Atlanta, GA– Three men who orchestrated a multi-state jewelry store burglary spree, stealing approximately $1.7 million in merchandise, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Maykel Olides Hernandez, 40, Javier Guerra-Morales, 33, and Giorge Navea, 35, pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges, including RICO violations, smash-and-grab burglary, theft by taking, criminal damage to property, and possession of burglary tools.
Superior Court Judge Tony Baker handed down the sentences on Feb. 27 and March 5, with Hernandez receiving 30 years (13 in prison), Navea 25 years (10 in prison), and Guerra-Morales 20 years (9 in prison). Hernandez, deemed a recidivist offender, is ineligible for parole.
The charges stemmed from a series of high-stakes burglaries occurring between December 2022 and March 2023, targeting five jewelry stores in Cherokee, Forsyth, Cobb, and Fulton counties in Georgia, as well as Knox County, Tennessee.
The men executed a coordinated scheme, cutting holes in store roofs to bypass security, disabling alarms, and stealing high-value merchandise before transporting it to Florida for resale.
The most significant theft occurred on Jan. 4, 2023, when the men infiltrated a jewelry store on Cumming Highway in Cherokee County, making off with approximately $1.3 million in stolen goods.
Surveillance footage later confirmed that the burglars entered through a rooftop breach.
A second major heist took place in Alpharetta in March 2023, netting them an additional $400,000 in stolen jewelry.
Investigators from the Canton Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Cobb County Police Department, and Alpharetta Police Department worked together to link the crimes.
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office played a crucial role by using cell tower data to track the suspects’ movements and establish connections between the burglaries.
“Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies worked together to investigate and arrest the suspects. Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office was instrumental in linking the burglaries and identifying the suspects by using cell tower data,” said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Murphy, of the Gang and Organized Crime Unit.
In addition to their prison sentences, Hernandez, Guerra-Morales, and Navea were ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution, covering damages, stolen goods, and insurance losses.
They are also permanently banned from Cherokee County and prohibited from contacting one another or visiting any of the five targeted stores.
“These defendants worked together in a coordinated effort, with a clear plan to target specific jewelry stores and steal valuable merchandise. Although four of the stores they burglarized were outside of Cherokee County, we were able to charge the defendants under Georgia’s RICO Act,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “Law enforcement partners from multiple agencies played a crucial role in this case, enabling Cherokee County to combat organized retail crime within our jurisdiction and beyond.”
Article provided by 11 Alive.com. To view article, click HERE.