Suspect named Speedy Gonzalez Nabs More Than Tacos in $20K Walmart Heist

The 40-year-old suspect was reportedly using a clever trick at the self-checkout. According to Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook, Gonzalez would place expensive items into a larger, inexpensive container, only scanning the larger item while concealing the smaller, high-value items inside. “Nicotine, gum, diabetic strips, you know, high-priced items, although smaller in nature,” Holbrook explained. “He would then pick out an item from the shelf, such as a trash can or even a mailbox, and stuff all those items into the box with the larger item before paying for it and walking out.”

This crafty method allowed Gonzalez to leave the store with a significant haul without paying for the hidden goods. However, his luck ran out when law enforcement caught on to his alleged scheme, leading to his arrest just ten days after a theft in March.

Gonzalez is believed to have committed over 20 thefts across several counties in Georgia, including Hall, Barrow, Gwinnett, Habersham, White, and Lumpkin. After his arrest, he was booked into the Hall County jail and is now facing a series of federal charges.

This isn’t Gonzalez’s first brush with the law. Back in April 2020, he was apprehended in Gwinnett County for allegedly stealing checks from a mailbox and attempting to purchase $3,000 worth of items at a local Home Depot using the stolen funds. Ironically, he lived up to his name during that incident, as it took law enforcement several months to catch him.

Interestingly, Gonzalez’s name closely resembles that of the iconic Looney Tunes character Speedy Gonzales, a fast-moving mouse known for his oversized yellow sombrero. The character was inspired by Frank Gonzales, an animator at Warner Bros. who was known for his quick drawing skills, according to former animation employee Martha Goldman Sigall.

Social media users have had a field day with this story, making light of Gonzalez’s misfortune. One commenter on the Gainesville Police Department’s Facebook post quipped, “Clearly wasn’t speedy enough,” while another suggested he should change his name to “Slowpoke Rodriguez” after getting caught. The humor surrounding the situation highlights the absurdity of the circumstances, as many find it hard to believe that someone with such a memorable name could find themselves in such a predicament.