jaison Contreras-Rangel, of Venezuela, pleaded responsible to 2 counts of theft and violating the Colorado Organized Crime Management Act. Contreras-Rangel was accused of collaborating in 12 thefts at retail shops that included jewellery shops and a Sunglass Hut.
In line with an arrest affidavit, Contreras-Rangel was a part of a gaggle that was linked to 19 thefts within the Denver metro from Dec. 4, 2023, by means of Jan. 25, 2024. The crime ring, in line with the court docket paperwork, has at the least seven “predominant members” who’ve been recognized by police.
Contreras-Rangel was recognized in a theft of a Sunglass Hut in Citadel Rock the place virtually $9,760 of merchandise (which included 27 pairs of sun shades) was reported stolen. The arrest affidavit describes how three males entered the shop, chosen a number of pairs of eyeglasses and fled the shop with them.
The arrest affidavit additionally describes how detectives realized of jewellery grab-and-run thefts, and acknowledged suspects within the crime ring in crime bulletins, together with Contreras-Rangel.
One other member of the crime ring, Jacson Rojas-Montilla, additionally pleaded responsible for his function within the thefts and has been sentenced to eight years in jail, after which can be deported as he’s an undocumented immigrant, as are a lot of the members of the crime ring. One other co-conspirator, Bruno Gutierrez-Zorilla, was convicted at trial and is awaiting sentencing.
