Former UPS Driver Who Stole Shipments Of Guns, Jewelry And Phones Is Sentenced To 41 Months In Federal Prison

RIVERSIDE, California – A former United Parcel Service driver who was convicted of federal gun trafficking charges for stealing dozens of guns going through the shipping company’s Ontario hub and providing them to another man who sold the weapons on the street was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison.

Curtis Ivory Hays II, 37, of Rancho Cucamonga, was sentenced by United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips. During the time of the offenses, Hays was a package truck driver for UPS who made deliveries in the Rancho Cucamonga area.

Hays was found guilty in January of 15 counts – conspiracy, six counts of theft of firearms, six counts of receipt and possession of stolen firearms, and two counts of theft of interstate shipments.

The associate who allegedly sold some of the firearms – Dennis Dell White Jr., 35, of Moreno Valley – pleaded guilty last year to one count of theft of firearms. White is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Phillips on May 4, at which time he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

According to the evidence presented during a six-day trial, Hays stole a series of packages containing guns that were supposed to be delivered to Turner’s Outdoorsman in Rancho Cucamonga. From May through October of 2012, Hays stole six shipments containing a total of 72 firearms.

Hays gave the stolen firearms to White, who illegally sold the weapons to other individuals, and some of the guns then were sold to others. The firearms included 12-gauge shotguns and .45-caliber handguns.

In a sentencing memorandum filed with the court, prosecutors illustrated the danger Hays’ conduct posed to public safety by noting that one of the stolen firearms made its way to Isaac Arriaga, who used the .22-caliber handgun to shoot at three police officers at the conclusion of a high-speed chase in Baldwin Park in 2012.

“By sheer luck no officers or civilians were hurt during Arriaga’s pursuit,” prosecutors wrote. “But individuals like Arriaga would not be able to pose such an extreme threat to the community if they did not have access to black market firearms. [Hays] not only stole the firearms in this case, which [was] reprehensible enough, but he partnered with White to supply the black market and directly contributed to
Arriaga’s actions.”

Hays also stole shipments containing jewelry and mobile phones that were supposed to be delivered to Costco in Rancho Cucamonga, and this merchandise also was given to White.

The investigation into the stolen firearms was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in conjunction with the Ontario Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.

Release No. 15-033