FedEx Contractor from Cuba Charged with $36,000 Nike Sneaker Theft in Miami-Dade
www.cubaheadlines.com, Michael Hernandez, June 24, 2026
Reinier Sánchez Hurtado, a Cuban national employed as a contractor for the delivery giant FedEx, found himself behind bars last week in Miami Beach. He faces allegations of trafficking in stolen Nike sneakers valued at an estimated $36,000, as reported by Medley Police.
The 46-year-old Sánchez Hurtado was apprehended on Wednesday, June 17, following an extensive criminal investigation initiated several months ago by Medley Police detectives.
Facing charges of trafficking stolen property, Sánchez Hurtado's arrest was captured on video by a Miami Beach Police Department drone, footage that has since circulated widely in the media.
The investigation began with a formal complaint submitted by FedEx's security team to Medley Police on March 3. This came after a series of thefts was identified at a distribution center in Medley, located in Miami-Dade County, dating back to 2024.
Before involving law enforcement, FedEx conducted an internal investigation, placing GPS tracking devices inside shoe boxes to monitor the shipments. This trail eventually led investigators to Sánchez Hurtado's residence in Miami.
According to the arrest report, the accused was working for a FedEx Ground contractor and was responsible for overseeing drivers on the affected delivery routes at the Medley facility.
FedEx concluded that Sánchez Hurtado, along with two other suspects linked to the scheme, diverted approximately $36,000 worth of merchandise to the black market.
Sergeant Luis Rivera, a spokesperson for Medley Police, described the operation as an organized scheme: "The primary charge is trafficking in stolen property. We're potentially looking at $36,000 in stolen merchandise."
The high-end Nike sneakers, intended for retail stores in the Miami area, never reached their final destination.
The arrest was a coordinated effort among several agencies after Miami Beach Police stopped Sánchez Hurtado during a routine traffic check, which immediately alerted Medley detectives.
Cooperation with the Real-Time Crime Center of the Miami Beach Police Department and the Tactical Robbery Unit of the Miami Police Department led to the suspect's vehicle being located near the intersection of 14th Street and Drexel Avenue, where the arrest was executed.
Sergeant Rivera highlighted the teamwork among county law enforcement: "That's the beauty of Miami-Dade. All agencies collaborate to bring suspects into custody."
FedEx confirmed in a brief statement on Tuesday that Sánchez Hurtado is no longer employed by the company. "We are aware of the arrest of a service provider driver by the Miami Beach Police Department, and this individual no longer provides services on behalf of FedEx. Further inquiries should be directed to law enforcement authorities," the statement said.
The investigation continues to determine if additional merchandise is involved and whether other individuals participated in the thefts.
This incident adds to a series of cargo theft arrests involving logistics company employees in South Florida. In March, nearly two million dollars’ worth of iPhones were stolen from a FedEx facility in Doral. The previous month, a Cuban delivery worker linked to Amazon was arrested in Miami-Dade for allegedly stealing packages intended for customers. In a similar case, another Cuban delivery worker for the same company was detained in May 2025 in Miami-Dade for stealing merchandise valued at $45,000.
News article: https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/333200