AURORA, CO— A multi-agency operation led by the Aurora Police Department apprehended five Colombian illegal immigrants in connection with a string of burglaries and recovered several hundred pieces of evidence on Thursday, according to police.
In a press release issued April 1, Aurora Police Department (APD) stated that several of its units alongside elements of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Arapahoe District Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Unit, and Homeland Security Investigations deployed to serve search warrants and four arrest warrants on two Aurora residences. The authorities said that the complex operation arose from an investigation into a string of over twenty residential burglaries throughout the city.
The four suspects initially taken into custody were Yesid Alexander Espinosa-Castro, 27, Freddy Giovanni Castro Garzon, 44, Yineth Karina Medina Acevedo, 29, and Joseph Michud Cruz Marquez, 2,7 with a fifth suspect,t Sebastian Vanegas-Garcia, 26, arrested by local and federal authorities in a connected operation in Ohio.
APD stated that the five suspects were wanted on felony charges of attempted second-degree burglary or conspiracy to commit second-degree burglary and are currently being held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection with formal charges expected from the Colorado 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Marc Paolino, commander of the Aurora Police Department Investigations Bureau, said in a statement, "This was a thorough and exhaustive investigation conducted by our detectives. I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment and dedication of our officers and investigators."
Paolino added, “I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment and dedication of our officers and investigators. I’d like to thank everyone who participated in Thursday’s operation, particularly our partners at the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Arapahoe District Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Unit.”
According to the Denver Gazette, Aurora has been a hotspot for illegal immigrant activity and has recently changed its stance on illegal immigration, launching an investigation into whether the state and the City and County of Denver "intentionally placed immigrants within (Aurora) without notifying the city of this placement."
As previously reported by Law Enforcement Today and Newsweek, a February 2024 resolution was passed by the city council to halt funding for financial assistance programs benefitting illegal immigrants.
President Donald Trump’s ongoing plan to mass-deport illegal immigrants connected with international terrorist organizations such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13 highlighted the city’s plight. It was aptly titled "Operation Aurora." The involvement of the Department of Homeland Security and CBP under Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem suggests that these arrests may have been connected with Operation Aurora.
In a press release issued April 1, Aurora Police Department (APD) stated that several of its units alongside elements of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Arapahoe District Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Unit, and Homeland Security Investigations deployed to serve search warrants and four arrest warrants on two Aurora residences. The authorities said that the complex operation arose from an investigation into a string of over twenty residential burglaries throughout the city.
The four suspects initially taken into custody were Yesid Alexander Espinosa-Castro, 27, Freddy Giovanni Castro Garzon, 44, Yineth Karina Medina Acevedo, 29, and Joseph Michud Cruz Marquez, 2,7 with a fifth suspect,t Sebastian Vanegas-Garcia, 26, arrested by local and federal authorities in a connected operation in Ohio.
NEWS RELEASE: The Aurora Police Department and its local agency partners last week conducted a multi-agency operation that resulted in the arrests of five burglary suspects and the recovery of hundreds of pieces of evidence. #APDNews
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) April 1, 2025
On Thursday, several Aurora police units, the… pic.twitter.com/hFqVy59e4l
APD stated that the five suspects were wanted on felony charges of attempted second-degree burglary or conspiracy to commit second-degree burglary and are currently being held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection with formal charges expected from the Colorado 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Marc Paolino, commander of the Aurora Police Department Investigations Bureau, said in a statement, "This was a thorough and exhaustive investigation conducted by our detectives. I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment and dedication of our officers and investigators."
Paolino added, “I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment and dedication of our officers and investigators. I’d like to thank everyone who participated in Thursday’s operation, particularly our partners at the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Arapahoe District Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Unit.”
According to the Denver Gazette, Aurora has been a hotspot for illegal immigrant activity and has recently changed its stance on illegal immigration, launching an investigation into whether the state and the City and County of Denver "intentionally placed immigrants within (Aurora) without notifying the city of this placement."
As previously reported by Law Enforcement Today and Newsweek, a February 2024 resolution was passed by the city council to halt funding for financial assistance programs benefitting illegal immigrants.
President Donald Trump’s ongoing plan to mass-deport illegal immigrants connected with international terrorist organizations such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13 highlighted the city’s plight. It was aptly titled "Operation Aurora." The involvement of the Department of Homeland Security and CBP under Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem suggests that these arrests may have been connected with Operation Aurora.
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