Wednesday, September 12, 2001
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Wednesday, September 12, 2001 |
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Stolen farm vehicles sold from Fayette motorcycle shop; police look for more
By JOHN
MUNFORD
Two men have been arrested for giving steals of a deal on John Deere farm and lawn equipment at a motorcycle shop in north Fayette County. It turned out that the merchandise sold was stolen property, ranging from tractors to four-wheel-drive utility carts, said Maj. Bruce Jordan of the Fayette County Sheriff's Office. So far, nine John Deeres have been confiscated locally, but Jordan believes many more were sold in Fayette County. The scheme had been going on "for at least a year," he said. Anyone with John Deere equipment purchased from American Twin Motorcycles is asked to call Jordan at the sheriff's office; otherwise, such persons can face felony charges of theft by receiving stolen property, Jordan said. "If they come to us and let us check the equipment, they won't be arrested," Jordan said. The discounts were given at nearly 50 percent off retail prices, Jordan said. The purchasers should have known the property was stolen, Jordan said. "This was not an authorized John Deere distributor," Jordan said. Arrested were Lewis Gilbert Shirley, 56, of Fayetteville and Larry Whitaker, 38, of Spalding County. Both were charged with nine felony counts of theft by receiving stolen property. The Federal Bureau of Investigation may also bring federal charges against the two. Whitaker would sell the equipment at nearly half off the regular price from the American Twin Motorcycles shop he operated on Ga. Highway 85 North, Jordan said. The equipment was was stolen from Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and trucked into Fayette in rented cargo vans, Jordan said. One of the confiscated tractors was found after its owner tried to hide it, Jordan said. As a result, Roy Hayes Boyer, 56, owner of the Speedi Pig barbecue restaurant, was charged with obstruction of a police officer. "He purchased $20,000 worth of equipment with $6,000," Jordan said. So far, approximately $200,000 in stolen property has been recovered, Jordan said. That brought the FBI's total in seized equipment relating to the investigation to $750,000, Jordan said.
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