OXNARD : 2 Workers Arrested in Produce Thefts

Two workers at an Oxnard produce company were arrested after allegedly stealing $750,000 worth of fruit and vegetables from their employer over the past two years and selling the produce in Los Angeles, Oxnard police officials said Wednesday.

Raul Delgadillo, 28, of Ventura and Jose A. Guillen, 27, of Port Hueneme were arrested on suspicion of grand theft and burglary after Oxnard police and a private investigator hired by the company’s owners saw the two men allegedly loading a truck with produce early Wednesday.

Russ Whitmeyer, owner of a private investigation firm in Ventura, said he was hired a week ago by Sal Ledesma Sr. and his son, Sal Jr., owners of the Oxnard Produce Co., after they updated some accounting procedures and uncovered the alleged thefts.

Police Sgt. Frank Porter said produce worth nearly $7,500 was taken each week from the Mountain View Avenue plant since 1989.

Delgadillo and Guillen would load a company vehicle or other large truck with produce as often as two times a week and drive to the Los Angeles produce market to find buyers, Whitmeyer said.

“They took high-quality oranges, potatoes and grapefruit,” Whitmeyer said, as well as a variety of other fruits and vegetables.