Several Cubans in Florida have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a network dedicated to the theft, sale, and purchase of car catalytic converters, which was dismantled by the police after more than a year of investigation, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office on Thursday.
State Attorney Katherine Fernández-Rundle announced in a press conference that 13 individuals are facing multiple charges related to the theft and trafficking of car catalytic converters, with 11 arrested and two still at large.
"There is an epidemic of catalytic converter theft across the country and within our community, and the reason is very simple: it's easy money," stated Fernández-Rundle. Although authorities have not specified the nationalities of the accused, CiberCuba confirmed that at least five of them are Cubans.
The investigation, which began in May 2023, uncovered that Gerardo Julio Hernández Rosada, owner of GMCN Scrap Metals Inc. in Medley, and his employees were buying stolen catalytic converters in violation of Florida laws. Within a year, the business grossed $53 million, of which approximately $30 million were illicit profits.
Hernández Rosada is currently in jail and faces multiple charges, including racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, 35 counts of trafficking stolen property, 25 counts of catalytic converter theft, 27 counts of purchasing metals, and 40 counts of payment method violation, according to the prosecutor's office.
Four employees of GMCN Scrap Metals: Christian Hernández, Martin Ariel Chávez Moreno, Alejandro Manuel Perera Rodríguez, and Mario Mella Vaillant León - the last three being Cubans - are also behind bars, accused of several charges including trafficking stolen property and racketeering.
Additionally, the perpetrators of the thefts: Davislay González Machuat and Gabriel Gil, both Cubans; William Zayas Castilla, José Carlos Ancizar, Pedro Pablo Vera, and Adrián Pérez have all been charged with vehicle part theft, among other crimes. Authorities continue to search for suspects Dayron Gómez Gaztelu and José Ángel Colón, who remain at large.
The police received the tip that led to the criminal network after the arrest of two individuals in Coconut Creek, Broward County, in May 2023, who admitted to stealing catalytic converters from a hotel, according to authorities. The detainees confessed how the criminal enterprise operated.
According to their testimony, the thieves or cutters would steal the converters and sell them to GMCN Scrap Metals Inc., where they would receive the goods from 5:00 to 9:00 a.m. The business paid for the converters depending on the brand: between $200 and $300 if they were from Toyota, and up to $700 for one from Mitsubishi, explained Fernández-Rundle.
"The catalytic converter contains precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which are very valuable. Just an ounce of platinum can be sold for nearly $1,000, and an ounce of rhodium reaches $4,750. For perspective, gold sells for about $2,500 per ounce," stated the state attorney during the press briefing.
Operations at the Medley business were under surveillance for a period after the police received the tip.
"Sometimes there was a line of vehicles waiting outside the warehouse to sell the converters," said Fernández-Rundle. Hernández Rosada's company loaded the stolen parts into containers and sent them to other states.
In 2023, insurance companies received 23,000 claims for catalytic converter theft, a 750% increase compared to four years earlier, according to the state attorney.
Replacing a catalytic converter can cost the theft victim between $1,000 and $3,000, in addition to months of waiting.
Catalytic Converter Theft Network in Miami: Key Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers about the recent dismantling of the car catalytic converter theft network in Miami.
What led to the arrest of the suspects in the catalytic converter theft ring?
The police received a tip after arresting two individuals in Coconut Creek, Broward County, who admitted to stealing catalytic converters from a hotel. This led to the uncovering of the larger criminal network.
Who is Gerardo Julio Hernández Rosada?
Gerardo Julio Hernández Rosada is the owner of GMCN Scrap Metals Inc. in Medley, and he is accused of buying stolen catalytic converters, leading to a significant illegal profit.
What are the financial impacts of catalytic converter theft?
Victims of catalytic converter theft can face replacement costs between $1,000 and $3,000, along with potential months of waiting. Insurance claims for such thefts have surged by 750% compared to four years ago.