March 19, 2024 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Former LAX Cargo Handler Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Four Gold Bars

Marlon Moody sentenced to one year in federal prison in addition to $7.5K fine 

A former cargo handling company employee at Los Angeles International Airport was sentenced Monday to 12 months in federal prison for stealing four gold bars that were part of a larger shipment headed from Australia to New York.

Marlon Moody, 39, of South Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who also ordered him to pay a fine of $7,500.

Moody pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of an interstate or foreign shipment.

A co-defendant, Brian Benson, 36, also of South Los Angeles, also pleaded guilty in July 2021 to the same charge.

Both men worked for Alliance Ground International (AGI), a company that provided ground handling services at LAX. On the evening of April 22, 2020, a shipment of gold bars arrived at LAX on Singapore Airlines. A total of 2,000 gold bars, each weighing one kilogram and valued at approximately $56,000, were being shipped at the direction of a Canadian bank. During a stopover at LAX, the gold was offloaded and secured, but an inventory that evening showed one box containing 25 gold bars was missing.

Moody found the missing box of gold bars near the Singapore Airlines cargo warehouse on the morning of April 23, placed the box on a belt loader and drove that vehicle to a nearby location, where he removed four of the bars. Soon after, Benson arrived to pick up Moody in a company van, where they exchanged text messages about the gold bars because other employees were in the van. The two defendants later left the airport and went to a nearby parking lot, where Moody gave Benson one of the four gold bars.

The lost box with the 21 remaining gold bars was discovered by other cargo handlers later on April 23, and authorities began an investigation that ultimately led to Moody and Benson.

Moody gave one gold bar to a relative on May 4 “and directed the family member to exchange the gold bar for a vehicle and/or money,” according to court documents. Around this time, Moody buried the remaining two gold bars in the backyard of his residence.

The FBI recovered all four gold bars about two weeks after they went missing from LAX.

“[Moody] conspired to steal and actually stole $224,000 worth of gold and kept $112,000 worth for himself,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “As an AGI employee, defendant was entrusted with handling cargo shipments at LAX and granted access to certain sections of the airport. [Moody] squandered that trust by stealing from those who relied on him to handle their property.”

Benson served a four-month prison sentence for the crime he committed in this case.

in News
Related Posts

Tonight at Pali Village: Elevated Cocktail Hour at A.L.C.

March 19, 2024

March 19, 2024

During the event, 15% of all proceeds earned will benefit I Stand With My Pack  Tonight, March 19, from 5:30...

Venice Shorts: Staples Surrounded by RVs & Tents at Lincoln Blvd

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Several campers clog pedestrian walkway as occupation worsens By Nick Antonicello  The Staples Chain retailer offering brand-name electronics & print...

Woman Drives Car In Ocean After High Speed Police Chase

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Law enforcement officers pursued her along the I-110 and I-405 until she reached the vicinity of Venice Beach A woman...

Case Study House Hits Market at $8.9M

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Originally listed in 2018 for $10 million, the property showcases iconic mid-century architecture A Los Angeles residence, known as Case...

Santa Monica Authorities Seek Public’s Help After Sexual Assault Incident

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

SMPD Urges Anyone With Information to Come Forward Authorities in Santa Monica are seeking information from the public after a...

Woman Returns $1K Worth of Stolen Items After Store Finds Her Social Media Account

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

For the Owner, the Incident Is Perhaps Indicative of an Environment at the Palisades Village Where Smaller Businesses Are More...

Venice Family Clinic Announces Inaugural HEART Gala to Celebrate Health and Art

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Event Honors Creative Community and Supporters of Vital Health Care Services Venice Family Clinic, a non-profit community health center dedicated...

Upcoming Mar Vista Book Sale Includes $1 Book Deals

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

One Free Book Will Be Given per Child By Zach Armstrong Friends of the Mar Vista Library will hold its...

Marina del Rey Tourism Board to Host Career Day

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

The itinerary includes visits to the Marina del Rey Sheriff’s Station, Tony P’s Dockside Grill and The Ritz-Carlton The Marina...

Venice Shorts: VNC Considered Sweeping By-Law Revisions via Special Zoom Meeting

March 13, 2024

March 13, 2024

A major shift in board composition from at-large membership to ten individual and localized units fails to receive the required...

Suspect Strikes 6-Year-Old Girl in Santa Monica, Investigation Underway

March 13, 2024

March 13, 2024

Detectives Are Actively Locating/Obtaining Surveillance Footage By Zach Armstrong An assault investigation is underway after a man reportedly struck a...

Man Possibly Linked to Child Abduction Fears in Mar Vista Last Month Arrested on Unrelated Charge

March 13, 2024

March 13, 2024

Numerous Comments Showed That Neighbors Were Familiar With the Van and Concerned With the Driver’s Actions By Zach Armstrong A...

California Chicken Franchise to Open Third L.A. Spot in Marina del Rey

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

The Location Will Serve a Limited-Time Menu, Boasting Its Bahn MI Sandwich, Loaded Bahn MI Tender Box and Vietnamese Sticky...

Rain-Induced Mudslides Shut Down Key Routes in Malibu and Topanga, Causing Delays

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

Caltrans Warns of Traffic Woes and Full Closures as Rock and Mudslides Hit  By Dolores Quintana Caltrans District 7 announced...

(Video) Dredging Effort Underway at Marina del Rey Harbor

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

Set to be complete by May, the project is set to remove up to 500,000 cubic yards of sediment @yovenicenews...