logo
Head of Miami-based Cuban nationals theft ring convicted, faces jail time and deportation

Head of Miami-based Cuban nationals theft ring convicted, faces jail time and deportation

CBS News22-05-2025
The head of a Miami-based theft ring has been convicted of grand theft and dealing in stolen property, and now faces jail time and deportation.
Oscar Guerra operated a ring composed of Cuban nationals that stole trailers, RVs, boats, campers, and other large vehicles, resulting in a total loss of more than half a million dollars, according to the state's attorney general's office.
Guerra and members of the ring rented cars and then traveled upstate to commit at least 10 thefts in the Ocala area, according to state prosecutors. In one theft, Guerra's group stole a travel trailer from an 80-year-old victim and then sold the trailer in Flagler County.
A jury found Guerra guilty of one count of grand theft of more than $20,000 and one count of dealing in stolen property, both are second-degree felonies.
"This criminal alien took advantage of Floridians and our nation, and his behavior earned him some time with the Florida Department of Corrections," Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a statement. "He'll pay his debt to the people of Florida, and then we'll punch his ticket out of here."
Guerra faces up to 60 years in prison and will be deported after his sentence is complete.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What to know about the Menendez brothers' parole hearings
What to know about the Menendez brothers' parole hearings

American Press

timean hour ago

  • American Press

What to know about the Menendez brothers' parole hearings

Lyle and Erik Menendez are scheduled to face separate parole hearings beginning Thursday in California and — depending on the outcomes — could eventually be released from prison nearly 30 years after being convicted of killing their parents. A panel of parole officers will evaluate each of the brothers via videoconference. They'll appear from prison in San Diego. In 1995, a jury convicted both brothers of first-degree murder in the 1989 murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez inside their Los Angeles-area home. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996. They became eligible for parole after a Los Angeles judge in May reduced their sentences from life in prison without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were under the ages of 26 when they committed their crimes. Who are the Menendez brothers and what did they do? Lyle and Erik Menendez are the sons of Jose and Kitty Menendez. Jose Menendez, a Cuban-American business executive who at one time was an executive at RCA Records, moved his family from Princeton, New Jersey, to California when his sons were teenagers. On Aug. 20, 1989, Lyle Menendez dialed 911 to report the shotgun-killings of their parents inside their home. Both brothers told investigators that the murders were related to the Mafia or had something to do with their father's business dealings. At the time, Erik was 18 and Lyle was 21. With access to the family's wealth, the brothers spent small fortunes on Rolex watches, cars and houses. But two months after the killings, Erik Menendez confessed to his psychologist that he and his brother killed their parents. What were the brothers charged with? They were arrested early the following year and each charged with first-degree murder. The brothers claimed their father had emotionally and sexually abused them since childhood. Prosecutors contended that getting hold of their father's money was the motive behind the couple's killings. The brothers' first trial started in 1993. Their attorneys never disputed the pair killed their parents, but argued that they acted out of self-defense. Their trials resulted in hung juries. In 1995, a jury convicted both brothers of three counts, including first-degree murder, plus lying in-wait and special circumstance allegations. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996. How did they spend their years in prison? For years after their conviction, the brothers filed petitions for appeals of their cases while in prison. State and federal judges denied the petitions. The brothers have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for fellow prisoners. They also launched a prison beautification project inspired by the Norwegian approach to incarceration that believes rehabilitation in humane prisons surrounded by nature leads to successful reintegration into society, even for those who have committed terrible crimes. Over the years, the Menendez case continued to fascinate the public and the young, handsome brothers became celebrities of sorts. They became the subjects of true crime shows, including last year's nine-episode crime drama 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' on Netflix. A few weeks after that was aired, then-LA County District Attorney George Gascón announced he was reviewing new evidence in the case. On Oct. 24, 2024, prosecutors said they will petition the court to resentence the brothers. In May 2025, an LA County Superior Court judge granted them a new sentence of 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole. What will the parole board consider? Erik and Lyle Menendez will be evaluated, individually, by a panel of two or three parole hearing officers. Erik's hearing is scheduled Thursday morning. Lyle's will be held Friday. The board will assess whether the brothers pose an 'unreasonable risk of danger to society' if released, considering factors like criminal history, motivation for the crime, signs of remorse, behavior while in prison and plans for the future, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Nearly all of the Menendez family support the brothers' release from prison. Milton Andersen, the brothers' uncle who opposed their release, died from cancer in March. Could one receive parole and not the other? The brothers have separate hearings and will be evaluated independently of each other. Los Angeles trial attorney David Ring has said if one brother was 'a troublemaker' in prison and the other wasn't, it's conceivable that one could stay locked up while the other is freed. But Ring, who's not involved with the Menendez case, said that's unlikely. How soon could they get out? If granted parole, it could be months before the brothers are released from prison. The chief legal counsel has 120 days to review the case. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom then has 30 days to affirm or deny the parole. If he approves it, they could then leave prison. Newsom has not made any statements indicating his position on the case, but said during a May press conference that he has both approved and rejected decisions by the parole board before.

Shocking video shows CEO holding his service dog being head butted by illegal Russian Uber driver
Shocking video shows CEO holding his service dog being head butted by illegal Russian Uber driver

New York Post

timean hour ago

  • New York Post

Shocking video shows CEO holding his service dog being head butted by illegal Russian Uber driver

A Russian Uber driver working illegally in the US was caught on camera head-butting a South Carolina CEO as he held his service dog, leaving the knocked-out rider with a brain injury, according to the victim and a new lawsuit. Charleston-based CEO Bryan Kobel, 45, canceled a ride home from a French restaurant, Maison, in April because the driver refused to take his service dog, Kobel told The Post on Thursday. Disturbing surveillance footage shows the driver — identified as Vadim Uliumdzhiev, 42 — suddenly marching over and knocking out Kobel as he holds his 17-pound golden doodle in the parking lot. Advertisement 'The next thing I know, I'm waking up in a hospital bed with seven staples in my head and four stitches,' Kobel said. 'It's been a brutal experience to this day.' Uver driver Vadim Uliumdzhiev was arrested for assault. Live5 WCSC Kobel, who is the CEO of a biotech company, suffered a concussion, amnesia, and scarring— and soon learned from cops the driver had gotten the Uber job with a fake license, he said. Advertisement 'Uber has to take more accountability for its drivers,' he said. 'They're opening the door to mayhem.' Kobel said he had just asked the driver if his service dog was allowed in the car and the driver responded 'no.' When he told the driver to cancel the ride, in an interaction Kobel described as 'innocuous,' the driver attacked him — and his memory went black, Kobel said. An onlooker is shown in footage snapping a photo of Uliumdzhiev's driver's plate, and a dramatic 911 call ensued. Advertisement The driver was captured on camera head-butting and knocking out Bryan Kobel. Live5 WCSC 'He's bleeding very badly in the back of the head, we're going to need an ambulance,' the caller said, according to 911 audio. Uliumdzhiev was later arrested for assault and battery, records show. Immigration and Customs Enforcement then placed a hold on him, and he was transferred to a federal ICE processing center in Folkston, Ga., after posting a $10,000 bond for the assault, the Post and Courier noted. In the weeks that followed, Kobel struggled to remember words and stumbled over phrases due to his brain injury. Advertisement 'My job involves a lot of public speaking and I was unsure whether I would be able to do that again,' he said. 'I wondered, 'Am I ever going to be the person I was before, and that's a very scary thought,' he said. Kobel is now suing Uber for unspecified financial damage — but his ultimate goal is to get the company to better protect its riders, he said. 'Uber hides behind a thin veil of legalese to protect their riders,' he said. 'Frankly, it's fake.' 'The company needs to make substantial changes on how it protects riders,' he said. The lawsuit, filed last week in Charleston County Court, notes the Uber driver 'posed an unreasonable risk of harm' and that Uber failed 'to implement and enforce reasonable safety policy.' Uber sent a statement condemning the attack on Thursday, but didn't specify how Uliumdzhiev slipped through the cracks. 'There is no place for violence on the Uber platform,' the company said. 'While we can't comment on pending litigation, Uber is deeply committed to safety and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations around worker eligibility.' Advertisement Uber added that it screens drivers with a criminal background check and requiring a social security number and driver's license. The firm didn't immediately respond to The Post's questions about whether it plans to change any of its policies around the screenings.

Brent Hinds, former Mastodon guitarist and vocalist, dies in Atlanta motorcycle crash at 51
Brent Hinds, former Mastodon guitarist and vocalist, dies in Atlanta motorcycle crash at 51

NBC News

timean hour ago

  • NBC News

Brent Hinds, former Mastodon guitarist and vocalist, dies in Atlanta motorcycle crash at 51

Brent Hinds, former guitarist and vocalist with Grammy-winning heavy metal band Mastodon, died in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta late Wednesday night, police said, leaving bandmates in a state of "unfathomable sadness and grief." He was 51. Hinds, co-founder of the critically acclaimed and influential Atlanta-based band, was on top of his Harley Davidson heading west on Boulevard SE at 11:35 p.m. when he collided with a BMW SUV at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE, the Atlanta Police Department said in statement. The woman driving the BMW "failed to yield while turning left " but remained at the scene. "We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief … last night Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident," Mastodon said in statement on Friday. "We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we've shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many. Our hearts are with Brent's family, friends, and fans." Hinds was a part of six Grammy nominations and Mastodon won for best metal performance in 2018 with "Sultan's Curse."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store