A truck driver from South Carolina, Christopher Thomas, has been arrested for allegedly stealing and reselling 41,000 pounds of chicken. Thomas was hired by the Pilgrim’s Pride Plant in Sumter, South Carolina, to transport the chicken to two locations in Milton, Georgia. However, he never made it to Georgia and instead absconded with the stolen poultry.
An anonymous tip led the police to the location where Thomas and his second buyer were meeting. Law enforcement officials waited for Thomas to arrive and apprehended him. This is not the first incident of theft at the Pilgrim’s Pride Plant, according to a worker at the facility.
Investigators believe that Thomas sold a portion of the stolen chicken to various locations and was in the process of selling more when he was stopped by deputies during a traffic stop. A search of Thomas’ truck revealed pallets loaded with cases of frozen chicken, which were confirmed to be stolen from Pilgrim’s Pride.
Thomas is suspected of moving approximately 33,000 pounds of the stolen chicken. If convicted on charges of breach of trust with fraudulent intent, he could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Thomas is currently awaiting trial on a $50,000 bond.
