Delaware County grand jury indicts eight in retail theft ring

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Eight people allegedly involved in a nine-county theft ring were indicted by a Delaware County grand jury Friday.

Prosecutors allege that the accused would go to various retail stores in central Ohio and steal merchandise. The group would then sell the merchandise to another person, who would sell stolen items at auction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred between May 1, 2014, and Sept. 15, 2015.

Prosecutors allege that the group stole from stores in Delaware, Crawford, Seneca, Richland, Marion, Franklin, Morrow, Hancock and Logan counties.

The individuals indicted Friday are:

• Brittany A. Chafin, of 74 Griswold St., Delaware, on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and money laundering, a third-degree felony; and two counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies.

• Wendy S. Emmons, currently in the Ohio Reformatory for Women, on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and money laundering, a third-degree felony; and four counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies.

• Jordan C. Emmons, of Marion, on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and money laundering, a third-degree felony; and three counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies.

• Justin C. Emmons, of Marion, on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and money laundering, a third-degree felony; and six counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies.

• Philip R. Burkholder, of Forest, Ohio, on a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and three counts of money laundering, third-degree felonies.

• Stevie R. Henry, of Marion, on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and money laundering, a third-degree felony; and two counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies.

• Sasha L. Steele, of Marion, on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and money laundering, a third-degree felony; and two counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies.

• Michael J. Jenkins, of Marion, on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and money laundering, a third-degree felony; and four counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies.

Warrants have been issued for their arrests.

Arraignments in Delaware County Common Pleas Court have not been scheduled. The cases will be split between Judge David Gormley and Judge Everett Krueger. Prosecutors said the case will be tried here because a large numbers of the thefts happened in Delaware County.

The indictment stated stolen items were worth more than $1,000 but less than $7,500.

The investigation is being led by the Organized Crime Investigations Commission division of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in connection with several law enforcement agencies, including the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.

By Glenn Battishill

[email protected]

Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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