A 35-year-old foreign national accused of conspiring to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in electronics, appliances, perishable goods and other products found in a Jurupa Valley warehouse must stand trial for receiving stolen property and other offenses, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Yong Li was arrested in 2024 following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation that spanned months.
At the end of a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Helios Hernandez found there was sufficient evidence to bound Li over for trial on the felony count, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of perpetrating a white collar crime and engaging in theft that involved large quantities of contraband.
The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Feb. 6 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Li is free on an $80,000 bond.
In the defense’s August 2024 motion for bail reduction, Li’s attorney stated that the defendant is not in the United States legally but has “strong ties” to the community, is a married father of two and a business owner in San Bernardino, operating an outlet called Y-T Elite Merchandise LLC.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Miguel Ramos, in February 2024, investigators became aware of an organized retail theft ring operating in the area, ultimately leading them to a warehouse in the 3400 block of De Forest Circle, just east of Etiwanda Avenue, in Jurupa Valley.
After gathering sufficient evidence, a search warrant was served at the property on Aug. 2, 2024.
“Over 300 pallets of stolen merchandise, ranging from small appliances to high-end gaming computers were seized,” Ramos said.
The operation resulted in the confiscation of pallets stacked with cases of bottled water, electronics gear and a variety of other goods bearing recognizable brands.
Li was taken into custody without incident at the location. His exact role in the alleged theft ring was not specified, and it was unknown whether detectives were searching for additional conspirators.
The defendant has no documented prior felony convictions in California. However, records show an unresolved misdemeanor case pending for fraud. That case was expected to be consolidated with the theft case.