Five Colombian nationals in the U.S. illegally and accused of belonging to a transnational burglary network were arrested in Orange County, Fla., after deputies captured them committing a residential break-in on a police drone.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the suspects—Wendy Farias-Suarez, Johan Beltran-Prieto, Laura Pedraza-Sarmiento, Julio Lozano-Trujillo, and Elkin Cubillos-Jimenez—were taken into custody on October 20 and face charges of burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief. All five are being held at the Osceola County Jail under Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers.
Authorities said the suspects are part of a Colombian theft crew that had been targeting Asian-owned homes and businesses across central Florida. Deputies said the group had carried out “sophisticated style burglaries,” conducting weeks of surveillance on victims, placing hidden trail cameras in trees, and using disguises such as landscaper uniforms to blend into neighborhoods.
According to the sheriff’s office, the group was tracked through cooperation between several law enforcement agencies across multiple counties, including Hillsborough and Osceola. On October 20, investigators used a drone surveillance unit to observe two men approach an Orlando home wearing straw hats and jeans while carrying empty bags. Thirty minutes later, the same men were recorded leaving through the back door with bags that appeared full. Deputies moved in as the suspects regrouped at an apartment complex in Kissimmee, arresting all five without incident.
Inside the home, investigators recovered more than $21,000 in stolen cash and designer merchandise, including four Louis Vuitton purses valued at $11,100, shoes, and other items. Deputies believe the same group is connected to additional burglaries in the region, though the total number of incidents and losses remains under investigation.
Le Trinh, a business owner and one of the victims, said her home had been watched for weeks. “The first time when I came back and saw the window broken and my door open, I felt like my heart jumped out of my body,” she said. “I can’t even eat or sleep. Even now I’m still nervous.”
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said the suspects would “case homes for days or weeks” and sometimes dribble basketballs past properties to appear as pedestrians while monitoring residents’ routines. Deputies said the October arrests followed several weeks of coordination between local and federal investigators.
Officials confirmed the five suspects will remain in county custody pending federal immigration review. ICE detainers have been lodged to ensure the individuals are transferred to federal authorities for removal proceedings after local prosecution.
The Department of Homeland Security has warned that transnational theft crews originating from South America have been operating in multiple U.S. states in recent years, often using similar surveillance and disguise tactics.
Local deputies credited inter-agency coordination and drone technology for the successful takedown.
