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Federal Express Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Hijack FedEx Tractor-Trailers
LEV L. DASSIN, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EDWARD FLORES pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge HAROLD BAER JR., to his participation in a conspiracy to hijack Federal Express tractor-trailer trucks believed to contain high-value property, including millions of dollars worth of diamonds.
According to the criminal Complaints and Indictments in this case and statements made in open court today at the plea proceeding:
FLORES worked as a driver at FedEx and it was his role to provide information to the hijackers about FedEx routes, trucks, and timing of trips, and to provide cell phones and FedEx uniform items for use in the hijacking. One hijacking took place on the night of December 20, 2007, when two men displaying firearms and police badges approached the driver of a FedEx tractor-trailer in Manhattan believed to contain several million dollars worth of diamonds. The driver was removed from the FedEx truck at gunpoint, handcuffed, and kidnapped. The FedEx truck was driven to a loading dock in Brooklyn, but when the hijackers were unable to unload it, the truck was driven to a different location and abandoned. The driver, after being held for more than four hours, was then released. The truck was later recovered without loss of its contents.
While investigating that hijacking, law enforcement officials learned that a second hijacking was being planned for December 4, 2008. FLORES again provided the hijackers with information about FedEx operations and cell phones for use during this second hijacking. However, law enforcement officers observed members of the robbery crew gathering in the area of 11th Avenue in Manhattan in advance of the planned hijacking and arrested them before the hijacking began.
FLORES, 34, of Ridgewood, New York, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment, charging him with participating in a conspiracy to commit robberies, including the December 2007 and December 2008 hijackings. That charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary loss or gain derived from the offense. In his plea agreement with the United States Attorney's Office, FLORES and the Government stipulated that FLORES's Sentencing Guidelines range was 78-97 months of imprisonment. Sentencing Guidelines ranges are advisory and are not binding on the Court at sentencing. FLORES is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2009.
Charges against FLORES' co-defendants, and HECTOR RIVERA, the head of a violent group of armed robbers who had previously committed other robberies involving FedEx, for their roles in the hijackings and hijacking conspiracy remain pending. As to those individuals, the charges and allegations contained in the Complaints and Indictments are merely accusations and those defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mr. DASSIN praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department. Mr. DASSIN added that the investigation is continuing.
Assistant United States Attorneys MICHAEL Q. ENGLISH, CHRISTIAN R. EVERDELL, and MARGARET M. GARNETT are in charge of the prosecution.
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