Sheriff’s task force jails 8, seizes $115,000 worth of allegedly stolen plastic goods in South El Monte, Lynwood

A task force based out of the sheriff’s Industry Station recovered more than $115,000 worth of stolen plastic goods late Wednesday from a South El Monte recycling business and a Lynwood home, officials said.
Eight people were arrested during the bust, which was carried out at Broadway Plastics in the 2000 block of Lee Avenue in South El Monte, as well as at a home in the 3500 block of Virginia Street in Lynwood, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
Arrested were: Carlos Torres, 41, who is accused of masterminding the operation; Torres’ wife, Cecilia Torres, 38; their daughter, Carmen Torres, 18; Broadway Plastics owner Jason Wang, 46; Jesus Martinez, 23; Jose Gomez, 42; Joshua Barragan, 19; and Alex Merino, Sgt. Nabeel Mitry said. Their cities of residence were not available early Thursday.
Five of those arrested are family members, and two of them worked at Broadway Plastics, in addition to the business owner, Mitry added.
Officials described them as five family members, as well as two employees and the owner of the South El Monte recycling business. They were booked on suspicion of receiving stolen property.
The allegedly stolen plastics include items such as pallets and crates used to transport products.
At the South El Monte location, “Stolen trademarked plastic products were being stowed, ground and primed to be sold,” according to the sheriff’s statement. “Some of the products were still intact, while some had already been ground.”
The investigation and arrests were the result of an investigation by the sheriff’s Industrial Plastic Theft Task Force, based out of the sheriff’s Industry Station.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, the eight suspects were being held in lieu of $20,000 bail each pending their scheduled arraignment Friday in El Monte Superior Court.

PHOTOS courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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