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The Florida State Attorney's Office announced the dismantling of an organized crime ring dedicated to vehicle theft and the arrest of five of its members - of Cuban origin - while a sixth remains at large.
The accused are “non-citizen foreigners” and are involved in the theft of more than 80 vehicles on the west coast of Florida, in a scheme that began in June 2022, according to Attorney General James Uthmeier at a press conference in Tampa on Thursday.
The five arrested criminals were identified as Héctor Rafael González Tamayo, Yainier Pinillo Toro, Yoan Oriol González Solórzano, María Beatriz Rodríguez La Rosa, and Felipe Benítez Alonso; while Inti Gómez Alonso is being sought by the authorities. The defendants are of Cuban nationality, as confirmed by CiberCuba.
Mark Glass, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), revealed that the gang began operating more than two years ago in the Fort Myers area and later moved to Tampa and other parts of the state of Florida.
According to the police investigation, the members of the group stole 81 vehicles -mostly high-end SUVs like Cadillac Escalade and Rolls Royce- , which they removed the identification numbers (VIN), in addition to assigning them fraudulent titles and plates, to then transfer or sell them for cash, for amounts ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, while the more expensive ones could cost $25,000.
According to authorities, the members of the gang employed several modus operandi: they rented vehicles at airports, cloned the keys before returning them, and installed Apple Airtags or Samsung Smartags to track their location and steal them weeks later. On other occasions, they took them from rental companies or small dealerships, or after someone had rented them, using similar methods to keep track and proceed with the theft.
All the defendants face a charge of organized crime and another of conspiracy to commit organized crime, both first-degree felonies, for which they can be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison, the Prosecutor's Office said.
The FDLE estimates that the network made over a million dollars from the sale of the stolen cars, but the cash has not yet been found.
At the press conference, Uthmeier warned that "Florida is a state of law and order; we will seek justice and collaborate with the Trump administration to ensure these criminals return to their places of origin."
The Office of the Specialized Prosecutor (OSP) under Attorney General Uthmeier is in charge of the investigation. In the dismantling of the network, representatives from the FDLE and the State Attorney's Office, as well as the Tampa International Airport Police Department, the Florida Highway Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) participated.
This case could be related to the dismantling in December 2024 of a criminal network of Cubans, based in Houston and operating in airports across the states of Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah.
Pinillo Toro, one of those involved in the recently dismantled gang in Florida, has been in custody since then, along with two other Cubans, all members of an extensive network identified as the Cuban Auto Theft Group (CATG), which is believed to include another 14 suspects.
According to police reports, the Cubans stole more than 50 cars worth over 5,000,000 dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Dismantling of the Cuban Car Theft Ring in Florida
How many cars did a gang of Cubans steal in Florida?
The Cuban gang stole more than 80 cars in Florida. Their operation primarily focused on high-end SUVs, which were then sold or transferred using fraudulent documentation.
What methods did they use to steal the vehicles?
The gang used various methods for vehicle theft, including renting cars at airports to clone keys and using tracking devices to locate them later. They also stole directly from dealerships and rental companies.
What charges do those arrested for these crimes face?
The defendants face charges of organized crime and conspiracy to commit organized crime, both first-degree felonies, for which they could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.
What economic impact did this criminal operation have in Florida?
The gang obtained more than a million dollars from the sale of the stolen cars. However, the cash has still not been located by the authorities.
How do the authorities collaborate to combat these thefts?
The authorities in Florida are working together with local, state, and federal agencies to identify and dismantle organized crime networks. In this case, the Florida State Attorney's Office, the FDLE, and other security agencies participated, which led to the arrest of those involved.
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