OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – An illegal immigrant that Michigan Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel describes in her press release as a “Chilean national” has been convicted in Oakland County after participating in a string of coordinated, high-end home invasions across Southeast Michigan.
Ignacio Ruiz-Saldias, 29, who was accused of being part of a transnational crime ring, was found guilty of multiple felonies, including Conducting a Criminal Enterprise (20-year felony) and three counts of Conspiracy to Commit Second-Degree Home Invasion (15-year felony), stemming from crimes committed in February 2023.
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The verdict comes after more than a year of investigation by the AG’s FORCE Team, the task force called Southeast Michigan Collaborate-Arrest-Prosecute (SEMCAP), the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, and multiple agencies stretching from Oakland County to Indiana.
Ruiz-Saldias and his associates didn’t just break into homes – they planned their heists like professionals, picked their targets carefully, and used sophisticated tactics to avoid detection.
Ruiz-Saldias was the first defendant in Oakland County to be tried as part of a South American theft ring. According to Fox 2 Detroit, Ruiz-Saldias was arrested along with four other defendants in Indiana in March of 2023. Three of them are currently in custody in Ohio awaiting extradition to Oakland County to face charges.
High-tech break-ins target affluent homes.
Ruiz-Saldias and his fellow burglars weren’t casing run-of-the-mill bungalows. Instead, they zeroed in on affluent neighborhoods in Ada Township, Grosse Pointe Farms, Rochester, and Rochester Hills. The homes were often empty during the crimes, and the team used advanced techniques to bypass alarm systems and avoid being caught on camera.
As Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel put it, “These home invasions were not random – they were deliberate, highly organized, and had a significant impact on the families and communities involved.”
Police say they even took forensic countermeasures to make identification nearly impossible. The AG’s office reports “Home invasions connected to this alleged crime ring continue throughout Southeast Michigan and the Department of Attorney General’s investigation, in partnership with law enforcement partners throughout the State, remains ongoing.”
From Indiana jail cell to Michigan courtroom.
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Ruiz-Saldias was originally arrested and convicted on separate charges in Hamilton County, Indiana, which had also seen suspiciously similar home invasions. After being linked to the Michigan crimes, he was transferred to face justice in Oakland County. His trial in Michigan’s 6th Circuit Court ended in
a swift conviction on April 29th, thanks to evidence gathered by a coordinated group of law enforcement officials.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, “I am proud of the teamwork and the effort that brought this case to a close with a conviction. I hope it sends a clear message to the transnational gangs that there are consequences for criminal behavior in Oakland County. I thank the prosecutors from Attorney General Nessel’s office for their successful court work.”
State Rep. Mike Harris (R-Waterford), who served 26 years in law enforcement, issued the following statement after the conviction of Ruiz-Saldias: “The conviction of this home invader is another step toward a safer Oakland County. Transnational gangs have terrorized our community, raiding families’ homes and stealing their valuables. I’m grateful that Sheriff Bouchard and our local law enforcement officers are working tirelessly to crack down on these lawless invasions, and this conviction is a result of their vigilant investigation. State and local officials must keep striving to protect the people of Michigan, while the federal government strengthens our homeland security.”
Ruiz-Saldias now faces a June 16th sentencing.
Nessel silent on immigration status but sheriff confirms.
Although Nessel called Ruiz-Saldias a “Chilean national” in her press release touting his conviction, she failed to mention his immigration status – nor did her press secretary Danny Wimmer have any answers, referring us to federal immigration authorities.
Michigan News Source reached out to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office about Ruiz-Saldias. Public Information Officer Stephen W. Huber said, “The defendant was here illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a detainer on him. The defendant will service any criminal sentence given to him here first and then he will be deported after his sentence is completed.”
