Eleven Defendants, Including Nine Aliens Illegally in the United States, Charged with Possessing Over $440,000 of Stolen Nike Shoes in Latest BNSF Train Theft

PHOENIX, Ariz. – On February 11, 2025, an indictment was returned by the grand jury in the case of United States of America v. Noe Cecena-Castro, et al. Noe Cecena-Castro and ten others were indicted for possessing over $440,000 worth of Nike shoes, which had been stolen from a BNSF train in Northern Arizona. This is the latest case addressing a series of thefts from trains in Northern Arizona and California (CR-24-05306-TUC-MAA, CR-08161-PHX-SPL).

Criminal organizations that specialize in stealing from trains, which consist primarily of Mexican citizens with connections to the Mexican State of Sinaloa, have used the technique of cutting air hoses to control where trains with valuable cargo come to a stop. This act is very dangerous and can cause the trains, which travel up to 70 miles per hour, to derail. Once the train is stopped at a location of the organization’s choosing, crews will break into select containers and unload the cargo alongside the tracks. Another crew will then drive box trucks or other cargo vehicles to the location of the stolen goods. This second crew will load the goods into the vehicles for transport to California, where the goods will be sold online.

The initial complaint connected to the most recent indictment alleges that on January 13, 2025, Noe Cecena-Castro and ten other defendants worked together to pack and transport approximately 1,900 pairs of unreleased Nike shoes. Around 11:00 am, a BNSF train was immobilized due to a cut air hose in Perrin, Arizona. Shortly after the emergency stop, a BNSF police officer observed several cases of Nike shoes on the side of the tracks where the train had been forced to stop. Law enforcement later located a U-Haul box truck and a privately owned Ford Econoline truck traveling near the stolen goods. The U-Haul was seen at the site of the Nike shoes where several people loaded the Nike cases into the U-Haul. Both trucks were searched by law enforcement and found to contain 1,985 pairs of unreleased Nike shoes, which are worth over $440,000. A Chevy Tahoe, which had also been seen in the area, was stopped and found to be transporting the rest of the crew that had loaded the Nike cases. All eleven defendants were taken into custody.

Nine of the eleven defendants are Mexican nationals without legal status in the United States. In addition to the charge of possessing stolen goods, the grand jury also returned charges for three of the defendants of Re-entry of Removed Alien and six of the defendants of Improper Entry by Alien.

An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

All eleven defendants are in federal custody pending trial. The defendants will be arraigned on the charges in the Indictment on February 19, 2025.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Flagstaff is handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker Stanley, District of Arizona, Flagstaff, is handling the prosecution. The United States Attorney’s Office continues to extend special gratitude to the Police Team at BNSF, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, and Navajo County Sherriff’s Office for their valuable assistance in this matter.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR-25-8020-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-016_Cecena-Castro

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