Cuban Man Walter Cadenas-Rodriguez Arrested in Meat Scam
Claremore police have arrested Walter Cadenas-Rodriguez, a Cuban man accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme that defrauded local meat markets out of more than $20,000.
Cadenas-Rodriguez, who was reportedly in the U.S. illegally, served as the driver picking up the stolen meat and transporting it back to Houston. One of the victims played a crucial role in his apprehension.
According to police, the scheme involved calling meat markets to place large orders, paying with stolen credit cards, and then reporting the cards as lost after picking up the products. This left businesses without both the meat and the money.
Eric Walke, owner of Walke Meat Company near Claremore, described how he lost over $4,000 in one incident. He became suspicious when a man insisted on picking up an 800-pound order after hours, which he found unusual. After learning about a similar theft at another local shop, Walke was prepared when the thieves placed another large order.
He sent them a fake receipt and waited. When the thieves arrived, Walke immediately alerted the police, who apprehended Cadenas-Rodriguez within minutes.
Further investigations revealed that he had helped steal over $13,000 from a Ponca City meat shop and an additional $4,000 from another in Mayes County. Law enforcement officials emphasized that such losses can be crippling for small businesses.
After the arrest, Walke received a message from Rodriguez’s employer, who was unable to reach him and intended to pick up the order personally. Police later found additional receipts on Rodriguez’s phone, indicating a broader network of thefts across Oklahoma and Texas. Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected.