8 men allegedly ran a theft ring targeting Corona, Modelo beer

Eight men allegedly operated a brew heist ringing that swiped cases of Corona and Modelo Especial weighted astatine hundreds of thousands of dollars from distribution centers and obstruction cars successful Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.

Seven of nan men were arrested connected Wednesday, according to nan U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. The man who prosecutors judge was nan ringleader, Jose Cesari, turned himself successful to national authorities connected Thursday aft being astatine large, a spokesperson confirmed pinch CBS MoneyWatch. 

Between July 2022 and March 2024, nan men allegedly carried retired dozens of heists, waiting until nighttime to trim holes successful nan fences of distribution accommodation aliases to snip nan locks disconnected obstruction cars to summation entree to pallets of beer, according to an unsealed indictment. They past allegedly utilized a moving motortruck to carrier nan stolen brew to nan Bronx, wherever it was inspected and past sold.

"Train heists harken backmost to nan days of nan Wild West and gunslingers riding horses, stealing loot from obstruction cars," FBI typical supplier successful Charge James E. Dennehy said successful nan statement. "The romanticized image has thing to do pinch nan modern-day criminals we allege took portion successful a theft ringing successful New Jersey, New York, and beyond that targeted railyards and beverage distribution centers."

The arrested men — Kemar Bonitto, Justin Bruno, Miguel Cintron, Antonio Gonzalez, Luis Izquierdo, Wakiem Johnson and Deylin Martinez-Guerrero — were paid hundreds of dollars each nighttime for helping Cesari bargain intoxicant weighted astatine hundreds of thousands of dollars, prosecutors allege. 

Cesari, who was allegedly coming astatine each nan robberies, often utilized a constabulary scanner to thief support a watch for authorities, prosecutors claim. Cesari, who made posts connected Instagram trying to enlistee others to subordinate nan ring, besides allegedly robbed a railroad car afloat of brew astatine gunpoint successful Queens, New York, past April, prosecutors claim. 

"That vulnerable and disruptive behaviour — sometimes allegedly accompanied by nan threat of unit — has near respective beverage distribution and railroad companies ailing," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said successful a statement on Wednesday. 

If convicted, nan men, whose ages scope from 27 to 40, look betwixt 5 and 20 years successful prison.

Corona, a ray lager owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, began at a brewery successful Mexico City successful 1922. It's now sold successful 180 countries and is 1 of nan apical trading beers successful nan U.S.

Modelo Especial, a pilsner-style lager that began astir 100 years agone successful Mexico, was bought by Constellation Brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev successful 2013. 

Sales of Modelo spiked past summer when income of top-selling brew Bud Light plummeted amid a societal media contention pinch trans authorities activist Dylan Mulvaney. For a little play past year, Modelo became nan nation's apical trading brew brand. 

In:
• Crime
• Beer