Two men who stole “tens of thousands” of dollars of refrigerators, microwaves and ranges from new homes in newly constructed metro-area subdivisions have pleaded guilty to the thefts, Colorado authorities said today. Two other men indicted remain at large.
Julio Cesar Reyes-Ramos, 27, and Valentin Aguilar Miramontes, 45, were the target of a months-long investigation called Operation Freezer Burn, a multi-agency probe spearheaded by the Colorado attorney general’s office and detectives from the Broomfield Police Department.
After stealing the goods, members of the ring sold them through a variety of means, including at the Mile High Flea Market.
Nate Strauch, spokesman for Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, said some members of the ring worked as home construction drywallers, cased the new homes, then came back and stole the appliances.
Then, they would turn around and sell the appliances for “pennies on the dollar,” said Strauch.
In one case, they sold a $2,300 Jenn Air refrigerator for $500, he said.
The burglaries occurred in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver and Douglas counties between late 2006 and late 2007.
The thefts involved “high end” items, including a refrigerator and stove valued at $6,600, said Strauch.
Some of the homes were occupied when the thefts occurred, but in other cases, the owners of the new homes had not yet moved in.
Julio Cesar Reyes-Ramos of Denver pleaded guilty to three felony counts, including violating the Colorado Organized Crime Act, and two counts of second-degree burglary. Reyes-Ramos will be sentenced Oct. 2 in Broomfield District Court. He could receive up to 48 years in prison.
Valentin Aguilar Miramontes of Aurora pleaded guilty to four felony counts of theft by receiving. He will be sentenced Aug. 21 in Broomfield District Court. He could receive up to 12 years in prison.
The pair are two of four defendants who were indicted by the state grand jury on Feb. 22. Norberto Felix-Cruz and his father, Norberto Felix-Villapudua, also were indicted but remain at large. Both men are thought to have fled to Mexico and are believed to be in hiding there, said Strauch.
The cases were prosecuted by the office of Don Quick, the district attorney in the 17th Judicial District, and the Colorado attorney general’s office.
Police departments in Aurora, Castle Rock, Commerce City and Lafayette assisted in the investigation.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
