Gwinnett County: 7 plead guilty to burglarizing 492 vehicles, ring to serve over 60 years combined

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA – Members of an organized auto break-in ring have each pled guilty to racketeering, theft, and other charges for stealing from nearly 500 cars across Gwinnett County.

From Nov. 24, 2022 to March 28, 2024, Gwinnett County Police noticed a trend of cargo vans being broken into at night and high-end painting equipment being stolen. The seven defendants, who were between the ages of 21 and 26 at the time of the crimes, broke into the nearly 500 vehicles to steal guns, cash, and other items.  Authorities said the group also stole several cars from Gwinnett County and used the cars to break into and steal from other vehicles in neighboring counties. 

Javaris Cardell Gamble (currently 25), Myles David Cameron (24), Kylija Devion Yates (25), Randy D. Martinez (27), Emmanuel Chavarria-Ornelas (27), Giovanni Louis Bell (29) and Kejuan Donarius Miliam (26) pled guilty to Violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Each defendant also pled guilty to multiple charges of entering an automobile or other motor vehicle with intent to commit theft or felony, entering an automobile, theft by taking, and misdemeanor criminal trespass. Gamble also pled guilty to aggravated assault in connection with gunfire during one of the thefts.

“We are glad this crime spree was ended, and we hope this sentencing serves as a deterrent to future criminal enterprises like this,” said Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson.

Each defendant received a 20-year sentence. Miliam will serve 14 years in prison, while Gamble will spend 12 years in prison, and Yates, Cameron and Martinez will serve 10 years in prison. Chavarria-Ornelas will serve five years in prison, and Bell will serve two years and six months in prison followed by three years of work release.

The investigation began on July 19, 2023, when a homeowner discovered the crew breaking into a car, a member of the group armed with a gun opened fire on the homeowner. The victim was unharmed, however.

Police determined the defendants operated from a safe house in the East Point area of Fulton County where they would return with the stolen items.

Assistant District Attorney Selwin Patterson prosecuted the case with the assistance of Chief Assistant District Attorney John Melvin, Managing Assistant District Attorney Han Chung, Investigator Jeff Lamphier, Victim Witness Advocate Sara Gardner, and Legal Assistant Rachel Scheetz. The Gwinnett County Police Department, Lilburn Police, Duluth Police, Cobb County Police, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations were instrumental in bringing these charges, the District Attorney said.