Seven individuals have been charged in a burglary ring operation that singled out Asian business owners in Oregon and Washington. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, these burglaries took place in October 2025, when the accused identified and surveilled their targets before breaking into residences.
Among the charged is Derinson Martinez-Grandas, a 34-year-old Colombian national, who orchestrated the lodging for the burglaries by renting short-term accommodations. The group is accused of employing sophisticated tactics such as signal jamming and counter-surveillance to carry out their heists, traveling from state to state. They shattered glass doors to gain entry into the homes of Asian business owners, all while they were away tending to their businesses.
The crimes left a trail of destruction as the burglars aimed to seize cash, jewelry, designer gear, and personal documents, packing these ill-gotten gains for transport. Arrested following a burglary in Salem, Oregon, "This multi-state operation deliberately targeted hardworking families and struck at the very core of personal safety – the victims’ own homes – instilling fear throughout multiple communities," U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford remarked, condemning the calculated nature of the crimes.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson also condemned the racially targeted violence. "This robbery crew instilled fear and directed violence toward the hard-working small business owners who make this community special and unique," he noted, expressing relief at the disruption of the crime spree. After conducting a rental search in Eugene, authorities seized evidence and recovered property, the accused scrambling into nearby woods but eventually were all detained.
Martinez-Grandas has been detained pending further court proceedings following his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. William Estiven Rodriguez-Gaviria, a 26-year-old also implicated in the scheme, saw a similar fate in Arizona. The FBI and local police departments collaborated on the investigation, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William M. McLaren, in coordination with the Lane County District Attorney's Office. Still, the allegations remain, it's important to remember that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
