(The Center Square) – A Larimer County District Court judge sentenced Rene Ruiz to 24 years in state prison this week because of his role as a high-level member of criminal organizations that stole cars and committed many burglaries in Colorado from 2020 to 2023.
The 24-year-old had connections to three large motor vehicle theft and burglary cases filed in state courts in 2023, according to the Colorado Attorney General.
Ruiz facilitated the theft, plus the sale of these vehicles to private citizens, commercial dealerships, and automotive repair shops; this included sales outside of the country. He also committed burglaries of many businesses and ATMs.
Ruiz used complex programming devices to bypass anti-theft features on vehicles. During his thefts, Ruiz avoided law enforcement and put officers’ lives in danger, a release said.
In the three cases, the criminal organizations stole over 365 motor vehicles, plus recreational vehicles, catalytic converters, and firearms, with a value exceeding $8.3 million.
Ruiz pleaded guilty to many crimes in a global plea agreement with the attorney general’s office. Those crimes included: one count of racketeering under the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (F2), first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft (F4), and theft of auto parts (F5) in the Larimer County case; plus one count each of first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft (F3) and second-degree burglary (F4) in one of the Adams County cases; and in a third case in Adams County, he pleaded guilty to an another count of violation of Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (F2), and first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft (F4).
The 24-year prison sentence provided is among the longest the attorney general’s office has secured in an organized motor vehicle theft case.
“In collaboration with law enforcement partners, we were able to investigate and break up three overlapping major auto theft rings that harmed many residents and businesses in Colorado,” Attorney General Phil Weiser said. “As this conviction illustrates, stolen cars are often used to commit other crimes and threaten communities. We are committed to protecting victims and communities from the scourge of vehicle thefts, and I am proud of our Auto Theft Unit’s work on these complex cases.”
The sentencing comes as motor vehicle thefts are down in Colorado this year, according to the Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force. There had been 28% fewer vehicle thefts in Colorado this year as of September 11 compared to last year at the same time. Similarly, there was a 30% drop in the Denver area.
“C-MATT detectives worked diligently with multiple partners to help investigate these COCCA cases,” Cmdr. John Pickard said.
The other defendants in this case are in law enforcement custody and are appearing in Adams County District Court and Larimer County District Court.
