Three people were arrested for allegedly being part of a "massive theft ring," as described by authorities on Wednesday. They were accused of stealing hundreds of Amazon packages dumped in Oklahoma City that were discovered on Dec. 31.
Almost 600 packages that were supposed to be delivered by Christmas have been stolen roughly 30 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. The group accused of stealing has been charged with 15 counts of felony possession of stolen property and embezzlement; other charges will likely be filed, as confirmed by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office.
Two of the accused were reported to be contract drivers for Amazon. The truck used by one of them was said to be owned by the third person, who also faces charges of possession of methamphetamines.
According to the investigators' allegation, Cesar Yasnier Cerqueira Rojas, an illegal immigrant in the US from Cuba, was working as a third-party driver for Amazon, using a truck owned by Dinneris Matos Delgado, 37.
Investigators claim Rojas loaded the extra pallets on the truck and brought them home. They also put into custody the 38-year-old Maikel Perez Laurencio.
The investigators managed to trace the stolen packages to the group after finding a garbage bag at the dumpsite with an address and a receipt from a local store. The authorities found thousands of undelivered packages inside a house a few miles from the 200 block of S. Birch St. in Luther. Officials found some that were still wrapped on pallets.
"Packages were stored throughout the home in almost every room and filled the storm shelter," the release said. The packages found have been returned to Amazon and will be re-delivered to its owners, the sheriff's office added.
Most empty packages were dumped near N. Harrah Road and 206th St., halfway between Luther and Wellston. Things left behind were books, a calendar, and even a copy of the Quran. "Every one of these packages was supposed to be delivered by Christmas Day," Aaron Brilbeck, with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, said. "So, 600 people didn't get their Christmas gifts as a result of this."
The packages left an Amazon facility and never made it to the United States Postal Service (USPS).
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