WARREN, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Two men have been arraigned on charges of stealing frozen fish from Lipari Foods in Warren.
Lipari Employee Erwin Wilson loaded 25 boxes of frozen fish, including catfish, crab legs, and lobsters into the Cadillac Escalade owned and driven by Michael Mitchell. After leaving the warehouse, the vehicle was pulled over for a traffic stop, during which Warren police discovered the stolen cargo.
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Lt. Daniel Bozek, a spokesperson with the Warren Police Department, told WJBK-TV that Wilson and Mitchell had developed a system for stealing and transporting the fish.
“Pick a specific day, usually on a Friday after most of the supervisors were gone,” Bozek said. “He [Wilson] would then put product on the side and call in an associate to come pick the product up.”
Officials at Lipari Foods became suspicious and contacted the police to launch an investigation.
“We just monitor that employee, and he happened to get greedy one last time, and we caught him in the act,” Bozek said.
Wilson is charged with Embezzlement less than $100,000, which is a 15-year felony. Mitchell is charged with Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property more than $1,000, less than $20,000.
“The defendants stand accused of stealing frozen fish,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido in a press release. “Thank you to the Warren Police Department for their quick response in this case.”
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A probable cause hearing for both men is scheduled for May 23.
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