Firebaugh man wanted for truck theft during online transaction, police say

FIREBAUGH, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A Firebaugh man is wanted for allegedly stealing a truck during a transaction on Facebook Marketplace in Tulare, Firebaugh police said Wednesday.

Officials say that on May 18, a Tulare resident reported his vehicle stolen after a transaction on Facebook Marketplace went wrong. The victim had agreed to sell his souped-up Ford F-250 to a Firebaugh resident named Leornado Flores Corona for about $20,000.

During their meeting at a gas station in Tulare, investigators say Leonardo gave the victim $1,000 in counterfeit money and asked to test drive the car. Leonardo did not return the car.

According to police, the vehicle was last seen in Firebaugh, a few days after it was reported stolen in Tulare. Leonardo is also a suspect in another vehicle theft case in Kerman, where a similar incident occurred under similar circumstances.

Anyone with information on the suspect and the whereabouts of the vehicle is asked to contact Firebaugh Police at 559-659-3051.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, visit YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.