Fontana authorities have arrested four men believed to be part of a South American organized crime group following an investigation into a vehicle burglary and related thefts across Southern California, officials said.
The case began on Oct. 11, when a woman withdrew $80,000 in cash from a bank in Fontana. Detectives say the victim was followed to a secondary location in the city, where her car was burglarized and the money stolen.
Investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Fontana Station, working closely with the Fontana Police Department, identified four suspects: Braham Jul Avila Gomez, 28; Eddy Bogota Garzon, 42; Claudio Fernando Mena, 44; and Jose Fernando Pinto Ramirez, 32.
Authorities said the suspects were members of a South American Theft Group specializing in organized crime. During the investigation, law enforcement observed the group conducting physical and electronic surveillance of potential victims and employing counter-surveillance techniques to avoid detection.
Braham Jul Avila Gomez, 28, a Colombian national, is accused of participating in a sophisticated vehicle theft ring in Southern California. (SBSD)
Eddy Bogota Garzon, 42, a Colombian national, is charged in connection with organized theft and burglary activities across the region. (SBSD)
Claudio Fernando Mena, 44, a Colombian national, faces charges for his alleged role in a South American theft group operating in California. (SBSD)
Jose Fernando Pinto Ramirez, 32, a Colombian national, was arrested for his involvement in a coordinated car burglary and theft conspiracy. (SBSD)
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On Nov. 6, search warrants were served at the suspects’ residences, yielding evidence linking them to the Fontana vehicle burglary and a conspiracy to commit additional crimes, including residential burglaries. All four were arrested and booked into the West Valley Detention Center.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is urging anyone with information about related crimes to contact the Fontana Sheriff’s Station at (909) 356-6767. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or submit tips online.
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