Three Arrested on Interstate Shipment Theft Charges

Three individuals were arrested yesterday on charges related to interstate shipment theft and burglary, announced Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office. All three appeared before Judge Garber this afternoon for their initial appearances and were released on bond pending trial.

Defendants Fermin Moya, 36, of Miami, Eduardo Batista, 42, of Miami, and Yosvany Batista-Agra, 24, of Miami, were all charged with maliciously entering a warehouse containing bonded merchandise with the intent to remove the merchandise and interstate shipment theft and burglary. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.

According to the Indictment, in or about August 2009, the defendants breached the eastern wall of the Lufran International Corporation bonded warehouse located in Miami, Florida, where they then loaded goods and merchandise contained in the warehouse onto a 26-foot box-truck. Commercial losses resulting from this type of cargo theft have been estimated as high as $12 billion annually in the United States.

Mr. Sloman would like to commend the investigative efforts of the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Doral Police Department and the Hialeah Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sherwin.

Charges in an Indictment are merely accusations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.