Florida's State Attorney's Office has announced the takedown of an organized crime ring specializing in vehicle theft, resulting in the arrest of five Cuban nationals, while a sixth member remains at large. The suspects, described as "non-citizen foreigners," are accused of stealing more than 80 cars along Florida's west coast, a scheme that began in June 2022, according to Attorney General James Uthmeier during a press briefing in Tampa on Thursday.
The five individuals apprehended have been identified as Héctor Rafael González Tamayo, Yainier Pinillo Toro, Yoan Oriol González Solórzano, María Beatriz Rodríguez La Rosa, and Felipe Benítez Alonso. Authorities are still searching for Inti Gómez Alonso. Their Cuban nationality was confirmed by CiberCuba.
Mark Glass, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), disclosed that the group began its operations over two years ago in the Fort Myers area and later expanded to Tampa and other parts of Florida. The investigation revealed that the gang stole 81 vehicles, primarily high-end SUVs like Cadillac Escalades and Rolls Royces. They erased the vehicles' VINs, assigned fraudulent titles and plates, and sold them for cash, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, while the most expensive ones fetched up to $25,000.
Authorities reported that the gang employed various methods to execute their thefts. They rented cars at airports, cloned keys before returning them, and installed Apple Airtags or Samsung Smartags to track the vehicles and steal them weeks later. In other cases, they targeted rental companies or small dealerships, using similar tactics to commit the thefts.
Charges and Legal Consequences
All individuals face charges of organized crime and conspiracy to commit organized crime, both first-degree felonies, which could result in sentences of up to 30 years in prison, according to the State Attorney's Office.
The FDLE estimates that the ring made over a million dollars from the sale of stolen cars, though the cash has not yet been recovered. During the press briefing, Uthmeier asserted, “Florida is a state of law and order; we will seek justice and work with the Trump administration to ensure these criminals are returned to their countries of origin.”
The investigation is being led by the Office of the Specialized Prosecutor (OSP) under Attorney General Uthmeier. The dismantling of the ring involved cooperation from the FDLE, State Attorney's Office, Tampa International Airport Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Connections to Other Criminal Activities
This case may be linked to the December 2024 disruption of a Cuban criminal network based in Houston, operating across airports in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. Pinillo Toro, one of the individuals involved in the newly dismantled Florida ring, has been in custody since then, along with two other Cubans, all part of a vast network identified as the Cuban Auto Theft Group (CATG), which includes 14 additional suspects. Police reports indicate the Cuban group stole more than 50 cars valued at over $5,000,000.
Florida Car Theft Ring: Key Facts and Insights
Who are the main suspects in the Florida car theft ring?
The primary suspects include Héctor Rafael González Tamayo, Yainier Pinillo Toro, Yoan Oriol González Solórzano, María Beatriz Rodríguez La Rosa, and Felipe Benítez Alonso. Authorities are still searching for Inti Gómez Alonso.
What methods did the gang use to steal cars?
The gang rented cars at airports, cloned the keys, and used tracking devices like Apple Airtags or Samsung Smartags to locate and steal the vehicles later. They also targeted rental companies and small dealerships using similar tactics.