UPS employee among 3 arrested for Seminole County porch pirate scheme

Deputies say employee texted co-defendants locations of packages to steal

LAKE MARY, Fla. – A seasonal UPS employee is accused of helping two suspects steal packages from a home in Lake Mary, according to officials from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said the employee, Okoye Manley, 28, sent text messages to his co-defendants, Tanjinika Wright, 31, and Dekeria Wright, 26, as he delivered packages to homes. All three were arrested Thursday. UPS officials said that Manley is no longer employed by the company.

Manley told the two suspects which homes were occupied as they followed along behind his vehicle, according to officials. Deputies said Dekeria Wright was the driver, while Tanjinika Wright got out of the car to steal the packages.

According to an arrest report from the incident, Dekeria and Tanjinika Wright arrived at a home on the 3000 Dellcrest Place Thursday, about 10 minutes after Manley had delivered a package there. The report states Tanjinika Wright stole the package, which contained a $500 Dyson vacuum cleaner.

Surveillance video from the home, released by the Sheriff's Office, shows Manley delivering the package and Tanjinika Wright taking it.

Porch Pirates Busted

Three suspects, including a seasonal delivery service worker, are facing felony charges in connection with a scheme to steal packages. In surveillance video Thursday, 28 year old Okoye D. Manley can be seen in uniform, delivering packages to a home in the 3000 block of Dellcrest Place in Lake Mary. Investigators say he signaled co-defendants via text who then arrived at the residence roughly eight minutes later. The homeowner, who was reviewing surveillance video, witnessed what was happening and called law enforcement. 31-year-old Tanjinika Wright, was arrested for stealing packages off the victim’s porch. 26-year-old getaway driver Dekeria Wright was also arrested. All three were booked in to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on multiple felony charges including Burglary of an occupied structure. Tanjinika Wright had been listed November 30th on an SCSO Weekly Wanted post in connection with a separate, unrelated case.

Posted by Seminole County Sheriff's Office on Friday, December 14, 2018

The homeowner, who was home at the time, immediately reported the incident to authorities.

All three suspects have been charged with multiple crimes, including burglary and grand theft and are being held in the Seminole County Jail. Tanjinika Wright was also wanted on a warrant for aggravated battery and assault for a separate incident. 


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