The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit has been investigating an alleged organized theft ring involving the fraudulent rental and theft of construction equipment throughout the County.
Detectives were following up on investigative leads when, on May 18, they learned a local business was being targeted as the group's next victim. Investigators determined the suspect was using a false identity and fraudulent credit card while attempting to rent a mini excavator valued at $37,000.
In a coordinated undercover operation, detectives arranged to meet the suspect to complete the transaction. The suspect met detectives in the area of Corral de Tierra Road and Highway 68 near Salinas. During the meeting, investigators say the suspect identified himself using the fake identity and was then taken into custody.
Investigators later identified the suspect as Jaime Sanchez Valdez, 50, of the Salinas area. He was booked into the Monterey County Jail on a charge of theft by false pretenses.
“Ag crimes never stop. Prior investigations have led us to different parts of California,” Sheriff's Cmdr. Andres Rosas says. “Ag is a big industry and whenever you have big industries, people are going to try and take advantage of the value that industry has.”
Three days later, on May 21, detectives continued the investigation and served a search warrant at a property in the 16000 block of Blackie Road in Prunedale.
During the search, detectives report they recovered a skid steer that had been reported stolen from Quinn Company in Salinas in November 2025. Detectives also recovered a stolen forklift and a four-stall luxury restroom trailer. The recovered property is valued at approximately $300,000.
Hazael Corona Andrade, 44, of Prunedale, was taken into custody as a result of the search warrant. Andrade was booked into Monterey County Jail on multiple charges, including theft by false pretenses, possession of stolen property, grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime.
This remains an ongoing investigation.
The Agriculture Crimes Unit has been in operation since 2000, and is currently part of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Property Crime Unit, a multiagency task force composed of personnel from the Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol.