The ringleader of a group that broke into cars parked at trailheads and parks in Boulder, Broomfield and Jefferson counties and using stolen credit cards to go on spending sprees has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, state Attorney General John Suthers said Friday.

Ismael Lopez, 37, pleaded guilty in October to violating the Organized Crime Control Act, a class 2 felony.

According to his indictment, Lopez and three others broke into vehicles, stole credit cards and used them to buy video games, gift cards, groceries and electronics between July and September 2008.

Among the parks and trailheads targeted were Settler's Park Trailhead, the Greenbelt Plateau Trailhead, the Bobolink Trailhead and the Flatirons Vista Trailhead, all in Boulder County. Also targeted were vehicles at Crown Hill Open Space Park in Lakewood, Broomfield Commons Park in Broomfield and Tom Frost Reservoir in Broomfield.

The Office of the Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Unit investigated Lopez with help from the Broomfield Police Department and the Boulder County Sheriff's Office. The Office of the Attorney General and the Boulder County District Attorney's Office jointly prosecuted the case.

Lopez was sentenced Friday by a Boulder County District Court judge.

More serious charges against the other defendants were dismissed.

Quirina Lopez, 29, pleaded guilty to three counts of identity theft and was sentenced to five years probation.

Finesse Apodaca, 25, pleaded guilty to forgery and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Daniel Febles, 44, pleaded guity to criminal attempt to commit theft and was sentenced to two years probation.