3 Men Accused of Stealing $5.5 Million in Copper Wire from Locomotives
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: March 4, 2013
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) has arrested three men accused of stealing approximately $5.5 million of copper wire from a railroad yard.
According to JCSO, 45-year-old John Carrington (pictured, left) of Monticello, 29-year-old Wesley Clary (center) of Star City, and 40-year-old Billy Elliott (right) of Pearl City, Ill. were arrested on several charges after investigation found extensive damage to 22 locomotives at the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) yard.
A probable cause affidavit released on Monday by JCSO says UPRR officials contacted the Sheriff's office after noticing cut wires on 22 locomotives. The damage was estimated at $250,000 per engine, with the possibility of each engine being a total loss.
The day after discovering the damage, a UPRR agent caught Elliott stripping wire from an engine compartment, according to the affidavit. A subsequent search found Clary hiding in one of the restroom areas.
Elliott and Clary told deputies that they were dropped off by Carrington, who would then come back to pick them up. When Carrington came back to pick them up that night, UPRR personnel tried to stop him, but he drove away, only to be apprehended by deputies a short time later.
According to the affidavit, the trio have since sold most of the copper wire taken from the yard in the past three weeks, and it is anticipated that several other people will be charged for their roles in the crime in the future.
According to JCSO, 45-year-old John Carrington (pictured, left) of Monticello, 29-year-old Wesley Clary (center) of Star City, and 40-year-old Billy Elliott (right) of Pearl City, Ill. were arrested on several charges after investigation found extensive damage to 22 locomotives at the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) yard.
A probable cause affidavit released on Monday by JCSO says UPRR officials contacted the Sheriff's office after noticing cut wires on 22 locomotives. The damage was estimated at $250,000 per engine, with the possibility of each engine being a total loss.
The day after discovering the damage, a UPRR agent caught Elliott stripping wire from an engine compartment, according to the affidavit. A subsequent search found Clary hiding in one of the restroom areas.
Elliott and Clary told deputies that they were dropped off by Carrington, who would then come back to pick them up. When Carrington came back to pick them up that night, UPRR personnel tried to stop him, but he drove away, only to be apprehended by deputies a short time later.
According to the affidavit, the trio have since sold most of the copper wire taken from the yard in the past three weeks, and it is anticipated that several other people will be charged for their roles in the crime in the future.
