Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, Crime Tourism, California 2024
Crime Tourism Ring Leader Pleads Guilty
LOS ANGELES, CA - A Santa Clarita Valley man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges, including facilitating a crime tourism group of South Americans and other individuals who committed burglaries and other crimes throughout the United States, causing at least $23.9 million in losses.
Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 59, a.k.a. 'Parcero,' of Canyon Country, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, to receive and transport stolen property interstate, and to commit money laundering, and one count of structuring transactions to avoid federal financial reporting requirements.
According to his plea agreement, Thola-Duran and his then-live-in girlfriend, Ana María Arriagada, 43, a.k.a. 'Parcera,' controlled and operated co-defendant Driver Power Rentals (DPR), a Van Nuys-based car rental or dealership business. Arriagada was DPR's registered owner.
Thola-Duran directed associates, often members of crime tourism theft groups traveling from South America, to travel to various parts of the United States to commit thefts, including shoplifting goods from stores, burglarizing residences and commercial businesses, and stealing victims' credit cards and debit cards.
The criminal conspiracy to commit wire fraud, to receive and transport stolen property interstate, and to commit money laundering harmed at least 37 victims and resulted in losses of at least $23.9 million. Furthermore, Thola-Duran, Arriagada, and others from May 2020 to June 2021 conspired to fraudulently obtain $274,998 in COVID-19 business relief loans.
United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald scheduled a November 18 sentencing hearing, at which time Thola-Duran will face a statutory maximum sentence of 55 years in federal prison.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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