A Canyon Country man has pleaded guilty to federal charges for facilitating a South American crime tourism ring responsible for at least $23.9 million in losses across the United States.

Federal prosecutors announced Monday that Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 59, also known as “Parcero,” of Canyon Country, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, to receive and transport stolen property interstate, and to commit money laundering, as well as one count of structuring transactions to avoid federal financial reporting requirements.

Thola has been in federal custody since August 2024.

According to his plea agreement, Thola and his then-live-in girlfriend, Ana María Arriagada, 43, also known as “Parcera,” operated Driver Power Rentals, a Van Nuys-based car rental or dealership business used to facilitate theft operations carried out by crime tourism groups traveling from South America.

Prosecutors say Thola directed associates to travel across the United States to commit crimes, including residential burglaries, commercial break-ins, shoplifting and credit card theft.

Thola and Arriagada provided rental vehicles to co-conspirators and required the use of false identification to maintain anonymity and make the rentals appear legitimate.

Authorities said co-conspirators who obtained stolen credit and debit cards were instructed to quickly purchase electronics, gift cards and luxury goods from retailers including Target, Best Buy and The Home Depot before the cards could be frozen.

Thola then arranged for the stolen or fraudulently obtained goods to be delivered to associates or shipped across state lines, later acting as a “fence” by purchasing the items at a fraction of their value and reselling them. He received at least $5.7 million from the scheme, including approximately $5.2 million from bank accounts tied to an electronics exporter in Van Nuys.

The conspiracy impacted at least 37 victims nationwide and resulted in losses totaling at least $23.9 million.

Prosecutors also allege Thola and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained nearly $275,000 in COVID-19 business relief loans between May 2020 and June 2021.

In addition, Thola admitted to structuring cash withdrawals to avoid federal reporting requirements, withdrawing more than $412,000 in increments under $10,000 over a seven-month period in 2022.

As part of his plea agreement, Thola agreed to forfeit assets tied to the scheme, including dozens of vehicles, jewelry and luxury items.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 18 and faces a statutory maximum sentence of 55 years in federal prison.

Arriagada previously pleaded guilty to four felony charges and is expected to be sentenced in the coming months.

Two additional defendants, Patricia Enderton, 45, of Northridge, and Federico Jorge Triebel IV, 79, of Woodland Hills, have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to go to trial in August.

The case has resulted in four guilty pleas so far and was investigated by the FBI and multiple local and federal law enforcement agencies.

A criminal case contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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