Strippoker
04-06-2007, 11:35 AM
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Five people face federal criminal charges related to the theft high value, high performance boats.
The US Attorney's Office says the indictments also allege the men moved the boats from state to state.
Ariel Martinez, Gilberto Garcia, and Manuel Moure are charged with conspiracy to transport boats, alter their ID numbers and fraudulently obtain their titles and registrations.
Two other defendants, Ruben Thames and Orestes Armenteros, were charged in a separate indictment for possession of stolen boats that had been transported in interstate commerce.
Martinez, a 30-year-old resident of Hialeah, could face maximum penalties of 65 years' imprisonment and a $1,750,000 fine. Garcia, a 32-year-old resident of Hialeah, could face maximum penalties of 25 years' imprisonment and a $750,000 fine. Moure, a 31-year-old resident of Miami, could face maximum penalties of 15 years' imprisonment and a $500,000 fine. Armenteros, a 54-year-old resident of Miami, could face maximum penalties of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Thames, a 29-year-old resident of Miami, could face maximum penalties of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The indictment says the defendants were involved in a ring that stole the boats, along with their engines and trailers, from several locations throughout Florida and southern Georgia and transported them to the Miami area.
The defendants allegedly sold most of the boats for profit but retained some of them for their own use. The investigation has resulted in the recovery of 38 stolen boats with a total value of approximately $4 million.
Prosecutors say the suspects stole a 31-foot Contender worth approximately $115,000, a 35-foot Donzi worth approximately $170,000, a 33-foot Hydra-Sports worth approximately $180,000, a 29-foot Wellcraft Scarab worth approximately $60,000, and a 33-foot Cigarette worth approximately $130,000.
This case was investigated by a task force that includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, and the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
The US Attorney's Office says the indictments also allege the men moved the boats from state to state.
Ariel Martinez, Gilberto Garcia, and Manuel Moure are charged with conspiracy to transport boats, alter their ID numbers and fraudulently obtain their titles and registrations.
Two other defendants, Ruben Thames and Orestes Armenteros, were charged in a separate indictment for possession of stolen boats that had been transported in interstate commerce.
Martinez, a 30-year-old resident of Hialeah, could face maximum penalties of 65 years' imprisonment and a $1,750,000 fine. Garcia, a 32-year-old resident of Hialeah, could face maximum penalties of 25 years' imprisonment and a $750,000 fine. Moure, a 31-year-old resident of Miami, could face maximum penalties of 15 years' imprisonment and a $500,000 fine. Armenteros, a 54-year-old resident of Miami, could face maximum penalties of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Thames, a 29-year-old resident of Miami, could face maximum penalties of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The indictment says the defendants were involved in a ring that stole the boats, along with their engines and trailers, from several locations throughout Florida and southern Georgia and transported them to the Miami area.
The defendants allegedly sold most of the boats for profit but retained some of them for their own use. The investigation has resulted in the recovery of 38 stolen boats with a total value of approximately $4 million.
Prosecutors say the suspects stole a 31-foot Contender worth approximately $115,000, a 35-foot Donzi worth approximately $170,000, a 33-foot Hydra-Sports worth approximately $180,000, a 29-foot Wellcraft Scarab worth approximately $60,000, and a 33-foot Cigarette worth approximately $130,000.
This case was investigated by a task force that includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, and the Broward County Sheriff's Office.