9 Mexican Nationals Face Federal Charges For Alleged Train Burglary

KCAL News, CBS Los Angeles

February 25, 2025

A federal grand jury indicted 11 suspects, nine of whom were undocumented Mexican nationals, for allegedly burglarizing a train destined for California.

The heist happened on Jan. 13 in a remote area of northern Arizona after Noe Cecena-Castro and 10 other suspects allegedly cut an air hose on a BNSF train, forcing it to make an emergency stop. A BNSF police officer drove by the area shortly after the emergency stop and found several Nike shoe boxes at the side of the tracks, according to the Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors said several people were seen loading a U-Haul with Nike boxes.

Investigators later stopped a U-Haul box truck and a Ford Econoline truck spotted driving near the train. Officers stopped a Chevy Tahoe that was passing through the area and allegedly carrying the rest of the heist crew. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix said law enforcement found 1,985 pairs of unreleased Nike shoes worth over $440,000 in the suspects' trucks.

Click here for the full story via CBS Los Angeles

CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.