⏱ 2 min read
A brazen crime tourism group, led by Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, aka ‘Parcero,’ burgled its way through the US, leaving a trial of destruction and financial ruin in its wake. The group, mostly comprised of South Americans, stole an estimated $23.9 million from unsuspecting Americans.
Thola-Duran, 59, of Canyon Country, California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, receive and transport stolen property interstate, and commit money laundering, as well as structuring transactions to avoid federal financial reporting requirements.
According to his plea agreement, Thola-Duran controlled and operated Driver Power Rentals (DPR), a Van Nuys-based car rental or dealership business, with his then-live-in girlfriend Ana María Arriagada. He directed associates to travel to various parts of the US to commit thefts, including shoplifting goods, burglarizing residences, and stealing credit cards.
Thola-Duran and Arriagada required their co-conspirators to provide false identification when renting a vehicle for DPR’s records, making the car rentals appear legitimate and maintaining anonymity. The group’s victims included Target, Best Buy, The Home Depot, and other major retailers.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: California
- Location: CA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
