December 11, 2009
Four men accused of operating a chop shop and burglarizing several garages in Washington, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties were arrested Thursday by members of the state police Auto Theft Task Force.
Arrested were Joshua D. Alvarez, 22, of 196 Coyle Curtain Road, Monongahela; Zachary W. Benning, 22, of 70 Dairy Road, Charleroi; Michael Flament, 22, of 27 Spruce Alley, Victory Hill, Monongahela; and Adam James Wareham, 34, of Hunker, Westmoreland County.
They all played various roles in the theft of motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles valued at $80,000. A spokeswoman for the office of Attorney General Tom Corbett also indicated that a warrant has been issued for David Ryan Grillo, 19, of 911 Fourth St., Charleroi.
Alvarez and Benning are charged with six counts of theft, four counts of burglary, two counts of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations. Wareham is charged with four counts of receiving stolen property, and one count each of theft by deception, insurance fraud, criminal conspiracy and corrupt organizations. Flament is charged with two counts each of receiving stolen property and insurance fraud and one count each of criminal attempt, criminal conspiracy and false reports to police. Grillo is charged with receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.
All but Grillo were arraigned before District Judge David Mark. Alvarez, Benning and Wareham were each placed in Washington County Jail on $50,000 bond. Flament is in jail on $25,000 bond.
In June, task force investigators were at a home on Dry Run Road in Monongahela when they saw a motorcycle that belonged to Alvarez. The identification number on the engine did not match that on the frame. It was determined the engine belonged to a motorcycle reported stolen in March.
Corbett said that Alvarez was the focus of the investigation. Alvarez told reportedly Trooper Scott Monroe that he would use his employment at Bentley Cycles, Canonsburg, to obtain the addresses of motorcycle owners.
Alvarez, who no longer employed by the cycle shop, would use that information to plan thefts of motorcycles. He also admitted to stealing bikes he saw.
Alvarez and Wareham also reportedly participated in defrauding insurance companies. Wareham would tell Alvarez where a cycle would be that the owner wanted rid of and Alvarez said he would take it.
Benning also was implicated by Alvarez. Benning told investigators that he stole at least 10 motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles with Alvarez, including one from the Chartiers Township home of a Bentley Cycles customer.
Benning told investigators that Alvarez would usually find buyers for some of the vehicles and then give him some money. He told police that he received about $3,000.
Wareham also admitted to dealing in stolen motorcycles. Some parts were sold on eBay. He also admitted to police that he used some parts from the stolen vehicles to make repairs customers’ cycles.
Wareham formerly operated Road Rash in North Huntingdon Township, where some of the stolen motorcycles were stored. Others were stored at locations in Monongahela or Union Township.
Flament reportedly stored several of the stolen vehicles. He also had his own pickup truck stolen so he could report it to his insurance company, police indicated. Grillo allegedly purchased an ATV from Alvarez that he knew was stolen.
Preliminary hearings are set for Dec. 17 before Mark.
January 8, 2010
CANONSBURG - Four men accused of operating a chop shop and burglarizing several garages in Washington, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties waived their case to court Thursday.
Waiving hearings before District Judge David Mark were Joshua D. Alvarez, 22, of 196 Coyle Curtain Road, Monongahela; Zachary W. Benning, 22, of 70 Dairy Road, Charleroi; Michael Flament, 22, of 27 Spruce Alley, Victory Hill, Monongahela; and Adam James Wareham, 34, of Hunker, Westmoreland County. The four were arrested last month by members of the state police Auto Theft Task Force.
A fifth man, David Ryan Grillo, 19, of 911 Fourth St., Charleroi, waived his case before Mark last month.
They all played various roles in the theft of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles valued at $80,000, police said.
Alvarez and Benning are charged with six counts of theft, four counts of burglary, two counts of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations. Wareham is charged with four counts of receiving stolen property, and one count each of theft by deception, insurance fraud, criminal conspiracy and corrupt organizations. Flament is charged with two counts each of receiving stolen property and insurance fraud and one count each of criminal attempt, criminal conspiracy and false reports to police. Grillo is charged with receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.
In June, task force investigators were at a home on Dry Run Road in Monongahela when they saw a motorcycle that belonged to Alvarez. The identification number on the engine did not match that on the frame. Police said it was determined the engine belonged to a motorcycle reported stolen in March.
Alvarez was the focus of the investigation. Alvarez reportedly told Trooper Scott Monroe that he would use his employment at Bentley Cycles, Canonsburg, to obtain the addresses of motorcycle owners. Alvarez, who is no longer employed by the cycle shop, would use that information to plan thefts of motorcycles. He also admitted to stealing bikes he saw, police said.
Alvarez and Wareham also are accused of defrauding insurance companies. Wareham would tip Alvarez to owners who wanted to be rid of their motorcycles and Alvarez would steal them, police said.
Benning also was implicated by Alvarez. Benning reportedly told investigators that he stole at least 10 motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles with Alvarez, including one from the Chartiers Township home of a Bentley Cycles customer.
Benning told investigators that Alvarez would usually find buyers for some of the vehicles and then give him some money. He told police that he received about $3,000.
Police said Wareham also admitted to dealing in stolen motorcycles. Some parts were sold on eBay. He also admitted to police that he used some parts from the stolen vehicles to make repairs to customers’ bikes.
Wareham formerly operated Road Rash in North Huntingdon Township, where some of the stolen motorcycles were stored. Others were stored in Monongahela or Union Township.
Flament reportedly stored several of the stolen vehicles. He also had his own pickup truck stolen so he could report it to his insurance company, police said. Grillo allegedly purchased an ATV from Alvarez that he knew was stolen.
Only Benning remains in Washington County Jail on $50,000 bond. Wareham, Alvarez and Flament are free on bond. Grillo is free on unsecured bond.
That is a damn same Adam would get involved with something like that.
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