(CLEVELAND) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley announced the indictments of seven individuals for their roles in an organized theft operation in northeast Ohio.
The indictments resulted from an investigation conducted by the Property Crimes Task Force, housed within the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and led by the Cleveland Division of Police.
“These thieves fenced stolen goods across municipal lines, hoping that by spreading out their crimes, they would evade law enforcement,” Yost said. “Too bad for them we have the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, which has no boundary lines, and was able to piece it all together to get results.”
Donald Miller, Brandon Harrison, Dylan Stump, John T. Harrison, Christine Jachna and two additional individuals were indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on RICO charges for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and conspiracy. Additional charges include grand theft, theft, aggravated theft, conspiracy, breaking and entering, vandalism and receiving stolen property. In all, the indictments include 116 felony counts.
“Numerous law enforcement agencies spent hundreds of hours investigating more than 40 incidents in over 20 cities in northeast Ohio,” O’Malley said. “This collaborative effort will help eradicate this criminal organization from our community.”
The thefts occurred in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain and Summit counties, including in Avon, Brooklyn Heights, Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks, Lorain, Ravenna, Orange Village and Willoughby.
“This indictment is a prime example of the tireless work and extraordinary efforts of many different agencies and investigators,” said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. “The task force spent countless hours collaborating to ensure this outstanding result and this certainly shows how important partnerships are in law enforcement.”
The theft operation targeted landscaping storage yards, construction sites, vehicle storage lots, stealing vehicles, trailers, catalytic convertors and contractor supplies. Items stolen included numerous catalytic convertors, trucks, trailers, an excavator, a skid-steer loader, a backhoe, a utility vehicle, golf carts, zero-turn mowers, leaf blowers, televisions, gaming systems, copper wire and other contractor supplies. During the execution of arrest warrants and subsequent search warrants, additional items were recovered, including: a pickup truck, three weapons, $1,000, drugs, tools and construction equipment.
The task force, housed under the Ohio Attorney General’s Organized Crime Investigations Commission, is led by the Cleveland Division of Police and includes resources from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Steve Irwin: 614-728-5417
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