Exposing the Dark Underbelly of "Crime Tourism" in Los Angeles

In a shocking revelation, authorities in California have uncovered a complex criminal network that catered to "crime tourists" from around the world. The operation, based in the heart of Los Angeles, provided rental vehicles to thieves and criminals, enabling them to carry out a range of illegal activities across the United States. The investigation, spanning several years, has led to the arrest of seven individuals and has shed light on the startling scale of this "crime tourism" enterprise.

Unraveling a Web of Deceit: The Driver Power Rentals Scheme

The Orchestrators: Juan Carlos Thola-Duran and Ana Maria Arriagada

Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, a 57-year-old man, and his girlfriend, Ana Maria Arriagada, 41, were the masterminds behind the operation. They operated a rental company called Driver Power Rentals (DPR) in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, which served as a front for their illicit activities. The indictment alleges that Thola-Duran and Arriagada provided vehicles to criminals, often from South America and other regions, who would then use these cars to commit a range of crimes across the United States.

The Criminal Enterprise: Theft, Fraud, and Money Laundering

The seven individuals arrested are facing a litany of federal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and structuring transactions to avoid financial reporting requirements. According to the indictment, Thola-Duran directed his associates to carry out various criminal activities, such as shoplifting goods from stores, burglarizing residences and commercial businesses, and stealing victims' credit and debit cards.The group's modus operandi involved the thieves immediately using the stolen credit and debit cards to max out the limits by purchasing high-end electronics, gift cards, designer handbags, and other luxury items before the cards could be frozen or canceled. Thola-Duran then acted as a "fence," buying the stolen goods at a fraction of their retail value and paying the thieves a percentage of the item's worth.

The Staggering Scale of the Operation

The indictment alleges that Thola-Duran and his co-conspirators were able to amass a staggering $5.5 million over the course of the criminal enterprise. This included approximately $5.1 million that was sent to various bank accounts, which they used to purchase real estate and horses.In a further twist, the group is also accused of conspiring to fraudulently obtain $274,998 in COVID-19 business relief loans from May 2020 to June 2021, further underscoring the depth of their criminal activities.

The Collaborative Effort to Bring Down the Ring

The investigation into the "crime tourism" ring involved a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the FBI. According to Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff, since 2019, the authorities have arrested over 130 suspects responsible for perpetrating these crimes, with the vast majority using cars supplied by Driver Power Rentals.Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko praised the efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office, stating that "taking down a key operator who fueled crime tourism is essential to neighborhood safety." The successful prosecution of this network is a significant step in addressing the broader issue of "crime tourism" and its impact on local communities.If convicted, the defendants face the prospect of lengthy federal prison sentences, with a maximum of 20 years for each wire fraud- and money laundering-related count, up to 10 years for each structuring count, and up to five years for the conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.This case serves as a stark reminder of the complex and far-reaching nature of organized criminal activity, and the importance of collaborative law enforcement efforts to dismantle such intricate webs of deceit and criminality.