Six men from California have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being convicted of a years-long campaign of theft targeting construction sites across Colorado. Their coordinated operation, dubbed "Operation Wrecking Ball" by investigators, resulted in more than $1.1 million in stolen tools and equipment from 39 separate job sites throughout the state.

The men traveled frequently from California to Colorado between 2020 and 2023, carefully planning and executing dozens of burglaries from Monument to Fort Collins, according to court documents.

"The criminals hit sites in construction sites in Monument, Aurora, Broomfield, Northglenn, Denver, Greeley, Fort Collins, Firestone, Arvada, Loveland, Brighton, Lafayette, and Commerce City," the indictment stated.

Investigators said the crew would scout construction sites during the day, often posing as workers or observers, and return at night to commit the thefts. The stolen goods primarily included power tools, heavy-duty construction equipment, and other valuable materials.

The case gained momentum following two burglaries in Lafayette on October 29, 2021, which drew the attention of the Lafayette Police Department. The break-ins shared several characteristics, prompting detectives to issue a series of search warrants. Those warrants uncovered evidence that linked the suspects to numerous burglaries across the Front Range.

"Several of that department's search warrants produced evidence that was common to both break-ins. Further investigation connected the men to other burglaries in other communities."

One of the most significant hits occurred in Fort Collins, where the Poudre School District was constructing the Wellington Middle-High School. There, the suspects broke into 14 storage containers, causing over $136,000 in losses, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

Another nearby site — the Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado — also suffered heavy losses. Contractors reported the theft of $43,200 worth of tools and equipment.

"Construction crews at the school reported losses of $43,200."

The suspects were eventually tracked down and arrested in California in January 2023. A month later, a Boulder County grand jury handed down a sweeping indictment charging all six men with racketeering, defined as organized criminal activity committed for profit.

"A month later, a Boulder County grand jury recommended organized crime charges against all six that accused them of racketeering, which is defined as a pattern of illegal activity seeking profit that is carried out by a criminal syndicate."

Each of the six men has now been sentenced:

• Carlos David Campos, 33, was indicted on 76 counts and received a 20-year sentence for racketeering, plus 18 additional years for burglary and theft.

"Carlos David Campos... was sentenced in October of last year to 20 years in the Colorado Department of Correction on a single racketeering count. A total of 18 years was added on burglary and theft counts."

• Samuel Armando Arevalo Aguilar, 33, received an identical sentence the following month.

"Samuel Armando Arevalo Aguilar... received an identical sentence a month later."

• Ricardo Antonio Quevedo Rios, 38, and Bayron Arturo Moreno Gomez, 26, were each sentenced to 16 years in state prison.

"Ricardo Antonio Quevedo Rios... was sentenced to 16 years in the state prison on the organized crime count. That was the same term given 26-year-old Bayron Arturo Moreno Gomez in July."

• Francisco Garcia Argueta, 27, was the first to be sentenced over a year ago. He received 10 years solely for the racketeering charge.

"Francisco Garcia Argueta... received 10 years on the organized crime count alone."

• Oscar Orlando Herrera, 60, the oldest of the group, was the last to be sentenced, getting 12 years behind bars.

"Oscar Orlando Herrera... was the last man to be sentenced (three months ago). He got 12 years."

While the sentences are lengthy, the financial penalties fall short of full restitution. All but Argueta were ordered to repay victims — $32,000 each from Campos, Aguilar, Herrera, and Rios, and nearly $2,800 from Gomez. Still, those totals represent just a fraction of the $1.1 million stolen and the damage caused during the break-ins.

"The total amount of restitution ordered falls notably short of the value of the items they stole and the damage caused why stealing them."

The case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of construction sites, particularly when left unmonitored overnight. As construction activity continues to boom across Colorado, law enforcement agencies say collaboration and rapid information-sharing between departments were crucial to bringing this organized crew to justice.

Originally reported by Logan Smith in CBS News.