MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Three men are facing charges in what state prosecutors describe as a multi-county organized retail theft scheme targeting hardware stores across Florida, including businesses in Martin and Palm Beach counties.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday that Johnny Batista, 19, Roberto Hernandez-Castro, 39, and Roberto Aldana Ferrera, 31, have been charged in connection with the alleged theft ring.
Authorities said the group targeted hardware stores, including Ferguson Waterworks, Grainger, Electric City, Sewell’s Hardware and other small businesses. According to investigators, the suspects carried out smash-and-grab burglaries, grabbing high-end tools, placing them into large bins and leaving without paying.
The stolen items were then transported to Miami-Dade County, where they were sold, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
“This group of criminals carefully orchestrated thefts across at least thirteen counties to turn over illicit proceeds as quickly as possible,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “In Florida, our Organized Retail Theft Task Force will dismantle theft rings, keep retail costs low for consumers, and protect hard-working Floridians.”
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The Martin County Sheriff’s Office played a key role in the investigation. Sheriff John Budensiek said what started as a local hardware store burglary case quickly expanded into a much larger statewide investigation.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said detectives uncovered a larger organized retail theft operation after investigating local hardware store burglaries. (WPEC)
“Thanks to the relentless work of our detectives, what began as a local hardware store burglary investigation quickly uncovered a much larger criminal operation tied to more than 30 cases across the State of Florida,” Budensiek said. “This case is a testament to the dedication, experience, and investigative skill our detectives and statewide prosecutors bring to every case they face.”
Investigators said the thefts happened in at least 13 counties: Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Orange, Polk, Brevard, Seminole, St. Lucie, Indian River, Duval, Sarasota and Pinellas. The thefts caused thousands of dollars in damages and hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses to the affected businesses, according to prosecutors.
The defendants face a long list of charges, including racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, burglary, attempted burglary, grand theft and possession of burglary tools.
Batista is currently being held in the Palm Beach County Jail. Aldana Ferrera is facing local charges in Georgia and is expected to be extradited to Florida after those cases are resolved. Hernandez-Castro remains at large and has an active arrest warrant.
If convicted as charged, all three defendants could face up to life in the Florida Department of Corrections.
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The investigation was led by the Florida Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. The case will be prosecuted by Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Chris Olowin in Florida’s Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.