AURORA | One of the leaders of what prosecutors call “a large-scale motor vehicle theft operation” that primarily targeted cars at Denver International Airport has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
David Nava-Delgado, 25, was indicted along with 12 others last year in connection with a string of vehicle thefts from various locations in metro Denver, including DIA, between February 2022 and March 2023.
A spokesperson for the 17th Judicial District Attorney, Brian Mason, said the group used some of those vehicles to smash through the fronts of local businesses and steal ATMs.
Mason’s office calls Nava-Delgado “one of the ringleaders of this operation,” which allegedly stole 59 vehicles and was involved in 31 attempted or completed burglaries in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver and four other counties.
Its news release notes that he was “found in a stolen vehicle containing several key programming devices and blank keys.” The release says Nava-Delgado stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee and led police on a high-speed chase along with people driving a stolen F150 Raptor.
“Nava-Delgado was also identified as the driver of a stolen Dodge Charger that was used as a getaway car in the course of a burglary,” the news release reads. “He was also connected as the driver of a stolen Ford F150 involved in an accident in Thornton. Nava-Delgado fled that scene, but his DNA was found on the airbag, and law enforcement located several vehicle keys and key fobs.”
Nava-Delgado has pleaded guilty to organized crime and theft charges in Adams County District Court in a deal in which he agreed to a 20-year sentence.
In September, a judge sentenced another member of the crime ring, 24-year-old Rene Ruiz, to 24 years in prison. “Court records detail how Ruiz facilitated the theft and sale of vehicles from private citizens, commercial dealerships, and automotive repair shops, and committed burglaries of several businesses, including ATMs, from multiple locations in the Denver area, Front Range, and Denver International Airport,” according to another news release
Other defendants in the 13-person indictment are:
Marc Morales-Cisneros – Pending sentencing 11/22/24 Facing 8-20 years DOC
Jorge Cadena-Lujan – Sentenced to 12 yrs DOC
Carlos Nava-Delgado – Sentenced to 12.5 yrs DOC
David Nava-Delgado – Sentenced to 20 yrs DOC
Rene Ruiz-Ochoa – Sentenced to 24 yrs DOC
Alejandro Silva-Vasquez – Active Warrant Pending
Hector Escalera-Hernandez – Active Warrant Pending
Cesar Poblano – 4 yrs Probation + 33 days jail imposed as condition of probation
Brian Valladares – 4 yrs Probation + 30 days jail imposed as condition of probation – Active Warrant for Violating Probation Pending
Rodrigo Perez-Gonzalez – Sentenced to 12.5 yrs DOC
Cruz Cordova – Sentenced to 6 yrs DOC
Jose Merino-Ramos – Sentenced to 6 yrs DOC
Stephanie Reza-Ramos – Sentenced to 9 yrs DOC
Where from? Why not.ed?
Will be out in 2.
Great police work! Let’s make sure these criminals serve their full sentences, as that is the foolproof way to reduce their criminal activity. It also sends a strong message to other criminals. And, as an added benefit — while these no-goods are behind bars, society is spared the additional children that might have been conceived by these criminals.