Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced charges to three individuals connected in an organized retail theft scheme targeting hardware stores across Florida through a press release this week.
According to the attorney general, Johnny Batista, Roberto Hernandez-Castro, and Roberto Aldana Ferrera allegedly committed smash-and-grab burglaries of high-end merchandise at Ferguson Waterworks, Grainger, Electric City, Sewell’s Hardware, and other small businesses across 13 counties in the state, including Orange, Duval, Pinellas, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade.
Moreover, the crew would throw the items in a large bin and exit the stores without paying. The items, to the tune of hundreds of thousands, were then transported to Miami-Dade County and sold. Thousands of dollars in damages were also made to the stores.
“This group of criminals carefully orchestrated thefts across at least thirteen counties to turn over illicit proceeds as quickly as possible,” Uthmeier said. “In Florida, our Organized Retail Theft Task Force will dismantle theft rings, keep retail costs low for consumers, and protect hard-working Floridians.”
Batista, Hernandez-Castro, and Aldana Ferrera were charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, burglary of a structure causing over $1000 in damage (x5), burglary of occupied structure, grand theft causing damage over $1000, grand theft $5000-$10,000 (x2), and other crimes.
“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,” Martin County Sheriff John 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. I could not be more proud of the professionalism and determination displayed by our team throughout this investigation.”
Batista is currently in custody in Palm Beach County, while Aldana Ferrera will be extradited to the state after facing local charges in Georgia.
Hernandez-Castro is on the run with an active arrest warrant.
If convicted on the charges, all three defendants face life in prison. Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Chris Olowin in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida will handle the case moving forward.
Uthmeier has announced several arrests for organized retail theft in the past several months, including one involving beauty and fragrance products in March.
