Thieves Get Jail Time in $1.7 Million Cargo Theft Bust

Cargo Theft Bust: Four Sentenced to Prison for $1.7 Million Cargo Theft Operation

Four men have been sentenced to prison for stealing over $1.7 million in goods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced the sentences on June 26, 2024.

Details of the Cargo Theft Operation

In 2019, the men carried out a series of thefts across several states. They stole valuable goods and took them to Florida to sell. Here are some of the thefts:

• May 18, 2019: $500,000 worth of computers in Macon, Georgia.
• June 11, 2019: $640,000 worth of computers for the Centers for Disease Control in Emerson, Georgia.
• July 21, 2019: $110,000 worth of copper in Denmark, Tennessee.
• September 2, 2019: $110,000 worth of copper in Glade Springs, Virginia.
• October 6, 2019: $110,000 worth of copper in Fairview, Tennessee.
• November 16, 2019: $340,000 worth of apparel in Kingsland, Georgia.

Sentences and Restitution

The sentences reflect the severity of the crimes. The men also have to pay back large sums of money:

• Yunior Hernandez, 50, of Homestead, Florida: Two years and nine months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He must pay $880,857.43 in restitution.
• Carlos Alberto Valdes, 55, of Hialeah, Florida: Three years and ten months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He must pay $1,543,890.60 in restitution.
• Roberto Quesada Lopez, 44, of Hialeah, Florida: Two years and six months in prison. He must pay $1,229,888.32 in restitution.
• Yubani Millares Vera, 49, of Hialeah, Florida: Five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He must pay at least $1,760,479.12 in restitution.

Statements from Authorities

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said these thefts hurt the economy. “The sentencing of these defendants shows our commitment to prosecute these crimes and warns others that these offenses are a priority,” Buchanan said.

Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, praised the teamwork in catching the thieves. “This theft ring did not stop at state lines, and neither did our investigation. Thanks to our partnership with Miami agencies, we tracked these thieves across the Southeast and now they will be held accountable,” Farley said.

Rising Cargo Theft Rates

Cargo theft has been increasing. CargoNet, a data-sharing company, reported a 60% rise in thefts in 2023 compared to the previous year. The first quarter of 2024 saw even more theft incidents.

The case was investigated by the FBI with help from the Miami-Dade County Police Department and the FBI’s Miami Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber prosecuted the case.

These sentences serve as a strong warning against cargo theft and show the commitment of law enforcement to address this issue.