A FedEx contract worker from Alabama has been arrested in Florida after multiple packages went missing in the middle of the holiday season.
According to Al.com, WDHN, and The Independent, the investigation into the undelivered packages began when the post office in Bonifay, Fla, reported multiple incidents of FedEx packages being dumped in the woods and beside the road.
The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release on Saturday, Dec. 21, that it contacted FedEx to assist in identifying the driver assigned to deliver the missing packages. This led them to contract worker Latavion Lewis.
Holmes County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook
The press release said that Lewis was contacted by sheriff deputies and agreed to set up a meeting, where he allegedly admitted that “due to the later hour,” he discarded the undelivered packages at several locations rather than return them to the FedEx warehouse.
Lewis was taken into custody on charges of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and illegal dumping, said the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office. He remains held in the Holmes County Jail as of Monday, Dec. 23, per Al.com.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, FedEx confirmed that Lewis is no longer affiliated with the company.
Frank Polich/Bloomberg/Getty
“This incident is completely unacceptable as the safe and secure transport of our customers’ shipments is our top priority, and we are fully cooperating with authorities in their investigation. In addition to being charged with criminal offenses, the individual involved is no longer providing service for our company,” the company said.
FedEx said it is “working to ensure that these packages are delivered to their intended recipients,” adding that anyone with questions about their shipments can visit www.fedex.com or call 1.800.GoFedEx (1.800.463.3339) or use the FedEx app for package tracking or for customer service assistance,” their statement continued.
While the exact number of missing packages was not disclosed, the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office said that 44 packages have been recovered so far.
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The department noted that the recovered packages were sent to the Bonifay post office, “which ensured they were delivered to their rightful owners.”
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