BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Wellington man is facing a felony charge after Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detectives say he organized and carried out a series of boat motor thefts across the Village of Royal Palm Beach — then sold the stolen property to unsuspecting buyers on Facebook Marketplace.
Brandon Joseph Hinkle, 25, of Wellington, is charged with one count of Organized Dealing in Traffic Stolen Property, a felony. Detectives say the investigation began March 8, 2026, and Hinkle had previously been taken into custody on April 16 in connection with nine separate cases tied to the boat motor theft ring.
According to the probable cause affidavit reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com, Hinkle sold a stolen Mercury Mariner 8hp outboard motor — along with two other motors — to a Boca Raton man via Facebook Marketplace. The victim, who purchased and rebuilt old outboard motors as a hobby, paid $375 total for the three motors via Zelle at Hinkle’s Wellington residence. Hinkle never disclosed that the Mercury Mariner had been reported stolen. The victim only discovered the motor was stolen after he had already begun disassembling and rebuilding it, leaving him out at least $125 plus the time and parts he had invested.
Detectives say Hinkle initiated, organized, planned, financed, directed, managed, and supervised the theft of property — including the Mercury Mariner 8hp motor identified as stolen in a separate PBSO case — and trafficked the stolen property by selling it to the victim. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and later released. A court date is pending.
