$8 Million in Stolen Goods Recovered In Biggest Retail Theft Bust in California’s History
While investigating multiple commercial, auto, and residential burglaries occurring throughout San Mateo
County, detectives realized there was a connection between these crimes. Several agencies came together
to further investigative the case named Operation Proof of Purchase, or POP.
Detectives discovered Tenderloin Neighborhood, a San Francisco organization. Working out of a
distribution warehouse in Concord, they were purchasing and then selling the stolen property to suspects.
On September 30, 2020, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit, the San Mateo
County Narcotics Task Force, the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division Organized Retail
Crime Task Force, the San Francisco DEA Metro Task Force, and the California Department of Justice
White Collar Investigation Team, carried out sixteen search warrants at three residences, two distribution
warehouses, and eleven storage units.
In what is being described as the dismantling of the largest organized retail theft bust in the state of
California, detectives found over $8,000,000 in stolen property during the searches. Most of the goods
were stolen commercial retail merchandise electronics, laptops, and camera equipment.
$85,000 in cash believed earned from proceeds stemming from criminal profiteering and money laundering was also found and confiscated.
In addition to the search warrants, five arrest warrants were issued. Danny Drago, Michelle Fowler, Edgar
Geovany Robles-Morales, Isis Vasquez-Villanueva, and Jose Villatoro were arrested and booked into the
San Mateo County Jail for their alleged involvement in the commission of these crimes.
Photos from San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office
