11-03-2025
3rd member of retail crime ring sentenced for role in $238K theft scheme
DENVER (KDVR) — A 20-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 17 years in prison after he pleaded guilty for his role in a retail theft scheme in Castle Rock and across the Denver metro, according to the 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office.
Jaison Contreras-Rangel, of Venezuela, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. Contreras-Rangel was accused of participating in 12 thefts at retail stores that included jewelry stores and a Sunglass Hut.
Retail crime ring member gets 8 years in prison for thefts across metro area; DA asks more retailers to cooperate
According to an arrest affidavit, Contreras-Rangel was part of a group that was linked to 19 thefts in the Denver metro from Dec. 4, 2023, through Jan. 25, 2024. The crime ring, according to the court documents, has at least seven 'main members' who have been identified by police.
Contreras-Rangel was identified in a robbery of a Sunglass Hut in Castle Rock where almost $9,760 of merchandise (which included 27 pairs of sunglasses) was reported stolen. The arrest affidavit describes how three men entered the store, selected several pairs of eyeglasses and fled the store with them.
The arrest affidavit also describes how detectives learned of jewelry grab-and-run thefts, and recognized suspects in the crime ring in crime bulletins, including Contreras-Rangel.
Another member of the crime ring, Jacson Rojas-Montilla, also pleaded guilty for his role in the thefts and has been sentenced to eight years in prison, and then will be deported as he is an undocumented immigrant, as are most of the members of the crime ring. Another co-conspirator, Bruno Gutierrez-Zorilla, was convicted at trial and is awaiting sentencing.
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