Former Delivery Driver Faces Larceny Charge for Alleged Theft in 2014

MIDDLETOWN, RI—A former delivery driver for a local specialty foods company on Monday faced a larceny charge on Monday for allegedly stealing money from his employer in 2014.

Nestor Fernandez, of Johnston, was a delivery driver for Newport Specialty Foods in 2014 and appeared in Newport District Court on Monday to face a charge of larceny under $1,500 related to three complaints Middletown police received last year.

Fernandez, 36, of Johnston, was accused of accepting cash payments for three deliveries he made between Aug. 27 and Oct. 23, 2014, according to police. All three were for merchandise, which Newport Specialty Foods, of 1079 Aquidneck Ave., sent to Bagel Gourmet in Providence.

But Fernandez, according to a police report, never turned in the money or the invoices. He was fired.

Repeated attempts by his employer to recover the missing money, which totaled $421.56, were unsuccessful, according to police.

Police confirmed that Bagel Gourmet did receive the deliveries, paid cash and signed the invoices. The person who signed the invoice was unable to identify Fernandez in a photo lineup, telling police he couldn't remember due to the passage of time.

Nonetheless, in July of 2015, a warrant was issued for Fernandez's arrest.

Middletown police arrested him on Saturday at 7:36 p.m. He was transported on Monday to Second District Court to face the complaint and was released on personal recognizance after pleading innocent to a misdemeanor charge of larceny. He is due to return to court for a pretrial conference on Oct. 7.