Three individuals are facing charges after allegedly pilfering a considerable number of coveted sneakers from a stationary train in the barren stretches of the Mojave Desert. According to the Orange County District Attorney's office, the suspects made away with 1,278 pairs of Nike Air Jordan 11 Retro shoes, valued at a substantial $311,000.
As reported by the Orange County District Attorney, the incident unfolded when BNSF railway police discovered that a container filled with Nike merchandise was suspiciously detached from the rest of the train. Subsequently, a built-in GPS tracker, placed by Nike within the shipment of Air Jordan shoes, led investigators to a U-Haul truck in Anaheim, where the stolen goods were recovered.
The accused, Bryan QuinteroEcharravia of Mesa, Arizona, at only 18 years of age, is confronted with one felony count of grand theft of cargo and another of receiving stolen property. His alleged accomplices, Bernardo Romeroquintero of Phoenix, and Olegario Flores, face similar felony counts, alongside a misdemeanor for possessing burglary tools. Conviction on all counts could land them a sentence up to three years.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed confidence in the abilities of law enforcement, stating, "Organized theft rings are no match for the sophistication and determination of law enforcement to track down these thieves, arrest them, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law." He further warned perpetrators in the area by affirming, "In Orange County, it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when you will be caught and you will be prosecuted."
Deputy District Attorney Dustin Chupurdy from the Gangs/TARGET Unit is tasked with the prosecution of this case, reinforcing the serious stance Orange County takes on these types of crimes.
