Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Guilty Verdict for Illegal Alien who Stole Disaster Aid from Hurricane Ian Victims

FORT MYERS, Fla.-Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution secured the conviction of Ivan Gutierrez Miranda for stealing and reselling trailers meant for recovering hurricane victims who lost and were rebuilding their homes. Miranda is a Cuban national who entered the United States illegally in 2022.

"This illegal alien was allowed in by the Biden administration, and he targeted critical resources during a disaster when many Floridians needed temporary housing," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "Thanks to Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Paul Thomas and Tim Donnelly, this criminal will stay behind bars for a long time before we send him back to where he came from."

The investigation, conducted by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol, revealed that Miranda and his codefendants operated in the early morning hours as well as late evening in an attempt to blend in during the state of emergency where RVs/Campers were being moved daily to aid displaced Floridians in need due to Hurricane Ian.

After a week-and-a-half-long trial, the Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a guilty verdict against Miranda. A key piece of evidence in the trial was a video Miranda filmed, in which he advertised the features of the stolen trailers.

The jury found the defendant guilty on the charges below:

• RICO
• Conspiracy to Commit RICO
• Organized Scheme to Defraud
• Dealing in Stolen Property- 5 counts

Sentencing is scheduled for January 26, 2026. Miranda faces up to 165 years in the Florida Department of Corrections, with a mandatory minimum of eight years. After serving his sentence, Miranda will be deported.

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