Prosecutors Charge Seven in Coordinated Home Invasions
On Tuesday, prosecutors revealed that seven individuals are facing felony charges due to a string of home invasions across Los Angeles County. At least 20 burglaries are said to be connected to groups operating in the San Fernando Valley.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described these crimes as “brazen, calculated, and predatory,” emphasizing the lasting impact on victims who feel unsafe in their own homes.
“These organized robbers specifically target hard-working families, the very place where they should feel the most secure: their homes,” Hochman stated during a press briefing. He warned that law enforcement would pursue anyone who aims to intimidate neighborhoods and prey on innocent people.
Officials noted the growing issue of sophisticated theft rings, often involving organized groups from South America, which meticulously evade detection as they focus on affluent neighborhoods in Southern California.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna cautioned residents to be aware that many of these perpetrators conduct significant surveillance prior to their crimes. They often monitor social media for posts that indicate expensive purchases or vacation snapshots, suggesting the homeowner might be away.
“If you’re based in Los Angeles, just don’t broadcast that you’re off in Paris,” Luna added, hinting at the risks involved with sharing too much online.
Some thieves even disguise themselves as delivery workers, using fake bags from services like DoorDash or Amazon, aiming to approach homes without raising any alarm. Others have employed hidden cameras camouflaged as yard décor or Wi-Fi disruptors to counteract home security systems.
Investigators have linked one major case to Bailon Gonzalo Sáez Sotomayor, also known as Kevin Diaz, who is facing numerous charges, including 15 counts of first-degree burglary and grand theft for stealing firearms. Authorities claim that from January 2025 to May 2026, he robbed or attempted to rob 18 homes across the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles.
Sáez Sotomayor was apprehended on May 4 after allegedly breaking into a residence in the Beverly Wood area.
Three other suspects—Christopher Sanchez, Owen Rivera-Chacon, and Edison Fabian Boyaca—were charged with first-degree residential burglary following a robbery in Santa Clarita on May 1.
Law enforcement coordinated efforts, pursuing the suspects from Ventura County into Los Angeles, ultimately encompassing a highway operation.
While Sanchez was arrested on the highway, Rivera-Chacon attempted to flee but was later located in a nearby riverbed. Boyaca was apprehended in a vehicle about a mile away. Authorities recovered numerous valuables, such as jewelry, luxury handbags, cash, and tools for burglary from the suspects’ car.
Rivera-Chacón, having a prior conviction for a home invasion, could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted, while both Sanchez and Boyaca could receive sentences of up to six years each.
The charges also include Wilmer Santiago Castelblanco-Robles, Alan Rolando Rodriguez-Pulido, and Cristian Rios-Cuadros, each charged with first-degree burglary in a Burbank home break-in on April 26. A neighbor spotted the intruder and alerted the police, leading to a chase that ended with Rios-Cuadros and Castelblanco-Robles being found nearby, while Rodriguez-Pulido was arrested for driving the getaway vehicle.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna acknowledged a reported drop of over 30% in residential burglaries since 2022 but recognized that statistics provide little consolation for the affected victims. He articulated the deep sense of violation felt by victims: “Statistics don’t matter when someone breaks into your house. It makes you wary to sleep there. We’re committed to ensuring accountability for these offenders.”
