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25 Investigates: Judge dismisses case against manager linked to missing packages at local UPS stores

Seth Silbert, a former UPS store manager accused of stealing a package from his father’s store is no longer facing a theft charge.

The 25-year-old’s trial was scheduled to start on Monday. But a Stoughton district court judge dismissed the case after a key out-of-state witness failed to answer a summons to appear.

The prosecution told Judge Daniel O’Malley his office had not been able to reach the witness.

“One of the witnesses lives in Arizona…our summonses were returned, just returned to sender. So we’ve not been able to make any contact with him,” Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Drew Virtue told the judge.

The judge asked the prosecution whether the out-of-state witness was “necessary” to the case. When the prosecution confirmed that he was, O’Malley dropped the charges and the case.

As 25 Investigates reported in November, Silbert had been accused of stealing a gaming system from Vlad Dutka, a college student at UMass Boston. Dutka told investigative reporter Ted Daniel he sold a play station on eBay to a man in Arizona. He said he brought the package to the Canton UPS store but it never reached its destination. Instead of shipping it, a police report says, Silbert sold it out of his trunk for $600.

[ Spate of missing packages at local UPS Stores; one employee linked to ‘multiple incidents’ ]

“I was really like panicking because this money was used to pay off for college,” Dutka recalled. “I needed to get books.”

Silbert has been linked to the disappearance of other missing valuables dating back to 2017 at the UPS store in Canton and the UPS store in Walpole. Police reports our team reviewed which were obtained through a public records request from Canton and Walpole Police indicate he’s been named in connection with the disappearance of pricey items like gold jewelry, 18 iPhones, and expensive sneakers.

Court documents show Silbert was charged in 2018 with the theft of the 18 iPhones, but that charge didn’t stick.

After Monday’s appearance, Silbert’s lawyer told 25 Investigates he and his client were satisfied with the judge’s decision.

“He’s very relieved. This has been a very difficult process for him, for his family, for his reputation. From day one, he has maintained his absolute innocence of this charge,” said Attorney Nick Gordon.

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