Guatemalan national sentenced for theft, sale of stolen goods

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Guatemalan national who was part of a conspiracy that stole high-end construction equipment, building supplies and clothing has been sentenced to federal prison, according to the United States Attorney District of Rhode Island’s office.

Marvin Estuardo Morales De Paz, 30, of Cranston, was one of a dozen members of a Rhode Island-based conspiracy that would steal merchandise from home improvement and clothing stores in at least five states.

The stolen items would be transported to Rhode Island to sell, and Morales’ ring was involved in at least 35 documented thefts in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

He was convicted of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and illegal re-entry into the United States.

He will serve 30 months in federal prison and will be turned over to ICE to face deportation after his sentence is complete.

Morales has been deported twice, according to the US Attorney’s office.

$280,000 worth of merchandise was stolen by the group, and tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen items were recovered from Morales’ residence at the time of his April 11, 2024 arrest.