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Undercover operation leads to 16 stolen property arrests
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
A 14-month undercover operation led by Las Vegas police culminated in 16 arrests of locals accused of selling stolen property, authorities said Friday.
Police said the investigation, dubbed Operation Jigsaw, began in December 2010.
During the investigation, 28 vehicles, 21 firearms, narcotics and stolen credit cards were seized.
Police said undercover officers worked out of a storefront that criminals used to sell stolen properties of all types.
Undercover officers posed as employees in the storefront, which was located in the southwest valley.
Fifteen of the 16 arrested were Las Vegas residents. One man was from North Las Vegas.
Those arrested are the following:
■ Marvin Duane Evans, 36, who was charged with grand larceny auto, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime.
■ Luis Angel Rivera, 30, also known as Heriberto Moran, who was charged with three counts of grand larceny, two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and burglary.
■ Juan Carlos Alejo, 26, was charged with two counts of grand larceny, two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime.
■ Chad Connelley, 39, was charged with grand larceny auto, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime.
■ Ronald Leroy Ortez, 38, was charged with grand larceny auto, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime.
■ Omar Cardenas, 30, was charged with two counts of grand larceny and possession of a stolen vehicle.
■ Mario Alberto Garza, 37, was charged with grand larceny auto, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime.
■ Oscar Miguel Meza, 26, was charged with grand larceny auto, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime.
■ Casey Kealoha Apao, 32, was charged with possession of burglary tools, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime.
■ Nam Viet Nguyen, 33, was charged with two counts of grand larceny, three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and possession of a controlled substance.
■ Suon Friedman, 19, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of marijuana with the intent to sell.
■ Keaton Peterson 30, was charged with conspiracy to violate the uniform controlled substance act, and two counts of sale of a controlled substance.
■ Malcolm Blackwell, 39, was charged with prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
■ Antonio Gray, 30, was charged with prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
■ James Lee Brown, 22, was charged with prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
■ Ari James Langer, 37, was charged with prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Officials with the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Homeland Security Investigations Section of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. attorney's office and the Clark County district attorney's office assisted in the investigation.
The Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Section headed the operation.
Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
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I look at the names of the defendants and realize bias based on race or nationality is all on the Government. No discrimination here. Pure equal oppurtunity and free enterprise. Which leads to a question I have had for some time now. Americas Black population is around 15%. We have realistically 30 million Illegal aliens working in America. How is it that 30 million people that do not speak the language can migrate here and find work. Yet unemployment among blacks is 24%. Interesting. Can't call it discrimination, can't call it racism. So what is it?
I ask once AGAIN when are the judges and prosecuters going to wake up and get rid of these THUGS, PRISON would be a great place to get rid of them to. If you deport them, they will be back tomorrow committing the same ole crimes, so put them away for good... GREAT CONCEPT HUH???
To my fellow bloggers;
The type of suspects that were nabbed are very low level and second rate. The information that is derived from these cretins can and does yield valuable intelligence information that leads to other crimes of a higher priority and if you will, a higher level of criminal in the food chain. The sophistication of the operation, which is very expensive to run, properly secures and reduces the probability of the case being legally argued and thus more leverage can be applied to the suspect, including if you will, deportation proceedings. There is absolutely no honor in the criminal world as sometimes depicted on the movie screen (usual suspects). These type of cretins would sell their mothers down the drain for a break and freedom. It is never what it seems. Just to kill another myth, the police department is in the business of arresting people, the Judicial Court System are the ones that let them go, it is sometimes called checks and balances. Just an old veteran cop reflecting,
Gordon Martines
CURRE.ORG
@Oscar.Jones....last I heard there were 484 identified street gangs and at least 20,000 identified gang members in our community, the problem is getting worse. When I first came here as a policeman in 1978, there were only 12 identified street gangs.
I gotta go along with other posts. This is a good effort. But 16 arrests in 14 months is essentially one gang. We have hundreds of gangs in Nevada, and thousands of gang members, all dealing in one Ilegal activity or another to finance their operations and make profits. All this time and effort, and cost, and the creeps will probably get a light sentence from a weak Judge. I'm not condemning the effort. I just wish the results were bigger.
@Robert.Weston...Why do you hate America so much that you would so easily toss aside the US Constitution. It is the foundation of this country and you obviously have no use for it. Somehow, I bet your tune would change if charges were suddenly filed against you and you found yourself with a one way ticket Somalia, no bail, no trial, no chance. I'm fairly confident the tears wouldn't be the only liquid flowing from your body if it were you.
@criminals.suck...Interesting that you claim I wrong, but failed to offer any meaningful argument to the contrary. The fact is an Administrative order is in effect from the DA's office that allows the jail staff to offer Own Recognizance release for specific offenses if the jail population meets a certain threshold. But since you are so smart, then you tell me how someone is just let go from custody without seeing a judge.
Bghs.1986... Well it is official ... Ur Vegas high school education is really showing... Your comment about how criminals get released really does show your overall lack of knowledge regarding law enforcement ... You statement was essentially completely inaccurate. You stated "Hate to burst your Metro love bubble, but anyone released within 24-hours of their arrest are let go at Metro's discretion"...... Obviously you watch a lot of TV and have never been directly involved in law enforcement... Other than receiving tickets
Need to deport every single one of them. Time to start taking citizenship away from people. That's right. Enough is enough. ICE should be waiting for them. No bail-No bond. Just scoop them up and toss them over the southern river. Born here? Too bad. Deport them to Turkey and let them visit their jails for about ten years. Time to have a contract with private/federal Turkish or Egyptian jails. That will teach them. Let the tears begin.
I should also say that no polic eofficers were willing to help me. I was eventually told to go to the new station on MLK. They close at 9pm. What a joke. Then some patrol car was supposed to come but they never did. Stood outside of the station for nearly an house. the GPS is apparently the key in all of these thefts. You know, a lot of people see things but only a theft takes them. This is a calculating ring who works the garages at anytime of the day.
@cashew- your response is very telling about your personality. I was not at a strip club (female), I was in a pay garage at 3:30pm. My rental car was broken into and most of my items were in the trunk. They saw the GPS that was under a box plugged in to the outlet.