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A line cook at Mordisco Miami, a popular Venezuelan restaurant in Doral, Florida, was arrested on Tuesday (October 21) for allegedly stealing the restaurant's secret recipe books. Carlos Francisco Gottberg Marquez, 50, faces charges of theft of trade secrets after being caught on surveillance cameras taking three cookbooks from the restaurant, located on 41st Street and 103rd Avenue.
According to The Daily Mail, staff at Mordisco Miami noticed the books were missing and reviewed the footage, which showed Marquez stealing two books on October 12 and a third on October 19. The cookbooks contained exclusive recipes for Venezuelan-style steaks, appetizers, and handmade arepas. Marquez reportedly planned to use these recipes at another restaurant in Orlando.
Police arrested Marquez at his second job at the Shoma Bazaar food hall, where he was working at a sandwich and smoothie shop. Upon his arrest, Marquez confessed and led officers to his moped, where one of the stolen books was found. He then accompanied police to his home to retrieve the remaining two books.
Marquez was taken into custody without incident and later appeared in Miami-Dade bond court, where he was granted a $2,500 bond. He was also ordered to stay away from Mordisco Miami.
Under Florida law, the theft of trade secrets can be considered a second or third-degree felony.