Police say two people targeted elderly shoppers outside Asian grocery in the Seattle. Investigators believe it’s part of a larger crime ring.
BELLEVUE, Wash. — A two-year investigation into an alleged organized crime ring targeting vulnerable older adults across the Pacific Northwest has led to charges against two suspects — and Bellevue police say the investigation is far from over.
Simona Paun, 41, and Ion Miclescu, 21, face two counts of first-degree theft stemming from incidents outside Asian grocery stores in Seattle and Bellevue in late March and early April — cases investigators say are just two examples of a much broader criminal operation.
One incident happened March 30 outside New Golden Village Market in the White Center area of Seattle. Charging documents allege Paun threw a cloth over an 81-year-old woman’s head, ripped a 24K solid gold necklace — valued at approximately $2,200 — from her neck and fled to a getaway vehicle driven by Miclescu.
A second incident happened April 6 outside Asian Family Market at 14515 NE 20th St. in Bellevue. Prosecutors say Paun distracted Si Chuen Kwong, 59, in the parking lot while offering a blessing, then removed a red envelope containing $800 to $900 in cash from a bag he was carrying. Miclescu allegedly acted as the getaway driver.
Paun and Miclescu have been arrested multiple times but have posted bail.
The two were first arrested April 8 during a traffic stop at a Taco Time in Kirkland. Both posted bail and were released.
Two days later, Bellevue Police’s SWAT and Special Enforcement Team served a residential warrant at a home in the 13000 block of 105th Place NE in Kirkland, where Paun, Miclescu and a third suspect — Maria Alexandra, 25 — were taken back into custody.
Detectives recovered substantial evidence linking the suspects to crimes throughout the region, including clothing worn during the thefts.
Paun was booked into King County Jail with bail set at $350,000.
Alexandra was released on $10,000 bail on April 12.
Miclescu was transferred to the Lynnwood Police Department in connection with a separate alleged robbery, but later posted bail. He failed to appear for his arraignment Wednesday in King County Superior Court, and a judge issued a $50,000 bench warrant for his arrest.
Paun appeared in court and entered a not-guilty plea.
But Bellevue Police Captain Ryan Parrott says what detectives uncovered goes far beyond two suspects and two incidents.
“This group and other groups are linked to other organizations throughout the region,” Parrott said.
Parrott says the network is designed to evade law enforcement. When one member is caught, he says another steps in to take their place — and most members have little to no criminal history, making them harder to identify and track.
“They’ll switch to another person,” Parrott said. “Most of them don’t have significant criminal histories, but they’re well versed in what they do.”
Parrott says the group deliberately targets the elderly, people with language barriers, and those with visible signs of wealth.
“They’re looking for individuals — one that are elderly, two that don’t speak the language, and the third would be that they have wealth or have something of value that they could easily take away from them,” he said.
In many cases across the broader investigation, victims didn’t even realize they had been robbed, and police say shame and fear keep many from ever coming forward.
“A lot of individuals, either out of fear of being taken advantage of or shame to their families, often don’t report these things. They don’t want to be perceived as being weak or being vulnerable or being a victim,” Parrott said.
Police say surveillance video captured the suspects’ vehicle circling parking lots and stopping behind victims’ cars before and after the thefts. Detectives also observed the suspects scouting for potential victims outside 99 Ranch Supermarket in Edmonds and an H Mart in Federal Way in the days surrounding the incidents. No charges were filed related to those locations.
Parrott, who has nearly two decades on the job, said the scale of the operation stands out even by his experience.
“I’ve been on the job for close to 20 years, and it’s just significant to me how linked a family organization can be continuing to commit these crimes. This is their way of living. This is how they go about and survive day to day taking things from other people.”
Bellevue police are coordinating with law enforcement agencies across the region and expect additional charges to be filed as the investigation continues to expand.
“We didn’t give up, and we located these individuals, and now we’re holding them accountable,” Parrott said.
Bellevue police urge anyone who witnesses or experiences a suspicious encounter to call 911.
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