A Florida man who was convicted of cargo theft for a third time has been sentenced to over 13 years in prison.
On Friday, Jan. 16, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Indiana announced that Juan Perez-Gonzalez, a 51-year-old Cuban national living in Florida, was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in federal prison for his role in a “massive, multi-state cargo theft conspiracy.”
In July, Perez-Gonzalez was found guilty of conspiracy, possession of goods stolen from interstate commerce and interstate transportation of stolen property. According to prosecutors, between December 2021 and May 2023, Perez-Gonzalez and five other co-conspirators committed at least 14 cargo thefts. Court documents showed the group would target tractor-trailers carrying “commercially available, high-end electronics” and other products.
“What this group attempted was a sweeping attack on the backbone of U.S. commerce, but it was ultimately dismantled through the unified work of federal, state, and local law enforcement,” Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said in a statement. “Federal law enforcement has a far reach and unwavering resolve, and this case makes it clear that anyone who threatens the nation’s supply chain will be tracked down and held accountable.”
The following co-conspirators pled guilty to their roles in the cargo theft scheme and have since been sentenced to:
- Carlos Enrique Freire-Pifferrer, 46, of Louisville, Ky. – 7 years 11 months
- Jose Antonio Gomez-Pifferrer, 33, of Louisville, Ky. – 3 years, 1 month
- Dalwy De Armas-Rodriguez, 38, of Louisville, Ky. – Time served
- Luis Velazquez, 58, of Jacksonville, Fla. – 2 years, 9 months
- Richard Alameda, 47, of Florida – 2 years, 10 months
“This was a coordinated, multi-million-dollar criminal operation – not an opportunistic theft. Cargo theft schemes like this drive up costs for businesses and consumers alike,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The sentences imposed reflect the seriousness of the crime and demonstrate that those who target supply chains for personal gain will face significant consequences.”
In addition to their prison sentences, Perez-Gonzalez and four of the five co-conspirators were ordered to pay restitution in varying amounts, totaling nearly $7 million. LL
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