Homestead men traveled to Fort Myers Beach to loot after Hurricane Ian, sheriff says

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. – Officials in Lee County accused two South Florida men of traveling to Fort Myers Beach under the guise of assisting Hurricane Ian cleanup efforts and looting from a local business instead.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Ernesto Pedroso Martinez, 34, and Noel Morales, 54, both of Homestead, “were observed stealing items from in front of a local business, and loading them into a trailer.”

Deputies located the trailer and found both men inside, the sheriff’s office said Sunday.

The two face grand theft charges, with enhancements for the alleged crimes having occurred under a state of emergency.


About the Author:

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.