TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said a “South American theft group” made up of four Colombian citizens targeted the homes of business owners in six Florida counties.
In a news conference Thursday, Sheriff Grady Judd said the four suspects were in the country illegally during the course of the multiagency investigation, despite multiple interactions with federal immigration officials.
The suspected thieves made off with $1.69 million in cash, jewelry and clothes stolen from homes in gated communities, according to Judd. The “sophisticated” group was accused of surveilling homes and businesses to learn the owners’ routines and track them.
“Once they have their victim’s pattern, then they attack,” Judd said.
They were accused of disguising themselves as lawn care workers and joggers, as well as wearing burkas. According to Judd, they used Wi-Fi jammers and technology to bypass security systems.
Law enforcement identified burglaries in several counties: one in Polk, one in Pinellas, one in Manatee, one in Collier and five in Hillsborough. However, when they served search warrants, little evidence was found. The suspected stolen items were already gone.
Four additional burglaries in Polk County are suspected to be connected to the group.
Judd said the suspects “had no fear” despite having a history with federal immigration enforcement.
“We don’t have a broken immigration system in the U.S.,” Judd said. “We have a nonexistent immigration system in the U.S.”
The sheriff’s office released the following information about the four suspects:
- Geraldine Galeano-Perez, 33 (currently in the Polk County Jail)
- Galeano-Perez has charges in Polk County for racketeering; conspiracy to commit racketeering; unlawful use of two-way communication device; burglary of dwelling; conspiracy to commit burglary; grand theft of $100,000 or more; conspiracy to commit grand theft over $100,000; dealing in stolen property; conspiracy to deal in stolen property; and providing false information of pawned items (13 counts).
- Her prior criminal history in Colombia includes illegal trafficking/possession of firearms and ammunition, and grand larceny. She has also been arrested in New York for possession of controlled substance, possession of forged instrument and money laundering. Her bond in Polk County is set at $5.6 million.
- Milton Ayala-Sierra, 25 (deported to Colombia)
- Ayala-Sierra has Polk County charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and dealing in stolen property. He was charged in Hillsborough County on accusations of traveling across county lines to commit burglary and possession of burglary tools. The Kissimmee Police Department charged him with dealing in stolen property and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. His prior criminal history in New York includes possession of forged instrument and money laundering. Ayala-Sierra’s current bond is $2.5 million.
- Jason Alexander Higuera-Ruiz, 41 (unknown whereabouts)
- Higuera-Ruiz has Polk County charges of racketeering; conspiracy to commit racketeering; unlawful use of a two-way communication device; burglary of a dwelling; conspiracy to commit burglary; grand theft over $100,000; conspiracy to commit grand theft over $100,000; and conspiracy to deal in stolen property. Higuera-Ruiz was able to bail out of jail with GPS monitoring, but he cut the device off and is now on the run. Higuera-Ruiz’s current bond is $5.6 million.
- Geiler Orobio-Cabezas, 36 (currently in the Pinellas County Jail)
- Orobio-Cabezas has Polk County charges of racketeering; conspiracy to commit racketeering; unlawful use of a two-way communication device; burglary of a dwelling; conspiracy to commit burglary; conspiracy to deal in stolen property; and possession of burglary tools. He was arrested in 2023 in Michigan on burglary charges. His current bond is $3.1 million.
“These defendants conspired together to commit multiple burglaries across Central Florida — using members of the group as decoys outside the homes of small business owners while others broke into the residences, stealing more than $1.5 million worth of items,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement. “Thanks to the great investigative work of our law enforcement partners, our Statewide Prosecutors have charged them with serious felony counts and these criminals will be held accountable.”
Judd said the group purposefully targeted Asian Americans, and the series of alleged burglaries may be considered hate crimes.