Colorado’s top prosecutor says a sprawling vehicle theft and forgery scheme has been shut down after months of investigation, ending in a 51-count indictment against seven suspects accused of stealing nearly four dozen vehicles.

Grand Jury Indictment Unveils Scope of Operation

A statewide grand jury has returned a sweeping indictment targeting an alleged theft network operating across Mesa and Garfield counties. The group, investigators say, specialized in stealing high-value vehicles — particularly pickup trucks and off-highway vehicles — before altering their identities and selling them on.

Prosecutors believe the operation was responsible for at least 44 stolen vehicles. The total value? An estimated $870,000. That’s not just numbers on paper; for many victims, these were daily drivers, work trucks, or recreational machines they relied on.

The suspects allegedly removed or replaced vehicle identification numbers (VINs) in an attempt to hide the theft. Once the cars were given a new identity, they were sold to unsuspecting buyers, creating a chain of fraud that stretched beyond the Western Slope.

Most of the stolen vehicles have been recovered, though not all escaped unscathed.

The Names Behind the Charges

State Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that the following individuals are facing multiple felony counts, including motor vehicle theft and forgery:

• Alexis Gustavo Garibo-Meraz

• Luis Enrique Villanueva-Gonzalez

• Jose Armando Luzania-Martinez

• Jose Madrid-Trevizo

• Luis Alverto Rodriguez-Reyna

• Yuren Zamarron Marquez

• Raymundo Medrano-Madrid

Four of them — Garibo-Meraz, Luzania-Martinez, Madrid-Trevizo, and Rodriguez-Reyna — are currently being held in Garfield County Jail. The others remain under legal process.

The charges are serious. A conviction for felony motor vehicle theft in Colorado can carry years in prison, significant fines, and restitution orders.

Law Enforcement Collaboration

Weiser credited the takedown to close cooperation between state and local agencies. Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado State Patrol all played a part.

“It’s the kind of crime that leaves a trail of damage,” Weiser said. “We’re talking about people losing valuable property, insurance costs going up, and an erosion of trust in legitimate sales.”

One sentence from a Mesa County investigator summed up the frustration: “For every truck we found, there was someone on the other end missing work or losing a weekend in the mountains.”

What Investigators Say Happened

Court documents outline a pattern: vehicles targeted, stolen, and stripped of their original VINs. Replacement VIN plates were allegedly applied — either from salvaged vehicles or fabricated. Then, the altered vehicles were sold to third parties, often through informal sales or even online marketplaces.

This wasn’t quick grab-and-run theft. Authorities say the process required planning, mechanical skill, and a network to move the vehicles.

Common targets included:

• Heavy-duty pickup trucks, valued for work use and resale demand.

• Off-highway recreational vehicles, which are harder to trace in rural terrain.

It’s a reminder that rural Colorado — despite its vast open spaces — isn’t immune from organized property crime.

The Cost to Communities

Auto theft in Colorado has been a growing problem in recent years. According to the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, thefts statewide spiked by more than 30% from 2020 to 2023 before slightly easing in 2024.

Mesa and Garfield counties have seen smaller numbers compared to Denver and the Front Range, but the Western Slope’s thefts often involve higher-value vehicles, which means greater economic losses per case.

For rural areas, a stolen truck can mean lost work for a rancher, missed deliveries for a small business, or a cancelled family trip to the backcountry.

What Happens Next

The case will now move forward in court, with arraignments and hearings expected over the coming weeks. Prosecutors will have to prove the thefts, the forgery of VINs, and the intent to sell the stolen property.

Some defendants may face additional charges if evidence links them to thefts outside the current indictment. And while most of the stolen vehicles have been returned, recovery doesn’t always mean restoration — damaged or altered trucks can be costly to repair.

One local victim, whose truck was taken from outside his home in Rifle, said getting it back was bittersweet. “It’s mine again, but it’s been ripped apart and pieced back together,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like the same truck.”