SWEETWATER, Fla. – Jose Quintana was already a fugitive wanted for defrauding the U.S. government when he stole more than $130,000 in luxury watches from a former business associate in Miami-Dade County.
Joseph Maya, the Luanda Cash Pawn Shop owner on West Flagler Street in Sweetwater, said he and Quintana, 49, did business together for about 25 years until he stole from him on Friday.
“This guy always comes here to pick watches, then go on and sell them, bring me back the money and if he doesn’t sell the watch he brings me back the watch,” Maya said.
Surveillance video shows Quintana, also known as Jose Angel Quintana, took five Rolex watches valued at $134,500 and vanished, police said. Alvaro Zabaleta, a spokesman for Sweetwater, said Quintana had an ankle monitor.
“He is on the run. Everybody is looking for him,” Maya said.
According to a 13-page federal indictment, Quintana is a co-defendant in a Medicare and Medicaid fraud case.
He is facing charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Zabaleta said he is also wanted for grand theft in Sweetwater. Federal authorities believe he cut off the ankle monitor.