Four Arizonans accused of stealing from Toys for Tots
Prosecutors say suspects profited from charitable donation
TUCSON, Ariz. (KYMA, KSWT, KECY) - State prosecutors say four people from the Tucson area belong on the permanent naughty list. They say they stole thousands of dollars in valuable toys from the Toys for Tots Foundation.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office says it all started with a generous donation to the Sierra Vista Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. James Robert Evans left the charity his entire collection of toy cars after his death in early 2016. Evans began collecting as a child in the 1960's. At the time of his passing, he'd amassed literally thousands of cars, most of them in pristine condition, many still in their original packaging.
His estate's donation included more than 100 military-style footlockers. The collection was so large, Toys for Tots had to store them in multiple storage units across Cochise County.
Prosecutors say in May of 2017, Lloyd Jorgenson took at least 42 of the footlockers from a unit in Hereford. They say he conspired with Gustavo Chavez, Paul Lambert, and Melinda Stewart to conceal, transport, broker and sell the toys.
A grand jury indicted all four conspirators this summer. The first of the four, Gustavo Chavez was recently charged with burglary, theft, trafficking in stolen property, conspiracy and conducting an illegal enterprise.
