A Luzerne County man faces felony theft charges after police say he stole nearly $10,000 worth of microchips from a Schuylkill County business and used another person’s identity to gain employment there.
Walnel Mordon Soto, 37, of Hazle Township, was charged earlier this month with felony counts of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, along with a misdemeanor count of false identification to a law enforcement officer.
State Police say they responded to a reported theft at ID Logistics on Mall Rd. in New Castle Township on the morning of May 5. Security personnel told police that as the overnight shift ended, an employee – identified as Mordon Soto – set off an alarm while exiting through a security checkpoint.
After being escorted aside and checked with a hand-held metal detector, the employee handed over a plastic bag from his inner coat pocket, business security personnel told police. The bag contained 10 “Trident Micro Chips” valued at $979.99 each. During an interview at the scene, Mordon Soto allegedly admitted to police that he took the items from the facility.
Police say the investigation took a turn two months later. On the evening of July 5, police responded to the intersection of E. Diamond Ave. and Carson St. in Hazleton to assist local police with a traffic stop where a large crowd was forming.
At the scene, State Police made contact with a man who provided a name that returned an active arrest warrant for the logistics facility theft. However, Mordon Soto just happened to be present at the traffic stop, too, and informed police that the warrant was actually for him. Mordon Soto admitted he had used the first man’s identity to gain employment at ID Logistics.
Investigators reviewed body camera footage from the original theft investigation and confirmed Mordon Soto was the employee involved in the incident. Police say Mordon Soto was fingerprinted and his true identity was determined to be the employee suspected in the microchips theft.
Mordon Soto was released from Schuylkill County Prison on July 6 after posting $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.
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