PARADISE, Calif. — A Paradise man was arrested after police uncovered over $31,000 worth of stolen meat and seafood delivered to his home using fraudulent credit cards.
The investigation began when the Regional Crime Suppression Unit, a joint effort between Reno and Sparks police, contacted Paradise Police Department regarding suspicious meat purchases from Sierra Meat and Seafood in Reno, Nevada. The large wholesale orders were being sent to a residence on Joseph’s Court in Paradise.
When officers interviewed the delivery driver, they determined the driver was unaware the transactions were fraudulent and released them without charges.
Detective Archuleta from Paradise Police, working with regional investigators, identified 51-year-old Juan Yepez-Garcia as the recipient of the orders. Yepez-Garcia admitted he had suspected the products were stolen.
A search of the property revealed multiple freezers packed with meat, many still in boxes bearing wholesale labels. The total value of the recovered meat and fish was $31,883.79.
Yepez-Garcia was arrested for possession of stolen property and booked into Butte County Jail, with bail set at $15,000.
The supplier, Sierra Meat and Seafood, has been notified and is working to retrieve the stolen items. Authorities say the case is still under investigation.
