Georgia · Gwinnett County · Crime & Courts

Gwinnett County Car Break-In Ring: 7 Plead Guilty in 492-Car RICO Case

Seven men admitted to racketeering over a run of vehicle break-ins across Gwinnett County that prosecutors put at 492 cars. Each was given a 20-year sentence, with the prison portion ranging from two and a half years to 14.

What happened in the Gwinnett County car break-in case?

Seven men pleaded guilty to racketeering and theft charges over a long run of vehicle break-ins in Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office announced. All seven were sentenced at the same time.

The office puts the count at 492 vehicles, hit between Nov. 24, 2022 and March 28, 2024. Its release describes the seven as having broken into nearly 500 vehicles to take guns, cash and other property.

Each of the seven received a 20-year sentence. What differs is how much of it is served behind bars — from two years and six months at one end to 14 years at the other.

The district attorney's release carries a dateline of Aug. 13, 2026. Atlanta News First reported on Friday, Aug. 14, that prosecutors announced the pleas Friday.

The men were between 21 and 26 when the crimes were committed, according to the district attorney's office and Atlanta News First.

Who pleaded guilty, and what did each receive?

All seven were given the same 20-year sentence. The table below lists the portion each is to serve in prison. All seven were given the same 20-year sentence.

Names, ages and terms as printed by the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office and Atlanta News First. The ages given are current ages, not ages at the time of the offenses.

What charges did the seven admit to?

Every one of them pleaded guilty to violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the state racketeering law, according to the district attorney's office.

Each also pleaded guilty to theft by taking, misdemeanor criminal trespass, entering an automobile, and — on multiple occasions — entering an automobile with intent to commit theft or a felony, according to the district attorney's office.

Gamble alone pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, tied to gunfire during one of the thefts. All seven had been charged with that count at indictment.

How did the break-ins work?

It started with vans. Gwinnett County police picked up on a pattern of work vans being forced open overnight, with expensive paint sprayers and equipment taken, the district attorney's office said.

From there it widened. Investigators say the group broke into 492 vehicles and took guns, cash and other belongings, according to the district attorney's office.

The crew also stole cars in Gwinnett County and drove them to break into and steal from vehicles in neighboring counties, the district attorney's office said.

Police determined the group worked out of a safe house in East Point, in Fulton County. The district attorney's office said stolen items were carried back there.

What happened when a homeowner walked up on the crew?

On July 19, 2023, a homeowner discovered the group breaking into a car. One member, who was armed, opened fire on him. The homeowner was not hit, according to the district attorney's office.

The Gwinnett County Police Department placed that encounter on Traymore Drive in Norcross, and said it showed the group was prepared to use violence to get away.

Atlanta News First reported that Gamble was later identified as the person who fired the weapon. He is the defendant who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

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How did investigators build the case?

The Gwinnett County Police Department has laid out the arc of the investigation in a public release. Detectives noticed the van break-ins in November 2022, and in February 2023 arrested Myles Cameron on multiple counts of entering auto. Other people were involved, but police could not identify them at the time.

A second wave of break-ins and vehicle thefts turned up across the county in June 2023, often several vehicles in a single night. The group used stolen cars to move between scenes and hide who they were. Detectives recovered many of those cars after they were dumped, and crime scene specialists processed each one.

On Aug. 31, 2023, with help from the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals, investigators arrested Javaris Gamble. Break-ins by others seen with him on surveillance continued into March 2024.

The case was assembled from fingerprints, DNA left at scenes, surveillance video and phone records, police said. Detectives also worked through social media and evidence collected at individual scenes.

When the indictment was announced in June 2024, the district attorney's office said Yates, Cameron, Gamble and Chavarria-Ornelas were in the Gwinnett County Jail, Martinez had been arrested in Florida and was awaiting extradition, and Miliam and Bell had not been picked up.

Who prosecuted the case?

Assistant District Attorney Selwin Patterson prosecuted the case. He was assisted by Investigator Jeff Lamphier, Victim Witness Advocate Sara Gardner, Legal Assistant Rachel Scheetz, Managing Assistant District Attorney Han Chung and Chief Assistant District Attorney John Melvin.

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

The district attorney's office credited the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, police in Lilburn, Duluth and Cobb County, and the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Is the surname Carvarria-Ornelas or Chavarria-Ornelas?

The district attorney's release uses both. It lists Emmanuel Carvarria-Ornelas in the defendant list and Chavarria-Ornelas two paragraphs later. Atlanta News First, CBS News and 95.5 WSB all use Chavarria-Ornelas, and that is the spelling used here.

What we don't know yet

Frequently asked questions

What did the seven men plead guilty to?
All seven pleaded guilty to violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. They also pleaded guilty to theft by taking, misdemeanor criminal trespass, entering an automobile, and entering an automobile with intent to commit theft or a felony. Javaris Cardell Gamble pleaded guilty to aggravated assault as well.

How many vehicles were involved?
The Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office puts the figure at 492 vehicles across Gwinnett County, and describes the seven as having broken into close to 500 vehicles, taking guns, cash and other belongings.

What sentences did they receive?
Each of the seven received a 20-year sentence. The time to be served in prison differs: 14 years for Kejuan Donarius Miliam, 12 years for Javaris Cardell Gamble, 10 years each for Kylija Devion Yates, Myles David Cameron and Randy D. Martinez, five years for Emmanuel Chavarria-Ornelas, and two years and six months for Giovanni Louis Bell, followed by three years of work release.

When did the break-ins happen?
Between Nov. 24, 2022 and March 28, 2024, according to the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office.

Was anyone hurt?
A homeowner who came upon the group breaking into a car on July 19, 2023 was shot at by an armed member of the crew. The district attorney's office says the homeowner was not hurt.

Where did the crew keep what it stole?
Police determined the group worked out of a safe house in East Point, in Fulton County, where stolen guns, cash and other property were taken.

Which agencies investigated?
The Gwinnett County Police Department worked the case, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, and police in Lilburn, Duluth and Cobb County.

Who prosecuted the case?
Assistant District Attorney Selwin Patterson. He was assisted by Chief Assistant District Attorney John Melvin and by Managing Assistant District Attorney Han Chung. Patsy Austin-Gatson is the Gwinnett County district attorney.

Is this a state case or a federal case?
A state case. Atlanta News First describes the charges as state racketeering and theft charges, brought by the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office.