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, consisting 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 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.
The initial complaint 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 a.m., 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 where several people loaded the Nike cases into the vehicle.
Both trucks were searched by law enforcement and found to contain 1,985 pairs of unreleased Nike shoes worth over $440,000. A Chevy Tahoe, also 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. The grand jury also returned charges for three of the defendants for Re-entry of Removed Alien and six for 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. They will be arraigned 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office extends gratitude to BNSF Police, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, and Navajo County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this matter.
