Jose Antonio Poblete Velasquez/Chile/Grand Theft, Burglary, Elder Abuse

Los Angeles-based enforcement officers arrested Jose Antonio Poblete Velasquez, 57, of Chile on Jan. 2 following an investigation into a series of property and financial crimes targeting local victims. Officials confirmed that Poblete Velasquez has prior convictions for grand theft and burglary, stemming from schemes that involved stealing wallets and using victims’ credit cards at area shopping centers.​

According to court and police records, he has also been convicted of identity theft and elder abuse after incidents in which elderly shoppers were specifically targeted and their financial information exploited. A spokesman for enforcement authorities said Poblete Velasquez was transferred to federal custody after his latest arrest and now remains in immigration detention while officials complete the process to remove him from the United States.