October 17, 2024
(McKinney, Texas) – District Attorney Greg Willis announced today that Sergio Cardenas-Salinas, 30, of Houston, Texas, has been sentenced to 37 years in prison for leading an organized criminal operation responsible for a series of high-profile home burglaries across Collin County. Cardenas-Salinas was convicted by a Collin County jury for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a first-degree felony.
Between July 16, 2023, and September 5, 2023, ten residents of Plano, Prosper, and McKinney fell victim to brazen home invasions targeting gold, jewelry, and cash. After an intense investigation led by the Plano Police Department, detectives identified a vehicle tied to the suspects. On September 5, 2023, the police tracked this vehicle, leading to the arrest of nine individuals responsible for the string of burglaries.
The investigation revealed that the burglary ring consisted of individuals from Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela based in Houston. They specifically targeted residents of Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern descent, believing that they store large amounts of cash and valuables in their homes.
Plano Police Detectives Jaime Witkin, Chad Williams, and Jonathan Hay meticulously gathered phone records, surveillance footage, and other evidence to link Cardenas-Salinas and his crew to the burglaries. Their investigation confirmed that Cardenas-Salinas was the ringleader, giving instructions on which homes to target and how to distribute the stolen gold.
Cardenas-Salinas, a citizen of Honduras, had been deported twice from the United States for illegal entry. Despite this, he reentered the country and masterminded these burglaries. He pleaded guilty to the charge of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a crime punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison. In addition to the burglary convictions, the prosecution presented evidence of Cardenas-Salinas’ prior criminal history, including a conviction for attempted deadly conduct, for which he previously served six months in state prison.
In choosing to have the jury determine his punishment, Cardenas-Salinas was handed a 37-year sentence.
“Collin County will not tolerate criminal illegal aliens targeting our law-abiding citizens,” said District Attorney Greg Willis. “Cardenas-Salinas had no right to be in this county, let alone this country. This lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message: we will protect our community from those who come here to commit crimes.”
Judge Richard Davis presided over the trial and sentencing. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Ann Mathew and Dewey Mitchell prosecuted the case, with support from Assistant District Attorney Allison Barber and District Attorney Investigator Matthew Mayes.
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