DENVER (KDVR) — Federal authorities have arrested two men believed to be behind a national auto theft ring that primarily stole from major metropolitan airports and surrounding areas, including Denver.
Sadiel Noa-Aguila, 42, of Pharr, Nevada, and Miguel Baez-Echevarria, 36, of Las Vegas, were taken into custody on charges related to the exportation of stolen motor vehicles, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.
CSP: Hyundai, KIA vehicles among most stolen in ColoradoHere's how authorities say the scheme worked: First, co-conspirators would illegally enter vehicles and then use an access device that could either clone key fobs or authorize access to use the vehicle. They could then steal the car within minutes, according to an arrest affidavit for Noa-Aguila.
Then, GPS systems in the vehicles were commonly disabled. Co-conspirators would "often equip the vehicle with concealed Airtags to allow further tracking of the stolen vehicles. After the theft was effectuated, the stolen vehicles were commonly equipped with fraudulent license plates and 'VIN swapped,' which refers to fictitious VINs to elude law enforcement detection."
Court documents accuse the defendants of taking the stolen vehicles across state lines or to Mexico, where the vehicles would be sold. The Denver Police Department told law enforcement in Hidalgo County, Texas, that at least five vehicles found by authorities near the port of entry had been reported stolen from the Denver International Airport in fall 2024.
Another four vehicles stolen from DIA were found by authorities during the course of the investigation, with some of the cars having been stolen from Las Vegas, Miami and other cities with large airports.
Prosecutors allege that each vehicle was intended to be exported to Mexico, each displaying the same fictitious Texas license plate.
Noa-Aguila was arrested by Pharr Police Department officers in Texas when he was reportedly trying to export one of the vehicles found to have been stolen from DIA the month before through the Pharr port of entry to Mexico. He told officers he was paid $500 for crossing the vehicle to Mexico.
See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31According to prosecutors, Noa-Aguila's co-defendant, Baez-Echevarria, is linked to the theft of at least 15 other vehicles, and prosecutors estimate the organization stole vehicles worth millions of dollars in total.
Both are charged with aiding and abetting the exportation of stolen motor vehicles, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Baez-Echevarria is also facing charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which, if convicted, could land him up to 20 years in federal prison.
The case is being tried in the U.S. Southern District Court of Texas.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 2 men accused in nationwide car theft ring that targeted Denver International Airport )
Also on site :