A grand jury in Mineola, New York indicted 15 workers of the Long Island Rail Road and two scrap dealers on Friday for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of copper wires.
Eight of the defendants pleaded not guilty and the remainder were expected to be arraigned later in the day, reported the AP.
The robberies allegedly occurred over two years in rail yards on Long Island and New York City.
The investigation ended in the arrests Tuesday of the telecommunications linemen who had unrestricted access to the copper.
The workers allegedly targeted the LIRR rail yards in West Islip; Jamaica, Queens and the Atlantic Avenue viaduct.
The copper was allegedly sold on the black market to scrap yards.
Charges in the indictment unsealed against the first eight vary from conspiracy to grand larceny to possession of stolen property. Attorneys for several of the defendants said the copper wiring allegedly stolen was scrap that was to be discarded.
Christopher Natale of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen planned to issue a statement later Friday.
The Nassau County District Attorney is expected to update the media on the investigation.
FOX 5 News has reached out to the MTA which operates the LIRR for comment. The MTA says it will issue a statement later today.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 7:07 AM EDT2013-06-19 11:07:13 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the morning rush.
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the morning rush. Crews have been working to repair tracks and switches after Monday's derailment.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:52 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:52:57 GMT
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
A lawsuit filed in 2005 claiming a suburban New York community discriminated against minorities in the way it approved local zoning policies is getting an airing in federal court.
A lawsuit filed in 2005 claiming a suburban New York community discriminated against minorities in the way it approved local zoning policies is getting an airing in federal court.
Saturday, June 15 2013 9:19 PM EDT2013-06-16 01:19:35 GMT
Long Island environmental officials say they are looking for another alligator seen in a river. According to Newsday, state Department of Environmental Conservation say the gator was reported on Sunday night and was confirmed by officers on Wednesday. The sighting is the fifth in the same area of the Peconic River where DEC officials captured four alligators in April.
Long Island environmental officials say they are looking for another alligator seen in a river. According to Newsday, state Department of Environmental Conservation say the gator was reported on Sunday night and was confirmed by officers on Wednesday. The sighting is the fifth in the same area of the Peconic River where DEC officials captured four alligators in April.
Saturday, June 15 2013 7:32 PM EDT2013-06-15 23:32:29 GMT
A pharmacist on Long Island defended himself from an attempted robbery by firing shots at the suspect Friday afternoon. Police say the incident happened inside Precision Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Bellmore around 3:30 p.m. 43-year-old Marc Gumpert entered the pharmacy and demanded the drugs Ritalin and Dilaudid. The 34-year-old pharmacist complied and handed over the drugs, but followed Gumpert outside. The pharmacist saw Gumpert inside his car. Gumpert saw the pharmacist, got out of...
A pharmacist on Long Island defended himself from an attempted robbery by firing shots at the suspect Friday afternoon. Police say the incident happened inside Precision Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Bellmore around 3:30 p.m. 43-year-old Marc Gumpert entered the pharmacy and demanded the drugs Ritalin and Dilaudid. The 34-year-old pharmacist complied and handed over the drugs, but followed Gumpert outside. The pharmacist saw Gumpert inside his car. Gumpert saw the pharmacist, got out of...
