7 arrests made in $2.5M Calif. farm-equipment smuggling ring

DAILY Bites

• Authorities dismantled a multimillion-dollar theft ring smuggling California farm equipment into Mexico.

• “Operation Tractor Pull” led to the arrest of seven suspects and the recovery of $1.3 million in stolen equipment.

• The theft ring impacted California’s agricultural community, with some equipment still unrecoverable across the border.

DAILY Discussion

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office in California has dismantled what is being called a sophisticated criminal network responsible for the theft of heavy farm equipment in the San Joaquin Valley. The equipment, with a value estimated to be in the millions, was transported across the border into Mexico.

Dubbed “Operation Tractor Pull,” this multi-county investigation has led to the arrest of seven individuals suspected of involvement in a large-scale theft ring that has impacted California’s agricultural community.

According to Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, the theft operation has inflicted serious losses on local farmers and ranchers.

“This is a large-scale theft ring impacting our farmers, our ranchers, and agricultural community,” Boudreaux said.

Investigators have recovered at least 24 pieces of stolen farm equipment, including tractors, backhoes, and excavators, totaling an estimated value of $1.3 million. However, several pieces of equipment remain in Mexico and are considered unrecoverable. Altogether, the network is believed to have stolen more than $2.25 million worth of farm equipment.

Last week, authorities conducted early-morning search warrants in Tulare, Fresno, Merced, and San Benito counties, leading to the arrest of five suspects. Among those detained were Noe Guevara, Joel Avila, Isrrael Garrido Cortez, and Nicolas Ruiz Cruz, each facing charges of grand theft, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property. One of those arrested on that day was not yet identified.

Reports also pointed to two other people having been arrested in the case, Juan Carlos Murrufo, 22, and Endi Jesus Lopez Bustillos, 31. They were arrested when detectives found a stolen backhoe at a truck stop in Tulare.

Additional charges against Cortez are related to accusations that he operated a drug house for the sale of controlled substances. In addition to stolen equipment, authorities said they recovered $46,000 in cash, two truck-bed loads of processed marijuana, and multiple firearms during the operation.

Sheriff Vernon Warnke from Merced County noted the broader consequences of these thefts.

“Not only have the cartels been human trafficking, narcotics, and guns, it has now hit our agricultural community where everybody in here likes to go to the store and grab something to eat,” Warnke stated, adding that these agricultural crimes ultimately drive up produce prices for consumers.

Boudreaux discussed the challenges offered California’s classification of these offenses as non-violent crimes. Due to those classifications, prosecutors may face difficulties in ensuring lengthy sentences for the suspects.

“We can’t put them in jail for an extended amount of time, which sends no message of accountability,” Boudreaux said.