Wednesday, December 5, 2001
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Wednesday, December 5, 2001 |
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Two plead guilty in John Deere tractor theft ring By JOHN
MUNFORD
Two key witnesses in a multi-state John Deere tractor theft ring that ended with some stolen property sold in Fayette County have pleaded guilty to reduced charges and begun serving their jail sentences. Lewis Gilbert Shirley of Fayetteville and Larry Franklin Whitaker of Griffin each pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to commit theft by taking of property valued in excess of $500. Shirley was sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of probation while Whitaker was sentenced to six years in prison followed by four years probation. Both men were given 30 days after the pleas were entered to turn themselves into the Fayette County Jail. Part of the plea agreement requires both men to testify truthfully about the scheme. District Attorney William McBroom confirmed they are expected to testify in any criminal proceedings against the other defendants in the case. Three other men have been arrested in conjunction with the theft ring, which was broken up by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department in September when stolen equipment was discovered at American Twin Motorcycles in north Fayette County. Those men: Kenneth Green, Bobby Green and Steve Richardson, are accused of violating state racketeering laws in conducting the scheme, which involved the theft and resale (at deep discounts) of John Deere equipment, including tractors. Bail was originally set at $1.5 million for all three, but Richardson's was later reduced to $250,000.
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