"NEWS RELEASE
Local Law Enforcement Agencies Uncover Latino Gang Auto Theft Ring
After further investigations, it was determined the crime spree was a product of three gang members living in Garfield County.
Recently documented vehicle thefts, including the above, involved unlocked vehicles, and some with the vehicles keys inside. In an effort to prevent these types of crimes, please remember to remove valuables and secure your vehicle. Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a location that is well lit and has high visibility.
Local Law Enforcement Agencies Uncover Latino Gang Auto Theft Ring
Garfield County, Colorado: A series of motor vehicle thefts in Denver and on the western slope that occurred between October 25 and October 30th, 2011 have been identified as gang-related.
After further investigations, it was determined the crime spree was a product of three gang members living in Garfield County.
All three juveniles are validated Sureño gang members. Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda, 14 years of age, is currently facing charges of aggravated motor vehicle theft (class 4 felony), theft (class 4 felony), carrying a concealed weapon (class 2 misdemeanor), possession of a handgun by a juvenile (class 2 misdemeanor) and first-degree criminal trespass (class 5 felony). Luis Jurado, 16 years of age, is currently facing the charge of aggravated motor vehicle theft (class 4 felony). The third juvenile is still under investigation and is not currently facing felony charges.
No further information will be released on his identity. I.C.E. Homeland Security Investigations is assisting inthe investigation of the gang members involved. I.C.E. has placed a hold on 14 year old Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda.
No further information will be released on his identity. I.C.E. Homeland Security Investigations is assisting inthe investigation of the gang members involved. I.C.E. has placed a hold on 14 year old Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda.
From what we know about the crime spree at this time, the three Sureño gang members are believed to have stolen seven cars total; five from the Pitkin/Garfield County jurisdictions, one from the Steamboat Springs area and one from the Denver area. They are also believed to have entered eight vehicles, stealing miscellaneous electronics and one handgun. The handgun was recovered from Gamez-Banda while attempting to steal another vehicle in New Castle, Colorado.
He was apprehended and held at gunpoint by the vehicle’s owner until officers from the New Castle Police Department and deputies from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office arrived and took him into custody.
He was apprehended and held at gunpoint by the vehicle’s owner until officers from the New Castle Police Department and deputies from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office arrived and took him into custody.
During the initial stages of the investigation of Jason Alexis Gamez-Banda, by the Carbondale and New Castle Police Departments, the Carbondale Officer recognized what he knew to be gang related information. The officer immediately notified the Garfield County Sheriff's Office T.A.G.Deputy, who used his resources, database and informants to help identify the other suspects. This resulted in a joint investigation, which involved: T.A.G., Carbondale Police Department, Aspen Police Department, New Castle Police Department, Immigration Custom Enforcement and the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. The joint investigation has led to the recovery of the previously mentioned stolen vehicles.
According to Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario, the outcome of this investigation demonstrates the importance of the cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies such as I.C.E. Homeland Security Investigations Operation Community Shield Task Force. It also demonstrates that dangerous criminal gang activity is present in our communities and how a cooperative law enforcement approach with our citizens is crucial to eradicate this criminal element.
Law Enforcement would like to remind its citizens to remove their keys and lock their car doors.
Recently documented vehicle thefts, including the above, involved unlocked vehicles, and some with the vehicles keys inside. In an effort to prevent these types of crimes, please remember to remove valuables and secure your vehicle. Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a location that is well lit and has high visibility.
November 4, 2011
5 comments:
Nice job. Thanks for this. How about cops helping us out here and doing some presentation work on crime status to "stay safe in Eagle" Mayor Matt Steckler? Regular instruction updates to all city and town councils, BOCC's would sure make it easier on us voters to get the laws in place you need.
Think about it.
Auto theft rings. Violent drug cartels. Violent gangs. Rogue groups demonizing our cops and bullying our folks.
Just about forgot about the stay safe in Eagle mayor of ours.
Wonder if he hangs with Just Anita and Fong.
Thank you to all the agencies and officers in this bust. You are thanked, you are appreciated. Go bigger. Stay the course.
What more could we ask for Christmas here on the west side of the hill?
All this major crime and liberal ostriches with their heads in the sand sitting in power.
Oh, yea. Guess we could ask for the violent drug cartels operating in the area to lower the price on meth so guys like this can branch out to bigger and better crime waves.
I keep wondering where the additional manpower to handle these problems is going to come from.
And Jankovsky bleeding Lou dry at the SO on his budget.
We need more DEA. More task force. More ICE. More deputies. More cops.
We need more resources in investigations and equipment.
We need more training. We need support for the officers like Agon that have to deal with the aftermath of all the perks of the job.
Because from a business mindset?
These animals lowering the price on meth means they'll sell more meth and make more money. These are young teen kids in a car stealing ring. More money + more victims + get them younger and younger = this has got to be stopped now.
And why is Garfield Commish Tom Jankovsky slashing an already stellar reputed man's budget when Garco's sitting on a lot of extra cash for a rainy day?
It's a rainy day.
Probably safe to assume these really young kids were on an initiation.
That brings to mind the question of why these particular towns.
Where is home base? Exactly where.
We should be spending the hundreds of thousands that went out on Lofgren and the pouring out on all these other cases that keep getting sat on judges barely having to look for the problems.
And use that for more cops. Better use of taxpayer dollars.
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