GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two Cuban nationals residing in Tampa, Angel Luis Nicot-Cardoza, 31, and Yorlan Nordelo-Martinez, 44, find themselves facing grand theft charges following a series of incidents, including a notable theft at a Gainesville Ulta Beauty store in September 2025. These charges are linked to a string of thefts from Ulta Beauty outlets across Florida and Georgia, with the total value of stolen goods exceeding $5,000.
The alleged Gainesville incident unfolded on September 6, 2025, at approximately 11:04 a.m. at the Ulta Beauty located in the Oaks Square shopping plaza on West Newberry Road. Nordelo-Martinez is accused of discreetly pocketing a Jimmy Choo fragrance tester. The duo proceeded to another section of the store, where they purportedly concealed seven more fragrance testers. As they made their exit, Nicot-Cardoza reportedly added a Gucci tester to his loot, tucking it into his shorts. The total value of the items taken during this visit was estimated at $1,391, and they reportedly left without settling the bill.
Investigators from the Gainesville Police Department delved into the case and discovered that these two individuals had been implicated in five additional thefts targeting Ulta Beauty locations across Florida and Georgia, cumulatively causing losses amounting to $5,054.
Utilizing surveillance footage, the officer pieced together the identities of the suspects, corroborating them through recently-issued Florida driver’s licenses. Both men were identified as Cuban citizens living in the United States on work visas, sharing an apartment complex in Tampa.
In response to the findings, authorities filed sworn complaints against Nicot-Cardoza and Nordelo-Martinez, resulting in the issuance of warrants for their arrest in September 2025 on charges of grand theft.
Sworn complaints were filed for both defendants, charging them with grand theft, and warrants were issued in September 2025.
Nicot-Cardoza was arrested in Hillsborough County in October 2025 and was transferred to the Alachua County Jail on January 16. He has one felony conviction and one misdemeanor conviction (both non-violent) in Florida, along with a pending grand theft case in Lake County and an active warrant out of Georgia. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $100,000, and he is still in the Alachua County Jail.
Nordelo-Martinez was arrested in Tampa in October 2025 and booked into the Alachua County Jail on October 22, 2025. He has no criminal history in Florida, but he had active warrants at the time from Lake County, two other counties in Florida, and Georgia. He entered a plea of nolo contendere to grand theft on January 8, and Judge James Colaw sentenced him to 79 days in jail with credit for 79 days served, followed by two years of probation.
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.
