Stafford Surveillance Sting Shatters Theft Ring

Grand jury indicts 8 for copper theft

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The indictments are the result of an investigation that began on Friday May 13, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s office. Deputies were called to the Ennstone Aggregate Plant on Kings Highway to investigate the theft of electrical copper wires that controlled the power to large conveyor belts at the plant. The facility had been closed down for several months but was in the process of reopening when the theft was discovered. Four separate copper wire bundles totaling about 2,000 feet of wire were missing, valued at $350,000, authorities said.

Two detectives set up surveillance at the plant. On Thursday May 19, the detectives caught Derek William Smith coming into the plant after hours, authorities said. Smith, 20, of Fredericksburg, was charged with Possession of Burglary Tools and Unlawful Entry. Smith’s arrest led to a two month investigation that turned up evidence implicating the other suspects, according to the Sheriff’s office.

In addition to Smith, the following individuals were indicted by a grand jury on August 1: Johnnie Ray Elliott, 39, of 6 Seaman Court, Robert Neil Adlon, 40, of 209 Lorraine Ave., Fredericksburg, Wyatt Smith Rosenberger,44, of no fixed address, Bryan Daniel Phillips, 29, of 6713 Timberbrooke Lane, Spotsylvania, Marline Page Williams,50, of 401 Rumford Road, Fredericksburg, Brandon Lane McBroom, 21, of Winding Hollow Drive, Fredericksburg and Michael Robert Goddard, 20 of 2424 Deerfield Lane, Ruther Glen.

Elliot, Adlon, Rosenberger and Williams are already incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on unrelated charges, authorities said.

 

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