The Portland Police Bureau has announced the arrest of individuals linked to a crime ring engaged in illegal gun possession, identity theft, and property theft. On Friday, November 22, officers from the Focused Intervention Team executed two search warrants as part of a broader investigation into stolen vehicles and various felony offenses spanning nine jurisdictions in Oregon, including Portland, Newberg, Sandy, Damascus, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Washington County, Silverton, and Oregon City. Authorities suspect that additional criminal cases may also be associated with this group.
According to the PPB, the suspects have been targeting vehicles that are left unlocked, searching for car keys, valuables, firearms, and credit cards. They then use these items to purchase Visa gift cards at grocery stores such as Safeway and QFC, loading the cards with amounts ranging from $100 to $350 until their transactions are denied.
During the execution of the search warrants, officers apprehended seven individuals, including three teenage boys and four adult men. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement seized five firearms, four of which were reported stolen from West Linn, Lafayette, Tualatin, and Portland. Officers also recovered a stolen Taser and a stolen vehicle during the operation.
During the execution of the search warrants, officers arrested seven individuals, including three teenage boys and four men:
– An unnamed 16-year-old boy from Portland, facing charges that include three counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, four counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, eight counts of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, four counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, four counts of identity theft, four counts of computer crime, five counts of unlawful possession of firearms, possession of a loaded firearm in a public place, three counts of first-degree theft, two counts of second-degree criminal trespass, an arrest warrant, and a probation violation detainer.
– Elijah D. Sarinana, 18, from Portland, charged with four counts of unlawful possession of firearms and three counts of first-degree theft.
– Ali Ibrahim Mohamed, 20, from Portland, charged with two counts of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, fraudulent use of a credit card, identity theft, computer crime, and two outstanding warrants.
– An unnamed 17-year-old boy from Portland, charged with three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, six counts of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, three counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, three counts of identity theft, one count of second-degree criminal trespass, three counts of computer crime, unlawful possession of firearms, and possession of a loaded firearm in a public place.
– Another unnamed 17-year-old boy from Portland, charged with four counts of unlawful possession of firearms and three counts of first-degree theft.
– Assad Osman, 20, from Portland, charged with four counts of unlawful possession of firearms, three counts of first-degree theft, and an arrest warrant.
– Andrew Van Nguyen, 21, from Portland, charged with five counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of first-degree theft.
