Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier praised the proactive work of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) in Tampa for its takedown of an illegal alien diesel fuel theft ring while criticizing other cities for neglecting to stop crime during a press conference on Thursday.
"You see these big cities across the country right now that are struggling with crime, turning down the president's offer to come in and help prevent crime - it seems senseless to want to turn away help when you have murder after murder after murder happening in a lot of these cities like Chicago," Uthmeier said.
"You know where that is not happening? Right here in Tampa, Florida," Uthmeier added. "This is a big city. There is not a crime problem."
The attorney general's praise follows an announcement by Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister of an arrest of a group of illegal alien individuals allegedly involved in 350 diesel fuel thefts in 70 different locations across 13 Florida counties. The bust was part of Operation Van Diesel, which started about six months ago, according to Chronister.
He added that the accused stole 185,000 gallons of diesel fuel, which had a retail value of $650,000.
"Their crime spree is now over," Chronister said, flanked by numerous other members of the HCSO.
Thursday's announcement follows another illegal alien bust by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department in July involving the alleged stealing of $400,000 worth of truck parts.
Uthmeier's opening shade of Chicago and other American cities comes after President Donald Trump's order earlier this month to deploy National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to help reduce crime in the nation's capital.
Trump has also hinted at a similar plan for Chicago, earning the ire from Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Prtizer, who told the president not to come in a social media post.
"In Florida, we enforce the law; it's just that simple," Uthmeier added near the end of his own remarks.
