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Tags: grand | theft | avocado

'Grand Theft Avocado' Charges for 3 Arrested in $300K Scheme

'Grand Theft Avocado' Charges for 3 Arrested in $300K Scheme

Three men have been charged in a "grand theft avocado" scheme. (Msphotographic/Dreamstime.com)

Tuesday, 20 June 2017 04:12 AM EDT

Police may be cheekily calling it "grand theft avocado," but the theft of up to $300,000 worth of avocados is a serious charge against three produce company workers.

According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, 38-year-old Joseph Valenzuela, 28-year-old Carlos Chavez, and 30-year-old Rahim Leblanc were each charged with grand theft of fruit and were being held in jail on bail of $250,000 each, The Associated Press reported. They were arrested Wednesday.

It was unclear whether they have attorneys.

Detectives began investigating the suspects in May after receiving a tip that they were conducting unauthorized cash sales of avocados from a ripening facility in the city of Oxnard owned by the Mission Produce company.

The company estimated the avocado loss at about $300,000, the sheriff's office said.

"We take these kinds of thefts seriously. It's a big product here and in California," sheriff's Sgt. John Franchi told the Los Angeles Times. "Everybody loves avocados."

Twitter users were amused by the play on words.

© Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


TheWire
Police may be cheekily calling it "grand theft avocado," but the theft of up to $300,000 worth of avocados is a serious charge against three produce company workers.
grand, theft, avocado
252
2017-12-20
Tuesday, 20 June 2017 04:12 AM
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