Three illegals in Kellyton put on ICE hold
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Baltazar Sanchez Caballero
Armando Rojo Lugardo
Maximiliano Perez Vasquez
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Three illegal immigrants were arrested last Thursday in connection with thefts that occurred in Kellyton late last year.
Chief Deputy Scott Hammond reported that in October and December of 2024, two different victims in the same area of Kellyton reported burglaries of their businesses or buildings.
After the second burglary, which occurred at Carlisle Heating & Air Conditioning, investigators with the Sheriff’s Office began conducting an intel operation on a residential trailer, which was occupied by Hispanic males, near the businesses.
During the investigation, one of the victims, Mr. Jones, turned over bank records showing that checks were written from a checkbook stolen from a building. Three of the checks were written in Dadeville, and two were written in Alexander City.
Investigators went where the checks had been cashed and obtained information on the individuals who had cashed the checks.
During the investigation it was also found that surveillance footage of the trailer revealed men matching the descriptions given.
On February 20, a search warrant was conducted on the residence at 107 U.S. Highway 280, Kellyton, which is located directly behind the victims’ business and building.
While executing the search warrant, law enforcement officers found evidence in the trailer, and some property was identified by one of the victim’s as being property from the Jones’ building and Carlisle Heating & Air.
Three Hispanic males were detained at the scene and then taken back to the Sheriff’s Office and interviewed.
The interview concluded that checks were written by two of the males in the trailer. It further determined that one of the Hispanic males at one point had possession of one of the air conditioning units allegedly stolen from Carlisle Heating & Air.
At that point, all three individuals were arrested the same day the search warrant was executed, February 20.
Those arrested were 33-year-old Baltazar Sanchez Caballero, 40-year-old Armando Rojo Lugardo and 37-year-old Maximiliano Perez Vasquez, all of Mexico.
Caballero was charged with first-degree receiving stolen property. Lugardo and Vasquez were each charged with third-degree receiving stolen property.
Because of all the charges being felonies, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, was notified of their arrests.
Hammond said that all three men are here illegally, and ICE has placed a hold on them. As such, as of press time all three remain in custody at the Coosa County Jail in Rockford.
Sheriff Michael Howell thanks the Alexander City Police Department’s Narcotics Task Force Detective Division for assisting the Sheriff’s Office with the search warrant and helping to clear and secure the residence.
Anyone who suspects or observes illegal activity is encouraged to report it to the Sheriff’s Office at 256-377-4922 or online at www.coosacountyso.org. Anonymous tips are also welcome.
