Florida law enforcement organizations recently busted a major cargo theft ring said to be responsible for some $7.8 million.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution announced recently it has filed charges against Alayn Espinosa Lopez, Yerrison Perez, Yasser Mederos Garcia, Alexis Suarez Hernandez, Alejandro Valdes, and Arley Osmany Hernandez Relova for grand theft and conspiracy to commit grand theft stemming from an organized cargo theft operation.
According to a statement from Uthmeier’s office, the group is alleged to be responsible for at least 32 cargo theft incidents and a vessel theft across Orange, Broward, Polk, Osceola, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties, resulting in an estimated loss of nearly $7.8 million.
“This organized criminal operation targeted Florida’s supply chain and caused nearly $7.8 million in losses across our state,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Thanks to the coordination between the Florida Highway Patrol, the Orlando Police Department, and our Office of Statewide Prosecution, this group was identified and dismantled. Now, they’ll answer for their crimes in court.”
The investigation began in May 2023 after a series of thefts involving unattended commercial semi-trailers loaded with high-value cargo were reported throughout the Orlando area and beyond. The thefts included shipments of retail merchandise, consumer electronics, copper wire, HVAC equipment, cooking oil and food products, energy drinks, wine and spirits, and other alcoholic beverages.
Investigators determined the defendants were part of a major theft organization (MTO) that targeted parked semi-trailers in commercial areas, parking lots, and distribution corridors. After stealing the vehicles and cargo, members of the MTO would search for and disable GPS tracking devices to evade law enforcement, then transport the stolen property to South Florida, where it was sold to co-conspirators involved in the resale of stolen goods, according to Uthmeier’s statement.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol Cargo Theft Unit, between May 2023 and March 2025, the group was allegedly responsible for the theft of about 51 commercial motor vehicles and 28 cargo shipments.
The case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol, the Orlando Police Department, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution. All six defendants were arrested and are currently in custody.
The defendants face a combined maximum penalty of 300 years in prison.
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