South American Theft Group Arrested
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich: In December 2024, a Cascade Township home was burglarized while the homeowners were at work. A significant amount of cash, jewelry, personal documents, and other valuables were stolen during the break-in. Investigators later determined the crime was part of a broader, coordinated effort tied to a multi-state burglary ring commonly referred to as a “South American Theft Group” (SATG).
The investigation revealed that the group conducted extensive pre-planning before committing burglaries. This included researching business owners online, identifying home addresses, monitoring daily routines, and in some cases installing GPS tracking devices on vehicles to track victims’ movements. Detectives uncovered digital evidence linking the suspects to the Cascade Township burglary and numerous other incidents across multiple states.
Through search warrants, cellphone data analysis, surveillance, and coordination with federal partners, investigators identified several co-conspirators operating out of other states. The group was connected to at least 19 additional confirmed burglaries nationwide, with total losses exceeding $1.6 million. Many of the victims targeted were Asian and Middle Eastern immigrant business owners.
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office worked closely with federal partners and multiple state and local agencies across the country. Several suspects were taken into custody in Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and California. Others were located and arrested at short-term rental properties used during their operations.
A total of 10 suspects were taken into custody in connection to the organized theft ring as a result of this investigation. Multiple defendants have since pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the interstate transportation of stolen property. In December 2025, two individuals were sentenced to federal prison terms and ordered to pay restitution. Additional defendants remain in federal custody or have been sentenced as the case continues through the federal court process.
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Division showed that when nationwide crime happens in Kent County, it will be stopped. “This investigation demonstrates the growing sophistication of organized burglary groups operating across state lines and highlights the importance of coordinated law enforcement partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels” said Kent County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Bryan Muir. “I am proud of our team for their hard work and relentlessness in the pursuit of justice for the victims”.
The case remains one of the largest multi-state burglary investigations connected to Kent County in recent years. We thank our law enforcement partners for helping bring this case to a close.
If you have information on criminal activity operating in Kent County, call the KCSO at 616-632-6125 or submit a tip online at Kentcountymi.gov/tips.
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