MIAMI, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 12 people accused of stealing more than $500,000 in underground copper cable from South Florida to Central Florida.
The investigation began in October 2014 after a request from Florida Power and Light regarding the theft and destruction of underground electric and fiber optic cables. While most of the thefts occurred in Miami-Dade, thefts also happened in Broward and Volusia Counties.
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"These thieves aimed to put dollars in their pockets by severing those lines of electrical power that keep the pulse of our community beating. They aimed to cut the security of Miami, Miami Beach and all of Miami-Dade County," said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
After stealing the copper cable, the suspects sold the copper to metal recycling facilities across Miami-Dade, according to FDLE.
Here is a list of the suspects arrested:
- Giovany Rodolfo Regidor, 36, of Miami
- Carlos Aragon, 33, of Miami
- Renier Rolando Ulloa-Castillo, 42, of Miami
- Yoandys Jose Diaz Zamora, 39, of Homestead
- Leonardo Perez, 59, of Homestead
- Pedro Omar Alfonso, 44, of Miami
- Ubaldo Medina, Sr., 46, of Hialeah Gardens
- Marion Mauricio Lezama, 42, of North Miami
- Ramon Herrara, 59, of Hialeah
- Joan Barrios Cruz, 49, of Miami
- Yandy Cruz, 24, Miami Gardens
- Iraldo Leon, 49, of Miami
All suspects were booked into Turner Gilford Knight Correctional Facility in Miami-Dade County.