Jorge Gomero, owner of “The Baraton”, a store located in the Flagami neighborhood of Miami, was arrested on Monday accused of several serious crimes that include the theft and subsequent resale of stolen merchandise, as well as a million-dollar counterfeit tobacco scheme, including Cuban brands.
Investigations revealed that Gomero, 52, headed a network and individuals dedicated to the systematic theft of health, beauty, clothing and other over-the-counter products in the area's main retail chains.
Several people carried garbage bags full of merchandise stolen from Gomero's store, located at 4746 West Flagler, where he resold the items, according to what he said in statements to the local press Detective Ángel Rodríguez, spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police.
After an undercover investigation that lasted more than two months, on March 11, the agents raided the establishment in a surprise operation and They managed to recover merchandise worth more than $28,000, which were identified and claimed by representatives of the affected stores.
However, the most significant thing is that the Hispanic -whose nationality of origin has not been revealed- was also involved in a million-dollar plot to sell counterfeit boxes of tobacco.
During registration at the establishment, The police found a total of 4,499 counterfeit cigar boxes and several thousand false labels, all valued at more than one million dollars, exactly $1,124,750.
Among the counterfeit brands were Romeo and Julieta, H. Upmann, Montecristo, Cohíba, Cao, Bolívar, El Rey del Mundo, La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Punch, Partagás and Sancho Panza.
Gomero, according to the police, received orders for these boxes and labels from individuals who then intended to use them to sell fake tobacco as authentic products.
Authorities arrested Gomero on four counts of trafficking in stolen property and one count each of grand larceny in the third degree, sale, purchase or possession of $20,000 or more in counterfeit labels and forgery of private labels.
The investigation also revealed that the undercover agents made sales directly to Gomero, thus confirming their involvement in the purchase of stolen items.
"This is something that is obviously a crime not only for the people who were purchasing these stolen items, but also poses a danger to the community," the police spokesman warned.
The authorities do not rule out the possibility that more people are involved in this criminal network.
Jorge Gomero remains detained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) on $22,500 bail.
If you pay the bail amount you will have to prove that the funds come from a legitimate source.
The authorities emphasize that this case highlights the importance of combating illegal trade and protecting the rights of recognized brands, but also the need to guarantee consumer safety and preserve market integrity.
Police continue to investigate to identify all those involved and completely dismantle the city's smuggling and illegal sale of stolen goods network.
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