Kenosha Authorities Arrest 8 in $100M Cartel-Linked Retail Theft Ring

Authorities in Kenosha County arrested eight individuals involved in a sophisticated organized retail theft ring linked to the Mexican cartel La Familia Michoacana, which is estimated to be responsible for over $100 million in thefts annually across the United States. The investigation began in March 2025 after coordination between local police in Oak Brook, Illinois, and federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Multiple search warrants executed in Kenosha recovered more than $120,000 in stolen merchandise, with some items still bearing price tags. Four suspects—Fausto Gonzalez-Medrano, Manuel Perez-Sanchez, Yareli Salas-Ramirez, and Danna Paola Gomez—posted bond but were subsequently detained by ICE and deported to Mexico, where they now face extraditable warrants. The remaining suspects remain in custody in Kenosha, and authorities emphasize the cartel’s use of stash houses, fraudulent IDs, and a national network to support other illegal activities such as drug, firearms, and human trafficking. This multi-agency operation highlights the extensive reach and impact of cartel-linked theft rings on retail theft nationwide.