Woonsocket Man Convicted For Stealing $2,900 Worth Of Tequila

WOONSOCKET, RI — A Woonsocket man was convicted after prosecutors proved he stole 10 cases of Don Julio tequila from a West Greenwich liquor distribution company he worked at, Attorney General Peter Neronha said Wednesday.

On Thursday, Brenden Phang, 25, was found guilty of larceny greater than $1,500 and less than $5,000. Prosecutors said the tequila Phang stole was worth more than $2,900.

"Theft doesn’t usually elicit the same public response as some other crimes, but it matters greatly to the victims, and it matters greatly to us," Neronha said. "This defendant stole thousands from his employer, violated their trust, and broke the law. Yet this verdict is undoubtedly less painful than his hangover would have been had he gotten away with it. I want to thank the West Greenwich Police Department for their hard work in this case."

During the trial, prosecutors proved that on July 21, 221, Phang stole 10 cases of tequila, worth $2,936.66, from his West Greenwich employer, Centrex Distributors.

Around 11:15 p.m., a Centrex employee sat in his vehicle near a loading door of the distribution center. Prosecutors said the employee witnessed two men drive a tan SUV into the loading area, with the SUV’s rear hatch open.

Then, Phang got out of the SUV and loaded cases of alcohol into the back of the vehicle, prosecutors said. When the employee approached the SUV, he saw several cases of tequila already in the hatch, at which time the employee yelled at Phang to stop. Then, Phang threw the employee against a parked trailer in the loading area before leaving the scene in a forklift while the driver of the SUV sped away, prosecutors said.

The employee recognized Phang as a co-worker and reported the incident to his boss, who then called West Greenwich police. Investigators arrived, and the employee witness positively identified Phang, including what he was wearing at the time of the crime.

When officers arrested Phang, he was still wearing the clothes the employee described the thief as wearing in his statement, prosecutors said.

"Holding accountable those who commit theft is an important part of maintaining public safety and trust," West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay said. "I am thankful for the hard work of our officers and investigators, as well as the Office of the Attorney General, for their investigation and prosecution of this case."

Prosecutors said Phang was released on bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 3.

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