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Boulder County Sheriff seeks suspect in "Operation Unicorn"

Adrian Cisco Quintana, 44, is wanted by Boulder County Sheriff's Office in connection with "Operation Unicorn."
Matt Maenpaa
Matt Maenpaa

One suspect is still at large in what Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has dubbed “Operation Unicorn.”

Detectives from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, or BCSO, obtained warrants for three suspects involved in a series of crimes across 46 known locations throughout the county between September 2020 and February 2021.

The investigation took on the moniker of “Operation Unicorn” due to the suspects penchant for leaving unicorn paraphernalia, including drawings and statues, at the scene of the crimes around Lyons, Boulder and Longmont. The unicorns helped detectives link the crimes together, as well as connecting the suspects to criminal activities in 12 jurisdictions throughout the Denver Metro Area, according to a BCSO press release.

“I think we try to approach every case the same and follow the leads we get,” said BCSO Commander Jason Oehlkers. “There were a number of different reports and the leads led us down the same path. The unicorns all pointed to the same group.”

Two of the suspects, a 21-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, have been apprehended at this time, though 44-year-old Adrian Cisco Quintana remains at large. 

The suspects are being charged with multiple counts of motor vehicle theft, porch piracy and vehicle trespass. A total of 53 charges are levied against the three suspects, including Unlawful Distribution and Possession of Dangerous Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia, 12 counts of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, Identify Theft, Theft, Vehicular Eluding, 28 counts of First Degree Motor Vehicle Trespass, Criminal Mischief, Theft of License Plates and Second Degree Criminal Trespass of Property. In total, there are 43 felonies and 10 misdemeanours between the three suspects.

“We’re still looking, but I’ll be honest, I don’t see (Quintana) as a person that is actively looking to hurt anyone,” Oehlkers said. “I think his crimes are related to drugs and theft.”

BCSO is seeking any information on Quintana’s whereabouts, in order to bring a close to “Operation Unicorn.” Information can be sent through an online report or by calling the non-emergency number (303) 441-4605.