Cartel-connected auto theft ring dismantled in Denver
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Denver District Attorney Beth McCann. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
A yearlong investigation into an auto theft ring plaguing the Denver metro has led to the indictment of 17 suspects tied to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world's most powerful criminal mafias.
Why it matters: Authorities say catching the culprits will make the state significantly safer. The indictment also marks a major feat for outgoing Denver District Attorney Beth McCann, who steps down next month after eight years in office.
Yes, but: Although most of the suspects have been arrested, the alleged ringleader, Joaquin Orozco-Ponce, and five others remain at large in Denver, Texas or Mexico, according to investigators.
Catch up quick: From September 2022 to February 2024, the 17 suspects allegedly stole 190 vehicles worth nearly $10 million, often targeting high-end pickup trucks at Denver International Airport, per the indictment.
- They transported those cars to Mexico and traded them with cartel members for cocaine and methamphetamine, which was then smuggled into the U.S. and distributed in Denver.
What they're saying: "It is something akin to what we might see in a Hollywood movie," David Olesky, the assistant special agent leading the DEA's Rocky Mountain division, said at a news briefing this week.
By the numbers: Car thefts in Denver have dropped in the past two years but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
- McCann's office has filed 1,038 motor vehicle theft cases so far this year, compared with 682 in all of 2019.
The big picture: Colorado — which once outpaced the nation in car thefts — has seen declines amid city and state efforts to crack down.
- State lawmakers passed bills last year that put $5 million toward auto theft prevention programs and made it a felony for repeat offenders.
- Meanwhile, Denver police launched an Auto Theft Investigations Team and Denver's airport introduced enhanced safety measures.
The bottom line: "These indictments should send the message that people who steal cars in Denver will be caught and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," McCann told reporters at the briefing.