Gypsum Crime Ring Busted

The Eagle County Sheriff?s Office has arrested three adults and two juveniles for committing multiple crimes in Gypsum over the last four months.

The crimes include three vehicle thefts, multiple car break-ins in which items were stolen, multiple thefts of property from locker rooms at the Gypsum Recreation Center and burglaries of businesses.

Those arrested were: Julio Armendariz, 18 from Gypsum, Victor Andres Marquez, 19 of Avon and Raul Omar Perez-Ordondez, 18, also from Gypsum. Two 17-year-old males from Gypsum were also arrested but their names are being withheld due to their age.

The crime ring is responsible for approximately $50,000 worth of stolen and damaged property.

Criminal charges include: Felony Burglary, Felony Criminal Mischief, Felony Theft, Felony Motor Vehicle Theft, and Felony Eluding an Officer and Reckless Driving for a high speed chase involving one of the stolen cars.

Three of the young men had been on probation for previous similar crimes.

The three stolen vehicles were recovered and returned to the owners; some had extensive damage. The youths admitted to trying to take the vehicles to Denver to sell them to ?chop shops?.

The two week investigation involved multiple deputies and detectives conducting numerous interviews and searches of residences.