A high-ranking member of three car theft and burglary gangs in Colorado took a plea deal and was sentenced Thursday to 24 years in prison, the Colorado attorney general’s office said.
In the three cases in Adams and Larimer counties, 24-year-old Rene Ruiz pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, three counts of first-degree theft of motor vehicles, one count of theft of auto parts and one count of second-degree burglary, according to court records.
The plea deals dropped hundreds of charges of motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, theft of auto parts and more from his case, according to court records.
Prosecutors said Ruiz’s 24-year prison sentence is one of the longest imposed by prosecutors in an organized motor vehicle theft case.
“We were able to investigate and break up three overlapping major auto theft rings that harmed many Colorado residents and businesses,” Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a news release. “…Stolen cars are often used to commit other crimes and threaten communities.”
The three crime gangs together stole at least 365 cars worth a total of more than $8.3 million and between $53,000 and $78,000 in catalytic converters, the news release said.
“Motor vehicle theft impacts communities across the state and can have tremendous consequences for our residents, preventing victims from going to work, dropping their children off at school or getting to medical services,” the Eighth Judicial said District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin. edition.
Ruiz helped steal and sell cars from private individuals, commercial dealers and repair shops. He also broke into several businesses — including ATMs — in the Denver area, Front Range and Denver International Airport, prosecutors said in the news release.
Thursday’s sentencing comes as motor vehicle thefts are down significantly so far this year, both statewide and in the Denver area, according to the latest data from the Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force.
Statewide, car thefts fell nearly 28% between September 2023 and September 2024, according to the task force. Car thefts are also down 30% in Denver and 55% at DIA during the same period.
Other members of the three crime gangs are in custody and will appear in Adams County District Court and Larimer County District Court, according to Thursday’s news release.
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