A 34-year-old man accused of running a multistate burglary crew that prosecutors say targeted Asian business owners and their homes has admitted his role in federal court in Eugene. Derinson Martinez‑Grandas pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods after investigators tied his group to a string of October break-ins where homes were hit while victims were at work and crews grabbed cash, jewelry and designer items, according to federal authorities.
Martinez‑Grandas entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane and remains held at the Polk County Jail, as reported by OregonLive. Under a plea deal, federal prosecutors said they will recommend a sentence of one year and one day. Lane County officials have indicated they will seek a concurrent 10‑month sentence on separate state burglary charges if the federal term is at least a year. Three co‑defendants have already pleaded guilty and are set for sentencing in mid‑July, the outlet reported.
Federal prosecutors say Martinez‑Grandas and his crew moved like a traveling operation, rolling through the Pacific Northwest in a caravan of four cars with California plates, staying in short-term rentals and using commercial‑grade Wi‑Fi jammers, perimeter countersurveillance and seven‑way group calls to coordinate the hits, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Oregon. Court filings allege the burglars forced their way in by smashing glass doors at homes in Auburn, Gresham, Eugene and Salem, then returned to their rentals to sort and package the loot for shipment or transfer. The FBI and Eugene Police Department led the investigation that ended with arrests and a federal indictment last fall.
Evidence Seized And The Alleged Haul
When officers served a search warrant at an Airbnb in Eugene, they found bags of pearls, gold jewelry, stacks of U.S. and foreign currency, watches, designer handbags and travel documents, according to investigators. Prosecutors say the ring made off with at least $60,000 in property during the October spree, a tally based on the recovered goods and financial records. The search also turned up receipts for wire transfers to Bogotá and other paperwork that investigators linked to the crew, according to OregonLive.
How Investigators Tracked The Crew
To follow the group’s movements, investigators leaned on license plate readers and old-fashioned surveillance, tracing the caravan from California through Nevada and Idaho into Washington, then back into Oregon, Lookout Eugene‑Springfield reported. Once they seized phones, agents say they uncovered messages with GPS-style coordinates, burglary details and group chats that helped link specific crew members to multiple job sites. The case also reignited a local fight over Flock Safety license plate cameras after city officials confirmed Eugene police ended their contract with the company in December.
Other Pleas And The Federal Case
Martinez‑Grandas is not the only defendant to fold. Co‑conspirator Jhon Alexander Quintero pleaded guilty to the same interstate transportation conspiracy charge on March 31 and is scheduled for sentencing at the end of June, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Oregon. A federal grand jury handed up the indictment in November 2025, and the case appears on the district court calendar under number 6:25‑cr‑00493‑MC. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren is prosecuting the case with help from several local agencies.
Community Response
Asian American community groups in Eugene have pressed officials for stronger protections and more transparency since the burglaries came to light, and community leaders have welcomed the recent federal moves, according to reporting by OPB. The governor’s office earlier approved extradition in the case after sustained public pressure, and advocates say the investigation underscores gaps in how law enforcement tracks and prosecutes property crimes that appear to target specific communities. Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to contact the FBI or Eugene police.
Sentencing dates for Martinez‑Grandas will be set by Judge McShane, and the federal case remains active while investigators continue to trace where the stolen goods and money went. Anyone with tips about the burglaries is asked to reach out to the FBI’s Portland field office or the Eugene Police Department.
