Seven individuals have been arrested in California for their involvement in a crime tourism ring that provided vehicles to thieves conducting illegal activities across the U.S. The ring allegedly facilitated thefts, credit card fraud, and money laundering.
Federal authorities have dismantled a crime tourism ring operating in Los Angeles, California, that supplied vehicles to criminals for use in their illicit activities. Seven individuals have been arrested and charged with multiple federal crimes, including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.
At the helm of the operation was Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 57, and his girlfriend, Ana Maria Arriagada, 41. They operated Driver Power Rentals (DPR) in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, providing vehicles to criminals originating from South America and other regions.
Crime Tourism Ring Busted in Los Angeles, Providing Vehicles for Thieves
According to a release from the Department of Justice, Thola-Duran allegedly directed associates to commit thefts, including shoplifting, burglarizing residences and businesses, and stealing credit and debit cards from victims from January 2018 to July 2024.
The stolen credit and debit cards were used at major retail stores, such as Target, Best Buy, and The Home Depot, to purchase electronics, gift cards, and designer goods before they could be frozen or canceled. The stolen merchandise was then delivered or mailed back to DPR.
Crime Tourism Ring Busted in Los Angeles, Providing Vehicles for Thieves
Acting as a "fence," Thola-Duran purchased the stolen goods at discounted prices and paid the thieves a percentage of their retail value. Over the course of the conspiracy, he reportedly accumulated $5.5 million in proceeds, of which $5.1 million was transferred to various bank accounts.
In addition to their crime ring, Thola-Duran and Arriagada are accused of fraudulently obtaining $274,998 in COVID-19 business relief loans from May 2020 to June 2021.
Crime Tourism Ring Busted in Los Angeles, Providing Vehicles for Thieves
The investigation spanned several years and involved multiple agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the FBI.
Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff stated that since 2019, over 130 suspects have been arrested in connection with crimes allegedly facilitated by cars supplied by DPR.
"Driver Power Rentals provided cars that were allegedly used to take high-end merchandise and jewelry from Ventura County homeowners," said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. "Taking down a key operator who fueled crime tourism is essential to neighborhood safety."
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud- and money laundering-related count, up to 10 years in federal prison for each structuring count, and up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, for comment.
