Santa Ana man who stole over $1M worth of COVID-19 test kits sentenced

Carlos Peralta, also known as Carlitos Peralta, stole more than $1 million in tests and attempted to steal more worth an additional $270,000. He entered a guilty plea on Wednesday and will spend only two years in prison.

Peralta was a former warehouse manager for a Santa Ana business at 3401 W. MacArthur Blvd. During the COVID-19 pandemic the warehouse started to ship tests for the virus to customers throughout the country such as clinics, pop-up testing sites, schools and hotels, according to the SAPD.

Peralta diverted about 100 separate shipments of COVID-19 tests to his home from several of the clinic’s warehouses.

Peralta plead guilty to felony charges including six counts of grand theft by employee and seven counts of forgery. In return for his acceptance of the plea deal the Judge struck sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime exceeding $500,000.

Peralta was taken into custody on Oct. 4 after the SAPD asked the public for help and got tips that landed Peralta in jail.