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March 25, 2008

TWO PLEAD GUILTY IN THEFTS OF FOOD FROM TYSON WAREHOUSE

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two men pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges of stealing food from the Tyson Foods warehouse in Olathe, Kan.

Humberto Antonio Gallardo, 34, Peculiar, Mo., and Osie B. Cobbs, 44, Kansas City, Mo., each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.

In their pleas, they admitted:
– In 2004 and 2005, both men were employed by Tyson Foods. Cobbs was a shift manager at the warehouse at 20701 W. 159th Street in Olathe. Gallardo was a warehouse operator.
– Cobbs approached Gallardo and others with a plan to make extra money by diverting pallets of food stored at the warehouse.
– Together with other conspirators, Cobbs and Gallardo arranged for whole pallets of food products to be stolen from Tyson, loaded into semi-tractor trucks and transported across state lines for sale. Stolen goods were taken from Kansas to other states including Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Gallardo is set for sentencing June 16. Cobbs is scheduled for sentencing June 23. Each of them faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker for their work on the case.