The fifth and final member of a cargo theft ring accounting for eight thefts resulting in over $1.2 million throughout Florida was arrested this week.
The suspects (Cecilio Guillen, Alcide Fraguela-Casanova, Juan Carlos Almaguer, Julio Vega, and Yanier Torres) have been investigated by police since September of last year. Four of the men (Guillen, Fraguea-Casanova, Almaguer, and Torres) were arrested last month in Jacksonville after allegedly stealing two tractor trailers, one containing $100,000 worth of tires and another carrying sugar worth $50,000. 1
Authorities note that the thieves “traveled from Miami-Dade County in a rental car to search for tractor-trailers they could easily steal. Once the cargo and trailers were both stolen, the suspects would return to Miami to sell the merchandise on the black market.” 2
Last year, Florida ranked third in states with the most reported cargo thefts according to a report by CargoNet.
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The Florida men each face a maximum of “30 years in prison per count of conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft cargo $50,000 or more.” 3
1http://www.news4jax.com/news/crime/five-arrested-in-florida-cargo-theft-ring
2http://www.local10.com/news/5-miami-dade-residents-arrested-in-cargo-theft-ring
3http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/5-miami-dade-residents-arrested-in-florida-cargo-theft-ring/68416671
