Two women who are reportedly in the country illegally were arrested after law enforcement found more than $8,000 in stolen merchandise in their possession.
A Wood County grand jury on Feb. 15 indicted Claudia Melina Bonilla-Ramirez, 33, and Sonia Marcella Vargas-Alvarez, 26, both of New York City, for receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony.
A deputy with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office had been assigned to a Northwest Ohio Investigative Task Force and working with other task force members from the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and Toledo Police Department.
The deputy, through surveillance, noted that the driver of a white Mercedes with New York plates had met up with the occupants of a 2006 Honda Odyssey bearing a Pennsylvania temporary tag at Woodville Surplus in Oregon and they appeared to meet again at Sonseehrey in Perrysburg.
The Odyssey allegedly stopped in the 24000 block of Bean Street in Stony Ridge, and an officer reportedly observed Vargas-Alvarez exit the Honda carrying an object and walk out of view. She returned to the vehicle empty handed.
A sheriff’s deputy arrived, activated his overhead lights and initiated a traffic stop. Upon his approach, he reportedly observed Vargas-Alvarez holding a black bag that she quickly put in the back of the vehicle.
Bonilla-Ramirez was driving the vehicle and Vargas-Alvarez was the passenger.
Vargas-Alvarez’s actions gave officers probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, officers reportedly found 22 Garmin smart watches in the black bag, all with tags identifying that they came from Golf World.
The retail value of the watches was $5,349. They had been reported stolen to the Boardman Police Department.
A black duffle bag stuffed behind the rear seat reportedly had 26 pairs of Ariat jeans and work pants inside, all with price stickers from Woodville Surplus.
Total retail value of the jeans was $3,038. They had reportedly not yet been reported stolen.
The homeowner whose yard the Honda was parked in told law enforcement said he didn’t know the women. An officer spotted a folded baby stroller leaning against a neighboring garage and found in it several blankets and a pair a black shorts with the tags still on.
Bonilla-Ramirez provided a passport for her identification while Vargas-Alvarez had an international driver’s license.
An immigration status on the women, neither of whom spoke good English, reportedly showed they were in the country illegally.
Border patrol was to be contacted regarding immigration holders after both women were taken to jail.
The women were arraigned Tuesday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.
A Wood County grand jury presented 19 bills of indictment on Feb. 15. Those indicted included:
Andy T. Hochinyavong, 19, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; two counts receiving stolen property, one a fourth-degree felony and one a fifth-degree felony; and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony. On Dec. 21 on Interstate 75 in Cygnet, he reportedly failed to stop when ordered to do so, while operating a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Speeds reached approximately 140 mph. The vehicle eventually became disabled. An investigation revealed the vehicle was stolen, as was the license plate. A key programmer was seized as well as a fraudulent driver license and a small amount of marijuana.
Vincent Jaimal Greer, 39, Toledo, for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. On June 23, he was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine.
Tyler Reynolds, 22, Toledo, for trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a fourth-degree felony. On Jan. 9 on High Street in Bowling Green, he allegedly cut a living room window screen and forced the window open. He then allegedly concealed himself in a spare bedroom. When confronted by the resident, he grabbed her keys and fled the scene. He was later arrested.
Amanda M. Thompson, 34, Taylor, Michigan, for trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a fourth-degree felony. On Jan. 5 in the 14000 block of Sand Ridge Road, Thompson allegedly used bricks and a large rock to break several windows and gain entry to the home.
Ruby Callahan, 45, Toledo, for theft, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and two counts passing bad checks, all fourth-degree felonies. On Sept. 6, she allegedly stole a 2006 Ford F150, which was property of an estate, with a value in excess of $7,500. She also allegedly deprived an executor of the estate of a check in the amount of $12,000 and defrauded the couple in charge of the estate of a check payable to the estate in the amount of $12,000.
Terrence Lee Davis, 39, Indianapolis and currently in jail, for two counts having weapons while under disability, both third-degree felonies; carrying a concealed weapon, two counts improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, all fourth-degree felonies; and trafficking in marijuana, fifth-degree felony. After being stopped for speeding on Jan. 24 on I-75 in Rossford, a search of his vehicle reportedly uncovered a bag of raw marijuana, plastic sandwich bags, a digital scale, a loaded .45 caliber Taurus handgun and a Smith and Wesson AR-15 rifle. He reportedly said he had the weapons for self-defense because he believed people were trying to kill him. A bag of marijuana and a large amount of currency were allegedly found on his person. He was convicted of armed robbery in Wayne County, Michigan, in 2003.
Kylee L. Berry, 24, Connellsville, Pennsylvania, for possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of drugs, and identity fraud, all fifth-degree felonies. On July 19, she allegedly was found in possession of cocaine and methamphetamine and used the personal identification of another woman without consent.
Heather Snodgrass, 42, Findlay and currently in jail, for grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony; and two counts operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them (OVI), both third-degree felonies. On Jan. 27, police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Countyline Street in Fostoria for the theft of an automobile. The owner of the 2010 Dodge Journey told police a woman had approached him asking for a ride. He told her he didn’t have time and entered a store. When he exited, his vehicle was gone. An hour later, Seneca County sheriff’s deputies received a call for a female needing help on Township Road 84. The woman inside the stolen Dodge was identified as Snodgrass. It was determined that she was under the influence of alcohol, and she had previously been convicted of OVI in 2019 in Allen County.
Stephen Frederick Massey, 31, Toledo, for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. On Sept. 5, he was found in possession of what is alleged to be methylenedioxyamphetamine.
Gerald Roger Keith, 63, Toledo, for forgery, a fifth-degree felony. On Dec. 13, he allegedly defrauded a man and woman by forging a check in the amount of $2,031.23.
Alexis Mercedes Chammout, 25, Plymouth, Michigan, for aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony. On Oct. 13, Chammout allegedly was found in possession of more than the bulk amount of oxycodone.
Andrew Donald Burkhart, 21, Maumee, for attempted burglary, a third-degree felony, and having weapons while intoxicated, a first-degree misdemeanor. On Jan. 2, police were called to the 200 block of Manville Avenue for a report of a break-in. Burkhart was apprehended down the street at another residence with a gun in his possession.
Aaron Keith Williams, 24, Toledo, for vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. On Nov. 19, he allegedly damaged a storage property.
Michael J. Condon, 44, Toledo, for breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. On July 7, he allegedly entered an unoccupied structure with the purpose to commit theft.
