A Florida man has been arrested after investigators tracked a stolen radiological device to his home via a Facebook Marketplace listing, authorities said.
Marco Antonio Benitez Jr., 24, was taken into custody following a multi-agency investigation into the theft of a moisture density gauge valued between $10,000 and $20,000. The device, which contains the radioactive isotope Cesium-137, was recovered intact from a home in Bradenton by Florida Highway Patrol troopers.
The investigation began on May 26 when the FHP Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence received information about a private sale on social media. Investigators traced the online listing to Benitez and arranged an undercover purchase. When Benitez missed the scheduled meeting, investigators went directly to his home, where specialised troopers deployed radiation detection equipment that immediately confirmed the presence of nuclear material inside.
Members of the FHP Preventive Radiological Nuclear Detection unit found the device hidden inside the house. Officials confirmed the radioactive source was undisturbed and secured the equipment as evidence. Under Florida law, only operators licensed through the Department of Health are permitted to possess or handle such equipment, which is typically used in construction to analyse soil and asphalt composition.
Benitez has been charged with grand theft and illegal possession of a controlled radiation device without a licence. Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, commended the responding troopers for their expertise, stating: 'The Florida Highway Patrol is home to some of the most sophisticated and technically experienced criminal investigators. Our Radiological and Nuclear Detection State Troopers are a vital component to our public safety mission.'
