A Wimauma man will spend 2 years in a Florida State Prison for various crimes committed in Hillsborough County.
Between December 2021 and May 2022, deputies in teamHCSO's Agricultural Unit investigated the thefts of 7 horses throughout Hillsborough County. On May 26, 2022, dispatchers got a call about another horse being stolen in north Hillsborough County. The report stated a Hispanic man was seen loading a miniature horse into a trailer. That animal was found the next day in Wimauma. A statewide alert was issued for the suspect's white work van and red horse trailer. Through investigative means and tips from the public, deputies in the Ag Unit located the vehicle on the 15000 block of Colding Loop in Wimauma, and arrested the suspect, Esteban Galvez, 57.
"This is a man who not only committed crimes against good, hard-working people, who invest a lot of time and money into their animals, but he committed crimes against nature," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Thanks to our Agricultural Unit deputies working with the community, we were able round-up and lock up this thief."
A continuation of the investigation linked Galvez to 3 other horse thefts, and he was found to be in possession of an alligator, and several illegal bird traps. He was sentenced April 18, 2023.
