Ringleader also charged with drug trafficking—drugs, guns, and property seized and recovered

On June 20, 2023, the Office of the State Attorney Tenth Judicial Circuit filed racketeering charges against four suspects who were arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for conspiring together to steal new appliances, cabinetry, and other construction materials from construction sites around Polk County and then sell them to a crooked contractor. 

The suspects committed 14 confirmed burglaries depriving victims of approximately $40,000. 

The investigation began after detectives responded to a burglary that occurred at a house under construction in Auburndale. New cabinets had been stolen from the construction site. A witness saw two men putting items into a U-Haul van before driving away.  

During the course of the investigation detectives linked numerous thefts at construction sites across Polk County and identified four suspects involved in a criminal racketeering enterprise:

• 51-year-old Alberto Petrecca of Dundee
• 34-year-old Jeromy Albertson of Haines City
• 27-year-old Randale Anderson of Haines City
• 47-year-old Benjamin Adams of Davenport

Haines City Police officers arrested Albertson and Anderson during a traffic stop. Albertson was driving a U-Haul van containing stainless steel appliances. Albertson told officers that he and Anderson stole the appliances from a house under construction in Poinciana. Albertson also said that he was instructed by his uncle, Alberto Petrecca, to steal the appliances at the request of a buyer.

The same day, PCSO detectives executed two search warrants; one at Petrecca’s house (710 Roby Ct.) in Dundee and one at Petrecca’s storage unit in Haines City where they recovered appliances, air handlers and ducting, plywood, and lumber that had been stolen from various construction sites in Polk County. Detectives also seized 89.48 grams of cocaine, 227.92 grams of marijuana, 18 Hydrocodone pills, 53 Ecstasy pills, 10 handguns and a rifle from Petrecca’s house. Petrecca admitted to selling drugs from his house for the last three years.

When asked about the stolen appliances, Petrecca told detectives he “didn’t ask or care” how Albertson and Anderson acquired them and suspected they might have been stolen.

He also told detectives that his buyer was Benjamin Adams, the owner of BA Investment Team, LLC and BA Property Team, house remolding and real estate companies. PCSO detectives executed search warrants at two properties owned by Adams where they recovered several stolen appliances.

Adams told detectives he bought the new appliances from Petrecca at “scratch and dent” prices. He said he was not sure how Petrecca was able to sell the items so cheap, however he believed Petrecca may have been using some sort of stolen credit card or fraud to obtain the appliances.

“When thieves steal from construction sites it affects us all—hard working men and women in construction, home buyers, and consumers. I am proud of my detectives for stopping this criminal organization and recovering tens of thousands of dollars in stolen items. But we also need the help of those in the construction industry. Securing materials, locking everything up before leaving a site for the day, and reporting suspicious activity is important to prevent construction site theft.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The following suspects were arrested: 

Alberto Petrecca was initially arrested and charged with: 
• Armed trafficking in cocaine (FL)
• Conspiracy to commit grand theft (F3)(3 counts)
• Conspiracy to commit burglary (F3)(3 counts)
• Burglary (F3)
• Grand theft (F3)
• Dealing in stolen property (F2)(3 counts)
• Possession of ecstasy with intent to sell (F2)
• Possession of amphetamine with intent to sell (F3)
• Possession of hydrocodone with intent to sell (F2)
• Possession of marijuana with intent to sell (F3)
• Possession of Xanax with intent to sell (F3)
• Possession of a structure to traffic drugs (F2)
• Possession of a firearm during a felony (F2)
• Possession of ecstasy (F3)
• Possession of amphetamine (F3)
• Possession of hydrocodone (F3)
• Possession of Xanax (F3)
• Possession of marijuana over 20 grams (F3)
• Possession of drug paraphernalia (M1)

He was released from the Polk County Jail after paying a $199,000 bond. 

On June 20, 2023, the Office of the State Attorney Tenth Judicial Circuit filed the following additional charges against Petrecca:
• Racketeering (F1) 
• Conspiracy to racketeer (F1) 
• Dealing in stolen property (F1)(14 counts) 
• Burglary (F3)(14 counts) 

He turned himself in to the Polk County Jail. Petrecca is currently being held on an additional $112,000 bond.

Jeromy Albertson was initially arrested and charged with:
• Dealing in stolen property (F2)(6 counts)
• Conspiracy to commit burglary (F3)(2 counts)
• Burglary (F2)
• Grand theft of a construction site (F3)(2 counts)
• Violation of probation (M2)

Due to Albertson violating his probation requirements, he is currently in the Polk County Jail and being held with no bond. 

On June 20, 2023, the Office of the State Attorney Tenth Judicial Circuit filed the following additional charges against Albertson:
• Racketeering (F1) 
• Conspiracy to racketeer (F1) 
• Dealing in stolen property (F1)(14 counts) 
• Burglary (F3)(14 counts) 

His previous criminal history includes domestic violence battery, possession of methamphetamine, and soliciting prostitution. 

Randale Anderson was initially arrested and charged with:
• Burglary (F3)(2 counts)
• Grand theft (F3)(2 counts)
• Conspiracy to commit grand theft (F3)(2 counts)
• Conspiracy to commit burglary (F3)(2 counts)

He was released from the Polk County Jail after paying a $27,000 bond. 

On June 20, 2023, the Office of the State Attorney Tenth Judicial Circuit filed the following additional charges against Anderson:
• Racketeering (F1) 
• Conspiracy to racketeer (F1) 
• Dealing in stolen property (F1)(5 counts) 
• Burglary (F3)(5 counts) 

He turned himself in to the Polk County Jail and is being held on an additional $55,000 bond.

Benjamin Adams was initially arrested and charged with:
• Dealing in stolen property (F2)(3 counts)

He was released from the Polk County Jail after paying a $15,000 bond. 

On June 20, 2023, the Office of the State Attorney Tenth Judicial Circuit filed the following additional charges against Adams:
• Racketeering (F1) 
• Conspiracy to racketeer (F1) 
• Dealing in stolen property (F2)(5 counts) 

He turned himself in to the Polk County Jail where he was later released after paying an additional $45,000 bond. Adam’s previous criminal history includes domestic violence battery, criminal mischief, and an 11-year federal prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Florida RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) Act

In Florida (FSS Chapter 895 Sections 895.01-895.06), a racketeering offense (RICO) occurs when an unlawful organization commits or attempts/solicits/conspires to commit coordinated illegal activities such as murder, money laundering, embezzlement, extortion, weapons offenses, burglary, theft, bribery, and other crimes. In Florida, RICO is charged as a first-degree felony and it can result in 30 years imprisonment and significant monetary fines. 

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) was designed to prosecute individuals engaging in organized crime. A person can be charged with racketeering if they engage in a pattern of racketeering—such as committing at least two racketeering activities within a ten year period.