Two men who stole “tens of thousands” of dollars worth of refrigerators, microwaves and ranges from new homes in metro-area subdivisions have pleaded guilty to the thefts, Colorado authorities said Friday. Two indicted men 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 multiagency probe spearheaded by the Colorado attorney general’s office and detectives from the Broomfield Police Department.
After stealing the goods, the ring sold the items in several ways, including at the Mile High Flea Market.
Nate Strauch, spokesman for Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, said members of the ring worked as home construction drywallers, cased the new homes and then returned to steal the appliances.
Then they would sell the appliances for “pennies on the dollar,” Strauch said. In one case, they sold a $2,300 Jenn-Air refrigerator for $500.
The burglaries occurred in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver and Douglas counties between late 2006 and late 2007.
The thefts involving “high-end” items included a refrigerator and stove valued at $6,600, Strauch said.
Some of the homes were occupied when the thefts occurred, but in other cases, the owners had not yet moved in.
Reyes-Ramos of Denver pleaded guilty to three felony counts, including violating the Colorado Organized Crime Act and two counts of second- degree burglary. He will be sentenced Oct. 2 in Broomfield District Court. He could receive up to 48 years in prison.
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.
Norberto Felix-Cruz and his father, Norberto Felix-Villapudua, also were indicted in February but remain at large. Both men are believed to have fled to Mexico, Strauch said.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
