Queens Man Pleads Guilty For Selling Office Copy Toner On Black Market
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - A former employee of a New York city law firm has been convicted of stealing more than $376,000 worth of copy machine toner from the firm.
Adrian Rodriguez, 39, pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny for his thefts from the firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said Tuesday that Rodriguez ordered more than $376,000 worth of toner from vendors between 2010 and 2012. Prosecutors said Rodriguez then resold the black ink toner for $10 per box and the color ink toner for $15 per box.
The cartridges were worth $80 to $259 apiece.
"Theft is theft, whether of cash or office supplies," said Vance. "In this case, the defendant profited from stealing and reselling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of copy machine toner. Cases like this one, involving employee abuse, underscore the importance of reviewing company records in the effort to prevent employee theft."
Officials have said Rodriguez's scheme was part of a growing black market for toner cartridges and other office supplies.
The Queens resident will be sentenced May 21.
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