Investigators in the Houston Police Department’s Auto Theft Division today (Nov. 15) announced the arrests of 23 suspects believed responsible for hundreds of vehicle thefts in the city in the last five years.One suspect, Mazimiliano Rodriguez, 33, was identified as the leader of the organized criminal ring. He is charged with multiple felony crimes. A booking photo of Rodriguez is attached to this news release.Rodriguez is believed responsible for at least $10 million worth of stolen vehicles in the past few years. He was taken into custody on September 8 after detectives executed a search and arrest warrant at a residence in the town of Spring.Two suspects – Adrian Anthony Longoria, 20, and Devani Laguna, 18 – are not in custody and are charged and wanted for their roles in the theft ring. A 2022 booking photo of Longoria and a 2023 booking photo of Laguna are attached to this news release.The years-long investigation targeted organized auto theft suspects in Houston. Rodriguez was identified as a major target. Detectives learned Rodriguez recruited and trained numerous individuals. He offered and promised these individuals a place to stay and easy money. Once they agreed, Rodriguez provided his “workers” with a stolen vehicle to drive, various equipment and training on how to steal high-end vehicles. Following the training, Rodriguez sent his crew members out into apartment complexes, businesses, and commercial parking garages to steal high-end pickup trucks and cars.Rodriguez would often scout luxury apartment complexes in the Galleria, Downtown and Heights areas of the city during the day to locate vehicles he would later send his workers to steal. Once the vehicles were stolen, Rodriguez had a sophisticated network of drop locations and stash houses to hide them. Most of the vehicles were sold on apps (such as Facebook and OfferUp) to unsuspecting buyers. Rodriguez sold the vehicles with fictitious documents and altered Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN), thereby creating two separate victims for each vehicle stolen.One of the suspects, Juan Luna, 33, was arrested on September 26 after he was charged with stealing a vehicle owned by Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, Mr. Reggie Jackson, on August 29. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of wanted suspects Adrian Longoria and/or Devani Laguna is urged to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS for anonymous tips with a reward up to $5,000 for leading to their whereabouts.
ARRESTED: Mazimiliano Rodriguez
WANTED: Adrian Anthony Longoria (2022)
WANTED: Devani Laguna (2023)JFC/VHS 11-15-23