Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has secured a conviction against Jonny Pinzon Rios, who played a significant role in a theft ring involving illegal aliens. Rios was convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering and two counts of dealing in stolen property.
“This criminal illegal alien conspired with a theft ring to sell stolen Rolex watches that were taken during burglaries of Floridians’ homes,” stated Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Thanks to our brave law enforcement and Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Eric Ross and Briana Zupko, he was convicted of his crimes and faces serious criminal penalties. We do not tolerate theft in Florida, and we will continue to work with the Trump administration to get these criminals out of our state and nation.”
The criminal enterprise, including Rios, targeted business owners and their families by conducting high-end residential burglaries and selling stolen items from the victims’ homes. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the group stole over $1,600,000 worth of personal property.
Rios is a Colombian national residing illegally in the United States and is pending deportation. The investigation involved several agencies, including the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and HSI Tampa. The burglaries impacted multiple Florida counties: Hillsborough, Polk, Pasco, Pinellas, and Collier.
Rios was found guilty of conspiracy to commit RICO—a first-degree felony—and two counts of dealing in stolen property—second-degree felonies. He faces up to 60 years in prison.
