On August 22, Colombian national Iván Darío Rico Molano, an Uber driver, was apprehended by Border Patrol agents as he was transporting nearly 400 cinnamon rolls from the Roll and Dough bakery. These pastries were intended for sale at a farmers market in Hollywood, Florida.
The arrest left the bakery without its delivery, leading to suspicions that the driver had stolen the goods. According to a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), officers stopped a silver Kia Carnival at approximately 8:50 a.m. on southbound Interstate 95 near Sheridan Street. The vehicle's owner was flagged during a records check as a foreign national without legal immigration status.
Rico Molano admitted to being in the United States unlawfully. CBP reported that he had entered the country legally in May 2021 but overstayed his visa. Consequently, he was taken to the Dania Beach Border Patrol Station for processing.
Bakery Left in the Dark
Julie Pierre, the 21-year-old owner of Roll and Dough, was not informed of the incident. Her business, which operates from a shared kitchen in Sunrise, is renowned for its Japanese-inspired cinnamon rolls made with milk bread.
When the delivery failed to reach the Yellow Green Farmers Market and the driver could not be contacted, Pierre feared the products—worth around $3,000—had been stolen. "The order never arrived, we couldn't reach the transport company, and neither Uber nor anyone else could tell us what happened. As a 21-year-old running a small business alone, I was scared, overwhelmed, and trying to recover days of work and thousands of dollars in products," Pierre shared on Instagram.
Following Uber's guidance, Pierre filed a police report with the Sunrise Police Department, unaware of Rico Molano's detention by immigration officers.
Resolution and Reimbursement
The situation was clarified on Thursday when detectives from the same department located a relative of the driver. This family member retrieved the vehicle, found the five large boxes of cinnamon rolls still inside, and delivered them to the police station.
The items were retrieved five days after the failed delivery but had spoiled and had to be discarded. Pierre then issued a statement on Instagram retracting the theft accusation. "Based on what we now know, Iván did not intentionally steal our cinnamon rolls. We sincerely apologize for describing the situation that way before understanding all the circumstances," the bakery stated.
The statement also clarified that the arrest occurred before the police report was filed, meaning Roll and Dough's report did not trigger the driver's immigration issues.
Ultimately, Uber reimbursed the bakery in full for its losses, after initially offering just $100 for a trip that cost $205.
Immigration Crackdown in Florida
This case underscores the ongoing intensification of immigration enforcement on Florida highways. CBP checks the immigration status of vehicle owners using databases during interstate traffic stops, including those on I-95 in Broward County. Since March 2025, these operations have resulted in over 10,690 arrests in South Florida.
This incident is just one example of how immigration operations impact daily life in Florida. Follow all the developments in our U.S. Immigration section.
Understanding Immigration Enforcement in Florida
What led to the arrest of Iván Darío Rico Molano?
Iván Darío Rico Molano was arrested by Border Patrol agents after a routine traffic stop revealed that he was an undocumented immigrant, having overstayed his visa since entering the United States legally in May 2021.
How did the bakery respond to the situation?
Initially, the bakery owner suspected theft but later clarified the misunderstanding once the situation was resolved. They retracted the accusation and apologized for any miscommunication.
What actions did Uber take following the incident?
Uber ultimately reimbursed Roll and Dough for the full value of the lost products, correcting their initial offer of compensation.