WELD COUNTY, Colo. — Three people involved in multiple large-scale auto theft rings have been sentenced to several decades behind bars.
In July 2022, a Weld County grand jury indicted Amanda Johnson and Jose Luis Pizarro, who were accused of stealing 10 cars from several auto dealerships in Weld and Larimer Counties in 2021.
Both were charged with more than 50 felony charges related to the auto theft scheme, including one count each of Violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA.)
According to the Greeley Police Department, the suspects used stolen identities to test drive vehicles before ultimately stealing them. They then sold the vehicles online for a few hundred dollars, the district attorney's office said.
The value of the stolen vehicles totaled nearly $180,000.
In March, Pizarro pled guilty to his role in the scheme and was sentenced to 21 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
In September 2022, Hector Rivera, Amanda Johnson and Ryan Yarwood were indicted on nearly 150 counts for stealing 50 cars from victims in Weld County in 2021. All three defendants were also charged with one count each of Violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA.)
They did this as a part of a large-scale drug distribution ring and sold vehicles for as little as $200 each. Many of the vehicles were Kia and Hyundai models.
Earlier this month, both Rivera and Yarwood were sentenced to the Colorado Department of Corrections after agreeing to plead guilty for their roles. Rivera was sentenced to 18 years and Yarwood was sentenced to 20 years.
Johnson, who led both rings, pleaded guilty to 47 counts for her role and faces up to 48 years behind bars. She's set for sentencing on May 31.
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