Two Men Convicted of Stealing from Tyson Foods

KANSAS CITY, KS—Alvin A. Martin, 49, Pearl, Miss., and Taff Virden, 34, Woodson, Ark., have been convicted of stealing food products from the Tyson Foods warehouse in Olathe, Kan., U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

A federal jury convicted both men on one count of conspiracy to conceal the crime of interstate transportation of stolen property.

Evidence presented a trial showed that in 2004 and 2005 Martin and Virden conspired with co-defendant John T. Stanley to steal pallets of food products from the warehouse and transport them by truck to Arkansas. Stanley worked for Tyson as a shift supervisor at the warehouse at 20701 W. 159th Street in Olathe. He caused food to be loaded onto a truck that Martin drove to Arkansas and delivered to Virden. Stanley pleaded guilty to concealing a felony and he is set for sentencing July 27, 2009. Three other people who pleaded guilty in a related case also are awaiting sentencing.

Martin and Virden are set for sentencing Aug. 24, 2009. They face a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Welch commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Smith for their work on the case.