Sergio Manuel Montano Nava, Theft, California 2017

Twenty-two people have been indicted in a massive $20 million theft ring that targeted high-end shopping malls in California and across the country, federal authorities announced today.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Wong said the group of thieves, who operated for over a decade, stole millions of dollars worth of merchandise from retailers such as Victoria’s Secret, Hollister Co., Guess, Express and Abercrombie & Fitch.

The indictment alleges that team leaders assigned each member a specific role, such as team leader, mule or blocker, and used cell phones and hand signals to choreograph the thefts. Mules secreted the stolen merchandise out of stores in “booster bags,” which are shopping bags with metallic linings designed to defeat anti-theft sensors.

When necessary, the teams used force against store employees, other customers, and law enforcement to escape. For example, the indictment alleges that in November 2009, defendant Sergio Manuel Montano Nava knocked over an infant in its stroller and injured the infant’s father to avoid being arrested for a theft at a Hollister store in Schaumburg, Illinois.

In March 2013, a defendant grabbed a loss prevention officer by the throat and threw her to the ground while running from a theft at Abercrombie & Fitch at the Plaza Bonita Mall in National City.

The indictment lists 38 thefts which occurred at locations around the country at various clothing stores, including Victoria’s Secret, Hollister Co., Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic and Express in the California cities of Escondido, San Diego, National City, San Clemente, Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, City of Industry, Orange, Mission Viejo, Northridge, Canoga Park; and outside the state in Las Vegas, Nevada; Frederick, Maryland; Vancouver, Washington; and Schaumburg, Illinois.

The indictment also alleges that on October 23, 2013, defendant Maria Angelica Mendez Valdivia had $482,275 worth of merchandise – stolen from at least 57 retailers – which was being transported to Mexico. The thieves sold the stolen merchandise to an alleged “fence,” defendant Sara Portilla, who is accused of selling the stolen merchandise from a store she operated in San Diego.

Agents confiscated approximately $30,000 in cash plus about a dozen large trash bags full of new clothing – with merchandise tags and security devices still attached – from the defendants during searches at three homes in Lemon Grove, Chula Vista and San Diego.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Wong is handling the case.

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