A dramatic multi-agency chase in western Arizona ended with one suspect leaping into the Colorado River and deputies hauling in nearly $500,000 in stolen cargo, authorities said.
The case kicked off around 8:30 a.m. on June 25 along Interstate 40 near Yucca, where deputies found a box truck tucked into a ravine with its rear doors open and shipping boxes spread across the desert. Mohave County detectives, backed by an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter, said the merchandise had been stripped from a passing BNSF train and was valued at $194,240 at that first site. A later traffic stop farther south on Highway 95 turned up a second box truck loaded with matching goods worth another $295,680, pushing the total close to $500,000, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Deputies said the driver of the second truck was carrying the title for the abandoned vehicle in the ravine. A passenger bolted on foot toward the river and reportedly dove into the Colorado River in a short-lived escape attempt. He was pulled in and arrested with help from the La Paz County Sheriff's Office boating division, according to the La Paz County Sheriff's Office.
Mohave County investigators identified the suspects as 22-year-old Gabriel Eusebio Coronel-Guerrero and 21-year-old Angel Isaac Ochoa, both of Mesa. The two were transported to Lake Havasu City and booked into the Mohave County jail on counts that include burglary, theft and trafficking in stolen property, FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
Part of a Growing Wave
The bust is the second major train burglary reported in Arizona this month. A separate late May break-in near Meteor Crater led to more than $500,000 in stolen goods being recovered, pushing June recoveries close to $1 million. Local coverage and industry reports indicate investigators believe organized crews are working remote freight corridors and targeting items like electronics and shoes that can be quickly resold, according to Arizona's Family.
Coconino County detectives told FreightWaves they are seeing "somewhere between 8 to 12 events a month" and said the isolated terrain makes it tough to respond quickly or gather solid evidence. The outlet reports law enforcement agencies are discussing a formal Northern Arizona railway task force and coordinated operations with BNSF, Homeland Security and state police to disrupt the crews.
Legal Consequences
Coronel-Guerrero and Ochoa face state felony charges of burglary, theft and trafficking in stolen property. Prosecutors could add more counts if investigators connect the pair to other train burglaries in the region.
FreightWaves also reported that BNSF has pushed for stronger prosecutions to "ensure these criminals are held responsible," reflecting rising industry pressure for tougher penalties and longer sentences in cargo theft cases.
Officials say the investigation is still active and are asking anyone with video, photos or information to contact the Mohave County Sheriff's Office. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online through Mohave County.
