The 2013 IAATI’s Award of Merit was won by a team of investigators who participated in Operation Venetian Blinds.

This case began in August of 2007 with the purchase of a 2002 Toyota Camry for $10,200. using a counterfeit Farmer’s (spelled Framer’s) Insurance check in Arvada Colorado. The crime spree quickly spread whereby the suspects purchased vehicles advertised for sale on Craigslist, using counterfeit checks with the names of various insurance companies and credit unions, usually right at or just over blue book value. The vehicles were immediately put back on Craigslist for under-retail prices and sold almost immediately to unsuspecting buyers.

In November of 2007 in Overland Park Kansas, authorities came in contact with the suspects after motel staff reported that the room that the suspects were staying in contained Trac 2-way phones, wigs, latex gloves, currency, large amounts of clothing and laptop computers.

In December of 2007 in Salt Lake City Utah, authorities came in contact with one of the suspects as she attempted to sell a stolen 2000 Toyota 4 Runner in an undercover sting operation.

Investigators were able to confirm that over the next 3 years, the suspects were responsible for the fraudulent purchase and sale of 20 vehicles using the same methodology. The suspects were linked to thefts in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon and Utah.

When all was said and done, the primary suspect, Othello Bland was sentenced to 12 years in the Kansas Department of Corrections for Motor Vehicle Theft, 4 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for Motor Vehicle Theft out of Jefferson County and 14 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act out of Arapahoe County. Jodi Reed was found guilty in Salt Lake City for attempting to sell the stolen Toyota 4 Runner to undercover officers and Chelsea Getchell (Jaros) was found guilty in Overland Park Kansas for her involvement with a stolen Dodge 1500 pickup.

Participants in the investigation:

Colorado Attorney General’s Office:

• Inv. Dana Chavez
• Prosecutor Jodi Pilmer

West Metro Auto Theft Task Force:

• Det. Bill Johnson, (Arvada Police Department)
• Det. John Lietz, (Denver Police Department)
• Analyst Renee Antikadjieva