Eight migrants accused of looting in flood-ravaged Tennessee

A gaggle of migrant staff allegedly looted properties in a washed-out a part of Tennessee following the fury of Hurricane Helene on Saturday, in response to a neighborhood sheriff’s workplace.

The eight males have been captured by authorities in Washington County the place devastating flooding wiped away homes and led to water rescues.

The suspects are accused of looting in one of many county’s flood zones, the county sheriff’s workplace stated.

Three alleged perps — Jesus Leodan Garcia-Peneda, 51, Josue Berardo Ortis-Valdez, 30, and Ersy Leonel Ortis-Valdez, 33 — have been charged with housebreaking.

The opposite 5 males — Albin Nahun Vega-Rapalo, 24, David Bairon Rapalo-Rapalo, 37, Kevin Noe Martinez-Lopez, 25, Marvin Hernandez-Martinez, 43, and Dayln Gabriel Guillen Guillen, 37 — have been charged with aggravated housebreaking for breaking into occupied buildings, the sheriff’s workplace stated.

The defendants are migrant staff who’re within the nation legally on work visas, a sheriff’s spokesperson informed The Publish Monday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn’t instantly have info on the boys Monday night.

The alleged looters have been being held on $20,000 bonds and anticipated to seem in court docket Monday.

It’s unknown if the looting occurred in residential houses or companies.

Tennessee was amongst a number of southeastern states that was badly battered with damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Greater than 40 trillion gallons of water was dumped through the storm.

At the least 128 folks have been killed with that quantity more likely to rise. 

With Publish wires