MIAMI – Three men from Miami were sentenced Friday for their role in a multimillion-dollar cargo theft scheme.
Jorge Nimer Rolo, 48, was sentenced to 9 years in prison. Lazaro Martinez a.k.a. "Fat Laz," 45, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Antonio Ramirez, a.ka. "Tony Bodega," 54, was sentenced to three years in prison.
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According to court documents, the men were involved in a cargo theft scheme, stealing more than $2.2 million worth of Mucinex cough medicine and $550,000 worth of Similac baby formula, among other merchandise.
"FDA sets high quality standards for the safety and nutritional quality of infant formulas because these products are consumed during a critical time in a child's development; once this product is diverted from the protected supply chain, consumers can no longer be assured of its safety or wholesomeness," said David W. Bourne, special Agent in charge of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations' Miami Field Office. "We will continue to protect the public health by bringing such criminals to justice."
Prosecutors said 44 pallets of Similac were stolen from a distribution site in Fort Worth, Texas, and more than 18,000 cases of Mucinex were stolen from a tractor-trailer in Richland, Mississippi.
Authorities said the merchandise was supposed to be sold at Walmart and Walgreens stores, as well as other retailers in the southeastern United States.
Five other men were also convicted in the scheme and were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two and a half years to five years in federal prison.
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