UPDATED: Texas men arrested on I-75 for Miami robbery of jewelry, Louis Vuitton bag, and other items

Updated on September 4 with new charges for Bradford (see the end of the article).

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Stephen James Bradford, 25, of Katy, Texas, and Robert Emanuel Cormier, 28, of Cypress, Texas, were arrested last night after Florida Highway Patrol troopers pulled over their stolen Ford Expedition on I-75 near Gainesville. Bradford has also been charged with using his brother’s identity.

At about 8:04 p.m. on August 29, a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) was issued for a black Ford Expedition with a Texas tag that had been reported stolen and was occupied by individuals who were possibly involved in a burglary/robbery in Miami-Dade County.

At about 8:39 p.m., Florida Highway Patrol troopers saw the Expedition traveling northbound on I-75 near mile marker 387 (Newberry Road) and conducted a traffic stop. The vehicle pulled over, and two of the occupants, Bradford and Cormier, were identified as the burglary/robbery suspects; a third occupant was released at the scene with no charges.

A detective from Miami-Dade told the troopers that Bradford and Cormier had been seen with stolen items that were valued at approximately $57,100, and he provided images and video of the two men with the stolen items, which included jewelry, a Louis Vuitton bag, and other items. The detective said he needed to process the vehicle for latent prints, so no inventory search was conducted at the time of the arrests, but a trooper noted that a Louis Vuitton bag was in plain view inside the vehicle, and there was also a blue bag that was seen going into the building empty and coming out full of items.

Both men were charged with grand theft over $20,000, and more charges are pending from Miami-Dade County. The defendants’ criminal histories are currently unavailable. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $40,000 for Bradford and $100,000 for Cormier.

On September 3, a Miami Police Department Detective advised the Florida Highway Patrol that Bradford had provided his brother’s name in an attempt to conceal his identity, and he was booked under his brother’s name. Stephen Bradford has a warrant out of Georgia for burglary with national extradition. The deception led to charges for Stephen Bradford’s brother, who is currently serving overseas in the United States Air Force.

Stephen Bradford has been charged with fraudulent use of another person’s identity that adversely affects the other person, and Judge Adam Lee added $10,000 to his bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.