Southern California Man Pleads Guilty in Multi-Million Dollar Theft Ring
Juan Carlos Thola Duran, a resident of Canyon Country, California, has pleaded guilty to leading a 'crime tourism' theft ring responsible for over $23.9 million in losses across the United States. The operation involved organized theft crews, primarily from South America, who carried out burglaries and retail thefts. Thola Duran's Van Nuys-based car rental business was used to supply vehicles to the crews, concealing their identities. The stolen goods were resold for profit, and the group also fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief funds. Thola Duran faces a maximum sentence of 55 years in federal prison. 
