An Orange County judge on Monday effectively locked the door on Erick Daniel Soria’s freedom, sentencing him to 61 years to life in state prison for his role in a multi-county burglary ring that prosecutors say looted about $1.9 million from dozens of homes in Orange and San Bernardino counties. Soria, who pleaded guilty in April 2025 to multiple first-degree burglary charges, was also ordered to pay roughly $1.2 million in restitution.
How Investigators Say the Crew Operated
Prosecutors say the crew cruised neighborhoods in a Dodge Durango SRT, using the SUV both to scout targets and haul off stolen goods. Investigators tied the group to dozens of break-ins between August 2019 and February 2020 in Fullerton, Anaheim Hills, Villa Park, Lake Forest, Yorba Linda, Buena Park and Irvine, where they allegedly zeroed in on high-end scores like designer watches, purses, jewelry, guns and cash, according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Soria's Plea, Capture and Co-Defendants
Soria pleaded guilty in April 2025 to 26 felony counts of first-degree burglary and three counts of attempted first-degree burglary, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram. A judge set bail for Soria in 2021, and prosecutors say he posted bond, fled to Mexico and was later tracked down and returned by the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force. On Monday, the court imposed the 61-years-to-life sentence and ordered about $1.2 million in restitution. According to the district attorney’s office, co-defendants Jurandir Penate, Eugene Yi and Sergio Soto have already received prison terms that range from roughly five years to nearly two decades.
District Attorney Reaction
“These crimes are not victimless crimes and the victims in these cases can rest assured that we will go to the literal ends of the earth to ensure justice is served,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. He credited the office’s AB109 task force, along with local police agencies and federal partners, for the multi-agency investigation that led to the arrests and convictions, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
What "Third-Striker" Means
Soria was designated a “third-striker” because of prior felony convictions, a status that can trigger dramatically longer prison terms under California’s Three Strikes sentencing rules. For a broader explanation of how strikes and sentencing enhancements work in the state, see the overview from the California Courts.
