Attorney General James Uthmeier announces charges in multi-circuit organized retail theft scheme involving alleged coordinated burglaries across numerous Florida counties targeting hardware stores and retail businesses

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida officials have announced major charges against three men accused of running a multi-circuit organized retail theft operation that stretched across much of the state, targeting hardware stores and leaving behind widespread financial damage and disruption for businesses.

Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed that Johnny Batista, 19, Roberto Hernandez-Castro, 39, and Roberto Aldana Ferrera, 31, have all been charged in connection with what investigators describe as a coordinated theft scheme spanning multiple counties and involving repeated smash-and-grab burglaries.

According to officials, the group allegedly focused on hardware retailers, including Ferguson Waterworks, Grainger, Electric City, Sewell’s Hardware, and other small businesses. The method was described as fast and highly organized: the suspects would enter stores, gather large quantities of high-value tools, place them into bins, and leave without paying.

Investigators say the stolen merchandise was then transported to Miami-Dade County, where it was resold. What began as a series of seemingly isolated incidents quickly grew into a broader investigation once law enforcement connected similar theft patterns across different jurisdictions.

“This group of criminals carefully orchestrated thefts across at least thirteen counties to turn over illicit proceeds as quickly as possible,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “In Florida, our Organized Retail Theft Task Force will dismantle theft rings, keep retail costs low for consumers, and protect hard-working Floridians.”

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The alleged theft network reportedly operated across a wide geographic area, with incidents confirmed in Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Orange, Polk, Brevard, Seminole, St. Lucie, Indian River, Duval, Sarasota, and Pinellas counties. Officials say the scale of the operation resulted in thousands of dollars in property damage and hundreds of thousands of dollars in total losses to affected businesses.

Law enforcement officials emphasized that the case began with what appeared to be a local burglary investigation in Martin County, but quickly expanded as detectives identified similar incidents linked by method and timing.

“Thanks to the relentless work of our detectives, what began as a local hardware store burglary investigation quickly uncovered a much larger criminal operation tied to more than 30 cases across the State of Florida,” said Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek. “This case is a testament to the dedication, experience, and investigative skill our detectives and statewide prosecutors bring to every case they face. I could not be more proud of the professionalism and determination displayed by our team throughout this investigation.”

Authorities have outlined a long list of charges against the defendants, reflecting both the scale and repetition of the alleged crimes. These include racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, multiple counts of burglary and attempted burglary of both occupied and unoccupied structures, grand theft charges in several categories, and possession of burglary tools.

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In total, prosecutors say the suspects are facing allegations involving five counts of burglary causing over $1,000 in damage, two attempted burglaries of structures, three counts of grand theft causing damage over $1,000, 15 counts of possessing burglary tools, and additional theft and burglary-related charges across different incidents.

Officials say Johnny Batista is currently being held in the Palm Beach County Jail as the case moves forward. Roberto Aldana Ferrera is facing separate local charges in Georgia and will be extradited to Florida once those proceedings are complete. Meanwhile, Roberto Hernandez-Castro remains at large, with authorities confirming that an active arrest warrant has been issued.

If convicted on all current charges, prosecutors note that each defendant could face a maximum penalty of life in the Florida Department of Corrections.

The case is being led by the Office of Statewide Prosecution in coordination with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Chris Olowin will handle the prosecution in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

Officials say the investigation highlights ongoing efforts across Florida to combat organized retail theft, which has increasingly become a concern for law enforcement due to its coordinated structure and impact on small and mid-sized businesses.

For now, authorities say the investigation remains active, particularly as law enforcement continues searching for Hernandez-Castro and reviewing additional possible connections to other retail theft cases across the state.