FBI Arrests Man For Gold Heist Worth Millions, Two Still On The Loose

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter 

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Federal authorities have arrested a South Florida man in connection to a gold heist worth millions of dollars.

Adalberto Perez, 46, was taken in police custody early Wednesday morning from his Opa-Locka home on the corner of Sharar Avenue and Ahmad Street.

His sister-in-law, Mily Naite, is stunned, saying it is totally out-of-character for the truck driver and father of two to be suspected of the crime.

"This totally surprises me and shocks me," Naite told CBS4's Peter D'Oench.

The FBI said $4.8 million in gold bars were stolen from a truck along I-95 in North Carolina in March of last year. Three armed men intercepted the truck, claiming to be police as it was heading from Miami to Boston, and tied up the driver.

"He is an excellent person, a good human being," said Naite. "I couldn't believe it. That's why I came down here."

Around 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, agents collected evidence from Perez's home and had the family's 26' Open Fisherman boat with the name "Grunt Master" towed away.

The FBI said the armed robbers gave instructions in Spanish and said they were "policia."

Naite thinks the authorities have the wrong guy.

"It was a case of mistaken identity. He was mistaken for somebody else," said Naite. "If all this were true, I don't see how he could be living here knowing the type of vehicle he owns. Two and two do not add up."

Officials haven't said what they believe Perez's role was in the heist.

In July, one man pleaded guilty for trying to sell a bar of gold from the truck.

Authorities are still looking for two other men in the case and have released a sketch of the two.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for the heist and the recovery of the gold.