Chilean Admits 8-State Burglary Ring Conspiracy, Deported March

PROVIDENCE – A Chilean national who participated in a burglary ring that targeted the homes of families of Asian descent in at least eight states, including Rhode Island, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island today and ordered deported, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

Yoel Andres Barrera Garrido, 21, who came to the United States in 2022 and overstayed a tourist visa, previously admitted to a federal judge that he was a member of a conspiracy that collectively surveilled individuals, typically of Asian descent, at the victims’ residences and businesses, and then executed well-planned burglaries at their homes in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Wisconsin, and Florida.

Burglary Ring targeted homes with large sums of money, jewelry

The defendants typically targeted homes where large sums of money, jewelry, credit and debit cards, and other valuable items might be found.

Barrera Garrido admitted to the court that he participated in two burglaries in Rhode Island and one burglary in Goram, NH, and in West Allis, WI.

Barrera Garrido was arrested on March 12, 2024, and ordered detained in federal custody. He pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024, to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and two counts of attempt to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose sentenced Barrera Garrido today to time served (12 months) and ordered that the defendant be removed from the United States.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ly T. Chin and Julianne Klein.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Warwick Police and Smithfield Police, Shrewsbury and Framingham, MA Police Departments; Gorham, NH Police Department; Stamford, Wallingford, and Westport, CT Police Departments; West Allis, WI Police Department; New Castle County, DE Police Department; Manalapan, NJ Police Department; New York City Police Department; Jacksonville and Flagler County Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; Pennsylvania State Police; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.