Three charged in targeted West Michigan home invasions linked to South American crime ring
Three men suspected of belonging to an organized crime network were arraigned Monday following a multi-day string of targeted home invasions in West Michigan, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.
PARK TWP. — Three men suspected of belonging to an organized crime network were arraigned Monday following a multi-day string of targeted home invasions in West Michigan, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.
Yeisson Parra-Zarate, 44, Jorge Navarrete-Caballero, 33, and Luis Diaz-Montejo, 47, appeared before 58th District Court Judge Juanita Bocanegra on Aug. 31. Each suspect faces charges of second-degree home invasion and is being held at the Ottawa County Jail on a $500,000 cash/surety bond.
Investigators suspect the men are affiliated with a South American Theft Group operating out of the Chicago area via Colombia. Authorities say the ring’s modus operandi involves targeting the homes of Asian business owners to steal cash, jewelry, and high-value items.
The arrests cap a rapid multi-agency investigation triggered by two distinct break-ins in Park Township late last week:
- Aug. 26: Armed with a knife, two suspects forced their way into a home on Silver Ridge Drive during the day. The intruders fled empty-handed after being startled by a 22-year-old male resident who was inside at the time.
- Aug. 28: At approximately 10:20 p.m., suspects forced open doors and windows at an unoccupied residence in the 3100 block of Peach Leaf Court. The home was ransacked, with several thousand dollars in cash, jewelry, and valuables reported stolen.
From left: Luis Diaz-Montejo, Jorge Navarrete-Caballero and Yeisson Parra-Zarate. [Courtesy]
Detectives utilized the Flock Safety camera network alongside other investigative resources to trace a suspect vehicle to the Chicago-based group. Believing the perpetrators returned to the area on Aug. 28 to execute the Peach Leaf Court burglary, law enforcement mobilized quickly.
Deputies from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and officers from the Holland Department of Public Safety intercepted the vehicle shortly after the incident, taking all three men into custody without further disruption.
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Detectives continue to collaborate with state and federal law enforcement agencies, as investigators believe the network may be linked to similar home invasions targeting Asian business owners across Michigan and nationwide.
— Submitted by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
