Three men face grand theft cargo charges for $1.3 million seafood heists

0
11K


Authorities in Florida have arrested and charged three men in connection to a large-scale cargo theft scheme.

 

Rene Hechevarria Echemend, 33, Ernesto Aguilera Baute, 36, and Jose Luis Batista Suarez, 40, were arrested on August 4 on charges of grand theft cargo of over $50,000 and obtaining property over $5,000, according to NBC Miami.

Authorities say that the three men were part of a scheme to steal more than $1.3 million worth of seafood from NETUNO, a Fort Lauderdale seafood importer, by posing as a grocery store buyer.

 

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), food orders were placed by a person identifying himself as grocery store buyer Brian Gomez on June 21, June 30, July 14, July 27 and July 29.

After each order, NETUNO would direct Gomez to pick up the load from a warehouse in Medley, Florida.

Forty-five days after the first order placed by Gomez, NETUNO workers became suspicious and contacted the grocery store’s headquarters, only to learn that there was no Brian Gomez on staff and that the email address he used was fraudulent.

 

Police launched an investigation and began to surveil the warehouse in Medley.

Around 9:30 a.m. on August 4, officers spotted the truck and trailer used in the previous cargo thefts backing into the dock at the warehouse.

Officers followed the truck and a red Mustang following the truck to a warehouse in Weston. About 15 minutes after the truck arrived at the facility, police approached and arrested the three men without incident.

 

FHP said that Aguilera Baute and Hechevarria Echemend were responsible for the first five cargo theft incidents, allegedly stealing $1.3 million worth of product. Batista Suarez was involved in the sixth and final cargo theft incident, reportedly stealing about $300,000 worth of product. This product was still in the trailer when the men were arrested, according to reports.

Investigators say that the men used their cellphones to coordinate the cargo thefts.



Search
Sponsored
Categories
Read More
Trucking News
Teen Killed, Passenger Critically Injured in Pickup and Semi Crash in Lee County, Illinois
A 16-year-old girl was killed and another person critically injured after a pickup truck and a...
By American Truck Drivers 2025-06-11 15:29:21 0 9K
Trucking News
Arkansas Troopers Stop Overweight Semi on I-30 and Find It 16,000+ Pounds Over the Legal Limit With No Permit
SOCIAL HILL, ARKANSAS — Arkansas State Police say a commercial vehicle was stopped...
By Truck Drivers Life 2026-02-04 18:12:18 0 3K
Trucking News
I-81 remains closed nearly 24 hours after 50 vehicle pileup that killed at least 3
Pennsylvania transportation officials say that I-81 could remain closed for a good part of the...
By Truck Drivers Life 2022-03-30 01:50:51 0 15K
Trucking News
Tractor-Trailer Overturns on I-287 in Harrison, Injuring Two
HARRISON, N.Y. — Two people were seriously injured Monday, October 6, following a crash...
By Truck Drivers Life 2025-10-08 16:33:47 0 3K
Trucking News
Truck Driver Killed After Unsecured Load Hits Windshield in Sussex County
A truck driver was killed Thursday afternoon in Sussex County, Virginia, after a loose load from...
By American Truck Drivers 2025-07-12 16:48:31 0 5K
News | Truck Drivers Life | Social Network for Truck Drivers https://www.truckdrivers.life