LOS ANGELES
A Santa Clarita Valley man pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges for facilitating a “crime tourism” ring that carried out burglaries and thefts across the United States, causing at least $23.9 million in losses, according to officials.
Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 59, also known as “Parcero,” of Canyon Country, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy involving wire fraud, interstate transport of stolen property and money laundering, and one count of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements.
Thola-Duran, in federal custody since August 2024, agreed to forfeit assets tied to the scheme, including dozens of vehicles, jewelry and luxury goods.
Quick Facts
- Defendant: Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 59
- Alias: “Parcero”
- Losses: At least $23.9 million
- Illegal proceeds identified: At least $5.7 million
- COVID-19 loan fraud: $274,998
- Structured withdrawals: About $412,292
- Victims: At least 37
- Max sentence: 55 years in federal prison
- Sentencing date: Nov. 18
According to his plea agreement, Thola-Duran and his then-girlfriend, Ana María Arriagada, 43, operated a Van Nuys-based business, Driver Power Rentals, which supplied vehicles to organized theft crews — often from South America — traveling across the country.
The crews committed residential and commercial burglaries, shoplifting and credit card fraud. Thola-Duran directed them to quickly use stolen cards at retailers such as Target, Best Buy and The Home Depot to purchase electronics, gift cards and luxury items before accounts could be frozen.
Prosecutors said the operation used false identification to rent vehicles and maintain anonymity. Stolen goods were shipped or delivered to associates, then resold by Thola-Duran at a fraction of their value. He received at least $5,758,655, including about $5.2 million tied to accounts associated with an electronics exporter.
Authorities said the conspiracy affected at least 37 victims nationwide.
From May 2020 to June 2021, Thola-Duran and others also obtained $274,998 in fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans.
Prosecutors said he further attempted to conceal proceeds by making repeated cash withdrawals under $10,000, totaling about $412,292 between March and October 2022, to avoid federal reporting requirements.
U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald scheduled sentencing for Nov. 18, when Thola-Duran faces a maximum sentence of 55 years in federal prison.
Arriagada previously pleaded guilty to four felony counts and is awaiting sentencing. Two other defendants — Patricia Enderton, 45, of Northridge, and Federico Jorge Triebel IV, 79, of Woodland Hills — have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial on Aug. 18.
Federal prosecutors said they have secured four guilty pleas in the case so far.