Two Cuban Nationals Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Nationwide Stolen Vehicle Export Ring

U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today announced that two Cuban nationals, Sadiel Noa-Aguila, 42, of Pharr, and Miguel Baez-Echevarria, 36, of Las Vegas, Nevada, have been taken into custody on charges related to the exportation of stolen motor vehicles.

Noa-Aguila is scheduled to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker in McAllen at 9 a.m., while Baez is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Wexler in Las Vegas.

According to the criminal complaint unsealed upon their arrests, an investigation launched in 2024 uncovered a large-scale ring linked to numerous vehicle thefts across the nation. The charges allege that vehicles were primarily stolen from major metropolitan airports and surrounding areas, including Las Vegas; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Texas cities such as Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.

As part of the alleged scheme, co-conspirators reportedly used electronic devices to steal vehicles and reprogram key fobs. They then equipped these vehicles with fraudulent license plates or altered vehicle identification numbers before reselling them. Several vehicles were also allegedly exported to Mexico through ports of entry in Hidalgo County and El Paso.

Specifically, Noa-Aguila is accused of attempting to export a 2022 GMC Sierra AT4 through a port of entry in Hidalgo County on October 1, 2024, which had been reported stolen in Denver the previous month. Baez is allegedly linked to the theft of at least 15 additional vehicles, and authorities estimate the organization stole vehicles worth millions of dollars in total.

Both individuals are charged with aiding and abetting the exportation of stolen motor vehicles, a charge that carries a maximum 10-year prison term upon conviction. Baez also faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which could result in up to 20 years in federal prison.

This Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation is being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They are assisted by numerous agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas Fort Worth Airport Department of Public Safety, Tarrant County District Attorneys’ Office, Tarrant County Regional Auto Crimes Task Force, sheriff’s offices in El Paso and Hidalgo Counties, Otero County, New Mexico, Broward County, Florida, and police departments in El Paso, Houston, Pharr, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Denver.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. is prosecuting the case.