Alabama Authorities Bust Big Time, Two-State Theft Ring

December 21, 2013

Authorities in Alabama have busted a theft ring responsible for the theft of  hundreds of thousand dollars of stolen items that were taken in both Alabama and Florida.

The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement agencies in Covington County (AL) and other agencies had been investigating the theft ring. Authorities got the  break they were looking for Friday morning after they recovered several  hundred thousand dollars worth of stolen items during a traffic stop.

Items recovered had been reported stolen from Escambia, Baldwin, Monroe and Mobile counties in Alabama, and Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in Florida. Recovered stolen property included four-wheelers, trailers, lawn mowers, go-carts and numerous other items.

Charged were:

  • Pete Jimenez, 39, Brewton –  three counts of theft of property first degree, two counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of third degree burglary and two counts of second degree theft of property.
  • Paul Daw, 19, Brewton — three counts of theft of property first degree, two counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of third degree burglary and two counts of second degree theft of property.
  • Joni Diamond, 30, Brewton — three counts of receiving stolen property and hindering prosecution.
  • Bobby Thompson, 47, Brewton — four counts of receiving stolen property.

Additional charges are expected against the suspects in both Florida and Alabama, and authorities said additional arrests are possible.

Anyone that may have purchased items from these individuals is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency. No additional details have been released as an investigation continues.

Comments

16 Responses to “Alabama Authorities Bust Big Time, Two-State Theft Ring”

  1. Gloria c on December 30th, 2013 11:30 am

    None of these people are poor! They go out looking for a quick and easy buck at other peoples expense. I have no compassion for any of them and hope they go too JAIL for a very long time!!!!!!!!!

  2. 2720 new york on December 24th, 2013 7:42 am

    I have a 19 year old son, I do not refer to him as a boy anymore. He is a young man, As for him going down the wrong path. He knew what kind of people he was with, I am not trying to be hard but if the people you are running with is lying and stealing from other people then you should realize this is bad. I know pressure can be rough on young adults ,we have all been ther. It’s about choices ! The choice he made will result in the consequences he is dealing with now. As for the rest of this bunch…. They should all get a long sit in a hard jail but since jail is not hard anymore they will be just as happy one way or the other. I do hope everyone gets their stuff back and all these people learn a lesson. They are dang lucky no one took the law in their own hands and we could be reading about their death instead of their arrest. This is just my opinion.

  3. Justice Jim on December 23rd, 2013 7:53 pm

    Thanks to the AL legislature, these guys will probably not serve a day in jail since they are non-violent criminals. Ridiculous legislation !

  4. perdido fisherman on December 23rd, 2013 4:23 pm

    That’s no boy he’s a 19 year old man who made his own choices; I hate a thief as much as i hate murderers and pedophiles. Hope they give’em the maximum.

  5. denise on December 22nd, 2013 11:01 pm

    I live in north Pensacola and my son’s dirt bike got stolen … how an I find out if they were the one that took it.. and what kind of dirt bag steals a child’s dirt bike right before Christmas????? we filed a police report so I’m going try to ask them but was wondering if I needed to contact the police department where they got busted?????

  6. Carol on December 22nd, 2013 2:33 pm

    The question I have is Who purchased items from these thieves? Someone is
    always out to get a “good” deal and they usually know deep down that something is fishy, Will their customers be charged with receiving stolen property?

  7. Linda on December 22nd, 2013 2:31 am

    I think this ring stretches up to Dallas county and even further. I wonder if the locals have checked into this? Makes you wonder where all they have been to and what all they have taken. Put them in jail, make them pay the time. We’ll see.

  8. Prayforem on December 21st, 2013 7:40 pm

    that “poor boy” almost became “rich boy”
    money itself is not the root of all evil. it is
    the love of money. pray for all of them.

  9. learn a lesson on December 21st, 2013 12:41 pm

    I hope the “poor boy” goes to jail and is not bailed out by his parents. If he is made to sit there, maybe he will learn early and not make the same mistake again. As it is, his record now will stop him from getting a decent job for a long time. Maybe it is not too late for him, but usually, you just can’t change people. But maybe he can change himself. Good luck to him to a better life. The others should be ashamed to drag a young boy down the tubes with them.

  10. Randy on December 21st, 2013 12:21 pm

    Glad this group of scumbags got caught. Now lets hope the judicial system does right and gives these criminals what they deserve.

  11. emschick on December 21st, 2013 9:29 am

    “they discovered several hundred thousand dollars worth of stolen property during a traffic stop.” What were they driving? A U Haul? lol

  12. Billy D on December 21st, 2013 8:25 am

    Melodies, that “poor boy” knows what’s right and wrong I’m pretty sure. His problem is caving in to some bad influences who took him down the wrong path. Those people who took him there should suffer the brunt of the punishment but he’ll have an expensive lesson learned if he gets out of this one. Good job leo’s for getting these thieves/lowlifes. I bet they’ll give the names of more of them too!

  13. Matt on December 21st, 2013 7:02 am

    That “poor boy” is an adult and should know better.

  14. troubled on December 21st, 2013 4:47 am

    Thank you to the police that caught them. I hope they don’t get bail. Someone worked for the stuff they stole.

  15. Jane on December 21st, 2013 4:17 am

    That poor boy is 19 years old. He is old enough to know right from wrong. He knows stealing is wrong. They all chose to do this and I am glad they got caught. Four more thieves off the streets!

  16. melodies4us on December 21st, 2013 1:40 am

    That poor boy.