Two Mexican nationals are currently facing federal charges following their arrest for allegedly stealing cargo from a freight train in the Mojave Desert. Jesus Omar Lopez Quintero, 34, and Juan Alonso Hernandez Enrique, 24, have been accused of taking approximately 71 cases of construction tools, as announced by the Justice Department earlier this month.
Charged with possession or receipt of goods stolen from interstate shipment, removing goods from customs custody and breaking seals, and illegal reentry into the United States after deportation, these two men were apprehended and are awaiting their arraignment set for February 25. Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally, said, "This case demonstrates the threat that transnational criminal theft organizations pose to our nation’s commerce, as well as the danger posed to trains and their operators." In what seems like a pursuit straight out of a crime drama, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department received a tip about a suspicious vehicle near railway tracks in Barstow on January 28.
According to the official complaint, law enforcement followed a white cargo van seen departing from the proximity of a stopped freight train with an open shipping container. Initiating a traffic stop resulted in a chase, as the van drove into oncoming traffic before pulling over, leading to Quintero and Enrique attempting to flee on foot. Quintero was taken into custody after falling during the chase while Enrique was found concealed in nearby shrubbery.
Law enforcement officers discovered stolen Milwaukee Tools in the cargo van, with an estimated wholesale value of $16,307, and additional tools valued at approximately $7,792 by the side of the train tracks next to the open container. Quintero, with a history of deportation dating back to 2013 and multiple convictions for illegal entry, has been deported from the United States five times from 2013 to 2024. Enrique was also deported in November 2022, and again the following month. They could face up to 22 years in federal prison if convicted of all charges.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and Assistant United States Attorney Sophia Carrillo of the General Crimes Section will lead the prosecution. All defendants, as always, are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. For further details, the full Justice Department announcement can be reviewed. Public Affairs Officer Connor Williams can be contacted for any additional information regarding this case.
