Trucker conspires to steal $700K in Chanel, Hermes goods from NJ airport, cops say

NEWARK — Prosecutors say a 29-year-old New York truck driver admitted to devising a Christmas day scheme to steal about $700,000 in designer merchandize from the cargo area of Newark Liberty International Airport.

David LaCarriere pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit theft over $75,000 as part of a plea deal that comes with a five-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said in a statement.

The prosecutor said LaCarriere a driver for a trucking company, conspired with another man to organize the Dec. 25, 2014 plot. Authorities say the men used phony documents to pick up a truckload of Hermes and Chanel merchandize, which included clothing, jewelry and handbags from the airport.

Police say that according to evidence, a co-conspirator, who has not been indicted, went into the cargo area of the airport and used a forged air bill to take the high-end merchandise, which was valued at approximately $700,000. The two men then drove the truck to another facility located near Kennedy Airport in Queens, N.Y. Authorities managed to recover approximately $350,000 in merchandise.

Authorities learned about the theft when the owners of the merchandise arrived, with legal paperwork for the goods, and were informed that it had already been picked up. Police then identified and tracked LaCarriere and the merchandise through the GPS tracking in the truck, as well as LaCarriere’s cell phone.

According to the prosecutor, LaCarriere was originally facing charges of money laundering, theft and conspiracy to commit theft before the plea agreement was arranged. His sentencing is scheduled fro Nov. 18.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.