Federal authorities have charged eight men with the theft of multiple cases of beer from train cars and other facilities across the Northeast for nearly two years.
According to the Southern District of New York prosecutors, the men were responsible for numerous beer heists across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts from July 2022 to March 2024. These heists resulted in significant financial losses for beverage distributors, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars at least.
Under the cover of darkness, the men typically assembled in the Bronx before embarking on their target for the night, as stated in the SDNY complaint. Upon arrival, they would often create an opening in the fence surrounding the area or tamper with the lock on railroad cars to gain access to tightly sealed pallets containing cases of beer. These cases were typically shipments of Corona or Modelo imported from Mexico.
After returning to a central location in the Bronx, the men would carefully examine the cases before proceeding to sell them.
The heist teams were paid hundreds of dollars for their work on a given night, according to prosecutors.
Jose Cesari, also known as “Cry,” was one of the men charged with being a leader. He would actively use Instagram to recruit new members for the ring. In his posts, he would promote the opportunity to earn over $100K in a month by following what he called “the beer train method.”
According to the complaint, Cesari is accused of using a police scanner to monitor potential police activity. Additionally, he was found to be in possession of a firearm that he brandished.
The men are confronted with seven federal criminal counts, which include charges under the 1946 Hobbs Act that governs interference with interstate commerce. These charges could potentially result in several decades of prison time for the individuals involved.
FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy expressed his thoughts on train heists, stating that they invoke a nostalgic image of the Wild West, with gunslingers on horses stealing loot from rail cars. However, he emphasizes that this romanticized image is far from the reality of modern-day criminals involved in a theft ring across New Jersey, New York, and other areas. These criminals specifically targeted railyards and beverage distribution centers.
CSX, the rail group that owns one of the railyards targeted by the suspects, also released a statement through a spokesperson.
CSX prioritizes the safety of its property and customers, showing a strong commitment to this aspect. The company takes any form of criminal activity seriously, especially when it comes to trespassing on their privately owned railyards. It is important to note that unauthorized activity within these premises is considered a criminal offense, and CSX will not hesitate to take legal action against violators.
It is unclear whether the suspects have secured legal representation. Representatives from SDNY did not respond immediately to NBC News’ request for information.
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