Chilean National Sentenced 10-20 Years for Michigan Home Invasion Ring

Ignacio Ruiz-Saldias, a 29-year-old Chilean national, was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison for his role in an organized criminal enterprise responsible for a series of home invasions targeting affluent neighborhoods across Michigan in early 2023. He was convicted of conducting a criminal enterprise and conspiracy to commit second-degree home invasion, with the burglaries involving high-value thefts such as cash, jewelry, and expensive handbags from homes in Oakland, Wayne, and Kent counties. Ruiz-Saldias and his accomplices used sophisticated tactics to disable alarm systems and avoid detection, timing their break-ins when homeowners were away. He was arrested in Indiana along with other suspects, with coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio leading to their capture. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard praised the multi-jurisdictional task force's work and emphasized the commitment to prosecuting transnational gangs targeting Michigan residents. Ruiz-Saldias will serve his sentence in the U.S. and face deportation upon completion.