14 Arrested In Multi-State Retail Theft Ring, $5M In Goods Recovered

TAMPA, FL — More than a dozen people were arrested by Hillsborough County authorities for their alleged involvement in an organized retail theft scheme spanning multiple states.

The arrests followed the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office executing four search warrants on May 4. According to authorities, 14 people were arrested in connection with “Operation D-Fence," which began in November 2025 after a tip led detectives to a possible fencing location for stolen property.

“Fencing” refers to the illegal practice of knowingly purchasing stolen goods and reselling them for profit, serving as an intermediary between criminal activity and unsuspecting consumers, authorities said.

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"While detectives worked to corroborate the information, they discovered something much larger: a coordinated network responsible for the theft, transportation, storage, and resale of stolen home improvement and construction materials for profit," the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

According to authorities, the group used several methods to steal merchandise from major retailers, including The Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as from construction sites. Detectives discovered the suspects took products directly from stores without paying, used false invoices to obtain goods at lower prices, and, in some cases, returned stolen items for refunds before stealing the same products again. The group also cut locks on storage containers located at construction sites.

The group stole items like appliances, tools, electrical supplies, construction materials, fixtures, and hardware from multiple states, including Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, authorities said.

During the investigation, detectives seized:

• Approximately $5 million in stolen goods
• Approximately $220,000 in U.S. currency
• Seven vehicles connected to the enterprise

Detectives identified more than 1,800 online sales transactions linked to the operation over the last year and estimated that $7 million in proceeds moved through the crime ring during that period.

Authorities also identified 55-year-old Hoover Rengifo as the leader of the operation, according to the sheriff's officials, who said he worked alongside multiple people, including family members, each playing a distinct role in the scheme.

Those arrested are facing charges including racketeering, trafficking in stolen property, money laundering and grand theft.

Aside from Rengifo, authorities did not release the names of the other individuals who were arrested.

“This was not a group of opportunistic thieves. This was a highly organized criminal enterprise operating across state lines, targeting businesses, and profiting off stolen goods at a massive scale,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “If you are stealing, trafficking, or buying stolen property in Hillsborough County, we will find you, and we will hold you accountable.”