A Bradenton man faces felony charges after Florida Highway Patrol investigators say he attempted to sell a radioactive industrial device through Facebook Marketplace.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 24-year-old Marco Antonio Benitez Jr. was arrested on May 28 following an investigation into the theft and possession of a Moisture Density Gauge, a specialized piece of equipment used in construction and engineering projects to measure soil and asphalt density.
Authorities said the device, valued between $10,000 and $20,000, contains a radioactive isotope known as Cesium-137 (Cs-137), making it a tightly regulated piece of equipment that can only be possessed and operated by licensed individuals.
The investigation began on May 26 after the Florida Highway Patrol’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence received information that the device was being offered for sale through Facebook Marketplace.
Investigators arranged a meeting with the seller to purchase the gauge. When the seller failed to appear at the agreed-upon location, state troopers went to Benitez’s residence in Bradenton to continue the investigation.
Troopers assigned to the Florida Highway Patrol’s Preventative Radiological Nuclear Detection unit conducted a radiation screening from outside the residence. According to the agency, the screening produced an industrial-level alert indicating radioactive material was present inside the home.
Investigators subsequently located the moisture density gauge inside the residence. Officials said the device remained intact and that its radioactive source had not been damaged.
The gauge was seized and secured as evidence.
State officials noted that moisture density gauges are commonly used in construction projects to evaluate moisture content and material density. While generally safe when properly handled, the devices can expose people to harmful radiation if damaged or mishandled.
Law enforcement agencies also monitor such devices closely because radioactive materials could potentially be misused for criminal purposes.
“The Florida Highway Patrol is home to some of the most sophisticated and technically experienced criminal investigators,” Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner said in a statement. “Their efforts, along with the efforts of BCII and CIU Troopers, led to this important arrest, and Florida is safer as a result.”
Benitez has been charged with grand theft involving property valued between $10,000 and $20,000 and possession of a controlled radiation device without a license.
