Bonta announces sentencings for major retail theft ring

“The organized retail theft we’re seeing in California and throughout the country are coordinated efforts by groups that are targeting stores with the intention of stealing as much as possible with no regard for the safety of the workers or consumers in those businesses,” Bonta said in a press release. “In this case, we see that the coordination doesn’t stop at the initial theft. Groups are in turn reselling items, and in many cases using them to fund additional illicit activity, including human trafficking and organized crime. The defendants in this case have been held to account for their crimes, and I can assure you, others will be as well.”

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring the safety and security of our residents, businesses and visitors, said San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos Bolanos.

“As law enforcement professionals, we will continue to have active dialogue with our local business owners and a strong and visible presence in the communities we serve. Those who come to San Mateo County and engage in any form of organized retail theft or violent acts will be thoroughly investigated and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Bolanos said.

The joint investigation and prosecution of these individuals show that the premeditated retail theft actions of criminal groups in multiple cities across Northern California is intolerable and will not be accepted by district attorneys, the attorney general, law enforcement officials and the community, said San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe.

“Anyone caught engaging in such criminal conduct will face similar prosecution, conviction, and incarceration. Further, we will seize and forfeit any and all proceeds stemming from this illegal activity to the state,” Wagstaffe said.

Drago, Edgar Geovany Robles Morales, Isis Vasquez Villanueva, Jose Villatoro and Michelle Renee Fowler were arrested Sept. 30, 2020, during a search and arrest warrant operation in the San Francisco Bay Area. The arrests followed a joint investigation by the California Department of Justice’s White Collar Investigation Team, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office’s Crime Suppression Unit, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office and the California Highway Patrol. The investigation began in April 2020, and uncovered a major theft ring involving stolen property from burglaries and retail store thefts in the Bay Area. The defendants transported, stored and sold stolen goods in other countries and laundered the money back to the United States. Over the course of the investigation, $1,874,633.65 was seized from the defendants’ various bank accounts.

Fowler pleaded guilty to one count of felony organized retail theft, one count of felony receiving stolen property, as well as an aggravated white collar enhancement. She was sentenced to three years in state prison. The execution of her sentence will be suspended pending successful completion of two years’ formal supervised probation, including 364 days in San Mateo County jail.

Robles Morales and Villanueva pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to commit organized retail theft and was sentenced to probation with 364 days of electronic monitoring or work program.

Villatoro pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, and was sentenced to probation and 30 days in jail.

Lead defendant Drago pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit organized retail theft, receiving stolen property, and money laundering, and admitted the special allegation of the aggravated white collar enhancement of over $500,000. His plea agreement stipulates a term of six years in state prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 25.

Retail crime rings have been growing in prevalence in recent months and, most notably, last week, when large groups of people stole items from high-end stores in San Francisco’s Union Square and Walnut Creek.