Crime
Father, Son Copper Thieves Jailed
A father-son copper theft team is off to federal prison for a scam that victimized a manufacturer of wire and cable for electric utilities. And Alabama officials are considering a new law to fight copper thieves.
A company supplying wire and cable to electric utilities was victimized by a father-son copper theft team. (Photo By: klenger)
In the criminal case, the U.S. Attorney in Atlanta called Jacinto Diaz and his son, Henry, the brains behind an operation that stole $457,000 worth of copper from Southwire Co. in Carrollton, Ga
The pair instructed three other men to pose as truck drivers for a legitimate shipping company. The trio picked up 129,000 pounds of copper wire from Southwire. But rather than bring it to Indiana, as the company expected, the men took it south to Florida and sold it.
The Diazes and their accomplices pleaded guilty to charges of transporting stolen copper across state lines. Jacinto Diaz, 46, was sentenced Jan. 12 to four years, three months in prison, while Henry Diaz, 27, received three years, 10 months. Each has to pay $826,499 in restitution.
One of the phony truck drivers was also imprisoned, while the other two will learn their fate Jan. 26.
“With its high scrap value, copper has become one of the most frequently stolen commodities,” said U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “Citizens need to take extra precautions to make sure that copper items in their homes and businesses are secured from theft.”
Yates also said this case was similar to other thefts the suspects committed in Florida, New York, South Carolina and Texas in 2010.
Meanwhile, a new bill to combat copper theft in Alabama has been pre-filed, ahead of the state legislature reconvening Feb. 7.
The sponsor, Sen. Ben Brooks, R-Mobile, said his bill would eliminate the current rules under which the value of the stolen metal dictates whether the crime is a misdemeanor or a felony.
“The bill that we’re passing would say if you steal a bronze grave marker, or a manhole cover, or air conditioning coils, by definition, you have committed a felony, period, regardless of the value of the metal,” Brooks told WALA-TV in Mobile, Ala.
Thieves would also be punished for the cost of repairs, and the state’s scrap metal dealers would be required to pay sellers by check.
To sign up for the latest Industry news alerts, click here.
Tags: Copper Theft, Crime