Gilberto ​Escamilla pleaded guilty to theft by a public servant: jeffreyw

A former youth offenders’ centre employee in Texas has been convicted of stealing more than $1.2m (£860,000) worth of fajitas.

Gilberto Escamilla, 53, was jailed for 50 years after authorities discovered he was ordering the Mexican food to the Darrel B Hester Juvenile Detention Centre in Cameron County and selling it on for personal profit.

Suspicions were raised after a driver from a food company called the centre’s kitchen to tell them an 800-pound (363kg) delivery of fajitas had arrived. The grilled meat dish was not served at the detention centre.

​Escamilla on Friday pleaded guilty to theft by a public servant.

“It was selfish. It started small and got bigger and out of control,” Escamilla told the court. “It got to the point where I couldn’t control it anymore.”

Officials said he took $1,251,578 worth of fajitas and delivered them to his own customers, the The Bronsville Herald reported.

Cameron County Assistant District Attorney Peter Gilman the case was exceptional and asked the judge to sentence Escamilla to 50 years to send a message.