Member of nationwide illegal alien theft ring arrested in new jersey sanctuary

NEWARK, N.J. – A Chilean national suspected of being part of an organized theft group operating across multiple states is now facing federal charges after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

New Jersey, according to Governor Phil Murphy, is identified as a sanctuary state for illegal aliens.

Gustavo Ignacio Salas Ortega, 33, was charged on Feb. 4 in U.S. District Court in Newark with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property that had crossed state lines and one count of receiving stolen property that had crossed state lines. ICE arrested Salas Ortega on Oct. 14, 2024, in Rochelle Park, N.J., and later transferred him to U.S. Marshals Service custody while placing an immigration detainer against him.

Authorities allege Salas Ortega was part of a South American theft group responsible for burglarizing stores across the United States. Investigators say he and his co-conspirators targeted a jewelry store in a New Jersey mall, entering through the ceiling and cutting a hole through an adjacent wall to gain access.

Days after the burglary, law enforcement found Salas Ortega wearing an expensive wristwatch stolen from the store. Surveillance and further investigation confirmed he had possessed the stolen item in New York on multiple occasions.

“These alleged criminals are part of South American theft groups who have been targeting stores throughout the United States for months,” said FBI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “This charge marks a positive step forward towards dismantling this group.”

The investigation, led by ICE and the FBI’s Joint Organized Crime Task Force, involved multiple law enforcement agencies across the country, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and police departments in New Jersey, New York, Illinois, and California. Officials say the case remains open as they continue tracking other members of the alleged theft ring.

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