Burglars accused of targeting Asian Americans busted in Oregon sweep

Four Colombian nationals are facing charges in connection to a string of burglaries targeting Asian households in the Pacific Northwest.
The suspects are believed to have targeted the homes of “wealthy” individuals, stealing cash, jewelry, and other valuables.
Police in Oregon have arrested the suspects and seized stolen property, cash, and vehicles.
Additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.

Four individuals identified as Colombian nationals were arrested earlier this month in connection to a multi-state burglary ring police stay was targeting the households of “wealthy” individuals of Asian descent, including Oregon business owners, doctors and others.

The four suspects are tied to at least 39 cases in the Pacific Northwest, including Washington and Idaho, prosecutors say. Simultaneous search warrants related to the investigation were executed on Sunday, Feb. 2, in Oregon City, Bend and Portland.

“Efforts of the many Oregon and surrounding state agencies that have been working together to find and apprehend the crime rings have paid off with arrests,” Eugene Police Department officials said in a news release Wednesday. “Stolen property has been matched to burglaries in Boise and more victims are continuing to confirm stolen properties.”

Details on the arrests from the Tigard Police Department

According to the Tigard Police Department, officers in partnership with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and other agencies served a search warrant at an apartment complex in the 14100 block of South Beavercreek Road in Oregon City. Cash and other evidence linked to the investigation was recovered and one car was seized.

The Bend Police Department and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at a home in the 55000 block of Gross Drive where suspects linked to the investigation were staying. Tigard police officials said one car was seized and other evidence was recovered.

Four suspects were arrested on felony charges linked to Tigard Police cases. Oregon investigators believe all of the suspects are Colombian nationals. They were extradited to Washington County.

Also on Feb. 2, two cars related to the investigation in Portland were seized in the 9400 block of North Bristol Ave. Later, on Feb. 5, Tigard Police officers, in partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, executed an additional search warrant at an apartment complex in the 9400 block of North Bristol Ave. Stolen jewelry and other evidence linked to the investigation were recovered, police officials said.

Who are the alleged perpetrators?

The alleged perpetrators were identified as Herbert Grueso-Vergara, 30, Maria Castro-Gamboa, 26, Fabio Vergara-Cortes, 29, and Fatima Gomez-Aragon, 33.

Both Grueso-Vergara and Vergara-Cortes were individually arraigned Feb. 5 on 18 felony charges for crimes in Tigard, Beaverton, and Hillsboro; including 13 counts of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree robbery, one count of first-degree attempted burglary, one count of racketeering, and one count of first-degree burglary in an occupied dwelling.

Castro-Gamboa and Gomez-Aragon were individually arraigned on three felony charges, including one count of racketeering, one count of first-degree burglary, and one count of first-degree attempted burglary.

Washington County Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth R. Lemoine set bail for each suspect at $250,000. If each suspect posts bail, they will be ordered to surrender their passports, remain on house arrest, remain under pretrial electric monitoring, not go within 150 yards of a victim’s residence, work, vehicle, or person, have no contact with co-defendants, and will not be allowed to travel out of state.

As of Friday, all four suspects were in custody at the Washington County Jail. Their next hearings are scheduled for Feb. 19.

As the investigation continues, Tigard police officials believe additional charges will be filed and more arrests could be made.

National warrants issued for Eugene robbery suspects

Eugene Police Department Chief Chris Skinner and Springfield Police Department Chief Andrew Shearer report there have been 17 burglaries ― 13 in Eugene and four in Springfield ― within the last year targeting Asian American households. Suspects linked to those crimes are believed to have fled the country.

The highly organized burglary ring was targeting and racially profiling “affluent” members of the Asian American community in Eugene, in Oregon and across the U.S., police say. Suspects would surveil and target homeowners who were more likely to keep safes full of cash, jewelry, high-end bags and legal documents.

In June 2024, the Eugene Police Department property crimes unit made six simultaneous arrests in three residential neighborhoods: North Delta Highway and Ayres Road, Franklin Blvd. and Agate Street, and the 700 block of E. 15th Ave.

Of the six people arrested, three were charged and arraigned in court on June 25, while the other three were released from police custody.

Maria Castro-Cortes was charged with first-degree attempted burglary over a home invasion near Brewer Ave. and Shiloh Street in Eugene; John Vasquez and his reported accomplice, Emmanuel Figuera were each arraigned on one count of first-degree burglary and first-degree attempted burglary.

All three suspects posted bail — Castro-Cortes posted $5,000, while Vasquez and Figuera each posted $10,000.

After they were released from custody, Lane County Circuit Court Judge Erin Fennerty issued bench warrants for their arrests and revoked their security release agreements on July 31 for failure to appear for their 35-day calls.

A Lane County Grand Jury later indicted Castro-Cortez, Vasquez and Figuera each on two counts of first-degree burglary and one count of first-degree attempted burglary on Dec. 19. A nationwide warrant was issued for their arrests.

Protecting Eugene community members

According to The Asian American Council of Oregon, community members can protect themselves by:

Being conscious of what you post on social media. Don’t post publicly about an out-of-town vacation or valuables that you keep at your home. Consider restricting the audience for social media posts to friends and family.
Protect your home. Ring doorbell cameras, security cameras, security signs, automatic security lighting, secure door and window locks, and other home security measures. If you store valuables at home, use a safe large enough that someone cannot carry them off. Dogs are also a great way to deter criminals!
Neighborhood associations. Get to know your neighbors and let each other know when something looks out of the ordinary. Report suspicious activity.
Keep your home address private, particularly if you’re a business owner or public figure. There are services that you can use to keep your home address private on the internet.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.

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