Olivia Police Department Investigations Lead to Arrests

The Olivia Police Department has confirmed that 22-year-old Brandon Voigt of Edina has entered a guilty plea for possession of stolen property following an investigation into a burglary at Haney’s Construction in Olivia. The burglary was initially reported on August 4th of 2024.

The Olivia Police Dept. determined that entry had been made into a building through a window. Nearby surveillance footage captured the suspect vehicle leaving the scene at 3:09 a.m. that day. The reported value of the stolen property exceeded $10,000. Later that afternoon, an Olivia Police officer spotted a vehicle matching the description from the earlier burglary driving behind closed businesses. A traffic stop was conducted, leading to Voigt’s arrest on multiple charges, including possession of stolen property.

A search warrant executed on Voigt’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of all stolen property from 
Haney’s Construction. Although Voigt pled guilty for possession of stolen property, the burglary
investigation itself remains ongoing, and law enforcement officials encourage anyone with 
relevant information to come forward. Citizens may contact Renville County Crime Stoppers at 
1-800-720-3790 or submit details through the Renville County Sheriff’s Office webpage. 

ID THEFT

The Olivia Police Department has played a key role in a federal investigation following a report of identity theft that had been ongoing for several years. After receiving a formal complaint from an Olivia resident, the Olivia Police Department established a suspect and tracked him to St. Joseph, Missouri. The Olivia Police Department then collaborated withthe St. Joseph Police Department, leading to the involvement of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. 

A federal investigation was launched, with further assistance provided by ICE Homeland 
Security Investigations. As a result, a federal indictment has been brought against Romeo Perez-Bravo, 42, for aggravated identity theft and misuse of a Social Security number. Authorities allege that Perez-Bravo used a stolen identity to obtain employment and state-issued identification cards dating back to 2009. 

SSA-OIG received a referral from St. Joseph Police that an individual had been 
fraudulently living and working under the identity of a Minnesota resident. Investigators 
identified Perez-Bravo as having used the stolen identity for several years, during which time the victim began receiving unpaid tax bills from the IRS, prompting the formal report to Olivia Police.

If convicted, Perez-Bravo faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence for identity theft and up 
to five years for misusing a Social Security number. Authorities emphasize that the charges 
contained in the indictment are accusations and do not constitute evidence of guilt. Evidence 
supporting the charges will be presented to a federal trial jury, which will determine guilt or 
innocence.