A Colombian national appeared in court following his arrest for alleged involvement in a burglary ring that targeted Asian business owners in Oregon and Washington. Derinson Martinez-Grandas, 34, is among seven people charged with conspiracy to transmit stolen property.
Court documents indicate that in October 2025, Martinez-Grandas and six others traveled between states, using short-term rentals arranged by Martinez-Grandas as their base. The group allegedly identified potential victims—Asian business owners—conducted surveillance on their homes, and used technology such as signal jammers and perimeter countersurveillance to aid their activities. According to the complaint, they entered homes by breaking glass doors and stole cash, jewelry, designer items, travel documents, and other valuables.
The burglaries are reported to have occurred on October 3 in Auburn, Washington; October 6 in Eugene, Oregon; and October 9 in Salem, Oregon. All the victims were Asian business owners who were away at work during the incidents. Detectives from the Eugene Police Department began tracking the group after noticing suspicious activity between the Eugene and Salem burglaries.
After the Salem incident, police surveilled Martinez-Grandas and his associates as they returned to a rental property in Eugene. Authorities obtained a search warrant for the premises that night. Upon executing the warrant, investigators found suspected stolen money and goods from various residences along with digital devices linked to the operation. Evidence of money transfers to Bogota, Colombia and Colombian travel documents were also recovered. As officers approached with the search warrant, all seven suspects fled into nearby woods but were detained after several hours.
Searches of seized devices reportedly uncovered further evidence of coordinated planning including messages about targets and shared surveillance information.
“This multi-state operation deliberately targeted hardworking families and struck at the very core of personal safety – the victims’ own homes – instilling fear throughout multiple communities,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson stated: “This robbery crew instilled fear and directed violence toward the hard-working small business owners who make this community special and unique... Working with our partners at Eugene Police Department, we were able to disrupt their acts and hold them accountable for their actions.”
Lane County District Attorney Christopher J. Parosa added: “The District Attorney’s Office is solely interested in seeing these individuals held to account for the victimization of our community members... We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in helping local law enforcement achieve that end.”
Martinez-Grandas was ordered detained pending further proceedings after his initial federal court appearance before a magistrate judge. Co-conspirator William Estiven Rodriguez-Gaviria appeared before a magistrate judge in Arizona where he was also ordered detained pending further action.
The investigation is led by FBI agents along with officers from Eugene Police Department; Salem Police Department and Auburn Police Department provided assistance. The prosecution is handled by Assistant United States Attorney William M. McLaren from Oregon’s district office alongside Lane County prosecutors.
A criminal complaint remains an accusation until guilt is proven.
