Eight men have been charged in the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of beer, primarily Corona and Modelo brands shipped from Mexico, over the past two years. The alleged leader, Jose Cesari, surrendered to authorities, according to the office of Southern District of New York US Attorney Damian Williams.
The operation, known as the 'Beer Theft Enterprise,' took place between July 2022 and March 2024, involving numerous thefts from railyards and beverage distribution centers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The men would cut locks off railroad cars and fences to gain access to the beer.
After stealing the beer, it was taken to the Bronx for inspection and sale, with members of the enterprise earning hundreds of dollars for their work each night. The group operated boldly, loading U-Haul box trucks with cases of stolen beer.
According to the indictment, Cesari used social media to recruit workers for the operation, posting a message that read, 'Need workers who want to make money,' along with a moneybag emoji and a 'yes' or 'no' button. In one instance, Cesari allegedly robbed a railroad car at gunpoint in Queens, New York.
Cesari has been charged with conspiracy to steal from interstate or foreign shipments by carrier, as well as other theft and firearm charges. The other seven individuals are also facing conspiracy charges, with some of them having additional allegations against them.
