Two members of a theft ring dubbed the “Cigarette Bandits” pled guilty today for stealing about $80,000 in merchandise from convenience stores in the metro area.
Members of the ring were accused of going to the stores, where one or two of them would distract the clerk while other ring members would locate the display cases and storage areas for cigarettes and other higher-priced items.
They would then go into the storage areas or back rooms, sometimes using the keys taken from the unsuspecting clerks, and steal the cigarettes and other merchandise, including cell phones.
After part of the group left with the pilfered items, the decoys would also leave.
The two defendants appearing in Jefferson County District Court today were Anita Jean Duran, 47, and her daughter, Eugenia Isabel Duran, 24.
Both pled guilty to theft, a class three felony.
Eugenia Duran was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $47,589 in restitution.
Anita Duran will be sentenced on May 12.
The ringleader of the group, Kenneth Daniel Cortez, 44, pled guilty to racketeering on Dec. 10 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The trio was indicted by the Jefferson County grand jury in January 2007.
Targeted in Lakewood were two Phillips 66 stores, a Conoco store, several 7Elevens, and a Western Convenience outlet.
Four Diamond Shamrock stores were hit in Westminster.
Pam Russell, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office said the trio also targeted stores in Douglas, Arapahoe, Denver and Adams counties.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
