June 24, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Mother, Two Brothers Of Mastermind Behind $10 Million Santa Monica Home Heist Charged:

The mother and two brothers of the mastermind behind the $10 million Santa Monica home heist in September 2012 have been have charged as co-conspirators, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said Friday.

As previously reported in The Mirror, Wilmer Bolosan Cadiz, 40, and Jay Jeffrey Nieto, 45, were arrested on September 26 in connection to the robbery where more than $10 million of high-end art was stolen from the home of DoubleLine Capital founder Jeffrey Gundlach earlier in the month.

Investigators initially said the robbery took place sometime between Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 3 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. in Gundlach’s home on the 500 block of 12th Street in Santa Monica’s north of Montana neighborhood.

Los Angeles County prosecutors on Friday charged Darren Agee Merager, 43, for allegedly breaking into Gundlach’s home between Sept. 12 and Sept. 13, and stealing items worth at least $3.2 million, the LA Times reports.

The Times reports Merager, who authorities say could spend nine years behind bars if convicted, then allegedly returned hours later and stole Gundlach’s 2010 red Porsche Carrera at the behest of Nieto.

Nieto allegedly helped hide the stolen art and other items at his car audio store where he was manager — Al & Ed’s Autosound located at 30 S. Rosemead Boulevard in Pasadena.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said Friday that Merager’s 68-year-old mother, Brenda Joyce Merager, and two brothers, 29-year-old Wanis George Wahba and his 26-year-old brother, Ely George Wahba are charged with allegedly concealing and trying to sell the stolen items.

The case made head way on Sept. 26, 2012 when investigators from the Santa Monica Police Department were contacted by members of the Pasadena Police Department who received a tip concerning where the stolen art from Santa Monica was being held.

Based on the information received, Santa Monica’s investigators, with the assistance of the Pasadena Police Department, responded to Al & Ed’s in Pasadena to serve a search warrant.

During the subsequent search, most of the paintings were recovered and one suspect was arrested for possessing stolen property.

He was identified as Nieto.

As the investigation continued, additional information was developed that led Santa Monica investigators to a residence in the City of San Gabriel.

There the investigators contacted and later arrested Cadiz for possessing stolen property; he was in possession of four of the stolen paintings. Cadiz is charged with conspiracy and receiving stolen items.

The last painting was recovered as investigators learned it had been transported to a residence in Glendale.

The arrests came just two days after Gundlach offered a reward of up to $1.5 million for the safe return of several of the most expensive pieces.

He announced a $1 million reward for the return, or information that leads to the return, of his Piet Mondrian painting if it is undamaged called “Composition A En Rouge Et Blanc.”

He said he would also offer an additional $500,000 reward for the successful return, or information that leads to the return, of his Jasper Johns painting called Green Target from 1956, stating it too must be undamaged.

in News
<>Related Posts

Shooting at Waymo Car Injures Two Juveniles in Santa Monica

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Preliminary findings suggest the shooting was a targeted, isolated incident stemming from a verbal altercation earlier that evening between the...

Sculptor-Designed Marina Del Rey Beach Home Hits Market for Nearly $10M

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The four-bedroom, six-bathroom residence, known as Shore House, features black glass windows across two wings A 6,603-square-foot beachfront home, designed...

Downtown Santa Monica Landmark Faces Uncertainty as Loan Misses Maturity Deadline

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

$26.7M Santa Monica Office Loan Moves to Special Servicing Amid Cash Flow Shortfall Morningstar Credit reported that the loan tied...

Santa Monica to Begin AI-Powered Bus Lane Enforcement in July

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The program follows a 45-day pilot conducted earlier this year along Lincoln Boulevard, where 511 potential violations were identified, though...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

Malibu Traffic Delays Expected: REPORT

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

The warning applies to the first weekend of summer Transportation officials are warning travelers on the Pacific Coast Highway through...

Strongman to Pull 34,680-Pound Bus at Santa Monica Pier

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Licis, also the 2022 “Arnold Strongman Classic” champion, will undertake the feat to showcase his strength  Strongman Martins Licis, the...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

New Leadership at Samohi: Jane Han Named House Principal

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Equity-Focused Educator Joins Samohi Leadership Team By Diana Bouchaaya, SMMUSD Communications Specialist The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

SMC Gallery to Showcase Faculty Art in Virtual Exhibition

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

The online event will feature works by seven Emeritus faculty artists. The Santa Monica College Emeritus Art Gallery will host...

(Video) Where great minds grow at The Willows Community School

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The Willows, a DK-8 co-educational school, enrolls 474 students from 57+ zip codes annually. As a balanced, progressive educational leader, experiential learning,...

Film Review: The Life of Chuck

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

FILM REVIEWTHE LIFE OF CHUCKRated R110 MinutesReleased June 6th A  heartfelt movie of lie, love, friendship and loss, delivered in...

THIS WEEKEND: Five Outdoor Concerts for Make Music Day Comes to Santa Monica

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The global event, inspired by France’s Fête de la Musique, unites communities through music and is observed in over 800...