Final Suspect In The Wire Theft Ring Has Been Caught

On August 21, Justin Lee Fusarelli, 43, of Avella, was arrested and arraigned as part of the massive communication wire theft ring. He was the last of seven suspects to be officially charged with the crime and remains in the Washington County Jail. The Pennsylvania State Police say over a five-month period beginning in January, Fusarelli and others were involved in scheme to steal, strip and sell Verizon communication wires to scrap yards in Washington, West Virginia and Ohio. According to court papers, damages are more than $5,000 and the amount of stolen property tops $60,000. In addition to Fusarelli, Ryan Scott, 37 of Avella, Dennis Kinkela, 49 of Burgettstown, Michael Hancher, 45, of Washington, Lawrence Bogo, 56, of Avella and Allen Jackson, 28 of Wellsburg, West Virginia were charged. Donald Martin III, 36 of Bulger, faces additional charges when he tried to allude officers by hiding in the rafters of a garage in Washington earlier this month. All seven men are expected to go before a Magistrate next week.