CRANBERRY TWP — A New York City woman has been charged in Seven Fields for her alleged involvement in a “worldwide ring of criminals,” according to the state attorney general's office.

Luisa Fernanda Rico Maldonado, 31, of Flushing, N.Y., is accused in the theft of more than $200,000 in jewelry and other valuables.

The attorney general's office said Maldonado participated in five burglaries and attempted two others between Feb. 19 and 27 in Butler, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

A report by Attorney General Special Agent Timothy Nutter and Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Chief Joe McCombs states that Maldonado and others in the alleged crime syndicate targeted the homes of people of Indian origin for valuables “in accordance with religious and cultural tradition.”

Maldonado, a Colombian native, was arraigned Wednesday on five counts of overnight burglary, one count of criminal attempt to commit overnight burglary, seven counts of criminal trespassing, one count of conspiracy to commit overnight burglary, one count of corrupt organizations and one count of conspiracy to violate the state corrupt organizations law. All 16 counts are felonies.

Katie Wymard, an attorney with the attorney general's office, declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

None of the successful burglaries occurred in Butler County, but law enforcement officials said Maldonado was involved in an attempted burglary at a home in Seven Fields.

Police allege she participated in a Feb. 19 break-in at a house formerly owned by a jeweler from India in the southern Butler County borough.

A sliding-glass door was broken, but police believe Maldonado and at least one other possible burglar were scared away by the occupants' dog.

Although the burglary attempt failed, the report states it yielded valuable information for the investigation.

Nutter's and McCombs' report states that police identified three witnesses who saw Maldonado and a blue SUV.

In March, officers from the Evans City-Seven Fields, Northern Regional, Fox Chapel, Murrysville and South Fayette police departments met and determined that similar crimes had occurred in their municipalities, with similar means of forced entry and purposes.

“The investigators were able to identify the blue SUV captured on multiple surveillance cameras during these burglaries as a Nissan Rogue,” the report reads.

A joint investigation began July 25 and involved the attorney general's Organized Crime Division, Department of Homeland Security and five police departments from the three affected counties. That investigation identified Maldonado as a suspect.

McCombs searched license plate reader entries for blue SUVs within the department's jurisdiction and found a match, the report states. That vehicle's license plate was matched with a car rented by Maldonado in New York under a false name, according to law enforcement.

McCombs said he is not authorized to speak about the investigation.

Police connected the alleged pseudonym with Maldonado using cellphone, credit card and internet service provider records, and confirmed Maldonado stayed in a hotel in Western Pennsylvania in mid-February, the report states.

In at least one alleged burglary in Allegheny County, Maldonado was seen working as a lookout for two male accomplices by knocking on the front door of a targeted house, while two men entered through a rear entrance, according to law enforcement officials. The two men have not been identified.

“All indications are that this is a worldwide ring of criminals,” the report states. “Most are Colombian nationals with false identities.”

Court records do not indicate if Maldonado is represented by an attorney, and she remains in Butler County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Luisa Fernanda Rico Maldonado