Photo: Roderick Domingo Ransom and Jairo Mariano Osorio Alvarez
LEMOORE – An investigation began on August 22, 2019 into the theft of $50,000 worth of cheese from the Leprino Food Plant. The plant is located in the 300 block of Belle Haven Drive.
Officials from Leprino estimate that the theft was ongoing and had been occurring since 2017.
Investigating detectives believe that the stolen cheese was then being sold in Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Riverside Counties. They also believe that the cheese was sold in multiple ways – through social media, door to door, on the street and at various flea markets.
Next, multiple search warrants were served in Tulare and Kings County that led to at least two arrests.
24-year-old Jairo Mariano Osorio Alvarez was arrested and booked for possession of stolen property.
34-year-old Roderick Domingo Ransom was identified as the “internal source: of the stolen cheese. He was arrested on October 15 and booked for grand theft and embezzlement.
A large amount of the stolen cheese was recovered.
