7 suspects have been charged in connection with an organized LA hacking ring using Wi-Fi jammers

Seven people are facing charges in a series of burglaries targeting homes in Los Angeles County, including at least 20 burglaries tied to work crews across the San Fernando Valley, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the suspects were accused of committing “senseless, premeditated and brutal” crimes that left victims feeling unsafe inside their own homes.

“These organized burglars are targeting hardworking families where they should feel safe, their homes,” Hochman said during a news conference. “If you come to our communities to attack neighbors and arrest innocent people, law enforcement will track you down and you will be prosecuted.”

Authorities said the cases highlight a growing problem involving sophisticated burglary operatives, including organized gangs of South American thieves, who operate across Southern California using sophisticated tactics to evade detection and target rich locations.

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Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warned residents that many agents conduct extensive surveillance before burglaries, often monitoring victims’ social media posts for expensive purchases or vacation photos that show homes may be empty.

“Please, whatever you do, don’t tell the world you’re in Paris when you live in LA,” Luna said.

Investigators said some workers posed as delivery drivers using fake DoorDash, Uber Eats or Amazon wallets to get to homes without suspicion. Others use hidden cameras hidden in landscaping and Wi-Fi jamming devices designed to disable home security systems and cloud-connected surveillance cameras.

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Investigators found luxury items, jewelry and purses allegedly tied to burglaries operating in Southern California. (County DA’s Office)

One of the biggest cases involves Byron Gonzálo Sáez Sotomayor, also known as Kevin Diaz, who prosecutors say is facing 15 counts of burglary of a habitation, three counts of attempted burglary of a habitation and one count of theft of a large firearm.

Authorities allege that Sáez Sotomayor burglarized or attempted to burglarize 18 homes throughout the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles between January 2025 and May 2026, including homes in Reseda, Van Nuys, Encino, Granada Hills, Sun Valley, Beverlywood and Westwood. Prosecutors say she allegedly stole jewelry, purses, money and a gun.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Sáez Sotomayor was arrested on May 4 after allegedly breaking into a Beverlywood home while the resident was inside.

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Damage is seen inside a Los Angeles County home following an alleged burglary linked to a burglary crew investigation. (County DA’s Office)

According to McDonnell, the homeowner saw the suspect on surveillance cameras after hearing a loud crash in the back of the building and locked himself in the bathroom before calling 911.

Three other suspects – Christopher Sanchez, Owen Rivera-Chacon and Edison Fabian Boyaca – were charged with one count of residential burglary stemming from a May 1 burglary in Santa Clarita.

Authorities said investigators from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office tracked the suspects to Los Angeles County before contacting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department about the freeway traffic stop.

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Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and county authorities have announced charges against seven suspects in a series of burglaries in Southern California. (County DA’s Office)

Deputies arrested Sanchez after stopping the vehicle on the freeway, while Rivera-Chacon allegedly fled on foot before being found in a nearby dry area. Boyaca was later arrested while driving another vehicle about a mile away, authorities said.

Investigators found jewelry, cash, a luxury purse, gloves, burglary tools and a Wi-Fi jammer in the suspects’ vehicles, according to law enforcement officials.

Rivera-Chacon also faces charges related to a previous burglary and could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted. Sanchez and Boyaca each face up to six years in prison.

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Jewelry allegedly stolen during a series of residential burglaries across Los Angeles County is on display for investigators. (County DA’s Office)

The latest case announced Tuesday involves Wilmar Santiago Castelblanco-Robles, Alan Rolando Rodriguez-Pulido and Cristian Rios-Cuadros, who are charged with an alleged burglary on April 26 at a Burbank home.

Authorities say neighbors saw the suspects breaking into the home and called the police. Investigators suspect Rios-Cuadros and Castelblanco-Robles fled on foot before police used a police helicopter equipped with a heat-sensing device to find them hiding nearby.

Rodriguez-Pulido was later arrested while driving the alleged getaway vehicle, where police found wallets, purses, watches and jewelry believed to have been stolen from other victims.

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Luna said home burglaries reported to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have dropped more than 30% since 2022, though he acknowledged that the crime statistics are not very comforting to victims of home invasions.

“A victim whose place was broken into – I don’t care what the numbers say,” Luna said. “They broke into my house and I don’t feel safe when I sleep there. That’s why we’re up here. That’s why we’re going to continue to work hard to make sure we catch these people.”