Operation Fencing February

On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. the Police Department held a press conference with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office to announce recent arrests and charges connected with large scale fencing operations in the Bay Area.  The Department has prioritized investigating fencing operations, as they are the primary funding source for the auto burglary epidemic that has hit the Bay Area hard in recent years.

During the month of January and February, Fremont Detectives disrupted several new fencing ring operations in the Bay Area.  During these operations approximately 2,200 suspected stolen electronic devices were recovered with an estimated value of over $1.5 million.  In addition,Detectives seized $100,000 in cash, $148,000 in a bank accounts, as well as a 2015 Mercedes S550 AMG, 2019 Mercedes G43 AMG, 2015 Maserati, 2013 BMW 328, 2013 Porsche Panamera and a 2008 Lexus SUV, all believed to be purchased with profits from stolen iPhones, laptops and other electronic devices taken during the commission of auto burglaries.  11 suspects have been charged, 10 by the Santa Clara County District Attorney and one by the San Mateo County District Attorney.

Below is a summary of the investigation. A PDF version of the summary, former press releases, and related photographs are available here. 

In October of 2019, FPD Detectives served multiple search warrants culminating a 7-month investigation into a large-scale fencing operation being run by Torspin Wireless in Hayward, Ca.  The investigation resulted in eight arrests, recovery of 1,800 electronic devices and a seizure of approximately $350,000.

In January of 2020, FPD learned that Torspin had re-opened their business and were trying to re-establish their business.  On 02/04/20 Investigators conducted a business inspection based on compliance with California second-hand dealer laws and found numerous violations.  After follow up with the store owner, Torspin is in the process of shutting down for good.               

iTek:  FPD received a tip that a business called iTek Mobile Care, located at 60 N 13^th Street in San Jose, was part of a larger laptop fencing operation and were in possession of numerous stolen laptops.  Additional intelligence was obtained that iTek was getting the laptops from Carlos Paz, a well-known laptop fence out of San Francisco that was arrested in early 2018 by FPD.  On 01/21/20 FPD Detectives conducted an undercover operation where stolen phones were sold to the business.  A search warrant was later served at the business and numerous suspected stolen laptops were located.  The owner of the business, Thu Van Ho (known as Kevin), and his associate Than Nguyen were arrested for possession of stolen property.  When the case was finished a total of 549 suspected stolen electronic devices were recovered in addition to multiple backpacks.  Over $31,000 in currency was also seized.  The owner of iTek had been trained overseas on how to work on and repair laptops.  Evidence obtained during the course of the investigation showed that he was wiping laptops of user information and putting them into IT mode.  Statements obtained during interviews indicated iTek was shipping the laptops in bulk via a bus line to Los Angeles and from there to Vietnam.  Sorting through evidence led to multiple leads on additional laptop fences in the Bay Area.  Thu Van Ho and Than Nguyen have been charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Josue Pereira:  Pereira was a known laptop fence that was closely associated to the large laptop fencing ring taken down by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office on 01/23/20.  After weeks of surveillance we identified Pereira’s storage unit in Daly City and Pereira’s true address in San Francisco.  After sharing information with SMCO a joint operation day planned.  On 01/23 FPD Detectives followed Pereira into Daly City where a stop was conducted.  Located inside his vehicle was 7 electronic devices.  A follow up search at his storage unit resulted in the recovery of 33 suspected stolen electronic devices along with additional stolen property.  Evidence indicated he was sending the stolen laptops to Vietnam. Periera has been charged by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Carlos Paz:  In January of 2018 FPD Detectives culminated a months long investigation into a stolen laptop ring, arresting eight suspects and recovering over $2 million dollars of stolen laptops.  One of the main suspects in that investigation was Carlos Paz, who was found guilty and served approximately one year in custody.  A spin off to this investigation led to the arrest of Tommy Bui in San Jose who was also fencing stolen laptops.

On 02/07/20 FPD conducted surveillance on Carlos Paz at his address of record in San Francisco.  Paz was identified leaving the residence with two males and drove away in a grey Honda.  Paz drove about two blocks away from his house and double parked next to his white BMW.  Paz was seen removing items from the trunk of his BMW into the Honda.  Paz then drove to the Oakland Flea Market where he was witnessed meeting with a male who got into his backseat, which was the same MO as the previous Carlos Paz investigation.  Paz then drove away and left the flea market.  FPD attempted to stop Paz on the on-ramp to 880 in Oakland but he fled from officers.  Paz’s vehicle was located a short time after in Oakland where he collided into a car at the intersection of 22^nd & E12th.  Paz and his associates had fled from the vehicle prior to FPD arrived.  A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 41 suspected stolen laptops, 11 iPads, 30 cell phones (mostly iPhones) and 8 digital cameras.  Paz was able to evade capture.  Intelligence obtained suggests Paz fled to southern California.   On 02/27 FPD Detectives conducted a probation search at Paz’s residence and seized his white BMW.  Carlos Paz has been charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Brayan Burgos / Ernesto Guevara / Andy Nguyen / Edward Burgos / Fernando Ramos:  On 01/07/20 Sunnyvale had approximately 50 auto burglaries occur within their city.  One victim was able to track their cell phone to Oakland.  OPD eventually stopped a vehicle containing multiple items of suspected stolen property which included multiple laptops and cell phones.  The victims phone was located inside the vehicle as well.  Sunnyvale DPS arrested Brayan Burgos and Ismael Murillo.   Following the arrest, Sunnyvale DPS and Fremont PD shared information regarding Burgos and Murillo who were believed the be laptop fences and not the actual auto burglars.  Fremont PD assumed the fencing investigation.  On 02/20/20 Detectives were conducting surveillance on Brayan Burgos and Ernesto Guevarra, both of which traveled to Gilroy in separate vehicles.  Once in Gilroy, they met in a parking lot at the Gilroy Outlets with a minivan, which was determined to be a rental vehicle driven by Andy Nguyen.  Detectives watched as items were moved from Burgos’ Mercedes into the Nguyen’s minivan.  Shortly thereafter several of the suspects got into the minivan together and Detectives moved in to detain the suspects.  A total of five suspects were detained and later arrested when Detectives discovered 160 suspected stolen Apple Macbook’s inside the minivan and another 150 suspected stolen Apple Macbook’s inside Guevara’s Lexus SUV.  A follow up search resulted in the discovery and seizure of $100,000 in cash located hidden in the trunk of Burgos’ Mercedes.

Detectives conducted follow up search warrants and two known storage units located in Oakland.  These searches resulted in the discovery of over 1,000 suspected stolen laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, and other electronics.

Detectives also conducted a search warrant at Burgos’ residence and obtained evidence indicating a U-Haul truck was rented shortly after Burgos’ arrest.  Follow up interviews and additional evidence was collected which led Detectives to the location of the U-Haul truck in West Oakland.  Upon searching the U-Haul truck Detectives discovered approximately 500 suspected stolen laptops, cameras, cell phones and other electronics.

To date, Detectives had recovered approximately 2,200 suspected stolen electronic devices with an estimated value of over $1.5 million, seized $100,000 in cash, another $148,000 in a bank account in addition to a 2015 Mercedes S550 AMG, 2019 Mercedes G43 AMG, 2015 Maserati, 2013 BMW 328, 2013 Porsche Panamera and a 2008 Lexus SUV.

Brayan Burgos, Ernesto Guevara, Edward Burgos, Fernando Ramos and Andy Nguyen have been charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Ismael Murillo:  Arrested on 02/26/20 FPD Detectives served a search and arrest warrant at the residence of Ismael Murillo.  Murillo was arrested on his outstanding warrant from the Sunnyvale case and his involvement in the large laptop fencing conspiracy.  Ismael Murillo was charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Tommy Bui:  On 03/02, after receiving information that previous laptop fence Tommy Bui was back at it, FPD Detectives conducted a probation search at his residence on Orlando Drive in San Jose.  A search of residence resulted in the discovery of four suspected stolen Tumi backpacks, one of which has been confirmed from an auto burglary in May of 2019 in San Jose.  Additional evidence was discovered on Bui’s phone that showed Macbook price lists dated in November and December of 2019.  Tommy Bui was found to be related by marriage to Andy Nguyen, a recently arrested laptop fence.  Tommy Bui has been charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.