VENTURA, Calif.-
A trucking company owner and two employees could be in deep guacamole. Ventura County authorities charged them with grand theft and criminal conspiracy after a three-week investigation into the theft of more than $700,000 worth of avocados this past growing season.
The trucking company was hired to take loads of avocados from growers to market but the three men skimmed off portions of loads at a truck yard, the sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices alleged in a joint statement Tuesday.
The investigation began with a tip to Index Fresh, one of two companies that hired the trucking company.
Florentino Castaneda, 38, the owner of Castaneda Trucking, and employees Fortunato Mendoza, 46, and Francisco Ponce, 32, all residents of Ventura, were arrested Nov. 9 and prosecutors filed charges.
A person who answered the phone at Castaneda Trucking declined to comment Wednesday. Castaneda posted bail and was released. His arraignment was scheduled for Friday.
Attorneys for Mendoza and Ponce could not immediately be located. Their arraignments were postponed Wednesday.
