Moses Lake women accused of crime ring

MOSES LAKE - Three Moses Lake women are accused of being part of a large organized theft operation.

Kennewick police, U.S. Marshals Service and the Moses Lake police served search warrants on two Moses Lake homes on Tuesday, one on Tanglewood Drive and the other on Travis Drive. More than 2,000 stolen items, worth up to $70,000, were reportedly recovered from one home.

"There was property left at the residence that investigators could not prove was stolen that was valued at three times of what was seized," stated Kennewick police Public Information Officer Sgt. Ken Lattin.

An additional 200 items, worth about $4,000, were found in a vehicle seized in December when Kennewick police arrested Marisol E. Ramirez, 25, Moses Lake.

Ramirez and another woman were seen leaving a Toys R Us store in Kennewick with a cart filled with Barbie doll toys. The women reportedly stole the toys, loaded them into a Kio Sorrento and left the store to be stopped by Kennewick police. The driver escaped on foot and Ramirez was arrested.

Police allegedly found a note with Ramirez with names and lists of items.

The car was seized and a search warrant used to gather evidence.

In the car were items stolen from 10 Kennewick stores, including Aeropostale, Ambercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Bath and Body Works, Burlington Coat Factory, Children's Place, Claire's Boutique, Hollister and Victoria's Secret.

Ramirez was charged with organized retail theft in Benton County Superior Court, pleaded not guilty and has a trial set for Feb. 13.

Police arrested Tera A. Quarels, 28, Moses Lake, and Maria Susan Zarate, 26, Moses Lake, while serving the search warrants.

Both are being charged with organized retail theft in Benton County Superior Court, according to Lattin.

Zarate faces the same charge, of organized retail theft, in Pierce County Superior Court. She was released on bail of $15,000 on Dec. 2, which is 18 days before Ramirez and a second woman allegedly stole hundreds of items from 10 Kennewick stores.

Ramirez was released from jail after posting a bond for her bail of $15,000, according to Benton County court records.

Details on the organization coordinating the thefts and the connections between the women remain vague as police continue the investigation.

"It is believed that this organized retail theft ring may have connections to Spokane, Seattle and Tacoma," stated Lattin.

The three women arrested have criminal histories.

Quarels has faced 32 cases in Grant County District court, including charges of assault, theft, possession of stolen property, obstruction of justice, harassment and driving offenses.

In 2006, she pleaded guilty in Grant County District Court to theft in the third degree and was sentenced to 90 days in jail with all jail time suspended, according to court records.

In 2004, Quarels had a felony charge dismissed in Kittitas County Superior Court and was later found guilty of possession of stolen property in the third degree in district court. Quarles was sentenced to 365 days in jail with 357 days suspended, according to Kittitas County court documents.

Zarate was charged with six felony crimes in five counties. She also faced 29 cases in Grant County District Court, as well as charges in Auburn, Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, Othello, Pierce, Ritzville, Spokane and Yakima district courts. The cases were varied and included DUI, malicious mischief, possession of marijuana and numerous driving offenses.

In 2004, a 19-year-old Zarate pleaded guilt to assault in the fourth degree, amended from assault in the second degree, in Grant County Superior Court and was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 150 days suspended for two years pending good behavior, according to court records.

In 2006, she pleaded guilty to theft in the second degree in Spokane County Superior Court and was required to repay Walmart $700 after serving 21 days in jail, according to Spokane County court documents.

In the same year, Zarate pleaded guilty to assault in the fourth degree, amended from assault in the third degree, in Adams County Superior Court and was sentenced to 365 days in jail with 343 days suspended, according to court documents.

In March 2006, charges of theft in the second degree were filed in Grant County Superior Court, but Zarate was not arraigned and the case remains open, according to court records.

In December, Zarate was charged with organized retail theft in Pierce County Superior Court and made bail of $15,000 on Dec. 2, according to court documents. The case is still pending.

Ramirez has a conviction for bail jumping from 2007 and a warrant issued for her arrest in Spokane for a different charge of theft.

In 2009, Ramirez pleaded guilty to theft in the second degree and assault in the third degree for stealing from five stores at the Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick and assaulting a store security officer, according to Benton County court records. She was sentenced to four months in jail.

Ramirez has had 16 misdemeanor cases against her with five in Benton County and 11 in Grant County. Most of the Grant County cases are for driving violations, such as driving without insurance or driving without a valid license, but she faced three citations for theft in the third degree, according to Grant County District Court records.