Woonsocket man found guilty of stealing nearly $3,000 worth of tequila

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Woonsocket man has been convicted of stealing ten cases of tequila worth $2,900 from his employer Centrex Distributors in 2021.

Brenden Phang, 25, was found guilty of one count of larceny greater than $1,500 and less than $5,000 and was released on bail pending sentencing on May 3.

On July 21, 2021, a Centrex employee spotted two men drive an SUV into the company’s loading area in West Greenwich with the rear hatch open.

Phang was seen exiting the SUV and loading cases of alcohol into the back of the vehicle.

The employee approached the SUV and saw multiple cases of tequila in the back of the truck, at which point he yelled at the defendant to stop.

At this point the defendant threw the employee against a trailer before fleeing in a forklift as the SUV driver sped away.

The employee recognized the defendant as a co-worker and reported him to his supervisor, who then contacted local police.

When Phang was arrested, he was still wearing the same clothes the witness described to police.

“Theft doesn’t usually elicit the same public response as some other crimes, but it matters greatly to the victims, and it matters greatly to us,” said Attorney General Peter Neronha.