Four illegal immigrants are accused of orchestrating a sophisticated theft ring that stole about $1.7 million in nine robberies, primarily against Asian American business owners, across Florida, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
“We have organized criminals coming from our southern border who are targeting legitimate Americans, legitimate small businesses, preying on people who live in gated communities with nice homes and fine jewelry,” Judd said. said During the press conference:
They can do so because there is no system in place to keep criminals out of the country. …Our immigration policy has failed … They didn’t show up when they got in. [in immigration court]They have no intention of following society’s rules, sexually abusing children, Immigration policy can control everything: “You come here legally, like Asian American victims, so we can vet you.”you won’t come here [through] “Catch and Release” [Emphasis added]
Press Conference (August 15, 2024)
Sheriff Judd is releasing details of the 17-month investigation into a South American Theft Gang (SATG) that broke into homes across six Florida counties and stole approximately $1.7 million worth of property. All of the suspects resided in Winter Garden, Florida, and were in the United States illegally. They specifically targeted the homes of small business owners. To read the announcement, click here: https://tinyurl.com/mp3wej87
Contributor Polk County Sheriff’s Office Thursday, August 15, 2024
The four suspected illegal immigrants — Geraldine Galeano Perez, 33; Milton Ayala Sierra, 25; Jason Alexander Higuera Ruiz, 41; and Gaylor Orobio Cabezas, 36 — are charged with extortion and theft in connection to nine thefts targeting affluent Asian Americans in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee and Collier counties.
According to Judd, Galeano Pérez is a violent criminal originally from Colombia who illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border near Hidalgo, Texas, in July 2021. She was apprehended by Border Patrol and released onto U.S. soil with a Order to Appear (NTA) before a federal immigration judge.
In December 2022, a federal immigration judge ordered Galeano Pérez deported from the U.S. after she failed to appear for a court hearing in New York. That same year, she was arrested in New York on drug charges but was not turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) thanks to the state’s sanctuary policy.
Galeano-Perez was arrested in Hillsborough County in April on a theft charge and was transported to prison several times before eventually being booked into the Polk County Jail, where he remains in ICE custody on $365,000 bail.
Ayala Sierra first crossed the southern border near Hidalgo in July 2021. Like Galeano Pérez, he was arrested, given a non-lawful entry authorization (NTA) and then released.
However, Ayala Sierra was given a GPS ankle monitor through the federal Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program. That same month, he was ordered deported in December 2022 after he removed the monitor and failed to appear before a federal immigration judge in New York.
Ayala Sierra was deported to Colombia in June this year without charge on fraud and theft charges.
Orobio Cabezas was arrested on a theft charge in Troy, Michigan, and had already been deported from the U.S. in July 2023. At some point, Orobio Cabezas illegally crossed the border and was arrested in Hillsborough County in April of this year.
He is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail on a conviction for illegal re-entry.
Higuera-Ruiz first illegally crossed the southern border near San Luis, Arizona, in December 2021. He was also released onto U.S. soil and asked to meet with ICE officials at a later date. Despite the charges, Higuera-Ruiz remains at large because he cut off the GPS monitor on his ankle.
“We can stop this, but if we don’t, you remain a victim,” Judd said. “We’re going to continue to go after these people, but frankly, we’d rather use these resources on our own criminals.”
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter. here.
