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Stolen Shoes Trafficking Ring Busted in Utah
Two men, Juan Carlos Andino-Mejia, 24, and Marlon Emilio Vasquez-Garcia, 45, both from Los Angeles, have been charged with transporting 5,820 pairs of Keen Shoes with a value of more than $5,000 from Multnomah County, Oregon, to Box Elder County, Utah.
The shoes were found in a stolen truck that was reported missing from a trucking company in Oregon on March 23, 2015. A GPS on the truck led police to a truck stop in Utah, where the Utah Highway Patrol, Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tremonton City Police were involved in stopping the truck and conducting the investigation.
Andino-Mejia and Vasquez-Garcia, who have used multiple aliases in the past, have had multiple deportations from the United States. They face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of interstate transportation of stolen goods and up to 10 years in prison for re-entering the country after a previous deportation.
The indictment alleges that the two men knowingly transported the stolen shoes across state lines, which is a federal crime. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Utah Highway Patrol, Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tremonton City Police, as well as ICE Enforcement and Removal officers.
The case is a reminder that crimes committed in one state can have far-reaching consequences. Andino-Mejia and Vasquez-Garcia’s actions not only affected the trucking company and the people of Oregon, but also put the public at risk by introducing stolen goods into the market.
Indictments are not findings of guilt, and the two men are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. An initial appearance on the charges will be scheduled for the pair in the coming weeks.
Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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