Three Cuban citizens residing in Miami-Dade were arrested following an investigation into a series of commercial burglaries in South Florida, during which the suspects used cargo vans and ski masks to steal electronic equipment, as reported by Local 10.
The arrested individuals were identified as Reinier Bustillo Gómez, 43 years old; José Solano Montelier, 37; and Yoandrys Cue, 41, all residents of Miami-Dade County.
The investigation encompasses similar thefts reported since February across different jurisdictions and has involved the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, as well as the police departments of Doral, Sweetwater, and Medley, in addition to the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
One of the robberies being investigated occurred on August 11 at Universal Freight Logistics in Doral, where three masked men arrived in a white Ford Econoline van, forced their way in with a crowbar, and diverted a security camera.
In just three minutes, according to the owner, they stole iPhones and Samsung phones worth about $200,000, in addition to causing over $1,000 in damages.
The cameras also captured one of the suspects with a device that investigators believe could be a signal jammer, capable of interfering with certain alarm systems, GPS, and radio communications.
Monitored while they toured the warehouses
The arrests occurred after agents observed the three men for approximately two and a half hours as they walked through a warehouse area.
The researchers described their movements as "deliberate and methodical" and believed they were looking for possible points of entry and vulnerabilities.
Bustillo Gómez was driving a black Dodge Caravan linked to the investigation, while Solano Montelier was driving a Ford Econoline that had been stolen on August 27 from Global Turbine Services, valued at approximately $58,000.
According to arrest reports, Cue attempted to flee and discarded some gloves and a black balaclava, while Solano Montelier pushed a sergeant before being apprehended.
Bustillo Gómez also reportedly tried to escape in the Caravan and, during the maneuver, struck the agent's leg, leaving one of his feet trapped under one of the front wheels of the vehicle.
Inside the stolen van, the agents found a lever and containers similar to those used in other investigated robberies. The vehicle's license plate had also been replaced with one reported as stolen.
The three detainees exercised their right to remain silent and were transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. They face charges including grand theft of a vehicle, aggravated assault against an officer, violent resistance to authority, and possession of tools for committing robberies, among others.
The potential use of signal jammers in these types of crimes had already raised concerns in the area. In November 2024, Miami-Dade authorities warned about the use of these devices to interfere with cameras and alarms during home burglaries.
In March of this year, additionally, two Cubans were arrested for stealing over 370,000 dollars in merchandise from businesses in western Florida, in a case that involved more than 150 thefts.
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