OCALA – A Miami man who called sheriff’s deputies Wednesday to report that the cargo he was hauling was stolen from a truck stop while he was taking a shower, was arrested for lying to officials and for cargo theft, according to officials.

Officials said Noel E. Ramirez, 39, called them from the Petro Truck Stop at County Road 318 and Interstate 75 claiming someone stole the 2007 freightliner semi-tractor and trailer he was driving. Ramirez said the load he was transporting from Miami to Laredo, Texas, was a half-million dollars worth of alcohol.

He told officials he he picked up the load Tuesday, then drove north on U.S. 27, stopping at South Bay, where he stayed from 5 until 11:30 p.m. He said he continued north on U.S. 27, stopping once near Interstate 4 to use the restroom. He said he arrived at the Petro truck center between 5:50 a.m. and 5:55 a.m. Wednesday.

Detective Erik Dice reviewed the semi’s tracking report and a device showed the last known stop was on Tuesday about 8:14 a.m.

Dice also reviewed the invoice of the trailer and noticed the load was1,950 Nintendo Wii consoles valued at $471,900, and 360 Nintendo Wii fit with balance boards worth $28,080.

The detective then reviewed a second tracking device, which was installed by the John J. Transport trucking company, and it showed the truck returned to Miami Tuesday night and was driven to several locations before returning to South Bay at 1:33 a.m. Wednesday.

It was later determined that Ramirez had no knowledge of the second tracking device.

The device showed the truck leaving South Bay and arriving near I-75 in Ocala shortly after 5:30 a.m. It also showed the tractor traveling along CR 318 and County Road 234 in Micanopy before arriving at near U.S. 441 and State Road 25 at 6:19 a.m.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the truck just south of Paynes Prairie around 8:16 a.m. The cargo was not found. Officials believe the cargo may be in the South Florida area.

Capt. Tommy Bibb, head of the county’s Cargo Task Force, said, “This was an elaborate operation by south Florida operatives to throw off Marion County law enforcement officials, but their scheme failed.”

Ramirez told Dice that after getting the load, he drove back to Miami to see his girlfriend, then declined to make any more comments.

He was taken to jail and charged with making a false report to law enforcement officials, cargo theft and criminal mischief.

Ramirez, who is originally from Cuba and lives in Hialeah Gardens in Miami, told the Star-Banner he knew nothing about the theft as he was being led to an awaiting sheriff’s deputy’s patrol vehicle.

If found guilty of theft charges in the case, Ramirez will lose his CDL license. The Department of Transportation will be inspecting Ramirez’s log book.