Four South American Nationals Indicted in Connection to $1 Million Multistate Burglary Ring Linked to Mendota Heights Cases
Published: May 13, 2026 | Last Updated: May 13, 2026 at 2:55 PM.
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN: Federal authorities have indicted four South American nationals accused of participating in a multistate burglary ring tied to more than a dozen completed and attempted residential burglaries across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida, including several break-ins in Mendota Heights.
In a statement released today by Mendota Heights Police Chief McCarthy on Facebook, the chief said the investigation stemmed from a series of coordinated residential burglaries targeting three homes in Mendota Heights last year, along with additional homes in surrounding suburbs. Police said the department’s investigations division worked closely with local, state, and federal partners to identify members of the burglary crew and connect them to crimes spanning multiple states with reported losses totaling more than $1 million.
“Our ultimate goal is to prevent crime, but when we fail to prevent it, we will work hard to solve it and hold people accountable,” the department stated. Officials specifically credited Crime Analyst Shayna Hoechst, whose position was recently added within the department, for helping advance the investigation.
According to federal authorities, a grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin returned an indictment on May 12, 2026, charging Chilean nationals Luciano Alexis Silva Cifuentes, Enjerbet Alejandro Rojas Silva, and Leandro Felipe Pino Uribe, along with Venezuelan national Nobuaki Jesus Lara Watay. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to violate the laws of the United States, interstate and foreign transportation of stolen property, and conspiracy to launder criminal proceeds.
Federal prosecutors allege the group traveled from South America to the United States to carry out burglaries targeting homes in several states. Investigators say the burglary crew repeatedly traveled between Florida, Wisconsin, and Minnesota using rental vehicles. Authorities allege the burglaries resulted in the theft of approximately $1 million worth of cash, jewelry, firearms, precious metals, and rare coins.
According to the criminal complaints, Watay, who investigators say was living illegally in Florida, allegedly supported the burglary operation by reserving Airbnb rentals, posting bail for members of the crew when needed, and conducting financial transactions on the group’s behalf.
The investigation was led by the Milwaukee Homeland Security Task Force 414, a multi-agency task force composed of members from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
Additional assistance came from several agencies across multiple states, including the Orono Police Department, Edina Police Department, Mendota Heights Police Department, Plantation Police Department, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, Dane County Sheriff’s Department, Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Mequon Police Department, and the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
Federal officials said the case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under Executive Order 14159, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” Authorities described the initiative as a coordinated effort aimed at identifying and prosecuting transnational criminal organizations, foreign gangs, and human trafficking and smuggling networks operating in the United States.
The charges carry significant potential penalties if convictions are secured. Prosecutors said conspiracy charges carry a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, transportation of stolen property charges carry up to ten years in prison, and conspiracy to launder criminal proceeds carries a maximum sentence of up to twenty years in prison.
Officials emphasized that the indictment is only an allegation. All four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court beyond a reasonable doubt.
Additional updates to come!
Not Pictured: Nobuaki Jesus Lara Watay
Mugshots Provided By: Waukesha County Jail.
