A group of migrant workers allegedly looted property in a devastated area of Tennessee on Saturday in the wake of Hurricane Helen, according to the local sheriff's office.
The eight men were arrested by Washington County authorities and left devastated. houses were washed away by the flood This led to a water rescue.
The suspects are accused of looting in one of the county's flood zones, according to the sheriff's office.
Three suspects, Jesus Leodan García Peneda, 51, Josué Berardo Ortiz-Valdez, 30, and Arcee Leonel Ortiz-Valdez, 33, were charged with theft.
The remaining five are Alvin Nahun Vega-Raparo (24 years old), David Byron Rapallo-Raparo (37 years old), Kevin Noe Martinez-Lopez (25 years old), and Marvin Hernandez-Martinez (43 years old). , Dane Gabriel Guillen Guillen, 37, was charged with aggravated theft. The sheriff's office said they entered an occupied structure.
The defendants are migrant workers who are in the country legally on work visas, a sheriff's spokesperson told the Post on Monday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately have information about the man Monday night.
The looting suspects are being held on $20,000 bail and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
It is unclear whether the looting occurred at homes or businesses.
Tennessee was one of the southeastern states hit hard by winds and heavy rain. More than 40 trillion gallons of water was dumped during the storm.
At least 128 people have died, and the number is likely to rise.
with post wire
