14 Arrested in Multi-State Theft Ring

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said on May 13 that 14 people were arrested after investigators broke up what authorities described as a multi-state retail theft and fencing operation based in Lutz, Florida. Detectives said they seized about $5 million in stolen merchandise, about $220,000 in cash and seven vehicles tied to the enterprise. (teamhcso.com) The case, called Operation D-Fence, began in November 2025 after a tip about a possible fencing location for stolen property. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Sheriff Chad Chronister announced the arrests at a Tampa news conference on Wednesday. ### How did investigators say the operation worked? HCSO said the group stole home-improvement and construction materials from major retailers including Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as from construction sites. (wfla.com) Detectives said the methods included taking products directly from stores without paying, using false invoices to obtain goods at lower prices, returning stolen merchandise for refunds and then stealing the same products again, and cutting locks on storage containers at job sites. The sheriff’s office said the stolen goods included appliances, tools, electrical supplies, fixtures, hardware and other construction materials. Investigators said the merchandise was moved to distribution and storage sites and then resold from a Lutz residence or through online marketplaces. (teamhcso.com) ### Why did deputies focus on a house in Lutz? Detectives identified a residence in Lutz as the central hub of the operation, according to the sheriff’s office. WFLA reported that the garage was packed with stolen items arranged like a store, and Chronister said customers would request specific items that the group would then obtain from retailers or construction sites. (teamhcso.com) FOX 13 reported that investigators said the operation used the name Save on Construction LLC and that an undercover detective infiltrated the ring in April with help from Home Depot. According to that report, the operative built a relationship with members of the group and was later given requests for specific goods. (teamhcso.com) ### How large was the case, according to authorities? The sheriff’s office said thefts tied to the enterprise occurred in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. WTSP reported that authorities linked the group to thefts at 33 locations. Detectives also identified more than 1,800 online sales transactions over the last year and estimated that about $7 million in proceeds moved through the enterprise during that period. (teamhcso.com) FOX 13 reported that authorities estimated the ring was responsible for more than $12 million in stolen merchandise and $7 million in money laundering. The sheriff’s office press release separately put the amount seized during the May 4 searches at about $5 million in stolen goods. (fox13news.com) Those figures describe different stages of the case — the broader amount authorities attribute to the ring and the merchandise recovered in the searches. ### Who did authorities identify as leading it? Detectives identified Hoover Rengifo, 55, as the central figure in the operation, according to the sheriff’s office. HCSO said Rengifo worked with multiple people, including family members, and that each person had a distinct role in the scheme. (teamhcso.com) WFLA reported that those arrested were charged with racketeering, trafficking in stolen property, money laundering and grand theft. The Florida attorney general’s office said the 14 people were accused of participating in a multi-county criminal enterprise that dealt in and trafficked stolen retail and construction materials. (fox13news.com) ### What happens next in the case? On May 4, detectives served four search warrants that led to the arrests, the sheriff’s office said. HCSO’s arrest inquiry page says new arrest records may take up to 24 hours to appear in general listings, though records can still be found sooner by searching a person’s name. (teamhcso.com) The Florida Attorney General’s Office said on May 13 that the defendants will face prosecution on charges tied to organized retail theft, trafficking in stolen property, money laundering and racketeering. Court filings and booking records in Hillsborough County are expected to provide the next public details on bond, counsel and case scheduling. (myfloridalegal.com) (teamhcso.com) (wfla.com)