Fedex Worker Admits Stealing Christmas Packages
L O S A N G E L E S, Dec. 27 -- A FedEx contract driver has pleaded nocontest to a charge of grand theft for taking Christmas packages he wassupposed to deliver.
Russell Carnes, 29, of Palmdale, was arrested Thursday night fortaking packages worth about $14,000 from October to November, saidDeputy District Attorney Rouman Ebrahim.
Carnes, whose route was in the Antelope Valley, allegedly tookthe packages home and gave some of the items to relatives asChristmas presents.
Family members tipped deputies after becoming suspicious whenCarnes gave them boxes bearing the shipping company’s logo.
FedEx launched an internal investigation when packages appearedto be missing and about $6,500 worth of goods were recovered afterCarnes’ arrest.
Carnes, who had no prior criminal record, faced a maximumsentence of three years in state prison if convicted on the grandtheft charge. In exchange for his early plea, Carnes will serve 180days in county jail, pay restitution and be placed on probation forfive years.
He made his plea before Los Angeles County Superior Court JudgeRichard Spann and will be sentenced Feb. 1.
Stolen items included about 50 video and computer games; booksbound for St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo and an ultravioletmeasuring device intended for Edwards Air Force Base.
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