Florida authorities arrested five suspected members of Venezuelan gangster Tren de Aragua in connection with a string of retail thefts, with one of the suspects sobbing during an interview with law enforcement.
Alexis Jose Rodriguez Benavides, Darwin Smith Vasquez Leon, Ildemaro Miguel Escarona Mendoza, Ramon Jesus Carpintello Luna and Samuel Ogris David Anthony Charlie are charged with systematic retail theft and robbery. According to Fox 13, investigators are also working to add assault fees.
All five suspects are in the United States without approval.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shared images at a press conference with a heart ore-shaped cardiac shape that appears to be sobbing while being interviewed by investigators.
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Ramon Jesus Carpentero Luna sobs while being interviewed by law enforcement. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
Judd said that a retail crime investigation was launched in October and Publix reported a series of high-end liquor items being stolen from stores in central Florida. Walmart and Sam’s Club have similar reports of theft at the store.
Investigators reported 32 thefts and robberies in Polk County alone.
The suspect’s arrest of the suspect at Sam’s Club in Lakeland last month, according to the sheriff.
Alexis Jose Rodriguez Benavides, Darwin Smith Vasquez Leon, Ildemaro Miguel Escarona Mendoza, Ramon Jesus Carpintello Luna, Samuel Ogris David Anthony Charlie (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
In that case, the suspect injured a female worker who grabbed a cart to stop them, Judd said. The group set out to the car and then ran away on Uber after crashing in the car park.
Investigators searched the car and found stolen alcohol, cell phone and passport.
After identifying the suspect, law enforcement learned that the two men were already in custody for another robbery in Osceola County. Three other suspects were arrested Thursday night.
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The incident in which investigators helped the suspects occurred at Sam’s Club in Lakeland last month. (Getty Images)
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“I can say that this violent gang was alive and well in central Florida,” Judd said at a press conference on Tren de Aragua.
The sheriff said the suspect faced augmentation as he opposed people who described him as “illegal criminal aliens” due to his immigration status.
“They are suffering, they’re terrified, they’re stealing, robbing, and killing people,” Judd said.
