Three suspects in an alleged burglary and auto theft ring have been arrested after a year-long investigation.
A Denver grand jury returned a 103-count indictment naming eight co-defendants who allegedly targeted victims across the Denver metro area, according to the Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force.
Tiffany Nicole Weaver 22, Levi Gregory Yazzie, 28, and Harold Ernest Margeson 41, have all been charged with violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA) and numerous other criminal counts including conspiracy to commit aggravated motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit theft, burglary and criminal trespass, police said in a media release.
Weaver faces 83 counts, Yazzie 70 counts and Margeson 13 counts, authorities said.
Five other people who remain at large have also been indicted in the case.
The indictment alleges that for more than a year the group burglarized apartment and condominium parking garages, stealing cars and breaking into vehicles to steal goods and information.
The ring used stolen information to commit further crimes, police said, including forgery and credit card fraud.
“The indictment alleges that their common goal was to buy, sell, trade and barter stolen property and money in exchange for controlled substances, primarily methamphetamine,” the release said.
Investigators said about 70 people have been victimized and losses totaled about $578,000.
The suspects at-large are:
Levi Gregory Yazzie 28, Scott Wayne Pernesky, 40, Justin Dean Nelson 28, Marc Philip Falkenhan, 28 and Lee Deon Ellis, 24.
The task force is made up of members from the Denver District Attorney’s Office Economic Crime Unit, Denver Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Arvada Police Department, Wheat Ridge Police Department and the Westminster Police Department.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
