In September, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Agricultural Law Enforcement Agency (OALE) announced that they had broken commercial vehicle theft operations in multiple counties.
Agents arrested Leonel Diaz Pearl on suspicion of his role in a criminal enterprise that includes stolen commercial vehicles, fraudulent vehicle identification numbers (VINs), and forged title documents spanning multiple counties in South Florida.
“Theft of commercial trucks and trailers is not a victimless crime. It drives the costs of all Floridian goods and services,” Commissioner Wilton Simpson said. “The hard work of our farm law enforcement has taken away the streets the key players in sophisticated vehicle theft and fraud businesses. We will continue to actively investigate and disrupt criminal businesses targeting Florida businesses, consumers and supply chains.”
In 2023, OALE received referrals for criminal businesses involved in human trafficking of stolen property, fraudulent Vinh and forged title documents throughout South Florida.
During the investigation, OALE Special Agents identified a semi-trailer with fake VINs and fraudulent documents. The trailer was intercepted in Immokaley, Florida during a traffic stop and linked to Ezh Transport Inc., owned by Leonel Diaz Pearl. Further reviews reveal that Oale had previously seized three VIN swapped semi-tractors from Diaz Pailol and Ezh transport. The history of the title confirmed that forged documents and fraudulent reconstruction inspection records have been submitted in connection with these vehicles.
Further enquiries revealed that Diaz Pairol is linked to multiple fraudulent semi-truck reconstructions, including approximately $140,000 worth of Freightliner tractors stolen from Miami-Dade County. The fraudulent title application, counterfeit repair records, and VIN changes were systematically used to hide stolen vehicles.
On September 8, 2025, Oale Special Agents arrested Diaz Pailol in connection with the company. He was taken to Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center due to judicial proceedings being held back.
Leonel Diaz Pearl was arrested and charged with a felony crime.
