PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The leader of an international train theft crew is set to be sentenced in a Phoenix federal court after admitting to leading a group that stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from freight trains across rural Arizona.
Felipe Arturo Avalos-Mejia, also known as “El Pollo,” led a group of Mexican nationals who traveled to Arizona to break into and steal from trains, according to investigators. He has admitted in court to directing the operation, which netted 2,500 pairs of unreleased Nike shoes and 1,000 boxes of gaming headsets, among other goods.
Caught on camera in rural Navajo County
The crew’s March 2024 operation in Joseph City was captured on video by a camera set up by train enthusiasts in rural Navajo County. Footage shows a group of men running across a field toward a stopped train, climbing onto the cars, and then fleeing in trucks. Investigators say fake 911 calls were made to distract deputies during the getaway.
Navajo County Sheriff’s deputies caught up with one of the trucks nearby, finding three people in the cab and two more in the truck bed…