Eleven individuals were indicted for stealing over $440,000 worth of Nike shoes from a BNSF train in northern Arizona. Noe Cecena-Castro and 10 others were arrested for packing and transporting about 1,900 pairs of unreleased Nike shoes. Law enforcement found the stolen shoes in two trucks near the train, leading to the arrests.
Train thefts in the area have been increasing in the past two years, with suspects often part of transnational theft organizations operating out of Mexico, California, and Arizona. The thefts involve cutting air hoses to stop trains carrying valuable cargo, with multiple crews working together to unload and transport the stolen goods.
The recent indictment includes charges of possessing stolen goods as well as charges related to immigration status for some defendants. Nine of the defendants are Mexican nationals, and all 11 are in federal custody awaiting trial. They will be arraigned on the charges on Feb. 19.
This case is part of a larger trend of train thefts in the region, with incidents dating back over 15 years. Criminal organizations use dangerous methods to stop trains and steal valuable cargo, posing risks to both train crews and communities. Law enforcement agencies are working to combat these thefts and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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