On Tuesday, March 5, a warrant was issued for Manuel Romero Acosta following a Feb. 28 traffic stop during which more than $5M in stolen computer parts were found. Photo contributed

More than $5 million in stolen computer equipment was recovered on Feb. 28 when a Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2013 Nissan van in Fresno County near Interstate 5 and Highway 33.

The driver of the van, 49-year-old Manuel Romero Acosta, was initially charged with driving without a license by the deputy; the van, however, was towed after numerous boxes of new computer components were found, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Authorities were unsure if the items inside the van were stolen and the van and its contents were towed to a storage facility.

Following the execution of a search warrant on March 5, it was confirmed that the computer parts — consisting of memory devices and data storage servers — were estimated to be valued at $5.1 million.

The devices were stolen from the San Francisco Port Authority, according to the news release.

Following the search a warrant was issued for the arrest of Acosta, who resides in Burbank.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with additional information that could be relevant to the case is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111 or Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867. Residents can also make tips at www.valleycrimestoppers.org. All tips are anonymous and may be eligible for cash rewards. The reference number for the case is 24-2445.