The last of four people involved in a retail theft ring has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty in Delaware County Common Pleas Court to a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Jamey Rose, 35, of Marion, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony, in front of Common Pleas Judge Everett Krueger Friday afternoon.
As part of his plea negotiations, prosecutors and Rose’s attorney, Dustin Blake, jointly recommended that Rose be sentenced to five years in prison.
Rose also waived his right to a pre-sentence investigation and asked to be sentenced Friday. Krueger made sure Rose understood his rights and, after reviewing the case with assistant prosecuting attorney Cory Goe, Krueger went along with the recommendation and sentenced Rose to five years in prison.
Rose told Krueger that he was part of a group that would go to retail stores and steal a variety of valuable items and then either sell the items directly for drugs or give them to someone who would return the items for in-store credit.
Prosecutors said the stores targeted by the group included grocery stores, pet stores, home improvement stores, and several large retail or box stores.
Other members of the same group have also pleaded guilty to charges in Delaware County Common Pleas Court and Rose was the last to be sentenced.
Amber Rose, 37, of Prospect, Ohio, was sentenced to four years in prison on Dec. 28, 2015, after pleading guilty to a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony.
Ian Thacker, 33, of Marion, was also sentenced to five years in prison on Oct. 19, 2015, after pleading guilty to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Jill Columber, 44, of Richwood, Ohio, was sentenced to three years of probation on Nov. 23, 2015, after pleading guilty to theft, a fifth-degree felony.
Originally, all four members of the theft ring were each indicted on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony; four counts of money laundering, all third-degree felonies; and two counts of theft, fifth-degree felonies. Many of the charges against the group were dismissed as part of plea negotiations.
Jamey Rose was still in the Delaware County Jail Monday afternoon, awaiting transportation to prison.
