The Texas police arrested three Cubans, alleged members of a gang based in Houston accused of stealing cars valued at over five million dollars from at least five airports in the United States.
The criminal network, identified by authorities as the Cuban Auto Theft Group (CATG), is believed to consist of an additional 14 suspects who have not yet been apprehended, according to court documents cited by the independent outlet CaféFuerte.
The arrested individuals are Yoel Hernández Frómeta, 38 years old and the leader of the gang, José Antonio Pérez Rodríguez, 29, and Yainier Pinillo Toro, 30, and they were incarcerated in the Tarrant County jail following their arrest in October.
The investigation is being conducted by local, state, and federal agencies from several states and began in February 2023, following a concerning rise in vehicle thefts at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas. At this airport terminal, car thefts nearly doubled from 2021, when there were 66 incidents, to 2022, which saw 118.
The criminal network of Cubans is implicated in the theft of 52 cars in the DFW area, resulting in an estimated loss of $4,938,771.
The band also operated in airport terminals in Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah, police said.
According to court reports, after stealing the cars, the suspects altered their identification numbers and illegally retitled them before selling them to buyers in the United States or taking them out of the country through the border with Mexico to sell them there.
The records from the Tarrant jail reveal that the three detained Cubans are facing charges for involvement in organized crime, theft of property valued at or equivalent to $300,000, and the illegal use or possession of criminal instruments for the purpose of committing theft.
Hernández, the leader of the network, had been arrested without bail. However, after his lawyer requested bail, arguing that his client poses no danger to society and will attend all scheduled court hearings, the judge set bail at $300,000. The other two arrested individuals do not have bail set.
In September 2023, officials from Dallas-Forth Worth received an alert from a license plate reader regarding a vehicle suspected of being stolen, a red Audi, while it was at Terminal D after entering the airport. On the same day, two Cadillacs had been stolen, with a loss valued at $196,000.
Three days later, agents intercepted the Audi at a traffic stop for driving with an uninsured temporary license plate.
The three Cubans traveling in the vehicle had items for car theft, including an Autel key programming device, a Bluetooth communication interface for vehicles, a laptop, tools for unlocking cars, two sets of screwdrivers, a knife, pliers, data cables for the devices, and 14 key fobs, according to information from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The police confirmed that Hernández was at DFW airport and other terminals where vehicles were stolen from parking lots at least eight times, from July 11 to October 8, 2023, or was captured by surveillance cameras leaving an airport at the same time as the stolen vehicles.
Meanwhile, Pinillo was at DFW on September 24 and 29, dates when two vehicles were stolen, resulting in a loss of $193,294.
According to police records, during the investigation, Hernández and Pérez were arrested in other states and in the city of Houston for their involvement in other car thefts.
The court orders also state that Hernández has an extensive criminal record, which includes three arrests for participating in organized criminal activities in 2024, five charges for the illegal use of a criminal instrument in 2024, and three charges of theft between 2022 and 2024.
Authorities clarified that the arrests of the three accused individuals since 2023 were made due to suspicions of theft at the municipal airport in Las Vegas and in Phoenix, Nevada; in Salt Lake City, Utah; and in Harris County, Texas.
A spokesperson for Dallas-Fort Worth stated in a press release that "although there is an ongoing investigation and a pending indictment, investigators from the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety remain in close contact with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and dismantle organized crime networks targeting parking facilities at airports nationwide."
"Thanks to the efforts of the DFW airport police, there has been a reduction of over 40 percent in vehicle thefts in the terminal areas compared to 2023," he stated.
Vehicle theft in the U.S. reached a historic high in 2023, with 1,020,729 incidents, according to data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) cited by CaféFuerte.
Frequently Asked Questions about the group of Cubans accused of car theft in the U.S.
Who are the main detainees in the car theft ring?
The detained individuals are Yoel Hernández Frómeta, identified as the ringleader, along with José Antonio Pérez Rodríguez and Yainier Pinillo Toro. They were arrested and held at the Tarrant County Jail in Texas for their involvement in vehicle thefts at airports in the United States.
How did the Cuban Auto Theft Group (CATG) operate?
The gang operated in at least five airports in the U.S., stealing luxury cars, altering their identification numbers, and illegally retitling them. The vehicles were sold within the U.S. or taken out of the country to Mexico for resale.
What is the economic impact of the car thefts committed by this gang?
At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the gang is involved in the theft of 52 vehicles, representing an estimated loss of $4,938,771. This figure reflects the extent and seriousness of their criminal activities.
What charges are the members of this criminal gang facing?
The detainees are facing several charges, including participation in organized crime, theft of property valued at over $300,000, and illegal use or possession of criminal instruments. These charges highlight the severity of the accusations against them.
What measures are the authorities taking to prevent similar thefts?
Local, state, and federal authorities are closely collaborating to identify and dismantle organized crime networks targeting vehicle theft at airports. As a result of these efforts, car thefts at certain terminals have decreased by more than 40% compared to previous years.
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