Two Arrests Made in Theft of 6,600 Pounds of Chicken Breasts in South Carolina

June 1, 2023

Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Sumter County, S.C., had $40,000 worth of chicken breasts stolen in early May.

Two arrests have been made in Sumter County, S.C., following the theft of $40,000 worth of boneless chicken breasts from the local Pilgrim's Pride poultry plant in early May.

According to local news reports, Antonio Nashawn Blackwell of Manning, S.C., was arrested May 22, and charged with grand larceny. Jeremy McFadden of Sumter turned himself in to authorities on May 25 after his name was released to the public as a potential suspect in the case. The suspects allegedly stole the chicken, approximately 6,600 pounds of product, on May 9 from Pilgrim’s Pride.

No motive for the theft has been suggested or shared with the local media. Blackwell and McFadden have been released on $20,000 bonds.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.