Multiple people arrested in sting operation targeting organized retail crime in Vernon Hills

Multiple charges have been approved for numerous offenders following a sting operation orchestrated by Vernon Hills police.

Vernon Hills Police coordinated the multi-agency operation focused on combating retail organized crime groups that targeted retailers on May 24 and 25, officials said in a news release.

Among other accusations and lines of inquiry developed from the initiative, the operation led to the arrest of eleven people and the indictment of seventeen new crimes.

In addition to the local charges against the individuals, those arrested were also the subject of active arrest warrants throughout Illinois, California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Other results of these efforts include the seizure of two vehicles belonging to transnational organized crime groups, the recovery of approximately $27,000 in stolen merchandise, the seizure of more than $6,000 in cash believed to be the proceeds of a theft, as well as confiscation of fentanyl and ecstasy.

Notable arrests include Rosa Ramos-Jimenez, 21, Roberto Loyde Jimenez, 26, and Thelma Estrada Altamirano, 37, each on criminal charges of burglary and theft.

They are also believed to be part of a team responsible for losses of more than $100,000 at Macy's stores across the United States, authorities said.

Luminata Zatreanu, 26, was arrested and faces charges of retail theft and theft. She, along with a juvenile suspect, are believed to be members of a crew responsible for more than $300,000 in recent losses at Ulta locations stretching from Minnesota to South Carolina.

The operation also resulted in the arrests of Christopher Warren, 25, Isaiah Rucker, 27, and Gregory Carter, 23, who each face criminal charges of identity theft and are believed to be part of a group of organized crime based in Texas.

“These arrests occurred in a single jurisdiction, but they involved offenders known to commit crimes across the country,” said Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick L. Kreis. “The findings highlight the scale of the retail crime problem our communities face every day. We are grateful for our partnerships with both law enforcement and the private sector that serve as the basis for these types of operations.

In addition to numerous falsified driver's licenses and identification cards, the investigation located several Venezuelan migrants who were allegedly recruited to work under false pretenses in Chicago and transported to Vernon Hills in the loading zone of a truck rented.

The migrants said they were trapped in the truck for more than two hours and that several of them showed symptoms of heat exhaustion and feared death, authorities said.

Necessary assistance was provided to the migrants, authorities said, and they were released without charge.

“I commend our Retail Crimes Task Force and all participating law enforcement agencies and retailers for their partnership in these operations,” said Illinois Attorney General, Kwame Raoul, who supported the retail theft initiative via an organized crime grant. “Organized retail crime is not limited to a single region in Illinois and can often be traced to domestic and international criminal activity. The charges stemming from these operations highlight the importance of collaboration between state and local law enforcement to hold individuals accountable and protect communities across Illinois.

The Vernon Hills police officers were accompanied by investigators from the Illinois State Police as well as the Gurnee, Mundelein and North Chicago police departments, authorities said.

Corporate investigators provided by the business partners also provided substantial assistance, authorities said.

“Our Felony Review division approved the most serious crimes requested by our law enforcement partners – who have done an incredible job of holding these offenders accountable,” said Lake County State's Attorney, Eric Rinehart. “We have also requested the pre-trial detention of these people because they present a very significant risk of flight. Police, lawmakers and the attorney general have developed an appropriate response to these organized retail theft rings, and in Lake County, such calculated criminal activity leads to detention – with no opportunity to deposit the stolen money .