Florida law enforcement has arrested five suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in connection with a coordinated retail theft ring that targeted liquor stores across Central Florida.
The suspects—Samuel Oglis David Anthony Charle, Ildemaro Miguel Escalona Mendoza, Alexis Jose Rodriguez-Benavides, Darwins Smith Vasquez-Leon, and Ramon Jesus Carpintero-Luna—are undocumented immigrants now facing multiple charges, including robbery and organized retail theft. Authorities are also considering racketeering charges due to the organized nature of the operation.
The investigation began last October following a series of high-end liquor thefts from stores such as Publix, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. In one incident, the suspects attempted to steal over $3,000 worth of liquor from a Sam’s Club in Lakeland. During the attempted theft, a store employee was injured while trying to intervene.
The suspects initially escaped by abandoning their vehicle after a crash in the store’s parking lot and fleeing in a rideshare car. Police later recovered stolen merchandise, multiple cellphones, and a passport from the abandoned vehicle, which helped identify those involved.
All five suspects are currently in custody, and federal immigration authorities have issued detainers. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the threat posed by transnational gangs operating within U.S. borders and called for aggressive prosecution.
The case underscores growing concerns over the infiltration of organized criminal groups from abroad and their role in complex theft schemes across multiple jurisdictions.