California men charged in ink-cartridge theft ring

A Los Angeles trio has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars worth of ink cartridges from Utah stores and selling them in California.

According to charges filed this week in 3rd District Court, the men targeted Office Depot and Office Max stores around Utah. The stolen cartridges were then taken to California and sold.

Police said the men had cell phones, iPods, GPS systems and a stolen laptop in their car when they were stopped earlier this year in Salt Lake County. Police also found cartridges worth more than $10,500, charging documents state.

Police say two of the men went into the stores and stole the cartridge, while a third was paid to drive. The driver said he was " 'pretty sure' they were stealing items but didn't care because they were paying him $100 a day," according to court documents.

The men — ages 55, 44 and 41 — face first-degree felony charges of theft by receiving stolen property.

afalk@sltrib.com