Two men who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise from the Moreno Valley business that employed them were on probation Friday.
Francisco Chavez Cuica, 51, and Eduardo Chavez Diaz, 20, both of Riverside, in March admitted a grand theft charge under plea agreements with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. No charges were dismissed.
During a hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Thursday, Superior Court Judge Walter Kubelun certified the terms of the agreements and sentenced each defendant to three years’ felony probation, as well as 90 days in work release programs, during which the men will either have to attend vocational or traditional education programs, or remain gainfully employed.
The judge also directed the Department of Probation to determine the specific amount of victim restitution that the pair will have to pay.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Joseph Fitzgerald and court documents, deputies were sent to Jillamy Logistics at 22340 Van Buren Blvd. on the morning of July 17, 2023, to investigate “an ongoing embezzlement scheme” that had been uncovered by warehouse management.
“The business reported an estimated loss of $350,000 in stolen merchandise from the warehouse, involving two employees,” Fitzgerald said. “During the investigation, (sheriff’s) personnel discovered the merchandise was being sold through an online marketplace.”
There was sufficient evidence to obtain and serve a search warrant at the defendants’ shared residence in the 9100 block of Rangpur Circle.
“Approximately $78,818 in stolen merchandise belonging to the warehouse was seized from the residence,” Fitzgerald said.
The exact time span over which the thefts occurred was not disclosed.
The defendants were taken into custody without incident that day.
Neither man had documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.