Michigan – A Chilean national has been convicted in connection with a series of home invasions that targeted affluent properties across multiple Michigan counties, including Oakland, Wayne, and Kent. The conviction was handed down by an Oakland County jury in the 6th Circuit Court, marking the culmination of a long-running investigation.
Ignacio Ruiz-Saldias, 29, was found guilty of multiple charges, including one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony, and three counts of Conspiracy to Commit Second-Degree Home Invasion, each carrying a 15-year sentence.
According to Michigan Attorney General’s Office, the home invasions, which occurred in February 2023, took place in upscale neighborhoods, including Ada Township, Grosse Pointe Farms, Rochester, and Rochester Hills. These crimes were not random acts of theft; rather, they were part of a highly coordinated effort that involved careful planning and sophisticated methods to avoid detection.
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Ruiz-Saldias and his accomplices targeted vacant homes, circumvented alarm systems, and took extensive measures to ensure their identities remained hidden from home security cameras and forensic analysis.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed her gratitude for the conviction, emphasizing the calculated nature of the crimes.
“These home invasions were not random – they were deliberate, highly organized, and had a significant impact on the families and communities involved,” Nessel said in a release.
“I am grateful to the jury, as well as the FORCE Team and task force who made this conviction possible. We will continue to work together to protect Michigan residents and hold accountable any individuals connected to these sophisticated criminal enterprises.”
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The stolen items included high-value goods such as money, jewelry, safes, and other valuables. The total losses from these break-ins are estimated in the millions of dollars, further underscoring the severity of the crimes. The elaborate tactics used by the perpetrators made it difficult to trace them, but thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement, Ruiz-Saldias was apprehended.
Ruiz-Saldias had already been in custody at the Hamilton County Jail in Indiana on unrelated charges when he was connected to the Michigan home invasions. The investigation, led by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and assisted by various local law enforcement agencies, continues as more home invasions linked to this criminal enterprise are being uncovered throughout Southeast Michigan.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the case include the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township Police Departments, Grosse Pointe Farms Department of Public Safety, Kent County Sheriff’s Department, and the FORCE Team from the Michigan Attorney General’s office. The collaboration between these agencies was pivotal in bringing Ruiz-Saldias to justice.
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Sentencing for Ruiz-Saldias is scheduled for June 16, 2025, where he will face the consequences for his role in these widespread criminal activities. The investigation into the larger home invasion ring continues, as authorities remain vigilant in their pursuit of additional suspects involved in these crimes.