MIAMI – In a brazen scheme, two Florida men have been locked away for their roles in a massive transnational conspiracy to export stolen outboard engines to Mexico.
Antonio Perez Toledo, 40, of Ft. Myers, Florida, and Brian Perez, 43, of Homestead, Florida, were sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in the scheme. Toledo was handed a 48-month prison term, while Perez received 40 months.
The sentencing hearings were held before U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams, who also ordered the defendants to forfeit the proceeds they received from the scheme and pay restitution to the identifiable victims.
The co-conspirators, who operated from 2015 to 2019, used two Miami-based freight forwarding companies to export over 600 stolen engines valued at more than $12 million. Toledo and Perez each personally arranged to export approximately $1 million worth of stolen engines, affixing false serial number stickers on the engines before shipping.
Other co-conspirators have been convicted and sentenced for their roles in this transnational conspiracy. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez prosecuted the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove handling asset forfeiture. The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, along with Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI Miami and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot of CGIS.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the defendants’ actions not only caused significant financial loss but also compromised the security of the engines and the safety of those who use them. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in such illegal activities.
The case is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in bringing transnational crimes to justice. The public can access related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20344.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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