On 11/02/2022, the Milford Police Department Criminal Investigation Division began investigating an internal theft reported by Perdue, Milford located at 255 N Rehoboth Blvd. in Milford, officials said Tuesday.
Authorities allege that a several-week-long investigation revealed an organized criminal theft operation being orchestrated by Lorenzo Jones Jr., 40 of Dover. Police also allege that their investigation revealed that Jones had several co-conspirators including Lloyd K. Dukes, 44 of Felton, Kenneth W Smith 40 of Felton, and Laroya Buck 37 of Dover.
Through investigative means, detectives learned that on numerous occasions Jones and Dukes, with the assistance of Smith removed cases of raw chicken from the plant said police. Jones and Dukes would then drive the cases of chicken to a predetermined location off Perdue’s property, where Buck would pick them up in a refrigerated box truck. During the course of this investigation, it was determined that Perdue incurred losses of over $30,000.00. Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Jones, Dukes, Smith, and Buck as a result of their investigation
On 11/17/2022, Buck was arrested and charged with 2 counts of Theft $1500.00 or Greater and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. She was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on her own recognizance with a no contact order with Perdue.
On 11/17/2022, Dukes was arrested and charged with 7 counts of Theft $1500.00 or Greater and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. He was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on his own recognizance, with a no unlawful contact with Perdue.
On 11/18/2022, Jones was arrested and charged with 7 counts of Theft $1500.00 or Greater and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. He was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 2 where he was issued a secure bail, along with a no contact order with Perdue.
On 11/21/2022, Smith was arrested and charged with 5 counts of Theft $1500.00 or Greater and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. He was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on his own recognizance with a no contact order with Perdue.
The above defendants will appear at a later date in the Kent County Court of Common Pleas for a preliminary hearing.