Emillano Ontiveros Linked to Bay Area Theft, Fraud Ring
Luxury car theft in Cupertino led to identity fraud arrests
A residential burglary in Cupertino has uncovered a major burglary and identity theft ring operating across the Bay Area, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
On June 20, a family returned to their Cupertino home to find it had been ransacked. The suspects had stolen nearly $18,000 in jewelry and electronics, along with a 2019 Porsche Cayenne and a 2024 Porsche Taycan.
Detectives from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office traced the stolen vehicles to other criminal incidents in San Jose, Santa Clara, and beyond—including a police pursuit. Surveillance footage from homes and businesses led authorities to identify three suspects.
On July 17, deputies discovered one of the stolen vehicles at Hayes Mansion Hotel in San Jose. A coordinated operation led to the arrest of:
Emillano Ontiveros, 39, of San Jose
Brandi French, 26, of San Jose
Kevin Monge, 36 (hometown not released)
Ontiveros and French are in custody without bail. Monge faces additional charges including identity theft, drug possession, check fraud, and burglary tools possession—though he was not listed as in custody Wednesday.
The suspects had amassed a trove of stolen items, including:
500 pieces of stolen mail
200 checks
24 fake driver’s licenses
25 credit cards
12 Social Security cards
Counterfeit currency and 24 grams of methamphetamine
Authorities recovered both stolen vehicles and most of the stolen jewelry. Sheriff Robert Jonsen praised the detectives’ persistence: “Their dedication has not only brought justice but returned peace of mind to a family that was deeply impacted.”
The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to return stolen property and identify additional victims.
