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Worker Arrested In Theft Of $50,000 In Bottled Water

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - A 26-year-old forklift operator at Zephyrhills Water Company was arrested Saturday at work, accused of stealing $50,000 worth of bottled water from his employer.

Over a six-week period, Michael Gordon Fernandes and another man who has not been arrested yet, swiped five truckloads of bottled water from Zephyrhills Water, a division of Nestles Waters North America Inc., according to an arrest affidavit.

Fernandes would load pallets intended for the warehouse at 4330 20th St. onto a tractor-trailer owned by the co-defendant who would take the water to an "unknown destination," according to a report.
Zephyrhills Police Officer Timothy Claussen said Sunday he couldn't reveal where the water ended up or any other details of the case since the investigation is ongoing.

Fernandes, of 5442 Braddock Drive, reportedly told police he was paid $500 per truckload and he did it to help support his family.

He was booked into the Land O' Lakes Jail on a grand theft charge but was released later Saturday after posting $10,000 bail.

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