Broward Convention Center Cook Arrested in $2,000 Steak Theft

Authorities in Broward County have arrested a 26-year-old cook employed at the county convention center, accusing him of participating in a theft of premium beef products valued at approximately $2,000. The Broward Sheriff’s Office initiated the investigation following inventory discrepancies discovered by kitchen management at the facility.

Security video footage dated August 2 showed Rahul Pandey of Fort Lauderdale and co-worker Deanza Hodge exiting the convention center with two white bags containing New York strip steaks and beef tenderloins worth $2,083. The two individuals, employed through a contracted food services company, subsequently placed the stolen merchandise into Hodge’s vehicle, according to law enforcement reports.

A kitchen chef confirmed the inventory of beef on the day preceding the alleged theft, then discovered the steaks missing during a subsequent count conducted on Thursday. During questioning following his Miranda rights advisement, Pandey acknowledged knowing the bag contained items belonging to his employer and conceded that removing the merchandise for Hodge constituted wrongdoing, though he maintained uncertainty about the specific contents.

Pandey was taken into custody on Monday and charged with grand theft. As of Tuesday, Hodge had not surfaced in county court or detention facility records, leaving his status in the case unclear.