3 LA Men Charged In Ink Cartridge Theft Ring

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Three Los Angeles men are accused of stealing thousands of dollars in ink cartridges in Utah so they could be sold in California.

Theft charges were filed this week in Salt Lake City against 55-year-old Julio Pena, 44-year-old Ronaldo Reyes and 41-year-old Mauricio Espinosa-Rojas.

Police say an Office Depot security officer led them to the trio on Jan. 27, 2011. Officers who searched a GPS system in the car determined the vehicle had made stops at Office Depot and Office Max stores throughout Utah.

Pena allegedly told police he had been driving the other two around and was "pretty sure" they were stealing, but didn't care because the men were paying him $100 each day.

Office Max officials say more than $10,000 in ink was stolen from their stores alone.

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