Eight migrant workers were arrested and charged over the weekend for allegedly looting properties in Washington County, Tennessee in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday that the group of eight men were taken into custody the day prior after deputies were patrolling the region impacted by the hurricane and arrested the men for allegedly looting properties in the 107 area of Washington County.
Three suspects – Jesus Leodan Garcia-Peneda, 51, Josue Berardo Ortis-Valdez, 30, and Ersy Leonel Ortis-Valdez, 33 – were charged with Burglary.
The five remaining suspects – 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 – were charged with Aggravated Burglary for breaking into occupied structures.
All eight suspects are being held at the Washington County Detention Center on $20,000 bonds, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office has since confirmed to the New York Post that the eight men are in the U.S. legally on work permits.
In Washington County, bridges, roads, homes, businesses, and farmland were decimated as a result of the Nolichucky River swelling to record levels last week.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has since submitted an expedited major disaster declaration for nine counties, including Washington County, in the wake of flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
One weather-related death has since been confirmed in Washington County by the Tennessee Department of Health.
In wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued a warning for weather victims to be aware of scammers and price gouging as recovery efforts begin in impacted communities.
Noting how price gouging and scamming are illegal in the Volunteer State, Skrmetti said, “My office will not hesitate to enforce Tennessee’s consumer protection laws against any bad actor attempting to rip off Tennesseans recovering from the storm.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
