Yunior Hernandez, also known as "Yunior Hernandez Guzman," Roberto Quesada Lopez, Carlos Alberto Valdes, and Yubani Millares Vera have been sentenced to prison for multiple cargo thefts throughout the Southeastern United States totaling more than $1.7 million.
"Thefts of interstate shipments disrupt the production and delivery of needed goods and result in detrimental financial impact on businesses, consumers, and the U.S. economy generally," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. "The sentencing of these defendants is an example of our office’s commitment to prosecute these criminals as well as a warning to others that these offenses are an investigative priority for our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners."
"The FBI takes cargo theft very seriously, due to the significant impact it has on the United States economy, and the potential for stolen goods to be used to fund other criminal organizations," said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "This theft conspiracy did not stop at our state border, and neither did our investigation. Thanks to our partnership with Miami agencies, we tracked these thieves across the entire southeast, and now they will be held accountable for their crimes."
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, throughout 2019, Yunior Hernandez, Roberto Quesada Lopez, Carlos Alberto Valdes, and Yubani Millares Vera operated a cargo theft ring throughout the Southeastern United States. The stolen goods were then taken to Florida and sold.
The defendants stole over:
- $500,000 worth of computers in Macon, Georgia on May 18, 2019;
- $640,000 worth of computers meant for the Centers for Disease Control in Emerson, Georgia on June 11, 2019;
- $110,000 worth of copper in Denmark, Tennessee on July 21, 2019;
- $110,000 worth of copper in Glade Springs, Virginia on September 2, 2019;
- $110,000 worth of copper in Fairview Tennessee on October 6; 2019;
- $340;000 worth of apparel in Kingsland; Georgia on November 16; 2019;
Yunior Hernandez (50) from Homestead Florida was sentenced to two years nine months in prison followed by three years supervised release He was ordered to pay $88085743 restitution Hernandez was convicted conspiracy December20 after he pleaded guilty
Carlos Alberto Valdes (55) from Hialeah Florida was sentenced three years ten months prison followed by three years supervised release He was ordered pay$154389060 restitution Valdes convicted conspiracy January19 after he pleaded guilty
Roberto Quesada Lopez (44) from Hialeah Florida was sentenced two years six months prison He ordered pay$122988832 restitution Lopez convicted conspiracy July18 after he pleaded guilty
Yubani Millares Vera (49) from Hialeah Florida was sentenced five years prison followed by three years supervised release He ordered pay least$176047912 restitution Millares Vera convicted conspiracy March14 after he pleaded guilty
This case investigated Federal Bureau Investigation Assistance provided Miami-Dade County Police Department Economic Crime Bureau Federal Bureau Investigation Miami Field Office Assistant US Attorney Christopher J Huber prosecuted case For further information please contact US Attorney Public Affairs Office USAGAN PressEmails@usdoj gov or(404)5816016 Internet address US Attorney Office Northern District Georgia http://www justice gov/usao ndga
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