9 Indicted In Multi-State, $700,000 Conspiracy To Steal Equipment

PROVIDENCE, RI — Nine people were indicted in federal charges in a multi-state scheme to steal and sell approximately $700,000 worth of jet-skis, trailers, excavators and all-terrain vehicles, the Department of Justice announced Monday.

According to Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman's office, Jose "Tuto" Montes, 36, of Cranston, was a leader of the scheme. He is accused of surveilling dealerships and marinas across four states at night to identify potential targets.

The initial investigation was launched by the Johnston and North Providence police departments, later joined by the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force, as well as the Rhode Island and Connecticut State Police, and the Easton, Massachusetts, and the Hampstead, New Hampshire, police departments. They determined that from November 2019 to July 2020, three Bobcat excavators, 10 jet-skis, four boats, eight ATVs and 10 trailers were stolen, totaling around $700,000 in value.

The accused members of the conspiracy are believed to have used rented or stolen trucks to haul away the equipment from the businesses, which were in Tiverton, South Kingstown in Rhode Island, Auburn, Rehoboth and Easton in Massachusetts, Waterford, Vernon and Stafford in Connecticut and Hampstead, Hew Hampshire. Many of the stolen items were then stored in Providence, Johnston, Warwick, North Providence, Scituate and Glocester, and several were then taken to Florida to be sold.

Several of the excavators stolen from an Auburn dealership had GPS tracking equipment built in, which police used to find them a few days after they were taken in April 2020.

In total, there were 13 counts in the indictment, which was unsealed Monday. These include interstate transportation of stolen property, receipt of stolen goods, and conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. Along with Montes, the following people were charged:

• Krystal K. Disano, 26, of Sarasota, Florida
• Sorina Cruz, 43, of Cranston
• Daniel J. Guerriero, 34, of North Scituate
• Ronald S. Mosca, 48, of Sarasota, Florida
• Irvin W. McLaughlin, Jr., 40, of Connecticut
• Efrain A. Lopez, 32, of Providence
• Jared J. Santiago, 28, of Providence
• Luis M. Morales, 37, of Providence.