The holiday season meant that many gifts were supposed to be arriving in delivered packages.
Not everyone got what they expected for Christmas.
And a delivery driver was arrested for one awful crime that landed him on the naughty list.
FedEx contractor arrested for leaving packages in the woods to get done early
The rise of online shopping meant that many of this year’s Christmas gifts were arriving through the mail.
Most delivery drivers were working hectic schedules to make sure that their packages arrived on time.
FedEx was processing about 16 million packages a day ahead of Christmas.
One of the drivers contracted to the company decided to take a shortcut rather than work the extra hours needed to get his deliveries done.
FedEx contractor Latavion Lewis thought he was being sneaky by throwing packages in the woods rather than delivering them to get done with his shift early.
A Post Office in Bonifay, Florida received reports that FedEx packages were scattered on the side of the road and in the woods.
The 28-year-old Lewis was identified as the delivery driver by the Holmes County, Florida Sheriff’s Office after they contacted FedEx.
Lewis met with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Deputies when he admitted to dumping the packages because he did not want to work late during the Christmas season.
“During the interview, Lewis admitted to deputies that, due to the late hour, he chose to discard the undelivered packages at several locations rather than return them to the FedEx warehouse,” the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office stated.
Some 44 packages were found that Lewis ditched on the side of the road and in the woods.
FedEx driver learns a hard lesson about ditching packages during Christmas
The local Post Office in Bonifay was able to save the day by delivering the packages that Lewis discarded before Christmas.
“As a result of the investigation, 44 packages have been recovered so far. The recovered packages went to the Bonifay Post Office, which ensured they were delivered to their rightful owners,” the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office stated.
Lewis was arrested and charged with an organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and illegal dumping for tossing the packages in the woods.
FedEx confirmed in a statement that he was terminated in his role as a contractor for the company.
“This incident is completely unacceptable as the safe and secure transport of our customers’ shipments is our top priority, and we are fully cooperating with authorities in their investigation,” a FedEx spokesman said in a statement. “In addition to being charged with criminal offenses, the individual involved is no longer providing service for our company.”
FedEx added that it was working to make sure that every missing package ended up being delivered to its rightful recipient.
Lewis had to spend Christmas in jail for his crime.
Delivery drivers often must work grueling schedules during the holiday season.
But Latavion Lewis could have quit his job rather than playing the Grinch by throwing away the packages.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this story.
