Orange County Retail Theft Ring Participants Plead Guilty

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A man and woman pleaded guilty Thursday for their part in an organized retail crime ring in Orange County.

Investigators from TJX Companies Inc., who work for TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods stores told California Highway Patrol investigators about a team suspected of repeatedly stealing from stores throughout Southern California.

The suspects were caught under surveillance stealing from multiple stores and bringing the loot to a mobile home in Midway City, according to the CHP.

After serving a search warrant investigators found stolen goods packed in the home up to the ceiling, the CHP said. Investigators also found stolen goods at four self-storage units and needed multiple trucks to haul them away, the CHP reported.

Authorities also recovered $65 in cash. The CHP reported that 43 separate retailers were victimized and $1.9 million in goods were recovered.

Jaime Delarosa Sanchez, 55, and Yolanda Delarosa, 48, who have been in custody since Aug. 31, pleaded guilty to organized retail theft of two or more thefts exceeding $950 and receiving stolen property, both felonies, and admitted a sentencing enhancement for aggravated white-collar crime exceeding $500,000.

Delarosa Sanchez was sentenced to 286 days in jail and Delarosa was sentenced to 364 days in jail.

Both were placed on two years of formal probation.

Co-defendants Jamie Mendoza, 36, and Maritza Guerrero, 31, both of Anaheim, are awaiting trial.

City News Service