KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — After a months-long multi-agency investigation, eight individuals connected to the Mexican cartel La Familia Michoacana were arrested in Kenosha for operating an organized retail theft ring spanning multiple states.
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants on May 6 at an apartment on 28th Avenue and a nearby storage unit. The operation, supported by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and local police departments, led to the recovery of approximately $120,000 worth of stolen merchandise from major retailers such as Lululemon, Nike, American Eagle, and Victoria’s Secret.
According to court documents, the suspects worked in pairs, concealing stolen items under loose clothing and walking out without paying. Their thefts occurred across locations including Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets, Johnson Creek, and Mayfair Mall.
Four suspects — Fausto Gonzalez-Medrano, Manuel Perez-Sanchez, Yareli Salas-Ramirez, and Danna Paola Gomez — posted bonds but were detained by ICE and deported to Mexico. They now face fully extraditable warrants. The other four suspects remain in Kenosha County Jail.
A neighbor expressed concern over the cartel affiliation, saying, “It’s kind of scary just knowing that they were affiliated with the cartel.”
This case underscores the power of coordinated law enforcement efforts involving HSI offices in Houston and Milwaukee, Oak Brook Police, and Katy, Texas Police, in combating organized retail crime linked to transnational criminal organizations.
