Nidia Yaneth Gomez Duarte sent to prison for theft in Richmond Hill

A 36-year-old Toronto woman has pleaded guilty to theft-related charges and has been sentenced to six months in prison following an investigation that began in May 2010.

On Wednesday, October 20, 2010, Nidia Yaneth GOMEZ DUARTE appeared before The Honourable Justice Peter Nicholas Bourque of the Ontario Court of Justice and pleaded guilty to six counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Theft.

She was sentenced to six months in jail however, given credit for five months of pre-trial custody. She currently has one additional month left to serve.

Ms. GOMEZ DUARTE was arrested by members of the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit without incident on Thursday, May 27, 2010, when she appeared before an Immigration Hearing in Brampton. Investigators had identified her as a suspect of housing property in connection with a May 23 home invasion, believed to have been committed by a known organized crime group. Investigators executed a search warrant at her West mall residence in Toronto and seized a quantity of stolen property from across Southern Ontario.

On Sunday, May 23, 2010, two victims left their Innisfil jewelry business and drove to their home in the City of Vaughan. Upon arriving home at approximately 8 p.m., the victims parked their car inside the garage. Four masked men then ran inside, punctured the victims’ car tire with a knife and robbed them of a large quantity of jewelry. The victims received minor injuries as a result of the incident.
 
Through investigation, 12 other suspects have been identified in connection with this incident and at least ten other incidents in York Region. Seven of these suspects have been arrested and charged with offences including Robbery, Disguise with Intent, Conspiracy to Commit robbery, Theft Under $5000, Conspiracy to Commit Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, Breach of Recognizance, Dangerous Driving, Possession of Break and Enter Tools and Mischief. In addition, these suspects are believed to be responsible for at least two Toronto incidents, two
Waterloo incidents and one in Durham Region. Five suspects still remain outstanding.

WANTED:

• (Victor) Eduardo (PADRON) GARCIA MORENO, 35
• Javier Francisco ROJAS ARDILA, 32
• All of no fixed address
• Yimy ORJUELA HURTADO, 35
• Piedad Del Carmen PEREZ, 29
• Cesar Augusto PRIETO TORRES, 31

Investigators are seeking public assistance in locating the five outstanding suspects. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these suspects is asked to call police.