E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
Two Mexican nationals have been charged with stealing cargo from a freight train in the Mojave Desert, according to an announcement by the Justice Department. Jesus Omar Lopez Quintero, 34, and Juan Alonso Hernandez Enrique, 24, face charges of possession or receipt of goods stolen from interstate shipment, removing goods from customs custody and breaking seals, and illegal reentry into the United States following deportation.
The two men appeared in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles where a federal magistrate judge ordered their detention and scheduled their arraignment for February 25. Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally commented on the case stating, “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.”
The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle near train tracks in Barstow on January 28. Law enforcement found a white cargo van leaving a stopped freight train with an open shipping container. After attempting to flee from authorities, Quintero was apprehended after falling while running into the desert, while Enrique was found hiding in bushes.
Authorities discovered approximately 71 cases of Milwaukee Tools inside the van valued at $16,307 wholesale. An additional 13 cases were found beside the train tracks with an estimated value of $7,792.
Quintero has been deported five times between 2013 and 2024 and has previous convictions for illegal entry into the United States. Enrique was deported twice in late 2022.
Both men face significant prison time if convicted: up to ten years for possession or receipt of stolen goods and removal of goods from customs custody each, plus up to two years for illegal reentry.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sophia Carrillo is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
