Three men convicted of stealing a huge load of maple syrup will be sentenced at the end of January.

On Saturday, a Trois-Rivieres jury found Richard and Raymond Vallieres as well as Etienne St. Pierre guilty of several charges, including theft, fraud and trafficking stolen goods.

In total, 3,000 tonnes of maple syrup worth $18.7 million was stolen over a 12 month period in 2011 and 2012 at a warehouse used by the Federation of Maple Syrup Producers.

Five others will stand trial for their alleged role in the heist in January.