TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — After months of investigation and surveillance, law enforcement has shut down a criminal operation run by four Cuban Nationals that targeted semi-truck components and resulted in 93 people falling victim and causing $750,000 in theft and damage.

"We have made it clear that crime doesn't pay in Florida, and if you’re an illegal alien, we will work with the Trump administration to remove you from our country," said Attorney General James Uthmeier.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), the investigation began in May 2025 when detectives noticed a series of thefts in which the suspects specifically targeted Freightliner semi-trucks parked in short-term storage lots, prying open engine compartments and cutting wiring to steal their Electronic Control Modules (ECMs), which are essential components that power these vehicles.

"This wasn't petty theft; this was a calculated criminal enterprise targeting people who help keep our economy moving. These suspects crippled hardworking truck drivers by stealing the technology that powers their livelihoods," said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.

Uthmeier said that HCSO, in collaboration with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, and Miami-Dade Police Department, connected the suspects to ECM thefts in several Florida counties, as well as in Travis and Williamson Counties in Texas.

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The report stated that in total, the defendants are linked to stealing $404,668 worth of ECMs, causing an additional $372,000 in truck repair costs, and taking from 93 truck owners.

Officials say when an ECM is stolen from a truck, the truck driver can be impacted because the truck cannot be driven until expensive repairs are done.

"The more egregious part of this crime is not the damage, not the theft, it's the fact that they're out of work. They don't make any money when the trucks are sitting and that's what makes this crime so horrible and egregious," said Sheriff Chronister.

"I mean it puts the guy out of work. He can't feed his family and it's about a $7000 or $8000 repair," said Anthony Wilkes, President, Commercial Truck Repair, 837 W. 13th Street, Riviera Beach.

Wilkes showed us a semi-truck that's in his repair shop right now because someone stole the ECM.

He says the ECM is a key part of the engine.

"It's like the life of the truck. It depends on that. That's what runs the engine. So if you don't have the computer on there, you can forget about it," he explained.

Officials identified the four men who are under arrest: Geosvany Figueredo-Gonzalez, 27, Brian Sanchez-Perez, 28, Orlando Martinez-Dorta, 27, and Liovel Urra-Penate, 28. Urra-Penate and Martinez-Dorta are from Palm Beach County.

Officials said in a news conference Tuesday in Tampa the suspects were based in Palm Beach and Miami counties, with three of them being undocumented migrants, while the other came to the U.S. on a green card from Cuba.

Figuerdo-Gonzalez, 27, is facing the following charges:

• Conspiracy to engage in racketeering
• 28 counts - grand theft 3rd degree ($10,000-$20,000)
• 28 counts - burglary of unoccupied conveyance (travel across county lines)
• Criminal mischief $1,000 or more

Martínez-Dorta, 27, is facing the following charges:

• Conspiracy to engage in racketeering
• 9 counts - grand theft 3rd degree ($10,000-$20,000)
• 9 counts - burglary of unoccupied conveyance (travel across county lines)
• Criminal mischief $1,000 or more

Sanchez-Perez, 28, faces the following charges:

• Conspiracy to engage in racketeering
• 28 counts - grand theft 3rd degree ($10,000-$20,000)
• 28 counts - burglary of unoccupied conveyance (travel across county lines)
• Criminal mischief $1,000 or more

Urra-Penate, 28, has been charged with:

• Conspiracy to Engage in Racketeering

Currently, all four defendants are awaiting trial, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement placing detainers on three of them. Uthmeier noted that the fourth defendant's immigration status will be reviewed following a potential conviction.

Each could face up to 832 years in prison, along with deportation.

"They crossed over into the United States under the Biden Administration and they've got criminal records. They shouldn't have been here and here they are operating this organized scheme to defraud our citizens," said James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General.

"It really affects the guy that's trying to make a living to feed his family so I'm actually happy that they caught these guys," Wilkes said.

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