CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — Charlotte County deputies and Florida troopers arrested four people Wednesday in a theft ring involving R.V.s and campers meant for people displaced by Hurricane Ian.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said the group stole, sold and delivered 20 R.V.s and campers between March and July.
Sixteen of those temporary homes belonged to the State of Florida. Officials say the suspects also reportedly stole a trailer and two pieces of heavy equipment estimated to be worth more than $1 million.
Investigators say the suspected thieves would start word-of-mouth sales at notably low cash-only prices. Some in the group would claim the low price was due to repairs the vehicle underwent following hurricane damage, the report said.
Deputies said nine of the R.V.s and campers were recovered, and 11 of them remain stolen. One dump trailer was recovered, and one of the two stolen Bobcat skid steers was recovered.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said the campers were stolen right across from the Charlotte County Jail, along Airport Road.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management said the trailers that were stolen are used for the State’s Non-Congregate Sheltering Program.
The remaining trailers that are sitting along Airport Rd, where the trailers were stolen, were previously used by households that are no longer participating in the program and surplus trailers.
Charlotte County deputies, alongside Florida Highway Patrol troopers, arrested the following people:
- Juan Carlos Santana, 55, of Miami
- Giddel Santana Morales, 43, of Miami
- Misael Gonzalez, 53, of Naples
- Ivan Gutierrez Miranda, 43, of Naples
The group is also facing charges included in the Florida Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (R.I.C.O.) Act.
However, CCSO said one member is still on the loose. Yosmel Betancourt Morales, 32, of Lake Worth.
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