Home Tampa Press Releases 2009 Car-Cloning Criminal Boss Escapes
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Car-Cloning Criminal Boss Escapes

FBI Tampa April 29, 2009
  • Special Agent Dave Couvertier (813) 253-1033

Tampa, Florida—PABLO BARRIO, 54, was placed on house arrest on April 16, 2009 and escaped during the morning of April 28, 2009 from his residence and is now a federal fugitive. 

On March 24, 2009, BARRIO was arrested by federal authorities. BARRIO was the key subject of OPERATION DUAL IDENTITY, a joint investigation involving a major car-cloning scheme. This joint investigative effort was one of the largest auto theft cases in the United States.

Investigators suspected BARRIO may be headed for Mexico. He had access to a 2004 blue Chevrolet Tahoe, Florida license plate 936-IIL. BARRIO has family members residing in High Springs, Florida; he previously lived in Chicago, Illinois; and has connections throughout the state of Florida; Houston, Texas, and has family members in Cuba. 

BARRIO is described as follows:

Pablo Barrio (4/29/09)


Race: White Male (Hispanic)
Height: 5 feet 8 inches          
Weight: 170 pounds (Medium Build)                        
Hair: Black w/ Gray              
Eyes: Brown
Date of Birth: January 15, 1955

Anyone with information on BARRIO’s current whereabouts is asked to call the Tampa FBI Field Office at 1-866-838-1153 (toll free) or their local authorities.