Suspects arrested in Seattle-area robbery ring targeting the elderly
SEATTLE - Police arrested three suspects tied to a large-scale theft organization that targeted elderly people in the Seattle area, stealing jewelry off their necks and swiping cash envelopes.
The Romani crime ring members are accused of various robberies across western Washington, targeting older community members by using deceptive and strong-arm tactics.
The suspects, identified as 41-year-old Simona Paun, 21-year-old Ion Miclescu and 25-year-old Maria Alexandra, were charged with multiple counts of first-degree theft following a months-long investigation.
The backstory:
An 81-year-old woman reported she had been robbed in the parking lot of New Village Golden Market in White Center on March 30. The victim said a woman approached her, threw a cloth over her head and took her gold Singapore chain-style necklace, valued at $2,200.
The second incident happened at the Asian Family Market in Bellevue on April 7. A monk said a woman came up to his car and tried to give him a "blessing," continually trying to place a $50 bill in his red purse. Then, the woman allegedly took an envelope from the victim's purse, which had $800-$900 inside.
The Investigation
Using surveillance video, police were able to identify the suspects' vehicles and get their description.
Surveillance video from a rental car dealer in Woodinville captures Simona Paun and Ion Miclescu on March 30, 2026.
Paun and Miclescu had allegedly been swapping out rental cars from a dealer in Woodinville, using them in different robberies across the region. Miclescu's cell phone records also placed him at the car dealer, and later at the scene of the robbery in White Center, according to court documents.
After monitoring Miclescu's home in Kirkland, Bellevue police later arrested him and Paun in Federal Way on April 8 while they were reportedly targeting people at a senior living center. They later bailed out of jail, but were later re-arrested at their home for different crimes.
During a search of their home, investigators said they recovered substantial evidence connecting the suspects to crimes throughout the region, along with clothing worn during the thefts.
"The individuals were living together. It was an organized fashion where they were committing crimes, working in teams, contacting individuals in parks, other locations throughout the region. looking for what they suspect or believed to be vulnerable individuals they could take advantage of," said Bellevue PD Capt. Ryan Parrott.
Paun is currently being held on $400,000 bail. She also had a fugitive from justice warrant for a nine-count indictment out of San Diego.
Bellevue Police bodycam video of Simona Paun's arrest on April 7. (Bellevue Police Department)
Alexandra was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant for first-degree theft out of Oregon. She was released on $10,000 bail.
Miclescu bailed out of jail after the Federal Way arrest, but was re-arrested Friday for second-degree robbery in Lynnwood.
Lynnwood Robbery
Dig deeper:
An elderly man claimed a man and woman came up to him outside his apartment complex in Lynnwood on March 3. The victim said the woman approached him and put a necklace around his wrist, asking him to buy it for $100. The woman was reportedly trying to take off the victim's Rolex watch, but when unsuccessful, a man came up and pulled on the victim's arm. They couldn't get the Rolex off the man's wrist, but the woman swiped an envelope from the victim's pocket which contained $1,000 cash.
As the woman fled with the envelope, the victim grabbed her purse. The suspects left the parking lot but returned shortly after, offering the envelope back in exchange for the woman's purse, but the envelope was now clearly empty. The victim kept the woman's purse and turned it over to police.
Detectives were able to track a Washington's Lottery ticket found inside the purse to Miclescu using surveillance video at the store he purchased it at. Fingerprints on the purse also came back as a match for Simona Paun.
Theft ring suspects Ion Miclescu and Ion Miclescu spotted outside their Kirkland home.
Knowing this, when Miclescu bailed out of King County Jail, police arrested him for second-degree robbery and transferred him over to the Lynnwood Police Department. Bail was set at $250,000, but he posted it and was released from jail Sunday night.
What's next:
Paun pleaded not guilty in King County court on Wednesday to two counts of first-degree theft. She remains jailed on $400,000 bail.
Miclescu did not show up for his scheduled court appearance and now has a warrant out for his arrest.
Simona Paun appears in court, pleading not guilty to two counts of first-degree theft on April 15, 2026.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the Bellevue Police Department, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and court documents filed in King County and Snohomish County Superior Court.