Portland Police Bureau
11/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/25/2024 12:22
Months-Long Investigation into Crime Ring Results in Arrests and Seizure of Evidence, Additional Victims Sought (Photo)
November 25, 2024 10:04
After months of investigation, multiple search warrants were executed and arrests were made in a crime ring that involved illegal gun possession, identity theft, and property theft, and investigators want to hear from anyone else who may have been victimized.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, officers from the Focused Intervention Team (FIT) served two search warrants on two locations. The warrants were the culmination of a larger investigation regarding stolen vehicles and other felony crimes involving nine different jurisdictions within the State of Oregon, including Portland, Newberg, Sandy, Damascus, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Washington County, Silverton, and Oregon City. With the assistance officers and detectives from the Enhanced Community Safety Team (ECST), the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), the K9 Unit, the ATF Canine, the Air Support Unit (ASU), and officers working a stolen vehicle operation (SVO), they were able to safely arrest seven people, including three juvenile males and four adult men.
During the search warrant service, officers seized as evidence five firearms, four of which were reported stolen out of West Linn, Lafayette, Tualatin, and Portland. One Taser reported stolen out of Oregon City was recovered as well. A stolen vehicle was recovered. And officers found and seized over 7 identity cards, 35 credit cards, 50 Visa gift cards.
Juvenile male, 16, of Portland, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (3 counts), Possession of Stolen Vehicle (4 counts), Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle (8 counts), Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (4 counts), Identity Theft (4 counts), Computer Crime (4 counts), Unlawful Possession of Firearms (5 counts), Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Public Place (city code), Theft in the First Degree (3 counts), Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree (2 counts), arrest warrant, probation violation detainer.
Elijah D. Sarinana, 18 of Portland, Unlawful Possession of Firearms (4 counts), Theft in the First Degree (3 counts)
Ali Ibrahim Mohamed, 20, of Portland, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle (2 counts), Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, Identity Theft, Computer Crime, 2 warrants
Juvenile male, 17, of Portland, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle (3 counts), Possession of Stolen Vehicle (3 counts), Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle (6 counts), Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (3 counts), Identity Theft (3 counts), Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, Computer Crime (3 counts), Unlawful Possession of Firearms, and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Public Place (city code).
Juvenile male, 17, of Portland, Unlawful Possession of Firearms (4 counts), Theft in the First Degree (3 counts)
Assad Osman, 20, of Portland, Unlawful Possession of Firearms (4 counts), Theft in the First Degree (3 Counts), arrest warrant
Andrew Van Nguyen, 21, of Portland, Felon in Possession of a Firearm (5 counts), Theft in the First Degree (3 counts)
The crime ring had developed a method of operation, and officers believe additional criminal cases may be linked to this group of male subjects who go to surrounding suburbs and prowl vehicles that are left unlocked. They go through the vehicles to look for car keys, valuables, firearms, and credit cards. Within hours of the theft, the subjects go to a Safeway, QFC, or other stores to purchase Visa Gift cards. They load the gift cards with anywhere between $100 - $350 and purchase the gift cards with victim credit cards that were stolen from the car prowls. They continue to purchase the gift cards until the transactions are denied. In addition, there have been multiple vehicles that were stolen from the neighborhoods because the car keys were left inside of them.
Investigators are asking for anyone with information about this group's activities, or anyone who believes they might have been a victim, to contact Officer Amy Li at [email protected].
Photo description: Five semiautomatic firearms with slides locked back displayed on a table next to ammunition, magazines, accessories, and a black and yellow Taser
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