Texas law enforcement has apprehended three Cuban nationals believed to be part of a Houston-based gang accused of stealing vehicles worth over five million dollars from at least five airports across the United States. The criminal network, known as the Cuban Auto Theft Group (CATG), allegedly comprises an additional 14 suspects who remain at large, according to court documents referenced by the independent outlet CaféFuerte.
The arrested individuals include Yoel Hernández Frómeta, 38, regarded as the ringleader, José Antonio Pérez Rodríguez, 29, and Yainier Pinillo Toro, 30. They were detained in October and are currently held in Tarrant County Jail. The investigation, involving local, state, and federal agencies from various states, commenced in February 2023 following a significant uptick in vehicle thefts at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas. Notably, car theft incidents at DFW nearly doubled from 66 in 2021 to 118 in 2022, with the Cuban network implicated in the theft of 52 vehicles, resulting in losses estimated at $4,938,771.
The gang's criminal activities extended to airports in Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah, according to police reports. Court documents reveal that after stealing the cars, the suspects altered their identification numbers and illicitly retitled them before selling them to buyers in the U.S. or transporting them across the border into Mexico for further sale.
Records from Tarrant Jail show that the detained Cubans face charges related to organized crime involvement, theft of property valued at $300,000 or more, and the illegal use or possession of criminal tools for robbery. Hernández, identified as the group's leader, was initially denied bail. However, his attorney successfully argued for conditional release, claiming Hernández poses no threat to society and would attend all court hearings. Consequently, bail was set at $300,000, while the other two detained individuals remain without bail.
In September 2023, Dallas-Fort Worth officials received a license plate reader alert regarding a suspected stolen vehicle, a red Audi, located at Terminal D. On that same day, two Cadillacs were stolen, resulting in a loss of $196,000. Three days later, authorities stopped the Audi during a traffic check due to its unsecured temporary license plate.
The vehicle was occupied by the three Cubans, carrying items used for car theft, including an Autel key programming device and a Bluetooth vehicle communication interface, a laptop, car-unlocking tools, two screwdriver sets, a knife, pliers, data cables, and 14 key fobs, as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Police verified Hernández's presence at DFW and other terminals where cars were stolen on at least eight occasions between July 11 and October 8, 2023, or he was captured by surveillance cameras leaving airports concurrently with the stolen vehicles.
Meanwhile, Pinillo was at DFW on September 24 and 29, dates coinciding with the theft of two vehicles, causing losses of $193,294. According to police records, during the investigation, Hernández and Pérez were arrested in other states and Houston for involvement in additional auto thefts.
Court orders also indicate Hernández has a substantial criminal history, including three arrests for organized criminal activity in 2024, five charges for illegal use of a criminal instrument in 2024, and three theft charges from 2022 to 2024. Authorities confirmed the arrests of the three accused since 2023 stemmed from suspected thefts at Las Vegas Municipal Airport, Phoenix, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Harris County, Texas.
A spokesperson for Dallas-Fort Worth noted in a press release, "While the investigation is ongoing and prosecution pending, DFW Airport's Department of Public Safety investigators remain in close contact with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and dismantle organized crime networks targeting airport parking facilities nationwide."
"Thanks to the efforts of DFW Airport police, vehicle thefts in terminal areas have decreased by more than 40 percent this year compared to 2023," the spokesperson added.
Vehicle theft in the U.S. reached an all-time 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 Cuban Auto Theft Group
Who are the main individuals involved in the Cuban Auto Theft Group?
The main individuals arrested are Yoel Hernández Frómeta, José Antonio Pérez Rodríguez, and Yainier Pinillo Toro, with Hernández identified as the leader.
What methods did the Cuban Auto Theft Group use to steal and resell vehicles?
The group altered vehicle identification numbers and illegally retitled the cars before selling them domestically or exporting them to Mexico.
What impact did the Cuban Auto Theft Group have on vehicle theft statistics?
Their activities contributed to a significant increase in vehicle thefts, particularly at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where incidents almost doubled between 2021 and 2022.