Police Agencies Bust 2 Men Accused Of Stealing Semi-Trailers In Polk County

POLK COUNTY, FL — Two men from the Miami area are accused of stealing more than $700,000 worth of wooden pallets and 25 semi-trailers from businesses in Winter Haven and Auburndale, a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Bobby John Herrera, Jr., 45, of West Palm Beach and Nicholas Nigel Howard, 36, of Opa Locka allegedly stole 25 semi-trailers filled with wooden pallets from five businesses, including Walmart Distribution Center in Winter Haven and Saddle Creek Logistical Services in Auburndale.

Herrera owns JCI Pallet in Plant City, detectives said.

Security footage from both Saddle Creek Logistics and the Walmart Distribution Center showed a series of thefts where Herrera drove his company’s 2015 Freightliner semi-truck onto the facilities and illegally removed semi-truck trailers filled with wooden pallets waiting to be delivered to other distribution centers and businesses, investigators said. Herrera was able to circumvent security procedures at the distribution centers to steal the semi-trailers and their contents.

Deputies went to JCI Pallet and met with Herrera in September, according to the sheriff's office. When detectives showed him one of the security videos, Herrera said, “That looks like me.” Authorities arrested him with the assistance of the Plant City Police Department and he was later released on a $4,000 bond.

Howard, the on-site manger of JCI Pallet, allegedly helped Herrera remove stolen trailers filled with pallets from two different distribution centers. The two suspects allegedly planned and coordinated the thefts that included about 5,000 wooden pallets in May, June and July. The stolen trailers and pallets are worth approximately $935, 663, police said.

The victims of Herrara’s and Howard’s organized cargo theft conspiracy were Saddle Creek Logistics, Walmart, 48Forty Solutions, and Monison Pallets.

The fifth business, Smith and Company, located in Alabama had hired Hererra to deliver pallets to Saddle Creek Logistical Solutions and he never delivered the load, authorities said. He allegedly submitted a fraudulently signed bill that said goods were delivered.

"My detectives, in partnership with the Plant City Police Department, did an outstanding job investigating this organized crime enterprise," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "This type of theft negatively impacts the consumer when business have to raise costs to account for this type of loss. We will work hard to make sure Herrera and Howard are held accountable for these cargo thefts. They won’t have the opportunity to steal while they are in prison."

Bobby John Herrera, Jr. was again arrested in Plant City and transported to the Hillsborough County Jail with additional Polk County charges for:

• Burglary of occupied structure
• Burglary of unoccupied conveyance
• Forgery
• Grand theft $100,000 or more
• Grand theft
• Grand theft of a motor vehicle
• Theft of cargo in stream of commerce
• Use of a 2-way device to commit a felony
• Conspiracy to commit grand theft

Nicholas Nigel Howard was arrested in Opa Locka and transported to the Miami-Dade County Jail with Polk County charges for:

• Burglary of occupied structure
• Grand theft motor vehicle
• Grand theft
• Burglary of unoccupied conveyance
• Use of 2-way communication device
• Conspiracy to commit grand theft