BELLEVUE, Wash — Five suspects in an organized retail theft ring that stole over $17,000 worth of merchandise from a Bellevue Square store have been charged, according to the Bellevue Police Department (BPD).
The thefts happened during three incidents over the course of two days, according to police.
According to court documents, Benito Uriostegui, 22; Gerald A. Hood, 23; Jesus S. Delgado, 22; Randy E. Navarrete, 28; and an unknown man went into Nordstrom in Bellevue Square and stole items on Jan. 10. The suspects took eight handbags worth about $10,087 and left the store without paying.
On Jan. 11, Zenaido Ocampo Martinez Jr., 20, walked out of Nordstrom with $3,475 worth of Moncler clothing, according to police.
Later in the day on Jan. 11, Delgado, Navarrete, Uriostegui, Hood and an unknown man allegedly stole more Moncler clothing worth $4,170.
The total value lost from the three different thefts over two days is estimated to be over $17,000.
Uriostegui was arrested on Jan. 25 and is being held in the King County Jail on $300,000 bail. He pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree and second-degree organized retail theft.
Police later arrested Delgado at his home in Kent.
Hood and Navarrete are also charged with first-degree and second-degree organized retail theft. Delgado faces those charges as well as bail jumping and second-degree possessing stolen property. Ocampo Martinez Jr. was charged with second-degree theft. They are set to be arraigned Feb. 22.
Bellevue police identified Uriostegui through a connection to a car identified as the getaway vehicle, as well as cellphone location data tying him to the Bellevue Square Nordstrom at the time of the thefts. Detectives found the same vehicle was suspected to have been used in a drive-by shooting in Renton in May 2022.
Uriostegui was previously charged with residential burglary, drive-by shooting and unlawful possession of a firearm, and was on conditions of release with King County when the retail thefts in Bellevue were committed.
Uriostegui has a lengthy criminal history, including seven juvenile felony convictions for second-degree organized retail theft.