Sheriff's Deputies Make Arrest In Theft Of 966 Cases Of Tequila

THONOSASSA, FL -- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies have recovered more than half a million dollars' worth of stolen Patron Tequila and arrested the four men accused of snatching it.

According to the sheriff's office, around 11 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 30, a truck driver hauling a load of 966 cases of tequila valued at $507,105 stopped for dinner at the Tampa Truck Stop at 6503 N. U.S. 301. When he returned to the truck, the semi-trailer was no longer attached.

Deputies searched and found the semi-trailer near the intersection of Ike Smith Road and McIntosh Road around 12:30 a.m. and saw four men transferring cases of Patron Tequila to another box truck that was registered to them.

Before the deputies moved in, the men had transferred more than 20 cases from the fully loaded 53-foot trailer.

Three of the men were arrrested without incident. A fourth man, Lemuel Escobar, 35, of Clermont, fled the scene but was arrested at 13910 McIntosh Road.

Also arrested were Vidal Estrada, 66, of Fort Lauderdale, Humberto Ramirez, 37, of Mascot, and Alberto Obaya, 46, of Plant City.

Charges include grand theft, burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, resisting arrest without violence and possession of a controlled substance.

Images via Hillsborough Sheriff

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