The Plano Texas Police Department has announced the sentencing of Sergio Cardenas-Salinas, age 30, to a 37-year prison term for his role as the head of an organized crime ring. The criminal operation was responsible for a series of targeted home burglaries in the Collin County area. Cardenas-Salinas, a native of Honduras, was convicted of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a serious first-degree felony. The sentencing was made public by Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis last Thursday.
According to the Plano Texas Police Department, the sophisticated burglary scheme ran from July to September 2023 and centered around affluent neighborhoods in Plano, Prosper, and McKinney. Ten residences were hit, with the thieves specifically selecting homes of Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern descent under the assumption that they contained large sums of cash and jewelry. Police were able to trace a vehicle linked to the suspects that, leads to the arrest of nine individuals associated with the crimes, including Cardenas-Salinas.
The police department's thorough investigation involved the collection of phone records and surveillance footage which contributed to connecting the burglary ring to Cardenas-Salinas. As a deported immigrant who had unlawfully reentered the United States on multiple occasions, Cardenas-Salinas faced a harsher legal response due to his prior criminal history, which included a conviction for attempted deadly conduct.
According to the Plano Texas Police Department, District Attorney Greg Willis said, “Collin County will not tolerate criminal illegal aliens targeting our law-abiding citizens.”, he included. Willis emphasized the severity of the crimes and the message sent by the long prison sentence, “Cardenas-Salinas had no right to be in this county, let alone this country. This lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message: we will protect our community from those who come here to commit crimes.”
