4 UPS Workers Held in Alleged Theft Ring
SAN FRANCISCO — Four United Parcel Service employees arrested in a theft ring pasted fake address labels on gun shipments and sold some of the weapons to gangs, authorities said Friday.
The ring allegedly stole at least 50 Smith & Wesson 9-millimeter and .40-caliber semiautomatic handguns, each worth up to $600. They also diverted computers, cameras and stereo equipment, for a total value of $100,000, authorities said. Only six of the weapons have been recovered.
“It appears some of the guns were going to gang members, and there are apparently more out there,” said Jo Ann Kocher of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
The four UPS workers are among the 16 arrested in the ring.
The four UPS workers arrested were Leon Travis Duval, 22, a supervisor; Jose Avalos Jr., 21; Jonathan Aguila, 23; and Amarildo Jose Padilla, 25. They face charges including conspiracy, grand theft and possession of deadly weapons.
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