9 Chileans Linked To Theft Ring Detained By ICE In Princeton, Jersey City

PRINCETON, NJ — Nine Chileans connected to South American Theft Groups were detained in Jersey City and Princeton on Sept. 19 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Newark (ICE) , and Joint Organized Crime Task Force partners from FBI Newark, authorities said.

It is currently unclear how many were arrested from Princeton and how many from Jersey City.

The people had entered the United States legally but violated the terms by overstaying their visas. Several of those taken into custody have extensive criminal histories involving theft and related offenses across multiple states, ICE said.

"We are committed to stopping transient criminal aliens who exploit our immigration system to harm American businesses and communities," said Ruben Perez, ERO Newark acting Field Office Director. "By working closely with our law enforcement partners, ICE is dismantling South American Theft Groups and ensuring those who break our laws face justice."

South American Theft Groups are transnational criminal organizations operating in numerous countries. These groups are known for using sophisticated tactics to conduct high-end residential and business burglaries, as well as other property crimes that significantly impact communities and businesses nationwide, ICE said.

"FBI Newark's Criminal Enterprise Branch and its Joint Organized Crime Task Force remains steadfast in its effort to identify and disrupt South American Theft Groups targeting New Jersey communities," FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy said. "ICE ERO Newark has been a critical member of our Joint Organized Crime Task Force for many years, and that partnership continues to result in substantial arrests such as these."

Some of the people taken into custody include:

• A Chilean national unlawfully present in the U.S. with prior arrests in Florida for petit theft, retail theft, and use of an anti-shoplifting device, as well as fraudulent credit card use in Tennessee. The person is also wanted in multiple states for similar crimes including larceny and burglary.

• An active member of a South American Theft Group previously arrested for larceny in Florida and arrested again in New Jersey for receiving stolen property.

• A Chilean with prior arrests for petit larceny, grand theft, and DUI, who also has an outstanding warrant in Florida for failure to appear.

• A Chilean national with an outstanding warrant for burglary in Pennsylvania.

• A known associate of a South American Theft Group.

ICE said it was withholding the names of people taken into custody due to an ongoing investigation.