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

0
9K


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.


Buscar
Categorías
Read More
Trucking News
Number of truck crash fatalities “going to get worse before it gets better,” experts warn
Fatal truck crashes increased nationwide in 2021, and some industry experts say that supply chain...
By Truck Drivers Life 2022-01-12 20:31:52 1 10K
Trucking News
FMCSA increases the allowed area for mounting devices on interior CMV windshields
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has updated current regulations to allow...
By Truck Drivers Life 2022-03-10 01:34:49 0 14K
Trucking News
Trucker feels lucky to be alive after close call with van
An out of control van comes close to causing a head-on collision with the dash cammer’s...
By Truck Drivers Life 2020-12-05 10:52:04 0 9K
Trucking News
Here are the ‘Fuel Island 10 Commandments’ every driver should obey
#1. Thou shalt not relieve yourself at the fuel island. #2. Thou shalt choose one pump...
By MEGA MISTAKES 2022-06-12 21:44:04 0 12K
Trucking News
Speed limit up to 80 MPH along 59 mile stretch of H.E. Bailey Turnpike — and truckers aren’t happy about it
This week, a higher speed limit went into effect on a portion of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike in...
By MEGA MISTAKES 2024-04-20 14:54:54 0 16K
Truck Drivers Life | Social Network for Truck Drivers https://www.truckdrivers.life