Chilean National Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Term for Series of High-End Home Burglaries in Oakland County

Chilean National Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Term for Series of High-End Home Burglaries in Oakland County

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. — June 16, 2025 — In a significant legal development that highlights the growing concerns surrounding transnational crime, 29-year-old Ignacio Antonio Ruiz-Saldias, a Chilean national, has been sentenced to a long prison term for orchestrating and participating in a sophisticated series of high-end home burglaries across some of Michigan’s most affluent communities.

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwame Rowe handed down a sentence of 10 to 20 years for operating a criminal enterprise, and 4 to 15 years for each of four counts of conspiracy to commit home invasion – second degree. The prison terms will be served concurrently. The sentencing follows a jury conviction in April 2025, culminating a complex investigation and trial that exposed an intricate web of organized theft targeting wealthy neighborhoods.

According to authorities, Ruiz-Saldias was a key figure in a South American theft ring that executed a spree of break-ins from February 3 to February 17, 2023, targeting eight homes located in upscale areas of Oakland Township, Rochester Hills, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe, and Ada Township near Grand Rapids. The group stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry, and designer handbags from unsuspecting homeowners, most of whom were away at the time of the break-ins.

The defendants were captured following an extensive multi-state investigation and interagency cooperation. Ruiz-Saldias, along with four other suspects, was arrested in March 2023 in Carmel, Indiana, thanks to coordination between law enforcement agencies in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Two of the co-defendants are currently being held in Ohio, awaiting extradition to face similar charges in Oakland County.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard praised the combined efforts that led to the arrest, conviction, and sentencing of Ruiz-Saldias.

“I am proud of the teamwork and the effort that brought this case to a close with a conviction,” Bouchard said in a statement. “I hope it sends a clear message to the transnational gangs that there are consequences for criminal behavior in Oakland County. I thank the prosecutors from Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office for their successful court work. I also commend Judge Rowe for leveling an appropriate sentence.”

Ruiz-Saldias is the first defendant tried and convicted in Oakland County in connection with this South American theft group, part of a troubling trend of highly organized, internationally linked crews who exploit jurisdictional boundaries and legal loopholes to target U.S. homes. The case has drawn national attention due to the scope, coordination, and sophistication of the criminal enterprise.

Investigators revealed that the crew used a variety of tools and tactics to evade detection, including entering through second-story windows, disabling security systems, and working in rotating teams. Authorities also noted that the burglars specifically targeted homes where signs indicated wealth and affluence, making off with easily transportable and high-value items.

This case forms part of a broader initiative by law enforcement agencies across Michigan to crack down on organized residential theft rings, particularly those with international connections. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office have reaffirmed their commitment to bringing all responsible individuals to justice.

While this conviction marks a major win for local prosecutors and law enforcement, the case is far from over. Additional defendants await trial, and authorities are continuing efforts to identify other members of the international network who may have aided or benefitted from the string of break-ins.

The sentencing of Ignacio Antonio Ruiz-Saldias stands as a warning to transnational criminal operations: Michigan will not tolerate organized criminal activity, and those who choose to target its residents will face the full weight of the law.