An Austin County investigation into an alleged regional theft network has led to the recovery of more than 40 stolen vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment, according to the Austin County Sheriff’s Office.
The estimated value of the recovered property exceeds several million dollars, the Sheriff’s Office said.
During the early morning hours of Oct. 13, members of the Austin County Regional Special Response Team executed arrest and search warrants in the 2000 block of Skrivanek Road in San Felipe. The operation stemmed from an ongoing investigation led by the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit.
Investigators arrested Jesus Suarez Fernandez, 60, on a felony theft warrant. A search of the property resulted in the recovery of two stolen vehicles, a stolen skid steer and a stolen large generator. Fernandez was also booked into the Austin County Jail on two additional felony theft charges.
Investigators say they have linked Fernandez to a broader theft network believed to operate across the region, throughout the United States and internationally. The investigation has involved recoveries of luxury sport utility vehicles, sports cars and heavy machinery. Authorities also located several vehicles stolen locally that investigators said were reportedly being smuggled out of the country through the southern Texas border and ports in the northeastern United States.
The investigation began in Austin County and has expanded into a multi-agency effort involving the Houston Police Department Auto Theft Division, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, the Katy Police Department, the San Antonio Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
In Texas, felony theft penalties depend on the level of the charge and other case-specific factors. A state jail felony carries a possible sentence of 180 days to two years in state jail. A third-degree felony carries two to 10 years in prison; a second-degree felony, two to 20 years; and a first-degree felony, five to 99 years or life. Each level may also carry a fine of up to $10,000. The Sheriff’s Office did not specify the felony level of Fernandez’s charges, so the potential sentence for these cases is not clear from the information released.
The Sheriff’s Office said cooperation among local, state and federal agencies helps investigators share information, coordinate resources, recover stolen property and pursue leads across jurisdictional boundaries.
